The Rolling Stones : Beggars Banquet

This 4A/3A red Decca Mono pressing is one of the most stunning examples I have ever seen or heard.  It plays with stunning quality throughout with only minimal interference on S1 that is not that noticeable anyway.  It is visually in superb condition also and would be difficult to find a better one.

Based on Decca's BUCKINGHAM system it also has very early stampers - 'G1' on S2!  This means it was pressed with only the 7th stamper and S1 with a still relatively early 18th.

The 'mono' gatefold is also in great condition with only minor shelf wear. 

LK 4955 // XARL - 8476 - 4A / XARL - 8477 - 3A // GH 2 B / G 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 4 first section Ex-)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority)

The gatefold is Ex

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner sleeve is Ex-

Visual grading

To say this mono record is impressive is an understatement!  It has a beautiful mirror-like glossy sheen and at first glance looks 'as new' not over half a century old!  It is only on closer inspection that you can detect a couple of faint hairlines on each side but there are no scratches or marks of any kind.  There is also not very much spindle wear so I am confident in saying this rare pressing has only been lightly played.  It has been so well preserved down the years and the labels and run out grooves are also super clean.  It would be difficult to find a better one!

Play grading

The percussive intro on 'Sympathy For The Devil' is stunning and plays with faultless Mint precision.  As Jagger comes in there is no decrease in quality and it then continues to play with sublime clarity and depth.  Mono pressings often provide more 'sound' and this is no exception.  This is mainly due to the fact that it has been so beautifully preserved and only lightly played down the years.  I have listened to every second of this classic and Mint is not too strong a description for this classic.  There is no distortion and the long fade out has no 'background' whatsoever.  You don't need me to say how rare this is on a mono red Decca pressing.  A breathtaking version without doubt.  Wow!  

With complete silence in the dead wax 'No Expectations' then plays to a very similar standard.  There is perhaps just a very minor hint of underlying static here and there but it is so quiet and perhaps I should not even mention it.  I sit so close to the speakers and I am sure many would not even notice it.  Even if they did it is barely audible and totally non-intrusive and the clarity here is still exceptional.  With only a couple of faint ticks in the dead wax at the end of the fade out this is Near Mint although arguably it is better than that!  This is 'high end' audio and every note plays with such sharp definition.

I am running out of suitable adjectives now!  'Dear Doctor' performs to an incredibly high standard with only one static tick on the final note.  This is infinitely worthy of a Mint- grading.

There are then four light clicks in the dead wax prior to 'Parachute Woman' starting and the intro has just one light tick.  During the first vocal section there are a handful of light clicks but they are not loud and are largely lost in the music.  As any Stones' collector knows there is always some distortion on the final two tracks, it is unavoidable, and it just a matter of how much.  I am pleased to say there is not too much here and of course it could be 'improved' when played on a mono set up.  The vast majority of this track plays with excellent clarity and a very strong raw quality.  I would say the first 20% has the intermittent 'background' and the remaining 80% plays with great clarity.  The harmonica end section plays with perfect precision and I have never heard a 'cleaner' fade out.

The intro on 'Jig-Saw Puzzle' plays with wonderful clarity and no interference.  It continues to play in the same immaculate way and it is only after two minutes that there is a little distortion.  It is minimal and I only mention it to be complete in my grading and is only to be expected of course.  There is no other interference and the playback is very impressive indeed.  Remember I am playing this through a stereo system!  The instrumental end section is very powerful and has barely any distortion and the fade out is so 'clean'.  A fantastic version to finish the side.

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  The classic 'Street Fighting Man' plays with tremendous power from the very first groove.  It has such a strong 'raw' sound and there is no interference...again.  From beginning to end this is pure Mint- audio at its very best.  There is such depth on the audio and that is helped in no small measure by the strong bass.  So often the piano on the end section is lost in the mix but that is certainly not the case here.  A sublime version and yet another perfect fade out.

'Prodigal Son' has a couple of mega light dust ticks on the quiet intro and then plays with perfect clarity.  There is no 'background' and the sonic quality is equal to that of any high grade vinyl pressed recently!  Mint- again.

The quiet guitar intro on 'Stray Cat Blues' is 'as new' and it then plays with sublime quality.  What power!  The further you get into this classic the more you are impressed by it and you can turn it up loud without fear of distortion.  There is one of the finest versions I have ever heard on any pressing and to think this is a rare mono pressing!  Even the relatively quiet section after the '...scratch my back' line plays with Mint quality.  The 'high octane' end section plays with stunning power, no distortion, and the fade out is again perfect.  What an incredible version!

The quiet acoustic intro on 'Factory Girl' plays with perfect precision and this continues when Jagger's vocal begins.  The violin and acoustic guitar play with great precision and it is patently obvious this track has hardly ever been played.  There's clarity and then there is this clarity!  The audio definition could not be any better.  I can dispense with the minus this is Mint from start to finish.

'Salt Of The Earth' begins perfectly - the intro is 'as new' and as Jagger comes in there is no decrease in quality.  As it progresses there is a little distortion on the top end but again this is to be expected.  The crescendo end section is so powerful and yes it can be turned up to loud without it hurting your ears!  And then...no interference on the fade out.  Another stunning track to end this classic album.

In summary this is so close to being a final upgrade version, it is just that the minor interference on S1 that stops it from being so.  Aside from that this red label Mono pressing plays with a 'high end' quality that is so rarely found today.  The stunning visual quality certainly gives you a good idea how it will play and it does not disappoint!  The clarity and depth is so strong and whilst there is a little (expected) distortion it is not intrusive in any way.  This album is pressed with early stampers (G1 on S2!) and any vinyl will of course sound 'fresher' at the beginning of any production 'run'.  The 'mono' gatefold is also very clean - a stunning 'package' overall.'

The Gatefold

The fully laminated G & L Mono cover is in excellent condition compared to so many.  They are often found in poor shape but this has generally been very well looked after down the years.  The edges have no rubbing or marking at all and the wide spine has just one tiny scuff mark and some compression down the centre section but is still 100% legible, that is so rare!  The top corner has only a little wear as does the top left corner on the back cover but the other corners are in lovely condition with hardly any rubbing.  The opening edge has very little handling wear also.  The front cover is very clean with only a little 'spotting' around the edges and the back cover is even better with only a couple of very minor creases near the opening edge.  The laminate on both sides has not been damaged in any way and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate.  Whilst not perfect this is a very impressive of this iconic cover as they are so difficult to keep clean.

Inner Sleeve

The original poly-lined sleeve has no splits or tears but does have some creasing and age related fading around the edges.

The Labels

They are in superb condition and have lost none of their original deep red colour.  They have no marking or writing on them and not too much spindle wear either.  The JT tax stamp is on both of the super clean run out grooves.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

LK 4955 // XARL - 8476 - 4A / XARL - 8477 - 3A // GH 2 B / G 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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