With The Beatles - UK 1963 *PYE* Contract Press Mono Parlophone LP

	£		67
	$		89

THE BEATLES - 'WITH THE BEATLES'

Due to the exceptional demand for this LP on release in 1963 EMI contracted rival firm's pressing plants to press copies of this album. The best known of these 'contract pressings' are of the Decca variety, however this less well-known & harder to find 'contract pressing' was made by PYE Records.

Noticeable differences between the two are; the edge of the Pye pressed disc (left) has a much 'flatter' edge than the EMI pressing (right) and the label is also slightly raised from the surface of the disc. Also, the mother/stamper codes in the run-outs are different to EMI's.

This copy of a PYE contract-pressing dates from late 1963 and is on the standard black & yellow Parlophone label: PMC 1206

Both labels omit the 'Sold in UK....' text but have 'The Parlophone Co. Ltd...' worded rims.

Th side 2 label bears the 'Dominion. Belinda..' credit for the song 'Money'.

There is no purchase tax code is visible in the centre of either label.

Matrix numbers: XEX 447-7N & XEX 448-7N

Pye stamper codes: 3,12,PB3/A & PB4,2,11/A

Vinyl weight: 165g

Housed in a front laminated, tri-flipback 'Garrod & Lofthouse' printed cover bearing the corrected 'You Really Got A Hold On Me' title.

Complete with its original poly-lined 'Use Emitex..' inner-sleeve.

CONDITION

Disc

Labels: EXCELLENT

A clean & undamaged set with minimal centre hole wear & no writing or missing paper.

Visual: VERY GOOD

Both playing surfaces retain their deep-gloss factory shine, free from any clouding or whitening to the grooves from over-play. There are several light hairline scratches - none of which are deep or 'feelable' beneath my fingertips. Closer inspection beneath my unforgiving halogen desk lamp reveals numerous wispy paper hairlines consistent with inner-sleeve removal & turntable contact, but again no major faults. Both sides of this quality heavy disc lie 100% flat on the turntable.

Sound Quality: VERY GOOD +

Despite its visual shortcomings, this is an extremely enjoyable sounding disc, which I would say sounds superior to its EMI-pressed counterpart. Every track plays without any groove/playwear distortion or crackle - in fact, apart from an occasional light tick between some tracks, there really is little to fault & much to enjoy.

Cover: VERY GOOD +

A respectable example with general handling and storagewear but no serious issues throughout. The front panel is clean & unyellowed on the white areas with the clean high-gloss laminate bearing a handful of 'thumbnail' and spine wrinkles only. There is slight corner bruising and but no significant damage or wear to either opening edge. The rear panel is generally clean but there is a small sticker removal mark and a partially erased name in the upper right corner. All flipbacks are fully intact and undamaged and both seams are smooth and unstressed.

The spine is clean, unworn & fully worded.

Inner-sleeve: EXCELLENT

Clean & flat with slight age-toning but no creases, seams splits or writing.

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