THE BEATLES - PLEASE PLEASE ME 1963 STEREO PCS 3042 ZMT TAX LP

	£		195
	$		258

JUNE 1963

THE BEATLES DEBUT ALBUM

PLEASE PLEASE ME

Catalogue no. PCS 3042

UK 1963 Original Pressing

Although this is on the new Yellow & Black Parlophone label of June 1963, this particular Stereo pressing is almost as early and rare as the Black & Gold pressings.

Master Matrices YEX 94-1/ YEX 95-1

 The 1st and 2nd Stero pressings were in a Gold text for PLEASE PLEASE ME and were pressed in notoriously small quantities.

The third pressing is from June 1963, and is on the new Yellow and Black label but retained the 33 and a third indicator speed text. This was quickly removed resulting in fourth Yellow & Black label pressings in the same month, and lasting for a few months. This PLEASE PLEASE ME LP is a fourth pressing label. 

This copy has other attributes that make it almost as RARE and EARLY as the GOLD & BLACK stereo pressings!

Side 2 has the early ZMT tax code embossed on the label - this is RARE as EMI were in the process of changing the tax code to MT at the time of the FIRST and SECOND pressings. This ZMT tax code is only usually found on the FIRST gold & black pressings, and some SECOND pressings.

The stamper codes are 1 GM and 1 L, that is, the vinyl was pressed from 1ST mother plates in the manufacturing plants, FIRST mother plates were used for FIRST and SECOND pressings, and very very early first Yellow and Black pressings. So this vinyl was pressed on both sides from stampers that used the same mother plates as those Gold and Black pressings!

The label on Side 2 has close concentric perfectly circular rings running around the outside of the centre groove ring to about halfway into the label. This is not a contract Pressing because the EMI tax code and stamper codes are present in the correct place. A little research has led me to believe that this LP was pressed on the old EMI machines. This is mega rare and I've only ever seen this elsewhere in pictures. 

The Sleeve: Original Sleeve in Very Good condition

It is Fully laminated whith no rippling effects, no lifts or tears and no record ring wear.

The fold-over flaps are all present and intact with some age related storage wear. Just a few nicks along the top edge, a diagonal crease on the top right corner, and some wear on the bottom right corner.

The iconic photo on the front is extremely glossy and the reverse has a good clear white with various age related marks.

All edges are straight and well defined, and most corners are sharp with no wear.

Has large 'stereo' on top right in bold lower case letters.

All Tony Barrow text legible on reverse and front pictorial clear and glossy.

No stickers or handwriting or writing imprints.

 Printed & made by Ernest J Day Ltd. Patents Pending. 

This is a very neat and firm sleeve and is also one of the cleanest Stereo sleeves I've seen.

Inner Sleeve: This is the correct EMI Emitex advertising sleeve with thick outer paper and poly-lined interior. It has Patents Applied For printed in the left hand corner and Made In England in the lower right.  It is in Very Good Plus condition with all interior seams intact and there are no splits.

The Vinyl: Very Good Plus/ Excellent Minus Condition. Many would regard this as simply Excellent condition, but I think Very Good should mean Very Good, and Excellent should mean Excellent and so I put it on the borderline for appearance. There are absolutely no marks or scratches, completely smooth to the touch and in normal light it is almost impossible to see any imperfections. Turned under close bright light, as in the photos, there are ultra light fine surface stylus hairlines in some areas on both sides - which are only a sign of the record having received a fair number of plays. The original pressing shine is still present all over and there are no signs of groove wear, the vinyl has a jet black reflecting surface.

The vinyl is clean, the record lays completely flat on the turntable, and has no warps and shows no groove wear.

Heavy robust sixties vinyl weighing at 171 grams.

Labels are Very Good Plus. Text is clear and bright, the perimeter area around the spindle location point has some spindle wear around the perimeter but this is only light scuffing and would be almost impossible to find none at all. Side 1 has some light spindle lines but on Side 2 there are no spindle traces that can be seen. No handwriting or stickers or sticker residue. The Yellow text has held well, being complete and bright it contrasts well against the black background which has no fading.

Has the ZMT tax code embossed on side 2

The Original Parlophone Co. Ltd text around rim.

Mother/ Stamps:

Side 1 - 1 GM

Side 2 - 1 L

The Audio: Excellent.

It has been play tested on high end modern equipment and the quality of the vinyl surfaces described above reflects in the audio quality - and is even better owing to the high standard of sixties vinyl. Track change interludes to the songs are mostly completely quiet, those near the end of each side have some light static ticks as is usual. 

The vocals are crisp and clear and the bass is well defined.

This LP plays thoroughly and surprisingly well from beginning to end on both sides of the vinyl. There are no light ticks or light crackle or anything that can be heard over any of the sound. There are no detractions noticeable from the original audio clarity that would warrant a lower audio Grading I have given as excellent. 

The stereo channeling is perfect. There are obviously no clicks, pops, jumps, skips or sticks.

This is a 53 year old record, and it is the debut album of the world's biggest band and in rare stereo format for the time.

It is a very playable example and sounds great, it has a good appearance and is packed with character and it's value can only increase overtime.

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This LP will be securely delivered in a professional cardboard LP mailer with cardboard stifferners.

A plain anti-static inner sleeve will house the record and the original will be placed separately.

A high grade PVC sleeve is included to further protect the sleeve as shown.

UK delivery is included and is by next day special delivery.

Overseas delivery will be tracked and a tracking number will be given.

I use the official grading system for rare records from the Record Collector Magazine.

Happy to refund on return if not satisfied.