THE BEALES - WHITE ALBUM. 12" double vinyl LP. U.K. numbered 1st, top opener

	£		17
	$		23

Hello there.

A short preamble before we get down to the nitty gritty, so you know something about who/what you are dealing with!

About me

I am an English PRIVATE COLLECTOR now living in Denmark, who has been a lifelong music fan collecting, buying, selling and swapping albums well, all my life.

I have also been heavily involved in creating music as a performer and sound engineer sometimes professionally, for over 30 years. Along with this I’m actively involved in presenting music on the radio, firstly in the 90’s on 'wunnerful' Radio Caroline, remember them? Latterly around the world via the internet and satellite on a station called The Album Zone based in London - www.albumzone.co.uk - if you’re interested. In Denmark, on university station K.U.R. 95.5fm/95.2 hybrid/streamed if you’re…..you know.

I never really got beyond the idea that the vinyl format is the best medium on which to hear good music and I think the same way in the studio. Digital technology is without doubt a flexible, convenient, sometimes quick and unlimited way of storing and managing a musical product, but does it sound good? Well OK yes it does, but not as good as analogue. In my opinion digital lacks warmth, depth, width and lots of other words ending in th! Of course this puts entirely into question my involvement with an internet radio station but it is here to stay, like it or not.

So it follows that a well recorded, well mastered piece of analogue music sounds best on well pressed, quality vinyl. There are also the benefits of great artwork and the feeling that you actually have something special in your possession. I’ve yet to hear a remastered, digital version of frankly anything that really cuts the mustard and as for downloading well, it just sounds poor & will no doubt kill the music industry if you don't pay something for it!

About you

The above should of informed you that I am pretty fussy about the quality of vinyl and music generally. This can only be a good thing for you,as the stuff I’m auctioning will be*graded aurally on a good system, whatever format it happens to be on. My aim is to provide the best quality that I can, graded fairly, so please bid with confidence.

*NOTE!!

I DO listen to rare items all the way through.

However as I'm auctioning some fairly large collections, I simply do not have the time to listen to all items individually all the way through. I will play the openings of tracks to get an idea plus I’ll carefully grade them visually under strong light. Should I see anything suspect, I’ll play that part of the record and report to you on it.

These collections came from friends. Most items have been looked after extremely well and played on good equipment. So I don’t expect many problems at all, plus I offer refunds anyway.

Finally for the erm, record - I hold no candle to U.K. pressings being superior to any other pressings. In certain cases it's true, but it's not a golden 'rule-of-thumb' in my opinion. I have American, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Greek pressings that sound totally awesome. In grading (fully explained at the end) I won't be adding a million + + + or - - - or !!!!! Totally unnecessary. It is what it is right?  

So enough already, up for auction about now......

U.K. BIDDERS: SORRY BUT I CANNOT SHIP FOR £4.50 FROM DENMARK! PLEASE NOTE MY SHIPPING PRICES & TERMS BELOW – BEFORE YOU BID. THANKS.

THE BEATLES – THE BEATLES (WHITE ALBUM). 12" double vinyl LP on the EMI Apple Records label cat. no. PCS 7067.

RARE U.K. stereo 1st pressing released in 1968. Top opening sleeve no. 0445765. Original black paper inners. Stereo embossed back cover.

There's nothing I can add about this band that hasn't been chewed over a million times, so I won't try. Safe to say we know who they are & what they did.

Here we have the White Album, another world changing LP from The Fabs. Some said at the time that it was too long or too diverse, but most have rightly acclaimed it's eclectic nature & advance in songwriting skills from the band.

Apparently it was going to be called 'A Dolls House', but Family beat them to it with their album Music In A Dolls House. So they released it as just The Beatles or 'White Album' as named by fans. There were the first signs of inner group dissent during this LP & Starr quit the band for two weeks during it's recording, leaving Macca to play drums on a couple of tracks. They also recorded as individuals a lot more, often with uncredited guest musicians such as Eric Clapton & Nicky Hopkins there filling in the gaps of missing Beatles.

It was the beginning of the end for the band, but still great songs & once again they were kicking creative doors open for others to follow.

Essential & brilliant music for all.

Matrix no's/stampers:

Side One; YEX 709 - 1       H H

Side Two; YEX 710 - 2       G D        0

Side Three; YEX 711 - 2     G T        2

Side Four; YEX 712 - 1       R U        1

Track Listing:

Side One:

See picture of label

Side Two:

Martha My Dear

I'm So Tired

Blackbird

Piggies

Rock Raccoon

Why Don't We Do It In The Road

I Will

Julia

Side Three:

Birthday

Yer Blues

Mother Natures Son

Everybody's Got Something To Hide...

Sexy Sadie

Helter Skelter

Long Long Long

Side Four:

Revolution 1

Honey Pie

Savoy Truffle

Cry Baby Cry

Revolution 9

Good Night

GRADING:

VINYL:

Side One: VERY GOOD. Visually clean with light paper marks & scuffs. Pressed on heavy weight vinyl.

Plays through with acceptable low surface noise & a fine distortion free sound throughout. The very odd light tick.

Side Two: VERY GOOD. Visually & aurally just as above.

Side Three: VERY GOOD. The same visually & plays through mostly as above with some light 'scratchy' surface noise during the last track.

Side Four: GOOD. Visually the same & plays through mostly as very good until the end couple of minutes of the side, where there is some 'scratchy' surface noise again. It's quite audible by the close of Good Night.

I see some deep groove dirt at that point, so perhaps a clean might help get rid of it??

So OK but with the 'scratchy' end to side 4, obviously not for those seeking 100% aural perfection.

Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd top opening, flipback laminated gatefold SLEEVE & SPINE:

Sleeve number: 0445765.

FRONT outer: VERY GOOD. Light creasing & rubbing mainly on the edges, heavier on the corners with laminate all intact. Light feathering on top opening edge plus small water mark at the top. Light ringwear.

BACK outer: VERY GOOD. As above but perhaps a touch more rubbing, no water mark. 'Stereo' embossed in top right corner.

FRONT inner: EXCELLENT. Clean with light creasing only.

BACK inner: EXCELLENT. As above.

SPINE: VERY GOOD. Moderate rubbing top & bottom. Laminate slightly split in the middle. Print 100% legible.

INNER SLEEVES: GOOD. Original black heavy textured paper, one with centre hole, one not. Both have some edge splits plus small tears round & about.

Alas no prints or poster/lyric insert.

LABELS:

Dark green Apples w/Sold in UK.....text

On all four sides: EXCELLENT. Light markings only.

Another world changing album from The Fabs in mostly great condition. Not perfect but a genuine Beatles White Album 1st pressing needs a loving home!

More Beatles coming here soon, so keep looking.

If for any reason (within reason!) you don't agree with my grading on this album then I will provide a refund, excluding return shipping.

* PLEASE NOTE THESE POINTS BELOW *

*Shipping prices: Double LP’s are over 500 grams with packaging so:

£4.90 in Denmark. £9.50 to the UK and Europe. £14.00 to the U.S.A., Canada and the rest of the world. If in doubt, please contact me for a price. If you require shipping insurance then please let me know BEFORE paying for the item as it's extra. I can include a shipping discount for multiple purchases.

*Payment: I will send an invoice with the total amount, so please wait for that before you pay. Please pay within 7 days of the auction ending, thank you.

Non-payers & time-wasters will be dealt with swiftly & effectively by whatever means necessary!

Packing: All items will be carefully packed using stiff card, strong mailers etc. Wherever possible I'll recycle packaging. It's cheaper for you & better for the planet.

Feedback & problems: *I'd appreciate feedback being left once you have received and heard/seen your item. It's the only way I know you have got it and are happy with it. I will then leave feedback for you. I used to leave feedback upon payment, but I've been stitched up too many times by people not leaving me any.

If there are any problems at all then I want to hear from you & get it sorted.

Please don't just leave negative feedback.

That's it.

Check my other listings there's plenty coming up. Good luck, thanks for your interest and above all enjoy!

Gilster.

About my Grading

I use the U.K. Record Collector Grading System which is: 

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any items such as the lyric sheet are in perfect condition. Sealed or unplayed records should be mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of being played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have light wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so many times that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of the edges, spine splits, discolouration etc.

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Beyond here lies madness! I won’t be auctioning anything graded below unless they are really rare or sought after:

Fair: The record is just still playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection filler.

CD/DVD Grading:

As a general rule, CD’s and DVD’s either play perfectly - Mint - or they don’t, in which case their value is minimal. They are difficult to grade visually, as they can look perfect but be faulty and visa versa.

CD/DVD inlays and booklets should be graded in the same way as vinyl covers and sleeves, as should the cover if made from card.