THE BEATLES Please Please Me UK B/Y MONO LP, 4th Press

	£		20
	$		26

THE BEATLES Please Please Me UK B/Y MONO LP, 4th Press

The Beatles, Please Please Me.

1963 issued UK black and yellow fourth pressed Parlophone Records mono LP, PMC 1202.

Both labels omit the 'Sold in UK' text but have 'Parlophone Co Ltd' perimeters and 'Recording First Published' lettering.

The embossed 'KT' tax code is visible to the centre of the side one label.

Matrix numbers: XEX 421-1N and XEX 422-1N.

Stamper numbers: 1, 9 / RRM and 1, 4 / RMO.

Housed in original front laminated, flipback 'Ernest J. Day' sleeve, large "mono" logo sleeve. Notably, a straight vertical line can be drawn between the end of the "g" in "songs" and the beginning of the text "Photo: Angus McBean" underneath.

LP is housed in original poly-lined 'Use Emitex' inner sleeve.

Not mint, but an extremely clean extant issue, and very much cleaner than most which surface.

Visually vinyl is the top end of VG, just escaping an EX. Spider trail marks are visible at centre spindle areas, but these are not excessive, and labels have not been worn or whitened. Vinyl surfaces still have a rich and bright gloss and display just a very few light and superficial hairline scuffs. Only around three of these are slightly more visible, but in all instances they are tiny and not visible unless the LP is scrutinised at very close range. There are no scratches or deep marks of any kind. General appearance is of a lightly and very carefully played LP.

Playback is really superb. The early mono is still vibrant and punchy with no loss of clarity or distortion. No evidence of groove wear by playing with a 'blunderbuss' stylus which has rendered so many of these LPs virtually worthless. Surfaces are very quiet and there is no underlying background noise. There are just a very few patches of the quietest of static crackle here and there, but these are very short lived and can only really be heard at some of the bands between tracks. Many of the bands between tracks are impressively silent. Virtually none of this is detectable while the tracks are playing, even in the very quietest patches where the sound drops to virtual silence. The actual playback can actually be graded EX. A really comfortable listening experience throughout, with background noise never being any significant distraction. I have actually carefully play graded this three times, and each time noticed an impovement, so am pretty sure that there is still room for further improvement, and that the few instance of light crackle are virtually all down to residue rather than marks on the surfaces.

Labels have a good and bright appearance still. The A side label has a paper label affixed to the top with sellotape. This is possibly removable with care.

Inner sleeve in excellent condition and free of heavy creasing, tears, marks or inscriptions.

Outer sleeve is also in fairly solid condition, although not perfect. Laminated front panel very bright and clean and free of marks or stains. No scuff marks, impressions or tears to surface. A few minor pinches and half moons to laminate. Seams are in very good order, and the spine especially looks really good, with no wear or chipping. Barely any wear to top left tip, and just the slightest of wear to top right tip. Bottom left tip a little worn and with some very minor creasing, but still very structurally sound. Bottom right tip slightly more worn, and above this it is noticeable that there is a little separation between the front layers of the sleeve. This is tidy and without tearing or loss however, easily remedied with a dab of adhesive to stop it catching and tearing. Entry side is still very well delineated and not worn or feathered.

Rear panel slightly grubby and with some minor tan stain spots to left hand side. No prominent marks or stains however. Penned previous owner initials to bottom left of rear. Backflaps intact, although could do with regumming at top right and bottom left corners where they are starting to separate.

In summary a very well preserved LP, especially given the near fifty year vintage. Very few have survived as well as this one has.

1. I Saw Her Standing There

2. Misery

3. Anna (Go To Him)

4. Chains

5. Boys

6. Ask Me Why

7. Please Please Me

8. Love Me Do

9. P.S. I Love You

10. Baby It's You

11. Do You Want To Know A Secret

12. A Taste Of Honey

13. There's A Place

14. Twist And Shout

John Lennon - Paul McCartney - George Harrison - Ringo Starr

Note that audio grading is subjective and based on sensitivity of equipment used for playback. In this instance playback has been tested on a vintage Technics Quartz Direct Drive SL1700 MKII turntable with Shure cartridge, Technics SU-C 03 amp and Technics SB-F2 Linear Phase speakers.

Also note that I generally do not clean vinyl unless so noted. Most vinyl will show improved playback quality with your preferred cleaning method, but I leave this to the prospective buyer, as controversy still surrounds the ideal method of cleaning vinyl.

POSTAGE & PACKAGING RATES

UNITED KINGDOM = £4.00
EUROPE = £7.75
REST OF WORLD = £10.75

I CAN ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING PAYMENT METHODS ONLY

Created with AuctionTamer