BEATLES EP COLLECTION - UNPLAYED AND TOTALLY UNIQUE VERSION

	£		1,750
	$		2,089

THE BEATLES - EP COLLECTION
Near Mint, possibly promo, or prototype, box set.

This is a totally unique version of the box set, with no other examples available for sale, or having been sold as far as I know. As to the details of their uniqueness, I won't attempt to provide these myself as I simply don't have the in-depth knowledge to do so, but will provide the following comprehensive details from the previous owner of this set, Beatles expert Roy Sapiro (many thanks, Roy!):
ULTRA RARE UK GLOSSY BLACK BOX SET CONTAINING THIRTEEN EP's,

  POSITIVELY NOT THE UK 1981 NAVY BLUE EP BOX SET WITH THE SAME TITLE AND GOLD TITLES LOGO!! 
  ULTRA RARE AND COMPLETELY UNDOCUMENTED, MADE APPROXIMATELY IN THE MID-1990's IN ENGLAND,
  ALL RECORDS MASTERED AT ABBEY ROAD AND PRESSED BY EMI AT THEIR HAYES, MIDDLESEX, PRESSING PLANT.
THIS IS A PREPARED BOX SET THAT WAS NOT RELEASED AND NEVER WENT INTO FULL SCALE MANUFACTURING,
  THE ACUTE RARITY AND BEING PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN, SHOWS HOW FEW WERE MADE, I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF MORE THAN THREE OF FOUR, THIS COULD BE THE ONLY EXISTING COMPLETE SET AND BOX.

Where do I start, this is up there with the rarest UK Beatles item I have ever offered for sale, maybe the rarest of them all
because so few were made.  There have been several similar pressings of Parlophone singles with the same 'Parlophone' label rim text, 'Recording First Pressed' & 'Sold In UK" on obviously non 60's pressings sold on ebay as earlier than they actually are, on the basis they have solid centres from the pre 1967 era of push-out centres only, well they had to originate from the same period these EP's were made, also all with push-out centres.  They are documented and several copies are regularly sold for high figures on ebay, apart from one of the thirteen, twelve of these EP's have never been seen before and the value of these as individual records, would be enormous! The amazing "Twist and Shout" EP alone appears to be more of a one-off pressing that was never sold commercially, an injected ink moulded plastic label 1990's version of "Twist and Shout" is off the scale for rarity. I would never break up any Box Set to increase the value by selling individual titles, oh yes, every record is in unplayed Mint.

There is a connection to those few 1990's solid centre Beatles singles pressed with the original 60's label text, but there the
  rarity ends because the singles are well known and this was a purpose made EP Box set that does not register as being documented.

The above is relevant to discovering this astonishing box set, I should have been aware of this in the 90's,but it was previously unknown by all, a 1990's UK / EMI pressed completely different version of December, 1981, "The Beatles EPs Collection" was made.
  I was amazed to recently buy this thirteen EP Box Set and find there was no less than three Palophone labels on them! Ever since and I have spent a great deal of time trying to find some information,I can now conclude there is no documentation anywhere in reference books or the entire internet. According to all present understanding, the last time a UK Beatles set of UK Beatles EP's were made,was in December,1981. Well, I believed that myself until recently but there is no doubt EMI ordered a set of thirteen Beatles EP's to be pressed at their Middlesex pressing plant,the records were placed in 1990's plain black,semi glossy 7" sleeves with die-cut centres. A top quality flip-lid box was made in the same design as the December,1981,"The Beatles EPs Collection" box.  Only that had a textured navy blue outside and was big enough to incorporate the extra width of the "Magical Mystery Tour" and deeper enough to contain 15 EP's, not 13.  In fact, the 1981 EP Box had a specially made compartment at the back, due to the different format of a gatefold cover with 24 attached pages, holding two records.  This box is plain black and custom made to contain 13 EP's, the same gold colour "The Beatles EPs Collection," title was printed on the front and top but the finish was a ultra glossy and very close to lamination, only thicker. As I will demonstrate the records were pressed by EMI , back to the differences to the box itself, the 1981 EP box had all four Beatles autographs printed in the same  gold as the related LP and single boxes, this 1990's version did not. The 15th June 1992 saw EMI release a CD Box Set version of the 1981 EP vinyl Box Set, was there a connection here? Highly possible, although the box design was re-made due to the smaller size of 3" CD's, with that and being ten years later, the box colour was now a charcoal black tone. The 1992 CD black box did not have the gold embossed Beatles autographs, just like this 1990's vinyl EP box, allowing for the size difference to the 3" CD
box, there are more similarities to the 1992 CD box than the 1981 EP box.  Move along to the "Anthology" series that began with the first installment in October,1995, I believe that was approximate time an experimental or a Promo Beatles EP vinyl edition was made,there are no 'Factory Sample' or 'Manufacturers Property' stickers on the box or any of the 13 records. Without any promo or Demo text I cannot categorically state 'Promo', but I'm not someone who 'sits on the fence'and when investigating rare items my instinct is finely tuned and an opinion instantly forms.  After searching fully for a reference to this "Beatles EPs Collection", and finding nothing, the fact this was never given a Box Set catalogue number,firmly places it as either a Promo or an experiment of the abandoned type. 

However,the lavish top quality, deluxe glossy box combined with the incredible detail given to the labels and vinyl pressing, this has all the ingredients of a 'money no object' Promo item.  Being realistic here, Apple stood to make a fortune from the vinyl, CD's, video's (Later DVD and Blue Ray) from the 'Anthology' project, the Beatles UK vinyl EP's were only ever released on EMI's Parlophone label and a sky high budget for a Promo Box Set was exactly how EMI worked when the Beatles records were being issued at a given point in time when interest was so focused.  Of course the late 1980's - mid-1990's was as completely different to the 1960's as anything released freshly in 2016.So by focusing on that 1980's - late 1990's period of CD dominance over vinyl and the introduction of internet downloading. What better example of that could be to examine an ex-Beatle signed to the Parlophone label within that time frame. If you look at Paul McCartney's albums like "All The Best" from 1987 we are around the beginning of the era in question, EMI with Paul's full involvement had a special and exclusive set of singles pressed without any concern for the cost. A UK Promo only Box set contained the whole of the "All The Best" double album entirely as 45 singles...all in plain black glossy 7" sleeves,inside a custom made glossy black box with the title printed on the front....sound familiar? The very same plain black glossy sleeves EMI used for their Promo singles between the late 1980's and the 1990's decade. Then 12 later years in 1999, you had Paul's "Run Devil Run" album available to buy with the entire album as 45 singles, with a bonus track not on the album added by Paul, as a low numbered Limited Edition in a custom made fantastic box. All the labels were custom printed once again,
a similar beautiful label design to Paul's 1983 "Pipe Of Peace" LP when Side 1 had a replica pre-Beatles era, 1950's Parlophone style label,a purple background to gold printing.  26 years later in 1999, Paul had returned to the same nostalgic design for his "Run Devil Run" album and associated vinyl singles.  Only this time, by issuing a stunning actual record case box set as that as a numbered Limited Edition, the whole "Run Devil Run" album was made available as the 'A' & 'B' sides of eight singles in the same era's Parlophone 7" sleeves design,that had to be custom printed and were perfect in every detail,even including EMI's earlier London address. The box and the contents were paying homage to the late 1950's rock & roll era that inspired the Beatles.

No item made by the same record company exists in isolation,by looking at other similar items,there will always be a common thread connecting them. The black 7" inner sleeves are not just 'similar' to EMI's sleeves from the era being examined, they are 100% exactly the same design and material. I will be listing all 13 EP's and include catalogue numbers, matrix and original release  ates, plus the specific unique featues and there plenty of those! For example,they the rarest of what is a box full or rarities, is the Beatles very first 1963 EP, "Twist And Shout," unbelievably on EMI's ink injected plastic moulded label, unheard of and surely the rarest item made in their pressing plant.  Cynics will immediately scream, "Fake" but no fake record gets past me!  The outside EMI rim text is unique and has raised / embossed and that could only be made by EMI, my pictures concentrate on three records with completely different label and I obviously chose this amazing "Twist And Shout". that matrix could not be copied and it even has a 'Q' letter directly after the main matrix with varying digits, exactly like the UK "Real Love" & "Free As A Bird" singles, which were pressed on the same silver injected moulded label records,with EMI rim text embossed. How many were made?  I cannot say for sure, but I doubt if anymore than three or four, this could well be the only one left now. My date of mid-1990's is based on this being a mirror image of the "Real Love" & "Free As A Bird" singles.
  The unique features are multiple and complex and best reserved to accompany the listing of the individual EP titles,if I ever get there!  That involves a great deal of typing so I had better start to wind this and sum up the items and their condition.
  
  THE BOX HAS A GLOSSY BLACK DELUXE TOP SURFACE, THE FLIP LID AND RECORD STOARGE COMPARTMENT INSIDE IS TEXTURED WHITE.  LOOKING ABSOLUTELY STUNNING WITH "The Beatles EPs Collection" GOLD LETTERING ON  THE JET BLACK BACKGROUND. NO RUBBING AT ALL TO THE FRONT & TOP GOLD LETTERING AND DOUBLE UNDERLINES AND THE UNTARNISHED GOLD IS GLEAMING LIKE THE DAY IT WAS PRINTED.  ANY SIGNS OF HANDLING OR STANDING IN STORAGE ARE SO MINIMAL AND TRIVIAL, A MINUS ON THE ULTIMATE GRADING TAKES CARE OF THAT.
THE BOX IS IN MINT- CONDITION


TWELVE RECORDS HAVE EMI'S PLAIN BLACK GLOSSY 7" SLEEVES AS DISCUSSED IN DEPTH ABOVE, THE OTHER IS A "The Beatles" PICTURE SLEEVE.   THE BONUS EP HAS FOUR UNIQUE STEREO MIXES FROM THE 1981 VERSION OF "The Beatles EP Collection" BOX SET. 
ALL 13 SLEEVES WERE NEVER USED AND ONLY HAVE TYPICAL RECORD IMPRESSIONS AND HANDLING / STANDING TRAITS ARE AS MINIMAL AS IT GETS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS.

ALL THE RECORDS ARE ON THE PARLOPHONE LABEL, IF WITH THREE DIFFERENT PARLOPHONE LABELS!

The last documented UK pressing of the Beatles EP's By EMI was between 1978 – 1981, in December,1981 all the UK tiles were pressed with an EP Box Set in mind. The mentioned Bonus EP with Stereo mixes, was once again chosen to accompany the twelve 1963 -1966 Beatles UK EP's, for this 1990's unreleased "The Beatles EPs Collection" BOX SET.
NONE OF THE RECORDS WERE PLAYED AND ALL IN UNPLAYED MINT CONDITION.


THE EP TITLES AND TRACK'S
  ALL RECORDS PLAY AT 45 RPM IN MONO, EXCEPT THE 1981 BONUS "The Beatles" EP, WHICH CONTAINS
  FOUR 45 RPM TRACKS, UNIQUELY MIXED IN STEREO. PLEASE EXCUSE NOT INCLUDING THE SONG COMPOSERS   BUT THERE HAS TO BE A LIMIT TO THE INPUT SO FAR.

  "TWIST AND SHOUT" (GEP 8882, Issued 12th July,1963)

Ultra rare and the pressing itself has never been documented as being made in the 1990's, let alone being on EMI's silver and  black injected plastic moulded labels. This EP alone tells of absolutely minimal pressing for all the titles here strictly vinyl, as I said earlier, as low as three or four but that might well be wrong and it was even less than that.  The concentration was on the records,no covers were made for the twelve 1990's pressings and that was the only sign of economic restraint, explaining why "Magical Mystery Tour" was dismissed from consideration, the book and the 26 pages were of course available in a 12" scale gatefold cover a book and an LP with complimentary 1967 A & B sides of singles.
  
SIDE 1:
"Twist And Shout"
  "A Taste Of Honey"

SIDE 2:
"Do You Want To Know A Secret"
"There's A Place"

MATRIX: 7TCE 762 - 2N Q 2 /  7TCE 763 - 1N  Q 2

No doubt the rarest ever UK pressing of a Beatles EP or a 45, made in such small numbers,they were less than a Demo and can only be compared to an acetate or a Test Pressing.  This had to be made in the mid-1990's because it is identical to the two Beatles singles released around the time of the "Anthology" series. "Real Love" & "Free As A Bird" were pressed on the same silver moulded label records,with EMI's rim text embossed and also had the letter 'Q'directly after the main matrix with varying digits. I was amazed at the unkown UK EP Box Set, but incredulous to discover the Beatles first ever EP was pressed on EMI's vinyl in the last  decade of operating their Hayes, Middlesex pressing plant....well, here it is in unplayed Mint condition!

  "THE BEATLES' HITS" (GEP 8880, issued 6th September,1963)

Including the 1963 first pressings, unlike every previous pressing that had the "Parlophone" lettering and '£' logo in yellow,this has black and silver only printing, only the 1967 "Magical Mystery Tour" double EP sset was in this format. The label rim text is 'Parlophone Co.Ltd.'on the pre 1965 EP's, just like the first pressing and so do the 1965 -1966 EP's.  The template of the very first made label was referred to in Abbey Road in the mid-1990's because "The Beatles' Hits" omits the date of publication and that would have been "Recording First Pressing 1963".  As there were pressings made for January,1964 ,that proves this was indeed an Abbey Road Studio project, also the 1964 - 1966 EP's in this very unique, rare Ep Box Set, have the 1960's "Sold In UK" text printed on the solid centres.  All the records in this Box Set have solid centres right from "Twist and Shout,"the original label text was ignored for the 1981 EP Box Set, they have "EMI Records Ltd." as the rim text and certainly not "Sold In UK" or the thier 60's only formats like "Recording First Pressing 1963."

SIDE 1
"From Me To You"
"Thank You Girl"

SIDE 2
"Please Please Me"
"Love Me Do"

  MATRIX: 7TCE 760 - 2 N / 7TCE 761 - 2 N
 
Directly taken original 1963 matrix, complete with the letter 'N' ending.

  "THE BEATLES (No.1)" (GEP 8883, issued 1st November, 1963)

Once again, no "Sold In UK" in 1963 but this does have the original text format, "Recording First Pressing 1963", all the EP's have the 1960's UK Tax Code 'KT' machine stamped in the run-out grooves.  That also confirms EMI's direct return to the first UK pressings and 'KT'appears in the corresponding position to the various years, either at 3 or 12 o'clock. With so many to detail. I had better move along and not write large paragraphs per individual EP, I would like to add track and background info for everyEP but I can save that for when I am listing one EP at a time.

  SIDE 1
"I Saw Her Standing There"
  "Misery"
SIDE 2
"Anna (Go To Him)"
"Chains"

MATRIX: 7TCE 764 - 1N /  7TCE 765 - 1N.

  "ALL MY LOVING" (GEP 8891,issued 7th February,1964)

The release of the Beatles fourth EP, "All My Loving", was intended for late 1963 but it was delayed until early in the New Year of 1964.  Late 1963 had really been an unbelievably busy period for UK Beatles records, the reason why the labels have the original publishing year in the format,"Recording 1st Published 1963," even though it was not made available to buy until February,1964.  Previously in 1963, EMI's earlier 1960's labels did not have the price conditions text,"Sold In UK", now inside the introduction of the new text in 1964 that would continue until mid-1969. Original/first pressing "All My Loving" EP's were issued in February, 1964 with and without "Sold In UK" printed on the push-out centre of the labels,they sat side by in British 60's record shops. This mid-1990 pressing had gone back to the late 1963 labels and did not therefore include the "Sold In UK" on this solid centre label,but also retained the year of publication as, "Recording First Pressing 1963."
  
SIDE 1
"All My Loving" 
  "Ask Me Why"
> 
SIDE 2
"Money"
  "P.S. I Love You"
  
MATRIX: 7TCE 790 - 1N / 7TCE 791 - 1N.
Another return to the first pressing with the original 1963 matrix ending with the letter 'N', also hand scribed in the run-out grooves, is the 'HTM' logo of Harry Moss,who mastered the EP.

  "LONG TALL SALLY" (GEP 891319, issued 2nd July,1964)

The first pressings automatically inherited the "Sold In UK" text, if strange to see on a solid centre EP pressing in the 1990's without the yellow Parlophone lettering and logo. Transferring the original text format, "Recording First Pressing 1964" for the first time for every Beatles EP in that year. "Long Tall Sally" was unique as a Beatles EP, all four tracks were exclusive and the emphasis was on rock & roll, three great cover versions and one Lennon / McCartney composition that also was not found on a single or an album.

SIDE 1
"Long Tall Sally"
  "I Call Your Name"

SIDE 2
"Slow Down" 
"Matchbox"

MATRIX: 7TCE 822 - 2 / 7TCE 823 - 2 

Now it gets even more interesting,the first of two EP's with EMI's resident 1990's top vinyl mastering sound engineer, Nick Webb,   has his logo handwritten in the run-out grooves; 'NickW'.  There are various single digits in the run-out grooves, they did not appear to be relevant and this complicated enough without including the '1' and '2' digits, they are not representing mothers and a personal indexing system unique to 12 of the thirteen EP's, was no doubt the work of either Harry Moss or Nick Webb, the Beatles Master Tapes were very busy during the "Anthology" series, but the greatest respect was paid to mastering to vinyl, after all, this was the last of the true Mono analogue mixes of the Beatles 45 RPM tracks, the UK mixes are unique to the EP's.  So much for writing less per EP title, but this was a very complex 1963 intended release that was held back until 1964.

  "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (EXTRACTS FROM THE FILM)." (GEP 8920, issued 4th November,1964)

About time I stopped mentioning rare label text and Box sets, for a breather, I would like to simply say this first volume presents four glorious tracks from the first Beatles full length film in 1964, "A Hard Day's Night." Perfectly capturing 'Beatlesmania' and the Beatles songwriting genius to write and perform an entire album with every song self written.  One of two volumes, this wonderful EP features unique UK 45 RPM Mono Master Tape mix,the best new for this Box set, is that mix was faithfully transferred to all the EMI pressed EP's, just read the titles on both volumes!

SIDE 1
"I Should Have Known Better"
"If I Fell"

SIDE 2
  " Tell Me Why"
"And I Love Her "

MATRIX:  7TCE 832 - 2 / 7TCE 833 - 1
  Hand scribed in the run-out grooves for the second and final time, is 'HTM,' the logo of Harry Moss who mastered the EP.
  With "Sold In UK" and I should keep stating, this extremely rare pair of "A Hard Day's Night" EP's have silver and black printing and not the yellow Parlophone lettering and logo. With 12 out of 13 UK pressed EP's with completely exclusive features, make this the most intriguing and unique substantial UK Beatles Box Set ever made.

  "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (EXTRACTS FROM THE ALBUM)." (GEP 8924, issued 7th January,1965)

Complete here with the "Sold In UK" text and the original text format still in use in 1964, "Recording First Pressing 1964."

  SIDE 1
"Any Time At All"
"I'll Cry Instead "
  
  SIDE 2
"Things We Said Today"
"When I Get Home"

  MATRIX:  7TCE 832 - 2 / 7TCE 833 - 3 
  
The "A Hard Day's Night" album also saw John Lennon singing the most lead vocals on any Beatles album, their music was becoming more melodic and acoustic instruments were starting to dominate the recording's, so much so, the album immediately following in late 1964, had several cover versions to compensate their most draining year.  Making their first film and soundtrack album was accompanied by crossing the Atlantic and 'conquering America' earlier in March.

  "BEATLES FOR SALE (No.1)" (GEP 8931, Issued 6th April,1965) 

A late 1964 album, but so many singles, EP's and singles delayed compiling eight of the finest tracks onto two volumes of EP's, the second was not released until June, 1965.  Now into 1965 and still not quite up to July,the 'Parlophone Co.Ltd.' label rim text was correctly printed on both EP volumes for this intriguing and undocumented, mid-1990, "Beatles EP Collection" Box Set. I have no other comments to make about this being a Promo only project, or how can I explain why I have never seen this before, and obviously existing in such low numbers, maybe only one or two still exist. 
  
SIDE 1
"No Reply"
"I'm A Loser"

SIDE 2
"Rock And Roll Music"
"Eight Days A Week

MATRIX:  7TCE 860 - 1  / 7TCE 861- 3.

  "BEATLES FOR SALE (No.2)"  (GEP 8938, issued 4th June, 1965)

SIDE 1
"I'll Follow The Sun"
  "Baby's In Black"

SIDE 2 
  "Words Of Love"
  "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party"

MATRIX: 7TCE 874 -1 / 7TCE 875-1

With so little time between both volumes the "Parlophone Co. Ltd." label text was on the first pressings and this 1990's pressing, so was the "Sold In The UK" text on the solid centre.  Once more, the year of publication was faithfully researched and the 1964 recordings were given the correct format '(P) 1964.' The second volume contained my favourite album track, a sublime version of Buddy Holly's "Words Of Love", the acoustic theme continued with the beautiful Paul McCartney classic "I'll Follow The Sun." Add in the wonderful pair, "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" & "Baby's In Black" and the unique mono 45 mixes make this just as essential as the first volume's fantastic quartet of Beatles track magic.

  "BEATLES' MILLION SELLERS" (GEP 8946, Issued 6th December,1965)

From this 1990's pressing,you can easily identify the individual EP and whole new project because instead of the label rim text on the first pressing and the early 1970's reissue,this does not have "Gramophone Co.Ltd.'but 'Parlophone Co. Ltd.' The same is true for the "Yesterday" and "Nowhere Man" in this undocumented EP Box Set, if "Sold In UK" on a 1990's record and without 'Parlophone' lettering and logo in yellow was unique, you have a label rim text that ended in the summer of 1965.  I know I should be writing less by now the story behind the first pressing of the "Beatles'Million Sellers" EP cannot be ignored and here the "Million Sellers" signalled the demise of the EP format was imminent. "Million Sellers" or as it was originally titled,"Beatles'Golden Discs" was planned for a 1964 issue but it was released over one year later,the 6th December 1965. Only three days earlier, the "Day Tripper" & "We Can Work It Out" double A-side single was released on the 3rd December, what terrible timing for fans, but yet another financial drain was waiting most Beatles collector's.
Only five days after the "Beatles'Million Sellers" EP on the 11th December,the "Rubber Soul" album arrived at UK record shops. If EMI set out to deliberately restrict the sales of the EP format, after so long for the release of "Million Sellers", they could not have given Beatles fans more of a financial nightmare around the Christmas of 1965.  As stunning as the EP cover looked and wonderful all four 1963 and 1964 tracks were, their latest album and single became the all important and essential purchase. EP sales had dwindled to the extent the Rolling Stones stopped releasing them six months ago in June,1965, even top artists no longer needed to sell them in great numbers to reach No.1 in the EP charts, the lack of competition led to a constant re-charting of older titles. After "The Beatles' Million Sellers", in 1966 two further Beatles EP's were issued, if not for the new songs for the "Magical Mystery Tour" soundtrack, "Nowhere Man" would have been the final 1960's Beatles EP.  So the three rarest of the eleven first pressing 1963 -1966 UK Beatles EP's are this "The Beatles' Million Sellers", "Yesterday" and "Nowhere Man". This Box Set presents them with such unique features and so few pressed, they make the originals appear easily available!
  
  SIDE 1
"She Loves You"
  "I Want To Hold Your Hand"

SIDE 2 
  "Can't Buy Me Love"
  "I Feel Fine"

MATRIX: 7TCE 888 - 1  /  7TCE 889 - 2 

  "YESTERDAY" MATRIX:  7TCE 888 - 1  /  7TCE 889 - 1

SIDE 1
"Yesterday"
"Act Naturally"
SIDE 2
  "You Like Me Too Much"
"It's Only Love"

The first point to clear up is the label's year of publication is 1965, there were many EP's planned for certain years but delays made the publication date incorrect, usually caused by current Beatles records remaining in the charts.  I believe that was not true for "Yesterday," this time '1965' was used purely for the year all four tracks were originally published, so this 1990 EP has the earlier 'Parlophone Co. Ltd.' and not "Gramophone Co.Ltd.' rim text.  I'm convinced the printer in association with EMI, decided to only use 'Parlophone Co. Ltd.' for all 12 of the 60's EP's, as only four titles qualified for "Gramophone Co. Ltd".

Until now I have declined to discuss the covers, because this ultra rare set did not have them, but feel I have to give some info. here. The front cover of the EP features a stunning Robert Whitaker picture of the four heads together, taken from above with them lying down to create a pattern by wearing dark clothes it created an effect very close to the "With The Beatles" cover. This was such a striking picture taken current to 1966, it was as equally suited to being a front album cover, when it came to innovative  artwork, all the Beatles LP & EP covers were always unique.  "Yesterday" might have contained 1965 material but the cover was very much 1966 in execution, so much so, the cover would have worked superbly on "Revolver" later on in the July, a shot from the "Paperback Writer"/"Rain" promo video sufficed.

MATRIX: 7TCE 894 - 1 / 7TCE 895 - 2
The second of two EP's in this Box Set, with EMI's 1990's top vinyl mastering sound engineer, Nick Webb involved at Abbey Road, his 'NickW' logo is handwritten in the run-out grooves. The same label rim text and the other unique features are found as detailed on the "Million Sellers" EP.

  "NOWHERE MAN" (GEP 8952,issued 8th July,1966)

Rare in 1966 due to the low sales this far into the 60's decade when the EP format was about to be discontinued, if Beatles EP's no longer sold in figures to justify pressing them,there was no chance for the mere mortals.  Ironically this 1990's pressing is by far rarer than the first pressing!  The silver and black label on it's own differentiates it from the earlier re-issues with yellow Parlophone lettering and logo, the 'Parlophone Co. Ltd.' and not "Gramophone Co.Ltd.' rim text, advance it further into the rarity stakes.   With so few pressed, this yet another case of if sold individually, the desirability and value of such a one-off UK pressing of "Nowhere Man," places it only fractionally behind the injected moulded "Twist & Shout" EP. No way should this set ever be separated, on the contrary, all thirteen must remain as one of the few full sets,after all, this could well be the only true Mint, unplayed set in existence, with a completely unworn box.  I just glanced down at the four tracks from "Rubber Soul" and decided no comments were required, how great can an EP possibly get? 

SIDE 1
"Nowhere Man"
"Drive My Car"
  
  SIDE 2
"Michelle"
"You Won't See Me"

MATRIX:  7TCE 904 - 1 /  7TCE 905 - 3

   "THE BEATLES" ( (BEP 14 / SGE 1, Originally from The Box Set issued 7th December,1981)

This has become a marathon and a thoroughly enjoyable one, we arrive at the 1981 addition to the 1990's unreleased version, a non 60's title but with four of the finest 60's tracks. No additions here and the label rim text reflects the then current 'EMI Records Ltd', and for the first time in this description, a conventional push out centre and yellow Parlophone' lettering and '£' logo. I took pictures of the three individual labels, 12 pictures was simply not enough but I was pleased with the selected photo's, I had to get down from from 20 pictures to 12, it was a shame to delete any but for unplayed vinyl, I always aim at minimal handling. All four tracks were originally mono only B-sides of singles, I'm not convinced about "This Boy" being in true stereo, but a very interesting sound tp listen to.  It not actually the first UK stereo mix of "Baby You're a Rich Man" because it was included on the 1976 first ever UK album pressing of "Magical Mystery Tour," but it could be argued this became the first 45 RPM Stereo mix.  "The Inner Light" definitely had the first ever true stereo mix was heard, until 1981 George's beautiful B-side of "Lady Madonna" was only available in mono.

SIDE 1
"The Inner Light"
"Baby You're A Rich Man"

SIDE 2
"She's A Woman"
"This Boy"

MATRIX: SGE 1 A - 3 / SGE 1 B - 2

The thick card cover has the artwork from the 1967 "Strawberry Fields" single's picture sleeve on the front,the back has the track lists with detailed information.  In superb unused, unaged, unfaded condition with just the mildest record impression.