Please, Please Me - The Beatles - UK - 1963 - Stereo - Northern Songs Press

$

7,849

Please, Please Me - The Beatles - UK - 1963       Stereo - Northern Songs 60 Years Old

HISTORY

The first stereo 'Please, Please Me' albums were released on April 26, 1963, with 'black & gold' record labels. Sometime in early May '63, the black & gold labels were dropped completely and replaced with black & yellow labels. This means that the stereo black & gold labels were likely only pressed for approx 3 weeks.

There were two slightly different black & gold stereo label variations.  The first showed 'Dick James Music' publishing credits for six of the tracks. The other variation has 'Northern Songs' listed as publishers for 4 of the six tracks. The 'Northern Songs' versions appeared well after the 'Dick James' copies were made but before the switch in early May to the black & yellow labels.  Given the tight window in which these were made, the general consensus is that approx only 900 were produced... making the 'Northern Songs' pressings rarer than the initial 'Dick James' copies.

DETAILS

Matrix/ Stampers/ Mother #

Side 1) YEX 94-1  / G / 1

Side 2) YEX 95-1  / R / 1

COVER: EX- / VG++

Correct EJ Day sleeve is above average as these were notorious for gradually falling to pieces given they were so fragile.  The jacket in general has no hard creases or bumps.  Its corners are gently rounded; the result of weathering over its 60 years, and the spine top has a small fold. The front cover is in EX condition. There are a few very thin laminate crease lifts and a faint writing impression at the top center. It is otherwise in great condition. The back cover (VG+) reveals that the original owner was likely a young lady named 'Melissa Perkins', who has written her name at the top center.  'Melissa' apparently liked to doodle and thus has filled in a few of the alphanumeric lettering loops with ink.  A piece of the foldover at the bottom right is missing and there are soft incidental creases at the open insert side. The spine is straight, with text crisp & legible. This cover is in sturdy and very presentable condition.

HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL: EX-

Side 1: Clean & glossy. Very fine spider lines are seen. There are a few small scratches along with more defined scratches between Tracks 5-7.  A tiny white color spec is blended into the vinyl on track 7. All of which have a minimal audible impact. (Pls see photos)

Side 2: Clean & glossy. Very fine spider lines are seen, along with a couple of small scratches. 

BLACK & GOLD LABELS: EX-

  Clean and bright. No color fading. The text is clear and legible. A Few light mini blemishes and scratches. 

ORIGINAL EMITEX INNER: EX

In superb condition, clean with no tears. Small notation is written in the upper corner. Contains the proper 'Made In England' & first 'Patents Applied For' wording

PLAYBACK: EX

The LP sounds fantastic. While there is surface noise primarily between tracks, and a few tics during 'Misery' due to the S1 scratches as noted, it does not impede the listening experience. I am an audiophile and as such have a very critical ear. I was able to thoroughly enjoy this 60-year-old record. The recording's production is so sonically powerful that it overwhelms the vinyl's flaws, literally making them audibly insignificant. Of course, there are zero skips. 

I've played this record many, many times over the nearly 40 years since I purchased it. It sounds awesome every time. 

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Additional photos are available upon request.