The Beatles Revolver. XEX 605-2/XEX 606-1. Rare Remix 11. Mono. Parlophone 1966.

	£		36
	$		48

This is a Rare & Original First Press Yellow & Black Parlophone Label copy of the Rare Remix-11 Revolver. It also has the Rare error of DR. ROBERT, as opposed to DOCTOR ROBERT, on the corrected pressings and the 'extra' dot on Side One in the ''SOLD IN .U.K.'' text, where Side Two and subsequent presses of Side One have the correct, ''SOLD IN U.K.''

The rare matrices are: Side One XEX 605-2 and Side Two XEX 606-1.

 It's actually very rare to find copies that have the side 2 matrix number of XEX 606-1. The majority of mono copies out there have either 606-2 or 606-3. This is because the 606-1 copies of Revolver have a slightly different, alternative mix of the track 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. This track, known as Remix 11, has a longer fade-out and more prominent piano playing at the end. The story goes that the Beatles each received a copy of the LP after production started and later on John, after listening to his copy, either requested that the mix of TNK was changed slightly, or was replaced with another mix. The replacement mix, known as Remix 9, was very quickly added to production. It is believed that the 606-1 copies were only ever in production for a few hours in the afternoon before word came to stop because new mother plates with the different mix on them were on their way!

Today, copies of Revolver with the 606-1 side 2 matrix are highly sought after by collectors and copies in VG+ condition can sell for around £80. VG copies (has some scuffs and light marks and plays with a light crackle but overall the sound quality is still very good) are worth slightly less, maybe around the £60 mark.

  The "DR. ROBERT" label error was changed a little later in production to 'DOCTOR ROBERT', again because of John Lennon! He, apparently, didn't like it abbreviated. The 'DR.' labels add more to the value and it does help to show that a particular pressing is an original 1966 1st press rather than a later one.

The third error of the extra 'dot' or 'full-stop' punctuation mark, in the abbreviation of 'UK' was another irritant, according to hearsay and again it was John who asked for the correction! I am not too sure if all three errors were apparent in just one pressing or whether the two 'typo' errors remained after the debacle of Remix 11 & Remix 9, but this must be a fairly unique example of this record, with all three errors!

Finally, as a total First Press statement, the Mother & Stampers are nicely low! Side One Mother or Master Dye is '1' and its Stamper or Copper Plate Dye is 'GA' or '13. Side Two has Mother '5' and Stamper 'AL' or '38'. These Stampers are really, seriously low!

The vinyl is in VG Minus condition, I would say, which means it does have surface marks and some scuffs, with a few scratches or needle marks, with one or two that seem a little heavy, but I have played it and despite the odd clicks and pops, it plays surprisingly well on my NAD 2020 deck. The vinyl is heavy EMI and unusually does not have any spindle wear or damage, just the usual 'rubs'. It has the KT Purchase Tax Code, which is a First Press tax code.

The flip-back Garod & Lofthouse Sleeve is nicely intact, with no real damage or staining, just the age related look of the atmosphere and gentle handling. It has a plain full white inner sleeve, with Patent No 1125555 & Made in Great Britain, which is nicely yellowed, but totally intact!

So, this is a rare copy of this LP. It is not perfect and has been played and shows it has, without any pretence, but it still plays & presents itself well, but if you want both 'Rare & Perfect', as per the brief above, be prepared to pay an awful lot!

My grading is MY grading and I use my words here... BUT I have studied the various guides, including both The Record Collector and Goldmine and the term VG- I think is very fair & appropriate, but it could be G++. I have copied the terms for your benefit, as below. Whatever... this is RARE! This is a Record Collector's Guide quote for the terms VG & G:

VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional scratch.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches.