BEATLES RARE Sgt. PEPPERS UK MONO 1ST PRESS LP EX

	£		48
	$		64

This is the Rare 1967 Original Beatles UK First Press Mono Album titled “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” on Yellow / Black Parlophone PMC 7027. The matrix  numbers are as follows Side1 XEX 637 – 1 & Side2 XEX 638 – 1. The tracks are as follows Side1 1) Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band 2) With A Little Help From My Friends 3) Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 4) Getting Better 5) Fixing A Hole 6) She’s Leaving Home 7) Being For The Benefit Of My. Kite! Side2 1) Within You Without You 2) When I’m Sixty Four 3) Lovely Rita 4) Good Morning Good Morning 5) Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) 6) A Day In The Life. The album comes complete with it’s original red / white inner sleeve & cut out.       

Even though this isn't a concept album as such it remains the very first concept album in popular public consciousness. The idea of a fictional band wasn't fully carried through - the beatles name graces the cover and some straight forward pop songs make up the bulk of the recording. The albums reputation goes before it of course. Anything described by a whole load of people as the greatest album ever made is going to have a tough time winning over certain sceptics. It actually took me a good while to realise what this album has to offer the listener. The fact that the summer of love followed in its wake doesn't help because this isn't actually an obviously psychedelic record. Trying to listen to the album for what its not instead of what it actually is may leave you slightly disappointed, which would be a shame. We have a collection of good songs here, pretty much all of them - even Georges 'Within You Without You' is a good song. Yes, even that! Has anybody noticed the melody in that thing? The unusual Indian sitar instrumentation can't ultimately disguise the fact that its packed full of melodic fragments. And yeah, its pretty trippy :) It flows into 'When I'm Sixty Four' of course and that transition is a thing of pure genius. No other word for it. A complete contrast - a stupidly happy bass line, an English music hall feel and a little part that threatens to go outwards and outwards but just holds back.

The two 'Sgt Pepper' songs that 'bookend' this record are actually two of the least interesting things here. Almost a Cavern style throwback as if to remind you who exactly you are listening to. As if you even needed reminding. 'With A Little Help From My Friends' is both a damn fine song and possibly Ringos finest ever Beatles vocal. 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' is mischievous but does contain a couple of good musical moments along the way. It's by no means my favourite Beatles song, it seems a little repetitive to me, but so it goes. The guitar riff that opens 'Getting Better' sets the tone for a straightforward pop/rock song. McCartney is most noticeable with the extremely melodic bass lines that push the song forwards. The handclaps are attention to detail. Nothing is missed for what is essentially a simple song. 'Fixing A Hole' benefits from McCartney's melodic bass lines, and the harmonies. The harmonies! Perfectly and subtly placed but always in exactly the right places. 'She's Leaving Home' is beautiful, 'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite' has a great Lennon vocal and 'A Day In The Life' amongst other things boasts a great Lennon vocal. Yeah, it sounds like the end of the world with the noise and the strings and everything else. The kitchen sink. Good stuff though, and a more than impressive production. 'Lovely Rita' i've saved til last because for some reason its my favourite of the whole album. McCartney's vocal apes Lennon, the bass rises and falls, the lyrics are a storytelling humorous delight, and then these wonderful harmonies come in. It makes me smile, and so does 'Sgt Peppers' as a whole.

The record labels are in stunning condition (see pictures) with NO wear, writing & barely any spindle marks at all & graded NEAR MINT. This superb Beatles album is pressed on thick heavy duty 60’s vinyl and still retains it’s just pressed look with a very shinny lustre. There are NO visual defects and plays superb crisp & clean & is graded EXCELLENT having just a few very light paper scuffs of which do not distract this from this awesome mono sound. The gatefold sleeve is also in EXCELLENT condition with NO writing, NO spine wear & straight firm opening edges.           

The Greatest attention to packaging with all albums housed in aluminium framed box complete with bubble wrap & thick cardboard. The vinyl is also removed from the sleeve to ensure safe delivery.

Postage Costs:

UK First Class = £2.80 Recorded Delivery = £5.50 & Special Delivery (next day, insured up to £250) = £7.00

Europe Air Mail = £4.00 Insured = £8.00

Overseas, non Europe USA, Japan, Australia etc Air Mail = £6.50 Insured £11.00

Doubles add extra £1.00, triples add extra £2.00

Extra albums add £1.00 in the UK, Europe £1.30 & USA, Japan, Australia £1.75

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