THE BEATLES - PLEASE PLEASE ME BLACK & GOLD CROSSOVER 3/4 INDENT LABEL G+/G LP

	£		200
	$		265

(Relisted due to non-payment/ cancelled bid).

March - April 1963

THE BEATLES DEBUT ALBUM

PLEASE PLEASE ME

Catalogue no. PMC 1202

Early UK 1963 Original 1st Pressing

An original Black & Gold Pressing crossover pressing containing the incorrect Dick James Credits on The Beatles own compositions on Side 1, and the corrected Northern Songs credits for The Beatles own compositions on Side 2. 

This Please Please Me 1st Mono has a 3/4 indented ring on the Side 2 label with the corrected Northern Songs credits. It is fair to say that the majority of Black & Gold Please Please Me's that come up for sale will have standard labels, and the ¾ ring are found to be in smaller amounts corresponding with a particular moment in the pressing cycle.

Master Matrices XEX 421-1N/ XEX 422-1N

The 1st and 2nd pressings were in a Gold text for PLEASE PLEASE ME and the run began on 22nd March 1963, and lasted only until some time in May as EMI were in the process of changing to the more familiar Yellow Parlophone text which were in the stores by 1st June.

“The first pressing has “Dick James Mus. Co”  incorrect publishing credits for “I Saw Her Standing There”, “Misery”, “Do You Want To Know A Secret” & “There’s A Place”.”

“The second pressing is distinguished from the first pressing as the “Dick James” credits were altered to read “Northern Songs” instead. This change occurred very quickly in late April as the typesetter for the credits wasn’t informed that the Beatles had worked with Dick James to set up their own, new, “Northern Songs” publishing company for Lennon and McCartney’s original songs.”

The 2nd pressings are as such around twice as rare as the 1st pressings due to the smaller amount of time to press them before the change-over to the standard Yellow & Black labels.

Crossover’s from the 1st to 2nd label occurred during the switch, so some labels ended up with the correct credits on only one of the sides, whereas the opposite side was released still incorrect. This LP is a good indication of how quickly EMI implemented the corrections once they were informed, and the comparatively small quantities of Black & Gold labels ever pressed, as the Northern Songs credits happen to be on Side 2, which corresponds to the very low mother / stamper code of 1H on that side.

The Sleeve: Original Gold Sleeve in Good condition.

The sleeve is mainly intact at all seams and edges, no major rips or splits, apart from one central split to bottom edge, corner parts of opening side fold-overs missing, but mainly intact and set well against card panels. Significant edge wear but no major splitting on top edge. It is still firm and the record slots in well and holds in tightly. The laminate is intact and set tight against the front  panels extending over on to the spine and fold-over’s with a little fraying but only associated with the edge wear mentioned. The title text on the spine is complete and legible. The Angus McBean credit is offset to the far right - - an indication of the earliest possible sleeve. The colour on the iconic front pictorial have remained bright and glossy. A bit of corner rubbing from storage but not too bad and there are no major marks, only light creases, and no blemishes. It is still quite a respectable and clean Gold sleeve.

Has large 'mono' on top right in bold lower case letters.

All Tony Barrow text legible on reverse with some off-white aging to the white card and light scuffs.

  All original text and The Printed & made by Ernest J Day Ltd. Patents Pending is still present. All three fold-over’s are still set well against the card and  mainly intact on all edges with some light splitting.

No handwriting, writing imprinting or sticker or sticker residue.

Inner Sleeve: This is the die-cut EMI Emitex advertising sleeve that came with the first Please Please Me LP's. It is in Very Good Plus condition equally on both sides with all edges intact. It has the earlier 'Made In Great Britain' text, rather than the slightly later and more standard 'Made In England'. The interior poly-lining is completely intact along all edges insides including the opening. There are no side splits or rips anywhere, and the opening has no fraying. Very neat.

These originals very rarely survive well.

The Vinyl: Good / Good Plus condition. This is a heavy slab of early sixties vinyl which still retains a jet black shine and good depth. It is in a respectable condition for such an early example with a lot of light hairline marks and light groove wear superficial to the surfaces, but absolutely no feelable scratches or deep scratchesanywhere. Commensurate with age and number of plays there are a few prominent but non-sounding scuffs. The surface is essentially gliding smooth to the touch all over, and the vinyl still projects a bright reflective pressing sheen.

The vinyl is very clean, the record lays completely flat on the turntable, and has no warps.

Heavy robust sixties vinyl weighing at 172 grams.

Labels are Good Plus. Text is clear and quite bright, black background has fading areas and play wear. No spindle line traces can be seen. No handwriting or stickers. There is still a good contrast between the gold and black and no text has worn away.

There is no tax code embossed on the label! Most 1st & 2nd pressings had a ZT, MT or MZT combination tax embossed. Fewer were pressed without the tax code, and they are generally found to be the earliest ones.

The Original Parlophone Co. Ltd text around rim.

Mother/ Stamps:

Side 1 – 2 GM

Side 2 – 1 H

The Audio: Plays as Good Plus, nearly Very Good. Each side plays smoothly from start to finish with a deep original monotone bass line and hauntingly original crisp vocals. There is surface noise through tracks (light background crackle can be heard over some audio, and ticks in quieter interludes and run-ins and fade-outs), it doesn't spoil the listen too much, and if anything it is an effect which adds to the originality.

For such an early copy of Please Please Me, it has an acceptable level of imperfection but is obviously not one for audiophiles!

There are no interruptions such skipping, sticks, pops or clicking, but there are five quick jumps throughout the whole LP. It is clear from the condition of the vinyl that there will be no major spoils during the listen, and at the same time it won't be perfect either.  The audio is acceptable for an original Gold and is still a good playable original rendition on solid, robust, made to last EMI vinyl.  I acquired this LP from the original owner who bought it from new as a teenager, so it has been and has been well loved for decades and hasn't been circulating around the collector's market.

The robustness of these early heavy pressings ensures that the appearance of a surface that looks like it has received many plays can still deliver a decent audio definition, and will still last a lot longer, and I am always amazed by EMI's Sixties vinyl. The playback can vary dependant upon the sensitivity of the equipment used but each side doesn't contain anything that would cause a problem for an original or modern stylus and both have been tried, and is guaranteed to play through on both sides.

The release of Please Please Me is said to have signalled the start of the sixties proper and it's value can only increase over time.

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This LP will be securely delivered in a professional cardboard LP mailer with cardboard stifferners.

A plain anti-static inner sleeve will house the record and the original will be placed separately.

A high grade PVC sleeve is included to further protect the sleeve as shown.

UK delivery is included and is by next day insured special delivery.

Overseas delivery will be insured and tracked all the way, and a tracking number will be given.

I use the official grading system for rare records from the Record Collector Magazine.

Happy to refund on return if not satisfied.