BEATLES Sgt Pepper LP 1ST UK PRESS 1967 WIDE SPINE MONO COVER

	£		225
	$		298

BEATLES Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band LP, Parlophone PMC 7027, early UK 1st MONO pressing from 1967 with XEX 637-1 & XEX 638-1 stamped matrixes and 1/RP & 2/AD stamper codes. Both labels have the 'Sold in UK..' text with a 'KT' purchase tax code in the center of the label located on the first side. The album has been housed in an earliest-type fully laminated gatefold cover with inner-flipover flaps & 9mm wide spine. The record comes complete with red-and-white designer inner-sleeve, as well as unused cut-out sheet.

What is significant about these early wide spine covers is the fact that they contain some of the earliest records pressed; The latter often date to or around the first day of production.

These thick wide spine covers were, according to some sources to be trusted, originally designed to accommodate an array of cardboard souvenirs which the Beatles had wanted to place into the gatefold sleeve for their fans. As production budgets escalated, EMI decided to cut costs. Ultimately, the plans to include these souvenirs were abandoned. Production then quickly switched to the narrower spine.

It is difficult to determine how many wide spine covers were produced, but they were certainly made in comparatively small numbers and would have formed part of the advanced orders pressed ahead of the June 1st release date.

It is important to note that in the light of all subsequent re-mastered versions of this album, including stereo versions, the 1967 vinyl MONO mix is the only version of ‘Pepper’ to have been overseen by all four Beatles. This is ‘Pepper’ as the Beatles intended it to be.

The labels are in an EXCELLENT+ condition. They also include a superb set of unworn labels showing only two or three light spindle trails on side 2 only.

The disc is in an EXCELLENT+ to NM condition. Both playing surfaces are clean and bright with a respectable gloss finish retained. A careful inspection in strong daylight reveals numerous ultra faint wispy/micro sleeve removal marks, but there is nothing I would call a scratch.  It is extremely difficult to find such an early vinyl in such a great condition.

This copy has clearly been barely played. Nevertheless, the sound throughout is spectacular. Every track plays cleanly and clearly with no traces of any groove/play wear on any song and in either channel. In fact, apart from a hint of light/normal vinyl background noise and a few light repeating 'ticks' on 'Lucy In The Sky', there is nothing else to fault audibly on this superb copy.

A flat, unfiltered recording of this album recorded directly from this disc can be checked below:

In my opinion, this 1967 MONO mix is far superior to the stereo version and is the only version of Pepper to have been overseen by all four Beatles. It is less fussy than the stereo version and more subtle, the overall audio landscape that it paints is significantly different from all later remixes. This is ‘Pepper’ in the form the Beatles intended it to be. Needless to say, it is a fabulous listening experience and an album which is difficult to become tired of especially in such wonderful analogue condition.

The cover is in an EXCELLENT+ condition. It is a fabulously preserved 1st issue wide spine cover. Due to the thickness of the spine (approx. 9mm wide), these 1st issue covers often ended up with their spines being crushed over time. Only the ones which were well cared for and carefully stored have their spines preserved in the condition that they left the factory in. I’m happy to report that the spine in the case of this cover is uncrushed and in a near perfect condition.

The front panel is pristine and bears only a very small laminate 'bubble' at the front bottom left corner and a light storage/shelf wear on the opening edge and corners. It is a remarkable feat for a cover which is rapidly approaching its half centenary. I have very little to fault on this cover; there are minor sings of aging and light feathering on the rear. Both panels inside the gatefold are unblemished and crackles like new when opened. The spine is clean, white, and square with no damages caused to the wording or laminate. The product is a strong and truly excellent example of an ultra-rare and early cover.         

Cardboard cut-out is MINT/unused.

Original 1967 psychedelic inner sleeve is EXCELLENT.