Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1/1

The first mono pressing is in superlative condition and is easily the best I have heard.  It is absolutely stunning!  Played only once or twice it comes complete with an immaculate gatefold, that has never been fully opened, and an immaculate red inner and cut out card also.

First Mono 1/1 pressing on Yellow/Black label.  'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' etc printed around the perimeter edge and 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions' also on labels.

Sgt. Pepper's cut out card and red 'fool' inner sleeve included.  KT tax code stamp on S2 label.

Parlophone PMC 7027

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority) 

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / 'When I'm Sixty-Four' is Ex+)

The gatefold is Near Mint

The red inner sleeve is Near Mint

The Cut Out card is Mint-

The labels are Mint

 Visual grading

  This is a glorious looking vinyl!  I can safely say it has only been played once, maybe twice such is the stunning visual (and audio) quality.  At first glance you would honestly say it looks 'as new' as it has such a beautiful glossy sheen.  On closer inspection there are a couple of mega faint hairlines and one tiny mark on track one of S2 but this has no bearing on the immaculate audio.  The labels are so clean and there is only one tiny, barely visible spindle trace on each.  It is so rare to find this 50+ year old first mono pressing as clean as this and this is without doubt the most impressive one I have ever seen or heard.

Play grading

With very little lead in static the classic title track has a couple of dust ticks only on the intro and then plays in sublime style with superlative audio.  The clarity and range is 'high end' and it is obvious that this vinyl has been hardly played.  A stunning start with no intrusive interference.

'A Little Help From My Friends' is quite simply perfect from beginning to end.  With no 'background' audio does not get better than this.  There is not one single dust tick let alone anything more serious.  Absolutely stunning!

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' then equals this impeccable standard and again plays with Mint- quality.  This is audio of the highest calibre and there are no negatives to mention at all and the fade out has no 'background' either.  The clarity and sonic quality of the audio is immaculate and I'm not sure I've ever heard better.

'Getting Better' and 'Fixing A Hole' again impress with sublime sound and again grade as Mint- there is just no interference whatsoever.  The more I listen to this album the more distinctive it sounds.  The clarity is first class and the separation is stunning.  There is no muddiness to the sound and no distortion anywhere.  Wow!

I often find on the first mono pressings that 'She's Leaving Home' has some interference but I am more than pleased to say that this classic plays to a level that I have rarely heard before.  Towards the end there is perhaps a minor amount of distortion but I have to say it is so minor and does not detract from what remains a stunning listen.

'Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite' ends the side with superlative sound quality once more.  Again this track is often affected by distortion but not here!  For fear of repeating myself the clarity is 'high end' and again there are no clicks, pops or crackle.  as less of this static and impresses with excellent clarity and no clicks or pops again.  You can hear every note perfectly and it is worth noting again that the separation of all the instruments is just stunning.  This is audio of the highest quality.

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'Within You Without You' has no static on the intro, just one mega faint dust tick, and then proceeds to play with a great depth of sound where the bass really stands out.  Not everyone's favourite track it nonetheless plays with astounding audio that quite simply plays 'as new'.  I am confident in grading this as Mint- again the quality is that good.

'When I'm Sixty-Four' plays very clearly but there is one very quiet dull pop sound on the 'And if you say the word' line but there aren't any marks on the vinyl so it may be a pressing fault.  It is not intrusive and let's face it most sellers would not even mention it!  There is also one click further in but the remainder of the track plays with nigh on perfect sound.

Normal service is resumed on 'Lovely Rita' which plays to an impeccable standard with no issues whatsoever.  So often it plays with some distortion but that isn't the case here, the clarity and sonic quality is again of the highest standard.

'Good Morning, Good Morning' has a solitary dust tick on the intro and then impresses with wonderful audio and interference at all.  For a louder track it plays very clearly and with none of the distortion that is so often prevalent.  Even the animals at the end 'play' superbly well!

The 'Sgt. Pepper's' reprise is incredible and from the word go it plays with stunning audio.  The bass on the opening few bars is just so strong and high in the mix.  So distinctive from start to finish.

'A Day In The Life' ends this classic album in fine style.  The quiet intro has no 'background' and the clarity is second to none.  It continues in the same fashion and the first crescendo section up to 'woke up, fell out of bed' builds perfectly and with no distortion.  From thereon the audio plays so clearly and the second crescendo section plays as well as the first.  Due to the high quality of this vinyl it is not surprising that the long fade out plays with very little static.

In summary this is without doubt a final upgrade archive first press I am selling.  You can see it has been hardly played and the audio pays testament to that.  A couple of minor 'indiscretions' on S2 but hey this is over 50 years old!  This is as close to perfect as you will find in my opinion and will certainly add to any 'high end' Beatles collection.

Gatefold cover

In a word - stunning!  This G & L laminated cover is definitely the cleanest and most 'as new' one I have ever seen.  I did not fully open it as it had that lovely crunch/crackle sound of gatefold that had never been opened before and I didn't want to be the first!  The edges and the more common thin spine are in superb shape with no shelf wear at all and the opening edges look barely touched.  There is also practically no corner wear.  The laminate itself is in fantastic condition throughout with no splits or lifting anywhere.  There is just one faint mark towards the top of the front cover and one small crease on the back top left.  I was still able to look inside of the gatefold and wow it is immaculate!  The colours are so strong and vibrant and the one mark you can see on the left is an ink spot and has been there since it was manufactured.  There is no wear/staining on the inner spine or on the flipbacks.  This is near perfect example of this iconic gatefold, visually spectacular, and one that would be extremely difficult to improve upon.

Red inner sleeve & Cut Out card

The red 'fool' inner sleeve is again the most impressive one I have ever seen.  It has no splits and only very light creasing.  A near perfect example.  So rare to find in this condition.

The Cut Out card is in perfect condition with no signs of wear wear at all.

The Labels

The yellow/black Parlophone labels are in near perfect condition with only one tiny spindle trace on each side.  There are no marks or writing at all.  The KT tax code is on the S2 label.

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £6.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY EXTRA INSURANCE IS NECESSARY AND COSTS AN EXTRA £2.50.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (Second Class)

LPs/12" singles : £4.95 (recorded) then £0.75 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £7.95 then £1.25 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £4.95 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £11.95 then £1.75 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £5.95 then £0.95 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be selling plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Genesis and Marillion items so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!