The Beatles : Please Please Me 1N / 1N 1st Press 1963 (Decca Contract Press)

This very early mono pressing on the iconic yellow Parlophone label plays with stunning quality - the clarity and definition of the audio is just incredible and may well be the finest example I have ever heard.  There are no clicks or pops, no static or crackle and only very minimal inner groove distortion towards the end of each side.  It is visually very impressive and has only been lightly played over the years - a FINAL UPGRADE album i.e. no need to purchase another for better audio because you won't find it!  I cannot emphasise enough just how strong and clear the audio is.

The cover remains in superb condition with very little shelf wear and hopefully the photos do it justice.  The original Emitex inner is also in great order with no side splits etc.

This is known as a fourth pressing (second on the yellow Parlophone label) and is actually one of the rare Decca Contract pressings.  They were produced between summer-autumn 1963 so is not far off 60 years of age!  I am not sure how many Decca pressed but is obviously nowhere near the amount that EMI Parlophone did!  And there certainly cannot be many around today in this superlative condition!

A Decca pressing has a prominent groove around the label near to the edge and there is no tax code by the spindle hole either.  They did not use the BUCKINGHAM stamper code system and only have a mother number at 9 o'clock on the run out grooves.

PMC 1202 // XEX 421 - 1N / XEX 422 - 1N // 10 & 14 stamped at 3 o'clock on each side

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T7 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T6 & T7 Near Mint)

The cover is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

The Emitex inner is Near Mint-

When you consider the age of this record the visual 'look' is absolutely stunning.  It still has a lovely jet-black glossy sheen and has been so well preserved over the decades.  There are no marks or scratches and for once has no groove wear - it is obvious it has not been played very much and the audio confirms that.  I cannot even locate any hairlines and the only visual 'anomaly' is some very faint lines on each side caused by the poly-lined inner, 'bag rash' as it is sometimes called.  As I say they are only very faint and do not detract from the superb visual quality.  They can only be seen when you hold the record at a certain angle.  There is only very minimal spindle wear and the labels themselves remain in superb condition with no marking.

Play grading  

The run in on S1 has no 'background' so already you are expecting impressive audio!  'I Saw Her Standing There' more than delivers that and plays with exceptional quality from start to finish.  No ticks, clicks or pops there is no intrusion of any kind and Mint is no exaggeration.

There is then complete silence in the dead wax giving you a good idea of the clarity on offer here.  'Misery' then plays as well as the first track with literally no interference - each note can be heard so succinctly and already it is obvious that this record has only been lightly played .  Thus far the audio is breathtaking!  Even the fade out has no 'background' - another example of this incredible clarity.  Mint once more.

'Anna (Go To Him)'  keep up the standard with stunning audio throughout.  No distortion on the top end and Mint is deserved.  Again not even a solitary dust tick to be heard let alone anything more!

The two up-tempo tracks 'Chains' and 'Boys' also play with sublime quality.  The 'sound' is so clean and there are just no negatives.  You might expect some distortion on the latter being a more powerful track but there is certainly no noticeable difference to the playback.  They both grade as Mint in my educated opinion.

'Ask Me Why' plays with great clarity and...no clicks or pops.  It's the lack of distortion that really stands out and you have to take into account this is a mono record being played through a stereo set up meaning the audio is even more impressive in a way!  A wonderful Mint- version although I'm not sure the minus is required!

'Please Please Me' ends the side with very strong, clear audio again.  Now this track always has some distortion but it is kept to a absolute minimum here and is easily one of the 'cleanest' versions I have heard in a long time.  Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio - wow what a side!  Arguably it should not be down-graded because let's face it with vinyl you should always expect some inner groove distortion.

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The harmonica intro on 'Love Me Do' plays perfectly and the same applies to the rest of the track!  The clarity and depth of the audio is STUNNING and this is the definitive version.  I cannot stress enough just how good the playback is and is Mint in every sense of the word.

'P.S. I Love You' plays with outstanding clarity from the first note to the last and again there is no intrusion on the audio.  In fact there is no to describe each track in turn as they all play to the same 'high end' standard with no sign of any interference.  The quieter tracks play with such precision and the two more 'powerful' tracks that close this classic debut have only minimal inner groove distortion.  I am sure this could be 'improved' when played as a mono record.  Don't get me wrong they still play with stunning quality - 'Twist And Shout' is often unplayable I find but this is a fantastic version and can still be turned up to loud you will be pleased to hear.  A Near Mint finish for sure.

In summary this highly collectable Decca Contract pressing plays to a wonderful standard with no interference.  The clarity, warmth and depth of the audio is without doubt up there with the best I have ever heard and to think this record is fast approaching 60 years of age!  There is no 'background' between any of the tracks and remarkably there is no underlying static either.  Did I say no clicks or pops?!  As stated it is visually stunning and and with a cover that is also in beautiful condition this is one rare find indeed!  A FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic I can confidently say.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The G & L Patents pending cover is in lovely condition with no major wear at all.  The edges and spine are in perfect condition and there is only minimal corner wear, just a little more top right.  The opening edge is very clean with hardly any handling wear and the laminated front cover is near perfect with only a small number of faint creases around the edges and a couple of minor laminate creases near the actual title.  It could look any better.  The back cover is so clean and has none of the staining/marking that you so often see on the predominantly white backgound.  The flipbacks are also in great shape with only a couple of minor creases and again there is barely any of the staining that you regularly find.  A stunning example of this near 58 year old cover.

The original poly-lined Emitex inner is in great shape with no side splits, tears or marking and only a little creasing.

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

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

PMC 1202 // XEX 421 - 1N / XEX 422 - 1N // 10 & 14 stamped on each side

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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