The Beatles : Rubber Soul 1/1 1st Press 'Loud Cut' edition

This first 'Loud Cut' press on the yellow Parlophone label plays to a superb standard and is one of the finest examples I have ever sold.  It has only been lightly played and the stunning visual quality of the vinyl pays testament to that.  It is so clean with no marks or scratches and just one small faint hairline on S2 that is a little more obvious to the eye.  The clarity and depth of the audio is so impressive and considering the production was stopped due to the 'sound' issues you would have to travel far and wide to find a better one!  It has been beautifully preserved over the last 55 years. 

The 'Patents pending' cover is in amazing condition and is not far off 'as new' status.  It has retained its original shape and the only minor issue is a small faint stain on the back cover.  Just look how clean the white background is on the photos and the flipbacks!  The Emitex inner is also in excellent condition.

This 'Loud Cut' edition has the second so-called label variation where there is no gap between the song titles and the *credit indicator and the font is Times New Roman.  However, it still has a 1/1 matrix with GL/GH stampers so is definitely one of the earlier ones on that particular 'run'.

As per the Please Please Me I am also selling this is a rare find indeed.  I'm not too keen on using the 'rare' word but it's not often one turns up in this condition!

With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.

PMC 1267 // XEX 579 - 1 / XEX 580 - 1 // GL 1 / GH 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T7 Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / T4 Ex+)

The cover is Near Mint-

The labels are Near Mint

The Emitex inner is Ex+

This is the finest Loud Cut vinyl I have ever seen and has no marks or scratches.  It still has a lovely glossy sheen and has clearly not been played very much judging by the minimal spindle wear and the audio quality.  S1 is stunning and has only a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines that are not easy to find!   S2 is also in superb condition with one hairlines that is a little more obvious across the final two tracks but obviously has no impact on the audio.  There is no groove wear and I cannot overstate just how visually impressive it is.  The run out grooves are also very clean and the labels have no marking or writing and they have retained their original colour incredibly well.  The KT tax code can be seen on either side of the S2 spindle hold.

Play grading  

'Drive My Car' has barely any static on the iconic intro and then plays with superb audio for the remainder.  The clarity is so impressive and there are no ticks or clicks and no underlying static either.  It could not play any better and even the fade out is so 'clean'.  A Mint- start to the album.

The acoustic intro on 'Norwegian Wood' has no 'background' and continues to play with sublime clarity for a relatively quiet track.  There is no intrusion on the audio, just a small number of barely audible dust ticks, and Mint- is deserved.

'You Won't See Me' keeps up the standard with a sonic quality that cannot be faulted.  From start to finish I only detected one mega quiet tick (you could easily miss it!) and already you can tell this vinyl has hardly been played over the last 55 years.  There is only very minimal spindle wear and if it had been played a lot it there would be some groove wear and there is none of that here.  As previously stated the vinyl is visually stunning!  In essence there is no interference and Mint- is again a fair refection of the quality on offer.

On 'Nowhere Man' this is where you arguably first notice why production on the first pressing was stopped.  From the 'aggressive' vocal to the 'muddy' bass sound the audio 'issues' are more obvious on this track in my opinion.  Regardless of that it still plays with exceptional clarity and from the first note to the last there is no interference.  Mint-

'Think For Yourself' also plays with great quality and there are no ticks, clicks or pops etc.  The clarity and depth of the audio continues to impress and...you know the grade...

The 'aggressive' sound is again a little more obvious on 'The Word' but again you cannot fault the actual sonic quality.  There is hardly any inner groove distortion which is rare considering it is the penultimate track on the side.  I am am again confident in grading it as Mint- as there are no negatives.

The acoustic intro on 'Michelle' is flawless and from then on it plays extremely well with only a little static distortion here and there.  However, the playback is so much 'cleaner' than many versions I have heard on a 'Loud Cut' press and once again there are no ticks, clicks or pops - just a little static on the fade out.  I believe Ex+ is an honest appraisal of the audio.

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'What Goes On' on S2 plays with great clarity throughout and only the lightest of background static.  It is so minor and totally non-intrusive.  A Near Mint version.

'Girl' plays so well for a quieter track and I detected only a handful of very light static 'moments' that have no affect on the playback.  I will grade as Near Mint overall but the vast majority grades higher.

'I'm Looking Through You' is of the same standard with no actual intrusion just a small number of very light static sounds and Near Mint is again deserved.

'In My Life' has only very light static on the intro and thereafter plays very clearly with no obvious intrusion.  The clarity of sound remains very impressive and I heard only a small number of minor static ticks.  The vocal is very high in the mix here and the 'sound' is so clear and precise - no 'muddiness' here.  There are a couple of gentle ticks at the end and one light static click on the fade out and Ex+ is a fair assessment of the audio albeit very close to Near Mint-!

There is more of the 'aggressive' vocal sound on 'Wait' but it nonetheless plays with stunning clarity from the outset with no intrusion at all.  There is no distortion on the top end either.  Mint-

'If I Needed Someone' plays so well with no interference.  For once there is no obvious inner groove distortion and the playback is very strong.  No ticks, clicks or pops and I am tempted to grade as Mint- but I think Near Mint might be nearer the mark.

The final track 'Run For Your Life' is often unplayable due to more inner groove distortion but there is a lot to like here!  The acoustic intro is perfect and from then it plays very clearly with the least amount of distortion I have ever noticed.  In fact there is hardly any and I am sure the audio could be further enhanced when played as a mono record and not through a stereo system as I am doing.  A suitably impressive Near Mint finish to this very collectable album.

In summary this is easily the finest 'Loud Cut' first press I have listened to in many a year.  Whilst the sound issues are well documented there is no denying the sonic quality on offer here.  The clarity on both sides is stunning and whilst there is a little static between tracks at times there are no loud clicks or pops during the actual music.  There is also only very minimal distortion, hardly any in fact.  I am sure any Beatles collector / audiophile would be as impressed as I am by the audio and together with a STUNNING cover this will add to any collection.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L Patents pending cover is a superb example of its kind and easily the cleanest I have ever found.  It is also so strong and robust like it has hardly been handled over the decades.  The edges and thin pinched spine are perfect and remarkably there is no corner wear either, how rare is that?!  The opening edge has only very minimal handling wear and the front cover is super clean to say the least.  It is nigh on perfect aside from 3/4 very small faint laminate creases on Ringo that you can only see when you tilt the cover at a certain angle.  The back cover is also in lovely condition when you consider it isn't laminated and has just one small faint stain bottom left.  Apart from that the white background is pristine and what is so rare is that the flipbacks are 'as new' with no staining and they are still firmly attached to the cover.  This would be Near Mint but for the small mark but Near Mint- is very much deserved, you won't find many like this!

The original poly-lined Emitex inner is also in excellent shape with one very small side split and only minimal creasing.  There is no marking on either side.

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

PMC 1267 // XEX 579 - 1 / XEX 580 - 1 // GL 1 / GH 2

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.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE WILL BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.75 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £1.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £23.95 then £2.00 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!