Beatles LP "THE BEATLES AGAIN" PROTOTYPE Apple Records Cover - SO-385 - NM

$

2,500

Beatles LP ... "THE BEATLES'AGAIN"  aka ... "HEY JUDE" (APPLE Records) 
Early 1970 "RARE" Prototype Cover A SO-385 Labeled Disc is included as a courtesy. Although this item never came with a record we  thought it would nice to include one!
(No Vinyl Record was ever issued with any Prototype Cover)
Take Advantage of ... "LIMITED TIME SPECIAL SALES"!
Gorgeous Condition!

This is a fully constructed SO-385 Prototype "BEATLES AGAIN"  cover.  Gorgeous!

VINYL record included (as a courtesy) is very clean. Green Apple label!

The back of this cover is the front enlarged photo of the final released back version.

It is understandable that "HIGHLY PRICED" items such as this are sometimes overlooked as being "FINANCIALLY OUT OF  REACH". Where you see the "MAKE BEST OFFER" option, always remember it is there for a reason. It always means that ANY "REASONABLE" OFFER will be considered, so never think that anything is necessarily out of reach!  

Please watch for SPECIAL SALES, or where it applies, please make your "BEST OFFER". Thanks for watching.
If you're interested in any VINYL, CD, CASSETTE, VHS TAPE, DVD, POSTER  or any other item that you don't see listed, it doesn't mean that we don't have  it or can't obtain it for you. So please let us know. We have thousands of  items too numerous to list, therefore ... WE WELCOME ALL INQUIRIES!

A LITTLE HISTORY .....

The Hey Jude LP was a project originally conceived by Allen Klein and Apple Records. He was instrumental in negotiating a more lucrative deal for the Beatles in 1969 and was determined to maximize the FAB 4s income by releasing a new album requiring a minimum of effort and no additional musical creativity. In other words, this was straight out of "MARKETING 101". He felt the boys had previously recorded plenty of other quality material that had never been never featured on any of their core albums such as some B-Sides and other great songs which were popular in their own right. He had directed Allan Steckler of Abkco/Apple to work on it, and he decided to target certain songs that had never appeared on any of their Capitol albums here in the United States and which spanned the group's entire career. He also focused on their more recent singles rather than any earlier material. An absence of certain songs from US Capitol albums was partially a consequence of the Beatles' unwillingness to include single releases on their contemporaneous albums, partially as a result of previous arrangements with United Artists from back in 1964 and in part due to a habit (of EMI affiliates worldwide) of recompiling the Beatles' British releases for local markets. For example, Steckler chose not to include original Parlophone single versions of "Love Me Do"; and "A Hard Day's Night", which had been released as a single by Capitol and was available on the United Artists soundtrack album; "I'm Down", the B-side of "Help!"; and "The Inner Light", the B-side of "Lady Madonna". He had also overlooked "From Me to You", "Misery" and "There's a Place", first issued in the USA by Vee Jay Records but had not yet been issued on any Capitol album. "Sie Liebt Dich", a German-language version of "She Loves You", and the single version of "Get Back" were also, for some unknown reason, passed over. 

The single versions of "Let It Be" and its B-side, "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)", had yet to be released. Steckler and Apple had become very disappointed with the Capitol Records release schedules and were determined to promote the new album independently. He also took the tapes to Sam Feldman at Bell Sound Studios for mastering, rather than delivering them to Capitol. He would also do this for several releases thereafter.

The original title of this LP was to be The Beatles Again. But shortly before it was released, the title was changed to Hey Jude in order to promote their top-selling single that led off side 2. Unfortunately the name-change occurred after the record labels were printed, and an unsubstantiated number of LPs were sold with labels bearing the title The Beatles Again. This was also true for cassette copies of the album, which retained the original title. Neither the front nor the back of the LP's jacket displayed the record title (or the band's name), but most copies were sold in a jacket whose spine read Hey Jude. In an attempt to clear up any confusion caused by the pre-printed LP labels, initial copies of the album displayed a special sticker on the cover with the song title Hey Jude. This edition of the album with The Beatles Again label bore catalog number SO-385 on the label but NOT the jacket. This is because of a similarly timed marketing decision to reduce the price from $6.98 (SO- prefix) to $5.98 (SW- prefix). The jacket was prepared late enough so that it lists the catalog number SW-385  which appears on the label of later pressings, and bear the title song Hey Jude.

It was Allen Klein who authorized the release of this album as a sales buffer during post-production of the then delayed Let It Be album. In 2007 Neil Aspinall claimed that the back cover was supposed to be the front cover and vice versa but that Klein had reversed them in error.  However, at least three (3) prototype cover designs are known to exist, (THIS BEING ONE OF THEM)  with the earliest of those showing the photos (SHOWN HERE) "reversed": The art department seemingly made the final determination that the photo that now appears on the front cover was better suited for that purpose, and the rest is history. This is how collectibles are sometimes unintentionally created. 

By the way, the front and back cover photos were taken at the last-ever Beatles photo session, on AUGUST 22, 1969, at John Lennon's home in England at Tittenhurst Park.

The Hey Jude LP had been out of print since the late 1980s, although it remained available on cassette during the 1990s. Finally, the album was issued on CD for the first time in 2014, as an individual release and in a box set titled The U.S. Albums.

INSURANCE:  We do not typically provide insurance to any item due to the fact that this can amount to significant added cost.  However, this added service is available to any buyer requesting it prior to invoicing. If items are not insured and are received damaged,  immediately make the shipper aware of the damage. Once the item is packaged, inspected by, and leaves the seller, one can only hope  that it is handled with care which is why insurance is always a good idea (if affordable and available in your country). Grading "VINYL" records can at times be a bit difficult and is not an exact science since it is based upon someone's opinion.  Since opinions can differ, we want all buyers to know that whenever a purchase is made and the item is received,  if you feel that our listed grading (by seasoned professionals) differs from what you feel it should be, ALWAYS contact us FIRST  before filing a claim with Ebay. All items are inspected prior to packaging to insure that our description is accurate.  However, we're not perfect and once in a while, items with hard to detect defects, can slip through the cracks,  therefore friendly dialogue between buyer and seller is always the best remedy to seeking any satisfactory solution.  We will always make an attempt to achieve 100% customer satisfaction whenever possible.  Remember that if you are not happy, we have not done our job! Thank you for visiting our site!
It is important to point out that when sellers on ebay set a price for any item,  many factors are considered, one of which is the fact that the SELLER FEE  can be up to 10% of the Sell Price.  So, when you think that the price listed  might be higher than anticipated, please keep this added cost in mind.  Thank you for watching!
All items are PROFESSIONALLY PACKAGED!
 "LIMITED" RETURN POLICY ...     We now have a LIMITED RETURN POLICY requested by many potential buyers!  Actually when you look through many of the current auctions appearing on ebay,       you will find that we weren't the only sellers who had refused RETURNS. It should be noted that under the category of RETURNS many sellers state the "SELLER       DOES NOT OFFER RETURNS. YOU ARE COVERED BY EBAY's MONEY BACK GUARANTEE IF YOU RECEIVE AN ITEM THAT IS NOT AS DESCRIBED IN THE LISTING".       Our LIMITED RETURN POLICY refers to items AS DESCRIBED IN THE LISTING. To define  "AS DESCRIBED"  we adhere to such rules of this site with actual limited       verbiage within an auction with respect to WHAT THE ITEM IS, WHO THE ARTIST IS, SPECIFIC FEATURES, AUTHENTICITY and ORIGINALITY. With respect to terms      like AUTHENTICITY of an item, that will be determined by viewing detailed photos and posting of accurate descriptions.  This seller never engages in the selling      of items which are not authentic (unless specified such as a "copy"). If the potential buyer has a question as to the authenticity of an item, he or she may request       additional photos or further details, some of which can be provided by viewing and comparing to known examples or referring to accepted publications. As for the       condition of an item (i.e. RECORD, OUTER JACKET) for example, in the case of a vinyl record, we will do our best to describe what it's play surface may look like       and post detailed photos to the best of our ability as amateur photographers. (Always keep in mind that describing the condition of a vinyl record is not an exact       science and is based upon someone's visual examination and an opinion of an examiner. Industry standards are followed by all of our examiners). Labels will be       best described by posting detailed photos that would illustrate defects if and when they exist. As for an outer jacket or picture sleeve, we'll inform buyers about       any possible bends, folds, seam splits, writing, tears etc. Photos posted for any possible defect will be the best descriptive evidence for anyone. When it comes       to items that are sold as a ONE-OF-A-KIND, RARE COLLECTIBLE, ARTIFACT or MUSEUM PIECE, these are sold based upon what they in fact are, and with limited       consideration given to condition since they are unique pieces. These items would not fall under standard return guidelines unless there are damages discovered       upon arrival. As stated in some of our previous auctions, we will continue to insist that prospective buyers ask questions or request additional photos if they are      uncertain, PRIOR TO PURCHASING OR MAKING ANY OFFERS. We want to always make sure that buyers fully understand, exactly what it is that they are buying.       In the specific case of Vinyl Records where we would normally provide a detailed description with pictorial images, examination and inspection upon its arrival       should never take a buyer any more than two days to determine that the item received is the item purchased, and that it's condition is satisfactory to the buyer.       Therefore within the two day window of opportunity after the item is received by the buyer, he or she is required to contact the seller to report any deficiencies       importantly ignorance is no excuse. If a prospective buyer is not 100% certain of what they are viewing on an auction, they would be well advised to pass on its      purchase.  We do not want someone to buy an item, pay for it, then receive it, only for we the seller to have to wait 2 full weeks before it might be determined by       the buyer that he or she suddenly and unexpectedly has an issue. That will stoke the possibility for a potential return, along with a certain dispute, and possibly       a refund of any funds received originally by the seller that by this time may have already exhausted. That places the seller in an awkward financial position and       one that we prefer to avoid. It's been our experience in over 50 years of collecting and selling, that there have been too many buyers, who we would refer to as a      "Knit Picker", not to mention some of whom have been discovered to have in some cases, damaged the item purchased while in their possession  (accidentally       or intentionally) and then tell us that "it was received that way". Therefore it has become our policy that all items are  "PHOTOGRAPHED & INSPECTED" prior to       the process of packaging as a protective measure in an effort to avoid any potential disputes.       (This is our RETURN POLICY. If a buyer feels that we've either       omitted something or not explained something properly, let us know how we can improve. We feel that it is a fair policy which allows a buyer the opportunity to       return an item should circumstances allow for it. - 8/16). Thanks for watching!
DO NOT PAY UNTIL YOU READ THE FOLLOWING: FREE SHIPPING:  When "FREE SHIPPING"  is offered, it applies to the "BUY IT NOW" price (as long as  the item is "NOT ON SALE" at the time of purchase) or ANY COLLECTIBLE OVER $50.00. (Batteries are not  included). All others shall pay calculated shipping charges to their destination. Thank you.
ATTENTION ALL PROSPECTIVE BUYERS!  Thank you for visiting our site. We want to remind everyone  that if you currently don't happen to see what you're looking for here on our site, it doesn't mean that we don't have it in stock or can't get it for you. We simply cannot list everything that we have all at once.  However, our current inventory includes THOUSANDS of VINYL Albums, PROMOS & 45s, CDs, DVDs,  EPs, 78s, Cassette Tapes, VHS Movies, Metal Stampers and much more in the category  that we would call "COLLECTIBLES". 
Unfortunately, it would have been impossible to list everything, so if you are looking for something in  particular and don't happen to see it here today, simply send us a written REQUEST  and we will be happy to list it for you. 
Thank you for watching and we look forward  to hearing from you anytime! All vinyl records are sold on the basis of their collectibility, rarity, scarcity, with special consideration in some cases given  specifically to whom the artist happens to be. Also factored in is the physical and visual examination of play surfaces, labels,  outer jacket and the inner sleeve (where applicable)  and in most cases when there is obvious issues to the naked eye which  would most certainly affect play. This would be a part of the item's description (however unless a record is of extreme rarity  and does have value regardless of it's condition), we try to avoid ever selling severely damaged records. We point out that  "THE BEATLES" are in a category of their own and in cases with many of their extremely rare items, we've sold some of  their records even when they did have surface issues, however their value in any condition made these specific items  retain certain value and collectability and a buyer would be made aware of it before we would ever sell it. We don't play  test every vinyl since we have tens of thousands of vinyl records in stock, making it impossible to play each of them.  Please remember this when buying and always ask questions prior to finalizing any purchase.