The Beatles : "A Hard Day's Night" 3N / 3N 1st Press 1963 (MT Tax Code)

This very early first pressing on the yellow Parlophone label plays with excellent audio overall and with only a little distortion here and there.  There is not one single tick, click or pop which is very impressive!

The cover is very clean and that especially applies to the back which is in superb shape.  The original Emitex inner just has a couple of small side splits.

Interestingly this first pressing has the MT tax stamp next to the S1 spindle hole.  This album was released in July '64 and the MT stamp was supposedly replaced by the KT one in July '63.  An anomaly I guess and I'm not exactly sure how rare it is.  I am sure it makes it more collectable though :-)

PMC 1202 // XEX 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // HR 3 / LA 3

The audio on S1 is Ex (T1, T2 & T4 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (T1 to T3 Near Mint / Near Mint-)

The cover is a very strong Ex

The labels are Near Mint

The Emitex inner is VG++

The vinyl is in great condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only a small number of very faint hairlines.  It has clearly been very well looked after down the years.  There is very little spindle wear and the MT tax code can easily be seen on the S1 label.

Play grading  

The title track 'A Hard Day's Night' plays with outstanding clarity and depth from the get go and this standard is maintained throughout.  There is no interference and is easily a Mint start to the album.

'I Should Have Known Better' is of the same standard and the playback is very 'clean' indeed.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and only a very minimal hint of static distortion on the top end, so minimal you could easily miss it.  It is so quiet and I only mention it to be 100% 'complete' in my grading.  Near Mint

'If I Fell' has just a little more distortion but has no clicks or pops.  It still plays with strong deep audio and Ex is deserved.

'I'm Happy Just To Dance With You' is very impressive for a more 'powerful' track and grades as Near Mint such is the quality.

'And I Love Her' plays very clearly overall with only a little static distortion on the vocal here and there.  However, it is quiet and really not that intrusive and there is only one section towards the end where is perhaps a little more obvious.  I am sure it could be reduced as this is a mono record being played through a stereo set up.  Ex is a fair grade.

'Tell Me Why' and 'Can't Buy Me Love' end the side with very strong audio but there is some inner groove distortion which is common with records from this era as you approach the end of the side.  There are no clicks or pops and will again grade as Ex

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I would say that S2 is the stronger of the two sides and plays with stunning quality overall.  'Any Time At All' starts things off with near perfect audio - in fact I am sure many would say perfect!  There is no intrusion and the clarity and depth of the music is very impressive.  Near Mint

'I'll Cry Instead' is very similar with no obvious intrusion at all.  A very minimal amount of barely audible static on the first half but the second half in particular is stunning.  Near Mint-

'Things We Said Today' plays with great clarity and only a minimal amount of static - very minimal!  No clicks or pops and Near Mint- is again deserved.

The final three tracks are of course louder up-tempo numbers and yet the playback is very strong with no interference as such, just a little inner groove distortion.  The last track 'I'll Be Back' is certainly a lot 'clearer' than many versions I have heard.  I think Ex+ is a fair assessment for these tracks.

In summary this very early first pressing plays to an excellent standard overall.  Yes there is a little static distortion here and there but I repeat this could be improved when played as a genuine mono record.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and for as a collectors' item with the rare MT tax code I am sure many would be impressed by the visual and audio quality of this near 57 year old record.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The G & L Patents pending cover is in excellent condition with only very minimal shelf wear.  The edges and spine have no rubbing, there is only a little corner wear and the opening edge is very clean also.  The laminated front cover has only a couple of minor creases, a few faint crease lines around the edges and a small corner crease bottom left.  The back cover is in superb condition with barely any of the staining/marking that you so often see, just a couple of very faint 'spots'.  The flipbacks are in great order with only very minimal marking on the edges, hardly worth mentioning really, and they remain firmly attached to the cover.  A very clean example overall.

The original poly-lined Emitex inner does have a couple of small side splits but has no 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 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // HR 3 / LA 3

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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