With The Beatles * NEAR MINT * JOBETE LABEL ERROR * STEREO * 1963 UK 1st PRESS
£
230
$
305
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Description
The Beatles - With The Beatles
I am pleased to offer for sale this superb, archival quality copy of The Beatles second studio album, With The Beatles.
Album Background:
With the Beatles, recorded in the summer/autumn of 1963, was released in November of the same year to take advantage of the Christmas boom in sales. The marketing strategy worked, the album sold over half a million copies prior to release and sold another half a million before the end of 1965 - making it only the second album to go platinum in the UK. Similar to Please Please Me, the album paired Lennon-McCartney original recordings with covers of well known rock'n'roll songs. It was also the first album to feature a track penned by George Harrison, "Don't Bother Me".
Although many copies of the album were sold, the majority of these were mono recordings (as the majority of record players in 1963 were mono). Only a small fraction were stereo. And due to the nature of the Beatles audience, the majority of copies seen today are heavily damaged; they were either played endlessly, taken to parties, played on players with a damaged/worn stylus or a combination of all three. As such, finding clean and original copies of this album is particularly difficult.
As well as being in superb archival condition, the album has several notable features. The first is the 'prototype' sleeve that the vinyl is housed within. As EMI were unsure of the design and placement of the 'STEREO' aural signifier seen on top right-hand corner of the front of the album, they requested Garrod & Lofthouse to provide sleeves without the printed text. A stencil was then used to introduce the design on top of the laminate. The rubbing seen to the stereo text evidences that this is one such sleeve. I have seen thousands of copies of With the Beatles and only ever seen this prototype sleeve once before. Extremely rare.
The second is the first variant labels in which the publishers credit for T7S2, "Money", is listed as "Jobete" which was found on just the first few thousand copies. This was changed on all subsequent variants to "Dominion. Belinda".
To find an album of this rarity in this condition is almost impossible.
Album Details:
Serial number: PCS 3045
Matrix number: YEX 110 - 2 / YEX 111 - 2
Stamper codes: 3 RT / 2 RO
Tax Codes: KT
Vinyl Weight: 165g
The -2 / -2 matrix numbers confirm that the record is a true UK first pressing - there was no -1 / -1 With The Beatles records produced. The mother & stamper codes communicate that the record was produced early in the production run. Consequently, the audio reproduction is fantastic. Take a listen yourself below!
The labels are the first variant as is evident from the presence of two mistakes on the side 2 label, which are: "Jobete" publishers credit for T7 S2, "Money"; and the incorrect spelling of 'Got A' on T3 S2, instead printed as: "You Really Gotta Hold On Me".
As mentioned above, the Garrod & Lofthouse produced front-side laminated sleeve is a pre-production prototype of the first variant as is evident from the rubbing to the large solid 'STEREO' aural indicator text printed to the front side and the incorrect spelling of 'Got A' on T3 S2, "You Really Gotta Hold On Me" on the track-list to the reverse.
The album is complete with the original polythene lined die-cut Emitex 'protect your records' inner sleeve.
Condition Report:
The condition report provided below is given as a guide only. I include high-quality, comprehensive photographs as well as a complete audio recording in my listings to enable you to make an informed decision on the condition of this record yourself.
Disc: MINT -
Labels: MINT -
The labels are clean retain rich, vibrant colours. A small number of dull spindle trails can be seen around each unworn centre hole.
Visual: MINT -
Sound Quality: MINT -
Please note: the eBay app does not facilitate playback. Please use the internet site to enjoy the audio clips.
Side 1:
Side 2:
As can be heard in the recordings, the record sounds absolutely fantastic. This is a clearly a copy that has been seldom played on good quality equipment. There are no aural intrusions throughout the entire record. The lead ins are quiet. During the dead-wax between tracks only the sound of a rotating stylus can be heard. There is great channel separation, the bass is punchy, the vocals are clear. A truly superb listening experience that could not be improved upon.
Sleeve: MINT -
(Please note, although some may disagree, I have not graded the sleeve down due to the rubbing to the 'stereo' text as without this it would be impossible to know it was the prototype sleeve).
Inner Sleeve: MINT -
The original inner sleeve is in as-new condition.
Additional Details:
Before the audio test, the vinyl was cleaned first by an Okki Nokki vacuum cleaner and then an Audio Desk ultrasonic cleaner.
After cleaning, the vinyl was placed inside a brand new mobile fidelity anti-static inner sleeve.
The vinyl will be packaged outside of the sleeve, both of which are stored inside an archival quality polypropylene outer sleeve.
The record will be sent via an insured courier in a padded vinyl mailer.
Please see my other listings for more vinyl rarities.
Bidders with less than ten feedback please get in touch before bidding otherwise your bid will be removed.
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