A Hard Day's Night (3N/3N)

This first mono pressing plays to a wonderful standard overall and the original laminated cover is also in excellent condition.  There are only two stampers on each side denoting as one of the earlier first pressings.

Mono 3N/3N first pressing on Yellow/Black label.  'The Parlophone Co. Ltd' etc printed around the perimeter edge.  'Recording first published 1964' and 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions' plus first label variation.

Mid-sized 'Mono' on front of G&L cover.

PMC 1230 // XEX 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // RD 2 / GD 1

The audio on S1 is Mint- (final three tracks Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 1 Ex for 3/4 seconds)

The cover is a very strong Ex

The inner sleeve is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

 Visual grading

  This is one superb looking vinyl!  It has not been overplayed judging by the spindle wear and it still has an incredible glossy sheen despite being 54 years old.  It is without doubt the cleanest genuine first pressings I have seen in many a year.  There are a small number of light hairlines only and just one mega tiny scratch on S2 about 2mm long!  There is no groove wear and indeed every groove is so clean.  Overall a beautifully preserved vinyl that plays with exceptional audio.  Extremely clean run out grooves also.

Play grading

With no lead in static you're immediately thinking this is going to play well!  And the title track does not disappoint.  'A Hard Days Night' plays with stunning clarity from start to finish, the depth of the sound is of a wonderful standard.  If I am being super harsh there is just a touch of minor static on the final guitar note which is always the case on this track anyway.  A superb start.  There is then complete silence in the dead prior to the next track.  'I Should Have Known Better' then performs with Mint- audio there is no other way to describe it.  This is another prime example of how incredibly well this record has been preserved, there is just no 'background' whatsoever, not even on the fade out.  'If I Fell' is also not far from a Mint-  grading.  The clarity is again of a 'high end' standard and all I detected was a minor amount of the quietest static you are ever likely to encounter!  It is hardly worth a mention really as even a new vinyl can have some 'background' let alone one that is 54 years old!  This track still plays with near perfect precision and is another exceptional listen.  The remaining tracks play with wonderful quality also with no clicks or pops anywhere.  'And I Love Her' does have a little distortion on the vocal and this may be because it is being played through a stereo system.  Apart from that it still plays with very clear audio with no other 'background'.  There is a little more distortion on 'Tell Me Why' and 'Can't Buy Me Love' but this is probably due to the same aforementioned reason and the fact that they are louder tracks.  As any vinyl enthusiast knows 'final tracks' on any side can often be affected by sound issues.  However, for a first pressing they still play very well with no crackle, clicks or pops.

S2 again has no lead in static - this is so rare on a vinyl of this age and especially on a Beatles album!  'Any Time At All' then plays with very impressive sound quality.  There are three faint clicks towards the end but they are very much in the background and non-intrusive.  'I'll Cry Instead' and 'Things We Said Today' play with Mint- audio the clarity and sonic quality is stunning.  'When I Get Home' so often plays with some distortion but this is barely any here and of course it could be entirely eradicated when played on a mono set up.  It is yet another track displaying wonderfully clear audio.  'You Can't Do That' has no 'background' other than a minor amount of distortion.  'I'll Be Back' ends the album in fine style with very clear audio.  A little distortion again but please don't let this put you off!  It is worth reiterating this is due to it being a 'final track' and is a mono record played on a stereo system.  There is no crackle and no clicks or pops either and the fade out plays perfectly

In summary this 3N/3N first pressing plays with very impressive depth and clarity and how many records over 50 years old have hardly any 'background'?  With only three clicks (and they are very faint!) this vinyl has been so well preserved and is one of the cleanest I have ever seen.  There is more or less complete silence between every track again providing another example of the quality on this vinyl and with only light distortion here this is a 'high end' first pressing.  It also comes complete with a lovely flipback original cover making this fantastic album even more collectable.

The Cover

This G & L laminated cover is in lovely condition with only minor shelf wear.  The edges and spine are in superb order with no rubbing and there is very little corner wear also.  The opening edge has a little handling wear, couple of minor indents but nothing worse, and remains very clean.  The laminated front cover has no marking just a handful of small creases next to the spine and on the bottom edge.  The flipbacks are super clean as is the whole of the back cover.  It is rarely found in thiss condition.  There is just one little mark towards the top and one mega tiny pen line on the right side but it would be difficult to find a cleaner one if I'm honest and is a fine example of this iconic cover.

Inner sleeve

The poly-lined Emitex sleeve is in great order with no splits or tears and only light creasing.

The labels

The yellow/black Parlophone labels are among the cleanest you will find.  There is not a great deal of spindle wear on the S1 label and even less on S2 so this vinyl has certainly not been excessively played.  They have no writing or marking and the KT tax stamp can be seen on the S1 label.  The run out grooves are mega clean.

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

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY EXTRA INSURANCE IS NECESSARY AND COSTS AN EXTRA £2.50.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

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7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £8.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

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