THE BEATLES Please Please Me Orig BLACK & GOLD LP RARE

	£		421
	$		558

This auction is for an original 'Holy Grail' (Mono) Album from The Beatles.  PMC 1202.

THE BEATLES - Please Please Me (Rare original March 1963 UK black & gold Parlophone label 1st pressing MONO LP with Dick James Music Company publishing credits for Please Please Me, Ask Me Why, There's A Place, I Saw Her Standing There, Misery & Do You Want To Know A Secret.

Housed in the original Ernest J Day laminated flipback picture sleeve. 

The Beatles FIRST official LP release.  For the ONLY time, the Mono version was issued 6 weeks BEFORE the Stereo version.

This album contained the "A" and "B" sides of their first two singles, plus 10 new songs ALL recorded in one incredible session at Abbey Road.  The session cost just £400 and lasted 16 hours.

The album took exactly 6 months to pass the sales figure of 250,000 and went on to sell over half-a-million in the U.K. with world sales of almost two million.

It still holds the record for the longest continuous stay at number 1.

The cover photo was taken at EMI's Manchester Sq. headquarters by Angus McBean, and the sleeve notes are by Tony Barrow.

Whilst trying to think of catchy names for their first album release, George Martin offered the title, "Off The Beatle Track", but this was bypassed.  Mr. Martin clearly liked the name, and used it himself in 1964.

MONO/STEREO DIFFERENCES

"Please Please Me" The stereo version has John making a mistake in the words of the final verse, which causes him to chuckle in the final chorus ... these are NOT heard in the mono version.

CONDITION

The all important black and gold Parlophone labels are in very good condition, though Side 2 is better than Side 1 (see scans). There's no writing on the labels, and the gold text is striking and clearly legible with very little fading.  The spindle is clean with evidence of signs of visible playing, but this is far from unusual with these albums.

As previously stated this is the first pressing with Dick James Music Co credit for Please Please Me, Misery, I Saw Her Standing There & Do You Want To Know A Secret.  The machine stamped matrix numbers and stampers in the dead vinyl confirm that this was one of the first pressed as both sides end -1. The matrix numbers are as follows

Side One - XEX 421 -1N.
Side Two - XEX 422 -1N.

Many copies of this album when released were taken to parties and played endlessly, often scratched until they were unplayable. This copy however has been played, but also looked after.

The vinyl is in Very Good condition (Record Collector grading) and has a few marks and scuffs, but nothing out of the ordinary for an album of this age and rarity. 

This album has clearly been treasured by a keen collector.  The quality of the sound makes the playing of the record a pleasure with no allowances having to be made for its 45 year vintage, which is astounding in itself.

Housed in the original "Use Emitex" poly lined inner bag.

The Angus Mcbean photo credit on the front of the EJ Day designed front laminated flipback sleeve is to the right side under the 'g' of 'songs', and the 'Mono' text is in large bold print in the top right hand corner confirming that this is one of the the correct 1st issue sleeves.

The front of the sleeve is in Very Good condition (Record Collector grading).  The laminate has a small number of creases, but no blemishes or stains.  The bottom edge (prone to shelfwear) has a few signs of wear, and the side opening has some wear also from where the record has been placed in and out of the sleeve.  The sheen of the original laminate is still present 45 years after it left the factory!

The top edge has a very small 1cm split and the corners have some wear, but as you can see from the scan, there is nothing out of the ordinary.

The spine is pure white with bold black clearly legible artist and title text.  There is little wear to this edge apart from 1cm at the top end.

Usually the rear of the sleeve, being made of white card is found in poor shape as it was unlaminated and therefore unprotected against time.

However, the rear of this picture sleeve is in Very Good condition (Record Collector grading).  The laminated flipbacks are secure with very few signs of wear and clearly NO repairs have been necessary over the years.

The unlaminated centre part of the back of the sleeve is nice with only some faint marks near the bottom above 'EMI Records Limited'.

This legendary album rarely surfaces in any condition and this copy is 'Very Good condition' overall.

It would make a great investment item or collectors piece and is much better than many that are offered for sale!