Beatles-Rel. PROMO LP 1964 Death Threat to Ringo Solved, It’s a Beatle World, EX

$

19

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

READ THIS! These records are NOT sold for perfect sound quality. They’re sold for their scarcity and VISUAL grading. They’ve been in storage for a decade, and they WILL play with surface noise that can be addressed with D4 or a VPI cleaning.  I can’t test-play at the minute. Please don’t bid if this is a problem for you.

Beatles-Rel. PROMO LP with 1964 Death Threat to Ringo Solved, It’s a Beatle World, EX!

**Since 1964, this is only one of less than ten white label PROMOS to have surfaced in over 60 years.  Most other copies for sale, or which have sold are black label commercial copies.**

Most collectors assume that the first full-length Beatles novelty album was “The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles,” from late August, 1964.  But this one was really the very first, which was issued in the first few days of August, 1964.

**Almost exactly one month later on Sept. 8, 1964, the Beatles were receiving death threats against Ringo in of all places, Montreal, Canada, claiming that Ringo was going to be shot on stage.  The organization who claimed responsibility for the threats was thought to be French Canadian separatists, who were anti-Jewish.  And at the time, there were rumors being spread that Ringo was Jewish, due to the size of his nose.

There’s press conference footage from the time, where Ringo has to answer that he isn’t Jewish, and from that conference to this very day, The Beatles are on record, stating that they have no idea where that rumor started.

It started with track 5 on Side 1 of this album, “Paul, George, John and Ringo (All the Way to the Bank).”  Issued on Aug. 5, 1964, the first line rhymes the word, “British” with an allusion to Ringo speaking Yiddish, and it ends with the repeating line, “All the Way to the Bank.”  The track is sung to the tune of, “On Top of Old Smokey.”

The album is autographed on the back by both comedians, awful as they are.  All autographed copies have a post script that says something to the effect that “I’m Bela Lugosi,” in reference to a running joke on the record, featuring one of them imitating Bela.  This copy has an autograph that simply says, “Best always, Bird. Bella N.”  The misspelling of “Bela” in the autograph is echoed by the same misspelling on the record label on track 6, Side 1’s “Bella N’ Boris.”  It’s possible that “Bella N” was supposed to have been followed up with the other comedian, signing his name as Boris.  But instead, he signed his own name.

The album is terrible, fraught with 1964 humor, as well as a generous amount of 1964 references, but it is terribly historically important.

And terribly rare.

Vinyl--- EX/EX.  Both sides of the vinyl look barely played.  Just a few light lines only in a sea of 95% new gloss.

Plates--- A1/A1.  “Virtue Studio” hand-etched on both sides.  Letter “R” in the dead wax on both sides makes this copy pressed by RCA Records.

Cover--- VG.  Front and back covers have light to moderate dirtwear and ringwear.  All three seams are weak, but not split.  Top seam is the weakest.  Back cover is signed by both.

Labels--- VG+/VG+.  Full glossy Swan labels.  Deep trench concentric rings are from RCA lathes.  Side 1 has original owner’s name written in ballpoint.  This is significant, because it provides provenance to the album’s originality.  The back cover is autographed to “Celeste,” whose name is also written on the Side 1 label.  Both sides have spindle marks.

Inner Sleeve--- VG.  Company Swan inner sleeve is present, with its tell-tale paper bag serrations at the bottom of one side.  No die-cut hole for the labels to show.  Two seams have splits a few inches long.  Sleeve has yellowed moderately with some foxing present.

A generic inner sleeve will be provided, so as not to damage your original Swan inner sleeve en route.

RIAA: N/A.

As these records have been in storage for many years, they will play back with crackling and tics, however; a good moisturizing and cleaning with either D4 Discwasher or a VPI machine always clears them up.  Thanks!)

Note:  All LP’s ship outside of their album covers in order not to damage the covers during shipment.

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

**Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

Shipping is $5.38 for Media Mail for up to 3 single or double albums, excluding boxed sets within the U.S.  $5.38 covers shipping for up to 5 singles within the U.S., and within the same auction week.

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