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The Beatles : Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1/1 1st Mono Press (Complete) Fourth Proof Cover 1967

This first mono pressing plays to a superb standard with no obvious intrusion.  There are no clicks or pops and overall the clarity of sound is stunning.  Some minor static on a couple of tracks but there is no background that makes you think that is intrusive!  The mono pressing often plays with a fair amount of static distortion and yet there is hardly any of that here and 'She's Leaving Home' is a fine example of that, it is a very clean version.  The mono recording has a greater depth and warmth it is often said and I have no reason to doubt that having listened to every track in full.  The vinyl is in excellent condition also and has clearly been very well looked after over the last 59 years.

The laminated and quite rare Fourth Proof G & L cover is in superb shape with only minimal wear and it has Patents pending printed on the back.  The Fourth Proof cover is purported to be the first issue of this iconic cover.  The original red Fool inner is rare in that it has no side splits!  It also has Patents applied for on one side.  The cut out insert is near perfect with just one barely visible corner 'rub'.

PMC 7027 // XEX 637 - 1  ADA 1   ---   XEX 638 - 1  RPP 3

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T2 & T5 Mint- / T6 & T7 Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T2 & T6 Ex+ / T5 Mint-)

The 'Patents pending' Fourth Proof gatefold is a very strong Ex

The 'Patents applied for' red Fool inner sleeve is Ex (no splits) 

The cut out insert is Mint-

The labels are Near Mint-

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still retains a strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can see some faint hairlines but there is nothing that stands out, they are purely superficial.  There is no groove or surface wear and the run out grooves are very clean also.  The yellow / black Parlophone labels are unmarked aside from a little spindle wear on S1 and a bit more on S2 mainly around the centre ring.  The KT tax code can clearly be seen on the S1 label.

Play grading  

The 'audience' intro on 'Sgt. Pepper's...' plays so clearly with only a couple of minor statics and as the music begins the playback is so strong and well defined.  McCartney's opening vocal is much the same with no intrusion.  The orchestral bridge is perfect and the following chorus has no background - that deep rich mono sound is very much in evidence.  It continues to with exceptional quality and there is no distortion on McCartney's high octane vocal.  This is a fine version and it has to grade as Near Mint at the very least.

The segue into 'With A Little Help From My Friends' is so clean with no static distortion for once.  Starr's first verse is SO clean and the chorus is just as impressive.  The depth of sound on the first percussive interlude is stunning - you often miss these little instrumental breaks but listen intently if you win this!  The next vocal section is of the same high end standard and thereafter plays with sublime clarity and warmth.  There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and is easily one of the cleanest versions I have ever heard right up to the final note.  A couple of quiet statics at the end of the fade out but Mint- is richly deserved here.

It's amazing how far they came from Help! in August '65 to when this album was released in May '67!  Not even two years!  Anyway I digress!  The intro on 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' has none of the static distortion you so often find and Lennon's opening vocal section is just perfect.  Psychedelic brilliance along with the backing.  The clarity of sound is exceptional and the same applies to the first chorus.  The next verse / chorus is equally as strong and clear and again there is nothing to detract from the audio.  Musically Harrison's Indian inspired tambura sound takes centre stage, as it should, and to the end this classic plays with supreme quality.  If there is any static distortion on the final chorus it is barely noticeable - it has a long fade out of course but there is just no background.  The production / mixing on this track in particular is incredible, the way sounds drift in and out.  I'll say Near Mint but I do wonder if that is a tad critical!

The familiar staccato intro from Harrison on 'Getting Better' has very little static distortion and the opening vocal section plays with great clarity as does the following chorus.  This standard is kept up as it progresses and again there are no ticks, clicks etc.  That Indian sound is very prevalent on the final verse and sonically this track is so strong.  Especially on the end sequence, superb loud sound!  Near Mint

'Fixing A Hole' plays with great clarity and warmth through every section.  George Martin's harpsichord really drives this classic and that sound is so clear here.  I cannot fault this version - from start to finish there is no intrusion and Mint- is fair 

On the mono records it is very common for 'She's Leaving Home' to play with a static distortion type sound and it is just a matter of how much.  I am pleased to say this is one of the cleanest mono versions I have heard in many a year.  It can often be unlistenable but that is certainly not the case here!  Every vocal and instrumental section plays with genuine quality and any static distortion is kept to a absolute minimum, it is totally non-intrusive in other words.  The clarity and definition is so impressive and Ex+ is well deserved.

'Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite' is sonically very similar to the previous track.  No actual interference and Lennon's vocal sound is very strong.  There is barely any static and I cannot really fault the audio quality.  I mean the instrumental sections are STUNNING!  The wurlitzer passages in particular are outstanding!  Inner groove distortion I find often affects the vocal sound more than the instrumental sections and that is perhaps the case here on the second half but please believe me when I say it is very very minimal!  I'll say Ex+ although Near Mint- is perhaps closer to the mark.

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The intro on 'Within You Without You' is more or less perfect with only a couple of barely audible statics right at the start.  It's strong Indian theme plays with stunning precision throughout and again... there is no interference.  It truly is a sensational version!  The clarity and depth is incredible and the heavy bass sound is very... heavy!  The sonic quality here is phenomenal and the mid instrumental is a prime example of that.  You can hear subtle nuance in the music, it could hardly play any better.  I know it divides people but I think it fits in perfectly with the overall 'sound and feel' of the album.  The final vocal section plays perfectly and from start to finish there are only a handful of mega quiet statics, the clarity and definition is stunning.  I'll say Near Mint but the vast majority is even better than that!

The intro on 'When I'm Sixty-Four' is flawless and the first verse has only a handful of barely audible statics.  It proceeds in much the same way although there some light statics and very quiet ticks during the final vocal section.  They are quiet and hardly intrusive - no clicks or pops!  Ex+

'Lovely Rita' plays with real quality from the get go.  The intro and opening vocal play with great clarity and the mid piano piece is faultless.  The next and final vocal keeps up the standard the closing instrumental / 'vocal' section is superb.  Martin's piano 'sound' really adding to the track.  Near Mint

The farmyard intro on 'Good Morning, Good Morning' has only a minimal amount of the static distortion that you always find on the mono versions and the first Good Morning... vocal has no background and neither does the following verse.  It continues to play with exceptional quality and the lead guitar sections play so clearly with no distortion which is rare.  The farmyard outro is superb with no intrusion aside from one light at the end.  A Near Mint version.

The intro on the 'Sgt. Pepper's reprise...' is of course very different compared to the stereo version and it plays with stunning quality here.  As the bass comes in the depth and power of the audio is amazing and the vocal section has no intrusion at all.  The entire track is so powerful and the closing vocal in particular and yet there is no distortion.  This has to grade as Mint-

The segue into 'A Day In The Life' is so clean and acoustic / piano intro is so close to perfect with only a couple of minor statics.  Lennon's opening vocal is similar but with a small number of quiet background statics here and there, nothing intrusive.  There is only minimal static at the beginning of the first orchestral section and it then builds in spectacular fashion!  There is no interference or distortion.  The next piano piece / Woke up, fell out of bed... vocal from McCartney has barely any background and the next orchestral / vocal piece plays with very clearly with no obvious background.  This section often has a 'muddied' sound quality but the playback is very clean here.  Lennon's final vocal is outstanding and the end orchestral crescendo ends this classic with tremendous power and definition and no distortion.  The brief pause is totally silent and the extended piano note just has little background static and a quiet whoosh sound once per revolution, it's hardly worth a mention really as it is so quiet.  Overall though it's a very quiet ending with no obvious intrusion.  The 'nonsense' ending in the locked groove at the end of the run off has no interference!  In my opinion Ex+ is a fair assessment of the audio but it's true to say some sections are better than that.

The 'Fourth Proof' Cover, 'Fool' Inner & Cut Out Insert

The laminated Patents pending G & L cover is in excellent condition with very little wear.  The edges are almost 'as new' with just one tiny 'rub' on the bottom edge of the front cover and the spine is very clean also with only a couple of letters being obscured in the centre.  Overall it remains very clean with barely any marking and the corners just have some light wear.  The right hand corners have minor wear and the opening edge (front cover) has only the bare minimum of feathering / handling wear near the top.  The opening edge on the back cover is pristine.  The front cover is in great shape with only a handful of small laminate creases and minor creasing / rubbing in the bottom corners.  The back cover is very clean also with five of the usual small edge creases next to the spine and some faint ringwear.  The inside of the gatefold is stunning with no marking and the flipbacks along the top edge are still fully attached to the cover.  As you can see the Fourth Proof and AR number can still clearly be seen.  The inner spine is for once undamaged and the colours throughout are still strong and vibrant.  This is a fine example of this relatively rare cover.

The original red psychedelic flame / fool inner is superb with no side splits or tears!  It just has some light creasing, faint ringwear and one tiny spot on one side.  The cut out insert is near perfect with just one tiny crease in the top left corner.

PMC 7027 // XEX 637 - 1  ADA 1   ---   XEX 638 - 1  RPP 3

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

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A minor error in the listing - the matrix info above the gradings should of course read as - 2/1 and not 1/2 as this is the withdrawn mix.