The Beatles : Help! 2/2 1st Mono Press 1965

This first mono pressing plays to a very high standard with only minimal intrusion.  There is only one light click and a minimal amount of light static but there is certainly nothing that stands out, the sonic quality is very impressive overall.  There is also hardly any inner groove distortion as you approach the end of each side which makes a change!

The Patents pending cover is in superb condition and has been very carefully looked after over the last 58 years, it is visually stunning!  The original Emitex inner is also in excellent condition.

This is a first press variation with a space between the 'I Need You' song title and the * credit indicator.  It of course still has the 2/2 first press matrix.

PMC 1255 // XEX 549-2 / XEX 550-2 // RM 2 / AL 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 & T6 Ex+ / T7 Near Mint) 

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T5 & T6 Ex+)

The cover is Near Mint-

The labels are Near Mint

The Emitex inner is Ex+

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no scratches and clearly has not been overplayed.  Under a bright light you can see some faint hairlines but there is nothing that stands out.  The run out grooves are very clean and the yellow / black Parlophone labels are unmarked with only minimal spindle wear as stated.  The KT tax code can easily be seen on S2.

Play grading  

'Help!' on S1 plays with great clarity and depth with hardly any intrusion.  The opening chorus is perfect and there is just one very quiet static tick during the second verse but the rest of the track plays to perfection.  A Mint- version.

The intro on 'The Night Before' has no interference and the first verse is equally as good.  It proceeds in much the same way with just one mega quiet static and a minor click near the end.  Ex+ is fair.

'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away' is as close to perfect as is possible and I am sure many would say it was!  I only heard a couple of barely audible statics which obviously are not intrusive and Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

'I Need You' again shows how well this vinyl has been preserved and plays with great clarity from start to finish with no interference.  You can hear each note so clearly and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound.  Mint-

The opening vocal on 'Another Girl' is perfect and it proceeds in the same way.  Stunning clarity and zero interference. Mint

There is one click in the dead and then the opening chorus on 'You're Gonna Lose That Girl' has just a just a hint of very quiet static.  From then on it plays very clearly but I would say the clarity is perhaps not quite on the same level as the preceding tracks.  No interference as such but I think Ex+ is about right.  Maybe it's just because we are getting to the end of the side.

In saying that the final track 'Ticket To Ride' plays so well with barely any of the inner groove distortion that you so often find.  The playback is so clean and it plays with great power and definition.  It has to grade as Near Mint at the very least.

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'Act Naturally' plays with stunning precision with no sign of any interference.  The clarity is high end and it has to grade as Mint as the playback is 'as new' from start to finish.

'It's Only Love' and 'You Like Me Too Much' play with sublime clarity and again there is no intrusion on the audio.  This vinyl is playing rather well when you consider it is 58 years old!  Both grade as Mint

'Tell me What You See' keeps up this fine standard and plays with great quality.  There is just one minor static sound after the first Tell me what you see vocal but is otherwise perfect.  A Mint- version.

The acoustic intro on 'I've Just Seen a Face' is perfect and from then on plays very clearly with just a hint of static on the vocal but it is very minimal.  It really does not detract from the audio and Ex+ is about right.

The classic 'Yesterday' plays in a very similar way.  It's still a damn good listen but there is just a touch of static distortion on the top end of the vocal every now and then.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and again Ex+ is deserved.  On the instrumentation side the playback is perfect.  Perhaps when played on a mono system the sonic quality could be enhanced.

'Dizzy Miss Lizzy' ends the album with very powerful audio and no interference.  What is so impressive is the lack of distortion and I really cannot fault it.  A very strong Mint- version.

In summary this first mono pressing plays with superb audio on both sides with only minimal background.  I have graded four tracks as Ex+ but even they play really well with no obvious interference and there is only one light click across the entire album.  I am sure the winning bidder will not be disappointed and the cover has stood the test of time so well which can only add to its appeal.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The G & L patents pending cover is in superb condition with hardly any wear.  The edges and thin pinched spine are remarkably clean with no rubbing etc and all corners are super clean also.  The opening edge is near perfect with barely any handling wear and is only very very slightly wavy.  The laminated front cover is so close to perfect with just one tiny mark near the top and the unlaminated back cover is again in superb shape with no obvious marking - just a minor amount of handling wear next to the opening edge.  The flipbacks are still 100% attached to the cover and have none of the staining around the edges that you often see, how rare is that?!  A stunning example overall.

The poly-lined Emitex inner is in great shape with only a couple of faint spots and minimal creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

PMC 1255 // XEX 549-2 / XEX 550-2 // RM 2 / AL 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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