THE BEATLES - WHITE ALBUM - Ex+, No. 236425

	£		63
	$		83

THE BEATLES - WHITE ALBUM

Ex+, No. 236425, with all 4 colour photos and poster

Double vinyl album, Apple (PCS 7067/68), Originally released in 1968, Stereo - Pressed in England.
Matrix Info/Nos: YEX 709-1, YEX 710-1, YEX 711-1 & YEX 712-1. (Stamper codes: 2 GDD, 6 RGH, 5 RMR & 5 RDO)
This numbered copy is pressed in thick vinyl and was obtained in the early/mid 70’s.

From the relatively humble artistic and musical beginnings of their first album, the Beatles grew a unsurpassed capability to both create and present music, and though Sgt Pepper gets the plaudits for its ground-breaking advances on both musical and visual fronts, the White Album runs it very close and indeed, for many people, was “their finest hour”.

Somewhat obviously, the first thing to notice is the cover. In complete contrast to Sgt Pepper, it is the quintessential understatement and, though there have been some variations over the years, the basic finish has remained the plain white outer cover with the title - and maybe a number - stamped rather casually, on the front. The message: just another album - another sales unit - with nothing special to mark it out - except of course the title which told the buyer that it was a Beatles record.
But that was the where the magic lay - simplicity, coupled of course with “the name”. After Sgt Pepper, even greater - and for many of us that meant more flamboyant - radicalism was almost the expectation from the Fab Four, but they had other ideas, and their instincts wouldn’t let them down.

Inside, there was a little more: a list of 30 song titles and the record company’s name - all in a rather mundane grey - on one side and four small black and white photos (one for each of the group) on the other. More, admittedly, than on the outside, but - on the face of it - hardly the artistic advance that might be expected from such a talented group, even more so as they now had their own record label, and this release would be their first on that label.

So, from the outside, the portents were somewhat underwhelming. A quick look and pick-up would tell the buyer that this was a double album - the first from the Beatles - and, with the first-pressing copies, that it had top-opening sleeves: certainly unusual, and maybe even a first.

For many, that was all it took. A sense that here was something different sparked a curiosity that combined with the still-powerful belief in the band’s musical infallibility to replace any concerns, that expectations had been confounded, with the need to check the new offering out. And few, if any, were disappointed.
The records themselves - with their Apple centres (the outsides on the sides one/three labels and the insides on sides two/four) - had, with the earlier pressing copies, black inner sleeves, and tucked in with the records were not only four glossy, full colour photos (larger - 8” x 11” - versions of those on the inside of the sleeve) but also a fold-out poster that featured a series of Beatles-related photos and pictures on one side and the lyrics to the album’s 30 songs, plus some recording/production credits, on the other.

Any possible loss of faith vanished as this new album and its goodies were quickly taken to heart and truckloads sold every hour in many countries. And the plain sleeve quickly earned the record the “nickname” - the White Album - that has effectively replaced the title, “The Beatles” under which it was initially and formally released.

And the music? If one word has to be used, it would probably be eclectic or maybe even miscellaneous. Certainly no Beatles album before or after it embraced quite the range of styles/moods heard on the White Album: from the rock of Back In The U.S.S.R. (not to mention Birthday, Savoy Truffle and Helter Skelter) to the tranquillity of Good Night, via the pure pop of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and Don’t Pass Me By, the almost reckless adventure of Revolution 9, the vaudeville of Honey Pie, the romantic wistfulness of Julia and I Will, the jauntiness of Piggies, the poignancy of While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Long, Long, Long, the brooding melancholy of I’m So Tired and Yer Blues, …… there are probably no more than 4 songs in any one style.

This variety is definitely a key element in the appeal of this album, but the sequencing of the songs also plays an important part, not least of all in creating an aural continuity. And, once again, the band - ably supported/guided by the “fifth Beatle”, producer George Martin - struck an effective balance with styles, making the listening enjoyable without ever being too safe or predictable.

There is no question that this album is an essential part of any Beatle fan’s collection.

This copy is a later, but numbered stereo pressing with side-openings and a fully-laminated gatefold sleeve whose spine shows both the album name (at the top) and both mono and stereo number information - near the bottom. And, unlike many copies, it still has all 4 photos and the poster - and all in superb condition.

The Cover (by Garrod and Lofthouse [G&L] International) and Inner Sleeves

The key thing to note here is the lamination, because a quality laminate not only provides good protection for the sleeve but also enhances its appearance.

It should firstly be noted that the album has been kept in a polythene outer sleeve which has done much to minimise pressure, strain, etc. on the laminate which is, consequently, exceptionally well-preserved with very little wear at all - minimal “lift” in a few places and minor surface breakage near the inner spine - and none of the “haziness” so often seen on older laminates.
As a result, the whole cover looks virtually as clean and bright as it did when bought, some 30 years ago: a virtual sea of white on the outside, broken only by the ridged album title (“The BEATLES”, embossed onto the surface before lamination), the pale grey number (No 236425, stamped lightly onto the laminate) and printing on the spine.
And inside, even with the additional (pale grey) printing and photos, it is - if anything - brighter still.

There is - thanks once again to the laminate - no wear at all on the upper/lower edges and spine, only minimal wear/creasing on the open edges/corners and, on the inside, no sign at all of any “gatefold interior” rubbing/wear.
In fact, apart from some ultra-violet anti-theft information - effectively invisible in normal light - on the outer back, about the only noticeable signs of any “marks” anywhere on the sleeve are a trace of ring-wear (which is only partially visible in regular light as light surface impressions, with no wear at all), some - mostly light - surface creases and a few grey specks, which on closer looking appear to be in or under the laminate.

And with no tears, writing, feathering, seam splits, discolouration, stains or other noticeable blemishes at all, this cover rates a very strong “excellent (+)”.

This copy has plain white poly-lined paper inner sleeves with side flip-overs. They have some surface creasing/handling marks and a touch of ring-wear (no related wear though), but no tears, seam splits or other deterioration, and also rated “excellent (+)”.

The Vinyl (incl Labels)

These records have been pressed in a thick vinyl, kept in poly-lined inner sleeves and played very rarely, so they both have the weighty feel of quality and retain much of their original, deep lustre.
When viewed in direct light, sides 2 and 3 have no visible marks but although sides 1 and 4 have one or two, they are on the light side and a pre-auction play-through shows that they don’t disturb the sound which is clear, crisp and very enjoyable, with no indication of any groove wear or other sound-degradation. There are no interruptions (“sticks”) or any noticeable background noises and, on this basis, they are comfortably graded an overall “excellent (+)”.

This was the first Beatles album to have the now-legendary Apple labels and those seen on this copy are the slightly darker and greener version. These labels are in pristine condition with no spindle marks/wear or any other blemishes at all, and rated “mint (-)”.

The “Extras”

The 4 colour photos have been kept inside the record sleeve since purchase, and removed only occasionally. When examined in direct light, John and Paul are immaculate but George and Ringo have some very light surface marks, while the latter also has a faint crease across the tip of the top right corner. Otherwise they are in splendid condition and are collectively graded “excellent (+)”.

The poster/lyric insert (approx. 34" x 21”, also printed by G&L) has also been kept inside the record sleeve since purchase, and removed only occasionally. Apart from creases associated with its storage, it is in perfect condition, with no wear or deterioration of any kind, and rated “mint (-)”.

30 Tracks:
Side 1 - Back In The U.S.S.R; Dear Prudence; Glass Onion; Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da; Wild Honey Pie; The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill; While My Guitar Gently Weeps & Happiness Is A Warm Gun.
Side 2 - Martha My Dear; I’m So Tired; Blackbird; Piggies; Rocky Raccoon; Don’t Pass Me By; Why don’t we Do it In The Road; I Will & Julia.
Side 3 - Birthday; Yer Blues; Mother Nature’s Son; Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey; Sexy Sadie; Helter Skelter & Long, Long, Long.
Side 4 - Revolution 1; Honey Pie; Savoy Truffle; Cry Baby Cry; Revolution 9 & Good Night.
 

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This auction is part of the ongoing sale of a massive two person vinyl collection, collected over 30+ years and all well cared for. These include rare and autographed records, and sometimes extra goodies thrown in like tee shirts / posters / books that are related, so be sure to check my other listings! To learn more see my About Me page on Ebay. On that page buyers who would like to know when I list new LPs will find a link to join my Yahoo announcement mailing list.

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