The Beatles : A Hard Day's Night 3N / 3N 1st Press

This first press plays to a wonderful standard overall and there are no clicks or pops and almost zero static.  There is also very little spindle wear so has definitely not been overplayed.  Visually the vinyl is also very impressive.

This first pressing has a 3N/3N matrix and the labels have 'The Parlophone Co. Ltd...' around the rim and 'Recording first published 1964'.  The KT tax code is stamped on the S1 label.  The G&L cover has a mid-sized 'mono' on the front.

The laminated cover is in superb condition with only minimal wear and barely any marking.  They are rarely found as good as this today.  The original Emitex inner just has one small side split.

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PMC 1230 // XEX 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // OH 4 / PA 2

The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 3 Near Mint- / T6 & T7 Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (T5 & 6 Near Mint) 

The cover is a very strong Ex

The labels are Near Mint

The Emitex inner sleeve is Ex-

The vinyl retains a very strong glossy sheen and has no marks or scratches.  Both sides are in excellent condition with a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines of which only a couple are a little more obvious.  It is a fine example and there cannot be many around that look as good as this.  As stated there is only a little spindle wear on S1 and barely any on S2 so judging by that and the quality of the audio I do not think it has been played too much.  The run out grooves are in great shape as are the yellow/black Parlophone labels.

Play grading

There is barely any static on the lead in grooves so you're thinking this is going to play well...and it does!  There are a couple of mega light static sounds on Harrison's familiar note introducing 'A Hard Day's Night' and it then plays 'as new' and that is no exaggeration.  The clarity and depth is outstanding and there is no interference at all.  This is a Mint- start to the album.

'I Should Have Known Better' is of the same immaculate standard with no 'background' - there are only a couple of dust ticks but that obviously does not classify as interference!  The playback is so impressive for a 56 year old record and the fade out also plays perfectly.  Mint- again.

'If I Fell' has only very minimal static on the intro and then plays extremely well with no clicks or pops.  There is just the odd light static sound but they are so quiet and totally non-intrusive in my opinion.  Still a worthy Near Mint-

'I'm Happy Just To Dance With You' plays with great clarity and depth from start to finish.  For a 'louder' track the audio is so strong and there is no distortion at all.  Mint-

'And I Love Her' plays beautifully for a relatively quiet track with only a handful of barely audible dust ticks.  So far there has not been a single click or pop on this first pressing although perhaps not that surprising considering how 'clean' it is.

When playing a mono record through a stereo system there will always be some inner groove distortion as you approach the end of the side.  Apart from that 'Tell Me Why' and 'Can't Buy Me Love' both play very well but with some distortion.  I will grade as Ex+ due to this but there is no other 'background' on either track.

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'Any Time At All' is stunning from the first note to the last and it would be nigh on impossible to find a better version.  I can safely grade it as Mint- as it basically plays 'as new', the definition of the audio is superb.

'I'll Cry Instead' is more than equal to this and plays without interference.  Another 'high end' track.

'Things We Said Today' also plays with fantastic audio!  In fact I don't mind saying this version is absolutely stunning!  It shows just how infrequently the record has been played as the clarity and depth of the sound cannot be faulted.  The fade out also plays with 'as new' precision.

'When I Get Home' is of course one of the more powerful tracks on the album and yet it plays with real power and distinction.  There is no interference and no obvious distortion either and Mint- is a fair grading.

'You Can't Do That' is really impressive considering it is the penultimate track on the album.  It has such a strong sound and there is barely any of the distortion that you so often find.  A superb Near Mint version.

'I'll Be Back' ends the album in fine with very little distortion.  What there is could of course be removed when played as a 'mono' record.  It plays so clearly and as per the rest of the album there are no clicks, pops or crackle.

In summary this first pressing plays with great sonic quality on both sides and it is worth repeating there is no actual intrusion on the audio whatsoever.  Yes there is some inner groove distortion towards the end of S1 and only a minimal amount on S2 but the clarity is so impressive.  The dead wax between tracks is also very 'clean' and this is a record that has not been overplayed.  The cover is also in excellent order with no obvious marking.  A fine example overall of this classic album.

The Cover

The laminated G&L Patents pending cover is in excellent condition with very little wear.  The edges have no marking/rubbing and the spine is also in fantastic condition and even the corners of it have next to no wear.  The right hand corners have only the bare minimum of rubbing and the opening edge has only minimal 'feathering'.  The front cover is beautifully clean with no marking or laminate splitting and only a couple of very small laminate creases plus a few small creases around the edges that you always find.  The back cover is very clean with only a little fading and a faint impression of the record on the left side.  There is only faint marking and the flipbacks are in great shape and remain firmly attached to the cover.  A very strong example of this iconic cover.

The Labels

The yellow/black Parlophone labels are in superb order with no marking or writing and hardly any spindle wear.  The KT tax stamp is on the S2 label.

The Inner Sleeve

The original poly-lined Emitex sleeve has some light creasing, a little fading and just the one side split.

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

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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