The deep pressed ring in the vinyl under the label is in use until the summer of 1968. LK4661 is existing with grooved label as well as with non grooved label. This proves that LK4661 was also pressed later than summer of 1968 and up to the end of 1969 when the non boxed DECCA was changed into boxed DECCA logo.

There are two versions of the back-cover text existing. The first cover print has this text version that was then removed on later printings:

If you don’t have the bread,
see that blind man knock him on the head,
steal his wallet and low and behold you have loot,
if you put in the boot, good, another one sold!

The association of blind people in Great Britain got very much upset by this text and they demanded that the text should be removed from the cover. Even politicians got involved in discussions and eventually Decca was forced to change the text. Both the original and the censored versions seems to have been used throughout the whole 60’s. Even the boxed logo versions from the 70’s can be found with both versions.

A lot of records are today being sold on e-bay by promoting the Blind Man text version as “very rare, hard to find” and a lot of other superlatives. This is a bit sad and misleading information. To find a copy that has the short censored version printed directly on the back sleeve together with a non-boxed LP is a bit hard to find. I have ten No2 non boxed records in my collection and only one of them has the short text originally printed on the sleeve.

Of the boxed LP’s you may find that about half of them are censored.

Decca had lots of ready made covers in stock when the decision to change the blind man text was taken. Instead of destroying all covers, they decided to print a single paper sheet with the new censored text version and glue it on top of the original back cover.
The original back cover is slightly visible under the paste over paper sheet. The "paste over" version is only found on non-flip covers.
There was at least two batches made, one has ”Printed in England” in the lower left corner and another batch is missing the Printed text.
Most of the "paste over" LP’s has the innerbag number 5 that was taken into use in 1966. However, "paste over" covers were delivered to record shops already during the summer of 1965. One cover has been found with the handwritten text "Köpt i augusti 1965" on the back side of the cover. This record was sold in Sweden and the translated text is "Purchased in august 1965"
However, not all paste over covers were used in 1965-66. Decca probably stopped the delivery of the paste over covers as soon as they got new censored ones from the printer. In 1968 or 1969 they reused the remaining paste over covers that they had in stock. This can be proved as I have recently found a vinyl that is a non-grooved pressing but still inside a paste over cover.

Dated "Köp i augusti 1965" -> "Purchased in august 1965"

Sleeves for this LP were made in both “flip” and “non flip” versions. Two suppliers were used, MacNeill Press in London and James Upton Birmingham & London.

First pressing is a flip-back sleeve printed by MacNeill.
The non-flip MacNeill version was taken into use around 1970 and records with boxed labels can be found in this sleeve.

Sleeves made by James Upton can be found in both flip back and non-flip back versions.
Upton sleeves were probably used already during 1965 but the MacNeill sleeves are probably used for the first pressings.

Sleeves with the censored blind man text are missing the “Printed in England by…..” text.
Sleeves from the 60’s has the “Laminated with “Clarifoil” text where as if this text is missing, then it is a sleeve printed in the 80’s and has records with label design 12.

The “blue box” version can be found on a few No2 sleeves. This “blue box” LP pictured below, has the paste over back side on the James Upton sleeve. The LP inside this sleeve has the D4 / V2 label on both sides. Paste over sleeves were probably made only during 1966 so this sleeve is probably from 1965 or 1966. Sleeves made in 1969 and 1970 has also the dark blue colour in the Decca box. Can be found with non-boxed / non grooved pressings as well as the initial boxed logos.

A GP 359 sticker can sometimes be found on the back side of the cover on LP’s with the boxed logo. This may have been an export to France and sold there with this sticker. The same type of stickers is usually found on the L’age D’or series in France

No2 do not have as many variations as the first LK4605, but still, a few minor differences can be found.

The same two top text versions as on LK4605 are also found on LK4661. The short one would have mostly been used in 1965 and the longer version throughout the pressing period. All four combinations possible of long and short versions can be found on the same LP’s.

Side 1 / Side 2
“MADE IN ENGLAND” / “MADE IN ENGLAND”
“MADE IN ENGLAND” / “MADE IN ENGLAND. THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.”
“MADE IN ENGLAND. THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.” / “MADE IN ENGLAND”
“MADE IN ENGLAND. THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.” / “MADE IN ENGLAND. THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.”

Lots of label versions are existing on the second Rolling Stones LP. The labels were not systematically used all the time, so combinations of different designs are rather common on this LP. Some of the early labels were also left in stock for several years and used again in 1968 and 1969.

Font style: Arial looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the left side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND”
Publishers: Divided on both sides of the label.
No production and recording information under The Rolling Stones.
Estimated use: 1965 and again 1968-69.

This is probably the earliest label used on No2 as it has the short top text. All labels made during the end of 1965 and later has the long top text. This label can be found on non-grooved pressings as well, confirming that a set of them remained in the warehouse for many years before finally being used in 1968 or 1969.

Font style: Arial looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the left side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND”
Publishers: Divided on both sides of the label.
Production and recording information under The Rolling Stones.
Estimated use: 1965

This version has all the basic information in the same place as version 1. The difference is that the production and recording information has been added on the lower part of the label. This version was probably made in 1965 as the short top text is still used.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND”
Publishers: All on different lines on the left side of the label.
Estimated use: 1965

Major difference to the previous labels is that the font is changed to a Times New Roman looking. Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
The label makers initial S after the tax code has also been added. A third short top text version also used during 1965.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND”
Publishers: All on different lines on the left side of the label.
Estimated use: 1965 and again 1968-69.

This label is almost identical to S1/D3/V3. The only difference is that the BIEM box is slightly more to the left. This label was probably printed and used in 1965 but for some reason it was reused again in 1968 or 1969 on the non-grooved pressing. Maybe an old stock of labels was found and put into use.

Font style: Arial looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the left side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.”
Publishers: Divided on both sides of the label.
No production and recording information under The Rolling Stones.
Estimated use: Late 1965 and 1966.

This version is almost identical to S1/D3/V1. The only change is that the short top text has been replaced with the long “Made In England. The Decca Recording Co. LTD”.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.”
Publishers: All on different lines on the left side of the label.
No production and recording information under The Rolling Stones.
Estimated use: Late 1965 and 1966.

There are lots of differences on this label compared to version 1. Times New Roman text font, all publishers on the left side and the BIEM on the right side of the label.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.”
Publishers: Chappell and Essex Music on the same line.
No production and recording information under The Rolling Stones.
Estimated use: 1968-69

This label is very similar to S1/D4/V2. The only difference is that publisher c and d are on the same line whereas they are on different lines on the previous label version. This one is used on a non-grooved pressing from 1968 – 1969.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO.LTD.”
Publishers: All publishers on the left side and on their own lines.
No production and recording information under The Rolling Stones.
Estimated use: 1966 and 1967

This label has the song titles and composers in six lines whereas most of the other labels are using seven lines for the same information. The label makers identification S is also included.

Font style: Arial looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the left side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND”
Publishers: All but one on the left side of the label.
No production and recording information.
Estimated use: 1965 and again 1968-69.

This is probably the earliest label used on No2 as it has the short top text. All labels made during the end of 1965 and later has the long top text. This label is found on grooved labels and again, using old stock, on non-grooved pressings from 1968 or 1969.

Font style: Arial looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the left side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND”
Publishers: All but one on the left side of the label.
Production and recording information under The Rolling Stones.
Estimated use: 1965

This label is very similar to S2/D3/V1. Only change is that production and recording information has been added.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND”
Publishers: All on the left side of the label.
No production and recording information.
Estimated use: 1965

This is probably the third version used during 1965. The font style on this version in a Times New Roman looking font style. The label makers S letter has been added.

Font style: Arial looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the left side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO. LTD”
Publishers: All but one on the left side of the label.
No production and recording information
Estimated use: Late 1965 and 1966

This label is very much looking like S2/D3/V1 and the only difference is that this one has the long top text.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO. LTD”
Publishers: All publishers on the left side of the label.
No production and recording information.
Estimated use: Late 1965 and 1966.

The next long top text version has Times New Roman looking font style and the BIEM box is on the right side of the label.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO. LTD”
Publishers: All publishers on the left side of the label.
No production and recording information.
Estimated use: 1968-69

The label makers initial S has been added after the tax code on this label. It is also on a non-grooved pressing from 1968 to 1969. This label was printed 1965 or 1966 but used in production several years later.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font style.
Tax Code: K/T
Copyright box: BIEM – NCB box is on the right side of the label.
Top text: “MADE IN ENGLAND . THE DECCA RECORD CO. LTD”
Publishers: All publishers on the left side of the label. Now only four names.
No production and recording information.
Estimated use: 1968-69

Another version on a non-grooved label. The major change here is that publisher Greenwich Music (d) for Pain In my Heart has been deleted and replaced with (c) Jewel Music. Composer has also changed to Neville. This label was printed several years before usage. Labels printed in 1968 and 1968 has the tax code J/T and the publishing year at the bottom of the label.

Font style: Times New Royal looking font.
Publishing year: At the bottom of the label.
Speed: One time in small fonts.
Estimated use: 1970 to 1972

This label has MONO text in the centre of the label, and it has the speed noted in small fonts. Song titles are one song for each line.

Font style: Times New Royal looking font.
Publishing year: At the bottom of the label.
Speed: Missing
Estimated use: Mid 70’s

MONO as well as speed is missing from this label. Song titles are written as one chapter.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font.
Publishing year: At the bottom of the label.
Speed: Two times at the left of the label.
Estimated use: Early 70’s

The change on this label is that the big font 33 RPM is added on the left upper side of the label. Otherwise, it is looking almost like version 1.
The right-hand label is missing the small Speed above the BIEM box, otherwise identical.

Font style: Ariel looking font.
Publishing year: Above the catalogue number to the right of the label.
Speed: One time in big fonts.
Estimated use: 1982 – 1984

This is the last boxed red Decca label used on this LP. The vinyl is very thin, and the label has a rim around it. BIEM / NCB not boxed. Two vinyl pressings existing, one flat centre and another one with a ring pressed around the centre.

Font style: Times New Royal looking font.
Publishing year: At the bottom of the label.
Speed: One time in small fonts.
Estimated use: 1970 to 1972

This label has MONO text in the centre of the label, and it has the speed noted in small fonts. Song titles are one song for each line.

Font style: Times New Royal looking font.
Publishing year: At the bottom of the label.
Speed: Missing
Estimated use: Mid 70’s

MONO as well as speed is missing from this label. MCPS is above the BIEM box.

Font style: Times New Roman looking font.
Publishing year: At the bottom of the label.
Speed: Two times at the left of the label.
Estimated use: Early 70’s

The change on this label is that the big font 33 RPM is added on the left upper side of the label. The label to the right has the small Speed above the BIEM box missing, otherwise identical.

Font style: Ariel looking font.
Publishing year: Above the catalogue number to the right of the label.
Speed: One time in big fonts.
Estimated use: 1982 – 1984

This is the last boxed red Decca label used on this LP. The vinyl is very thin, and the label has a rim around it. BIEM / NCB not boxed. Two vinyl pressings existing, one flat centre and another one with a ring pressed around the centre.