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The Beatles : Rubber Soul 1 / 1 1st Mono Pressing (Loud Cut Edition) 1965

This first pressing needs little introduction of course so there is no need to say why it is collectable.  This Loud Cut edition plays with superb audio with only 'Michelle' playing with some interference as is common and this is detailed below.  The record has been played a fair amount but the clarity and depth of the audio is so impressive.  It has only minimal inner groove distortion at the end of each side and has only a couple of clicks at the end of the fade out on S1.  Visually the record does have a number of hairlines but it still plays extremely well which is the main thing!

The G & L cover is in excellent condition with not very much shelf wear and the original Emitex inner has also been preserved very well.

This first pressing on the Parlophone label has a 1 / 1 matrix and 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd...' around the perimeter edge of each label.  This has the second variation label where the * credit indicator is next to the song title, there is no space.  According to the Beatles-collection site almost all of these have a 1/4 or 4/1 matrix so I guess this 1/1 is perhaps more of a rarity.

PMC 1267 // XEX 579 - 1 / XEX 580 - 1 // LG 3 / HP 3

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T6 Near Mint / T7 VG) 

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T1 & T2 Mint-) 

The cover is Ex-

The labels are Ex+

The Emitex inner is Ex

Play grading  

The familiar intro on 'Drive My Car' has no static distortion (for once) and the opening vocal then plays with stunning clarity.  It continues in the same precise way with no ticks, clicks or pops and you can really hear each note so clearly - crystal clear sound!  There is nothing that detracts from the audio, even the fade out is super clean, and Mint- is richly deserved at the very least.

The acoustic / sitar intro on 'Norwegian Wood...' has only the bare minimum of mega light static but honestly it is so quiet you could easily miss, the clarity of sound is still hugely impressive.  Every vocal and instrumental section then play with sublime clarity and... no interference.  A classic track, lyrically and musically, and it grades as Mint-

'You Won't See Me' is the first track in my opinion that you really notice the harder, edgier style to the vocal as per the Loud Cut editions.  A more powerful track and yet the original sonic quality is still there.  To my mind the bass sound is not exactly 'muddy' but is actually a lot more in the background than it should be.  Despite all that (!) this is another Mint- track.

The vocal only intro on 'Nowhere Man' is distinctly aggressive (you can see why production was stopped!) and from then on it plays with great clarity and no interference.  This is first track where the bass really does have that 'muddy' sound as per the Loud Cuts but it's just part of its charm I guess!  Mint- again.

'Think For Yourself' plays very clearly from start to finish with no interference.  Perhaps sonically it's not how they would want it to be but you cannot fault the clarity of sound.  Mint-

As per any first / early mono pressing you expect some inner groove distortion as you approach the end of the record but I am pleased to say 'The Word' plays exceptionally well with only a minimal amount.  There are no clicks, pops or static and I will grade as Near Mint accordingly.

For once they end a side with a quiet track and 'Michelle' plays well but does have some light static on the vocal which increases a little during the second half.  There are also 3/4 static clicks at the end of the fade out so I will say VG overall.

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The intro on 'What Goes On' plays perfectly and Starr's opening vocal is equally as strong.  It then plays with STUNNING clarity and warmth through every section and Mint- is deserved, just one light tick literally at the end of the fade out.

'Girl' is of course a relatively quiet track and yet the clarity is so impressive.  Sonically it is very strong and has no interference.  A Mint- track.

'I'm Looking Through You' again plays with superb audio with no intrusion.  Ok perhaps a very minor amount of static distortion during the guitar 'moments' but is it more the aggressive sound they weren't keen on.  I will grade as Near Mint just to be a little cautious.

The intro on 'In My Life' is so close to perfect with only a hint of barely audible static.  From then on it plays so clearly with no clicks or pops and no obvious static.  I should perhaps grade as Mint- but again I will say Near Mint

'Wait' plays with that aggressive vocal sound but again there is no actual intrusion on the audio.  If there is any inner groove distortion it is so minimal and totally negligible.  Let's say Near Mint

'If I Needed Someone' plays to the same standard.  Very impressive audio for a last but one track.  Near Mint

'Run For Your Life' plays very clearly considering it is the final track on the side and the inner groove distortion really is kept to a minimum here.  Remember this is being played through my stereo set up so I'm sure the sonic quality would improve when it is played as a 'mono' record.  Taking all this into account I do think a Near Mint grade is fair, the playback is very strong.

In summary this very collectable Loud Cit first pressing plays to a very high standard with only minimal interference i.e. very minimal!  If I'm honest the only track with any real interference is 'Michelle' which, as is so often the case, plays with static distortion on the vocal and a couple of clicks literally at the end.  All of the other tracks play with sublime quality and the audio issues that the band and George Martin were not happy about are very obvious.  That is a good thing by the way as it shows the original sonic quality has been retained.  As stated the vinyl has been played a fair amount but the clarity of sound does show that it must have been played on high end equipment with correct tracking etc.  A fine example overall.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The Patents pending G & L cover is in excellent order with only a little shelf wear and still holds its original shape and structure.  The edges have hardly any rubbing and the spine is super clean with only minimal wear on the corners.  The top right corner has very little wear and the lower right one has just a small split on the bottom edge.  The opening edge has some light handling wear only.  The laminated front cover is very clean with only a handful of minor laminate creases and a small rough textured / crease in the top right corner - this is very very minor!  The back cover is cleaner than so many you see today - the white background is very impressive with no obvious marking and the flipbacks are still firmly attached to the cover.  For once the edges have barely any of the marking / staining that you regularly find.  There is just one small mark on the flipback in the top right corner as can be seen in the photos.  A relatively strong example in my opinion.  One last thing - the material 'fleck' that you can see on John's shoulder can still be seen, it is airbrushed out on later versions.

The original poly-lined Emitex inner is in excellent condition with no side splits, tears or marking although the cat number has been written in one top corner.  It also has a little creasing as is customary.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

PMC 1267 // XEX 579 - 1 / XEX 580 - 1 // LG 3 / HP 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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