The Beatles : Let It Be 2U/2U 1st Press 1970 (Red Apple Cover)

This genuine first pressing, with the red Apple logo on the back cover, plays to a fantastic standard with barely any interference.  There is just one light click on S2 and that's about it!  The clarity and definition of the audio is very strong to say the least.  The vinyl is also visually stunning and has only a little spindle wear.

Many think that the 'red Apple' cover was only issued with the deluxe box package.  This is not true!  A limited few were indeed sent to market without the box and this particular one is in superb condition with hardly any wear and has been so well preserved over the last 51 years.  The original inner is also in excellent condition.

A first pressing of course has a 2U/2U matrix and the publishing year has a small p copyright symbol on the label.  The S1 label is also darker green and 'An E.M.I. Recording' is printed on two lines.

PCS 7096 // YEX 773 - 2U / YEX 774 - 2U // MA 1 / GGP 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T5 & T6 Near Mint+)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint- / T5 Near Mint) 

The laminated 'red Apple' cover is Ex++

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner is Ex+

The vinyl is in great condition and still retains a lovely glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and S1 in particular is stunning with only a handful of very faint hairlines that obviously have no affect on the audio.  S2 is almost as good with only a some very faint hairline scuffs over one small area.  Believe me when I say they are very faint and most would not even mention them!  The run out grooves are very clean and the labels are near perfect with only a little spindle wear.

Play grading  

The 'spoken' section at the start of 'Two Of Us' has no 'background' and the acoustic intro then has just one very quiet tick, you could easily miss it!  The opening vocal plays with perfect clarity and it continues in the same way with no intrusion.  The sonic quality is stunning for a record that is now 51 years old!  There is just no interference, not even a dust tick, and even the 'whistle' fade is equally as clean.  A Mint- start to the side.

The band intro on 'Dig A Pony' has no interference and it then plays with outstanding clarity and depth through every vocal and instrumental section.  It plays with flawless precision and that includes the 'spoken' outro section also.  This is Mint no need for a minus here!

The acoustic intro on 'Across The Universe' could not play with any greater clarity and Lennon's first vocal is of the same 'high end' quality.  From start to finish I detected just one barely audible tick and it really does play with stunning precision with no annoying background static, the clarity is amazing!  So often I find this track has a 'muddy' type sound quality but that is not the case here and again Mint is deserved.  What a version!

'I Me Mine' is of the same standard with no sign of any interference.  There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and no distortion on the top end either.  Even the long final note has no 'background'.  Mint

The brief 'Dig It' has just a hint of very light static at the beginning and then plays superbly with no intrusion.  Near Mint+

The quiet piano intro on the classic 'Let It Be' has only the lightest of background static but is perhaps more just the stylus running through the grooves, it is very quiet!  McCartney's first couple of verses and chorus then play with great precision and it proceeds in the same way.  Harrison's mid solo is stunning, 'as new' in fact, and the section plays beautifully with no intrusion.  The vocal is so 'clean' and this clarity just shows how infrequently the vinyl has been played.  Near Mint+ is deserved again as it definitely lies between Near Mint and Mint :-)

'Maggie Mae' ends the side with sublime quality.  There is no obvious distortion and there is certainly no interference.  A very impressive Mint- finish. 

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The intro on 'I've Got A Feeling' has barely any static and the first vocal also plays with stunning precision.  As the volume increases there is no let up in quality and it continues to play with a clarity and power that defies its age.  There are no negatives and Mint- is again deserved.  Even the band section at the end has no interference!

'One After 909' is STUNNING from the first note to the last with a power and depth that could not be any stronger.  This really is a sensational version and obviously there are no ticks, clicks or pops and the Danny Boy end section cannot be faulted either.  Mint

'The Long And Winding Road' begins perfectly with no intrusion.  There is one light click about one minute in and from point on it plays exceptionally well with no other interference.  There is perhaps just a minimal amount of background static here and there but it is so quiet and totally non-intrusive.  I only mention it to be 100% 'complete' in my grading and is still worthy of a Near Mint- grading.

The intro on 'For You Blue' is close to perfect with just one minor static sound and is then 'as new' for the remainder.  Mint-

The 'band' intro on the classic 'Get Back' is so clean and precise and as music builds the audio is faultless.  It continues to play with wonderful precision and again there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  If I being super harsh there is just a minor amount of background static but I might be doing myself a disservice by even mentioning it!  It is barely audible and this classic rounds off this album in fine style.  The 'spoken' end section is flawless.  I will grade as Near Mint but yes that might be a little mean!

In summary this first pressing plays to a fantastic standard with barely any interference.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is STUNNING and there is just one minor click on S2.  A hint of barely audible static on a couple of tracks but overall the clarity cannot be faulted.  The sonic quality is on another level compared to later pressings/reissues and as stated the vinyl has definitely not been over-played.  Together with a superb 'red apple' cover this would grace any collection.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L cover is in lovely condition with very little shelf wear.  The edges are perfect with no rubbing and the thin pinched spine is close to that with only a couple of tiny 'specks'.  The corners are in excellent order with only minimal wear and the opening edge is again close to perfect with hardly any handling wear.  The front cover is in beautiful condition with no marking or laminate damage, just four minor white 'rubs' next to the opening edge.  The back cover is just as impressive with a couple of insignificant rubs near the bottom edge (barely visible!) and of course it has the all important 'red apple' just below the photos of the band.  The cover remains very strong and robust which can only be because it has not been handled very much.  Overall this is a stunning example of this iconic cover and there cannot be many around as impressive as this today.

The original die-cut inner has no side splits or tears and no marking as such, just a few minor spots.  There is only minimal creasing - not bad for a 51 year old piece of paper!

Play Tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

PCS 7096 // YEX 773 - 2U / YEX 774 - 2U // MA 1 / GGP 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

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