The Beatles ABBEY ROAD, Apple (1969) First US Version

$

22

Selected titles from the private collection of a music business veteran are now being made available for the first time. Titles offered by this Seller are one-owner and came directly from the pressing plant, record company warehouse, other label reps or record store unless otherwise noted. 

Grading is based on visual inspection.

Album ships in a 2 MIL poly cover sleeve.

I package records outside the cover to avoid seam splits.

• This appears to be an authentic First Pressing based on all the indicators I have read. See notes below for details.
• This copy has been played. It would be NM except for 3 blemishes on track 1, side 1. The thick vinyl may have deep enough grooves that it won't affect the sound but I can only speculate.
• The single piece board cover has tight seams and shows some shelf wear.
• The die-cut inner sleeve is plastic-lined. I don't know if that is how it came from the pressing plant or if the Seller replaced it.
• Seller got this new in his store in 1969. It has been in storage for more than 46 years.

TracklistHide Credits

A1 Come Together Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 4:16 A2 Something Written-By – George Harrison 2:59 A3 Maxwell's Silver Hammer Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 3:24 A4 Oh! Darling Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 3:26 A5 Octopus's Garden Written-By – Richard Starkey 2:49 A6 I Want You (She's So Heavy) Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 7:49 B1 Here Comes The Sun Written-By – George Harrison 3:04 B2 Because Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 2:45 B3 You Never Give Me Your Money Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 3:57 B4 Sun King Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 2:31 B5 Mean Mr. Mustard Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 1:06 B6 Polythene Pam Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 1:13 B7 She Came In Through The Bathroom Window Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 1:58 B8 Golden Slumbers Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 1:31 B9 Carry That Weight Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 1:37 B10 The End Written-By – Lennon-McCartney 2:04

Companies, etc.

• Manufactured By – Apple Records, Inc.
• Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville

Credits

• Engineer [Uncredited] – Geoff Emerick, Phillip McDonald*
• Photography By – Iain Macmillan
• Producer – George Martin

Notes

Apple label with "Mfd by Apple" rim print on the slice side of the label.
An E.M.I. Recording. Thanks to George Martin, Geoff Emerick and Phillip McDonald.
Photographs by Iain Macmillan. 

This first press has variations on the sleeve and label. The apple logo IS misaligned with the rest of the text AND Her Majesty is also missing from the sleeve and vinyl label (although the track plays after "The End"). 

This version also is the "cropped" version of the sidewalk. Un-cropped version here: The Beatles - Abbey Road Front Cover is uncropped photo (with manhole cover at bottom).
Back Cover has Apple logo aligned under side 1 tracklist.
'Her Majesty' not in track listing on cover. 

This version can be distinguished from the other 1969 US pressings by its labels.

Side A:
1) "Recorded In England" is printed at the bottom of the side A label in italicized font with characters that are larger than those of the tracklist, the producer credit, and etc.. On other versions, like this one, the text is the same size as George Martin's production credit and it is not italicized.

2) The rights society "BMI" is printed to the right of the track titles while all of the corresponding songwriting credits are printed underneath the track titles. On other versions, like this one, the writing credits are printed to the right of the titles and are proceeded by the rights society.

3) "Stereo" appears separated from other text in the left center area of the label while "Side 1" appears to the right of center hole and underneath the matrix numbers. On other version, like this one, "Side 1" is printed directly below "Stereo" in the left center area.

Side B:
1) "Recorded In England" is printed on the lower left side of the label, apart from George Martin's production credit, and in the same font, which contrasts with side A. On other versions, like this one, "Recorded In England" is printed in larger italicized font (like on side A) and is printed together on the same side of the label.

2) "MFG. by Apple Records, Inc." is printed in white font over the green background along the lower perimeter of the label. On other versions, like this one, "Manufactured" is unabbreviated and it is printed in green font over the white background.

3) On some of the other versions, like this one, the side B label omits George Martin's production credit. "Her Majesty" not listed on label.

Also note the diameter of the pressing ring of the vinyl (small).

Barcode and Other Identifiers

• Rights Society: BMI
• Matrix / Runout (Label A): SO1-383
• Matrix / Runout (Label B): SO2-383
•