BEATLES, DICK JAMES ACETATE, DOUBLE-SIDED DEMO DISC

	£		482
	$		639

 A RARE DICK JAMES ACETATE
This is what the acetate has on each side

DEMO DISC

DICK JAMES
 MUSIC LIMITED

45 R.P.M.   O    TEM. 1687/8

side 1
Title: THANK YOU GIRL
Artist: THE BEATLES

side 2
Title: I LIKE IT
Artist: GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS

Seller’s comments:
To help you better understand what you’re bidding for, I’ve put together the following information. I hope you will find it of help.

Please note that I’m a private seller, not a dealer.

The Dick James acetate recording for sale here is rare because: -

(a) Dick James acetates are not at all common (see ‘An Overview of Dick James Acetates’ below);
(b) It’s a double-sided Dick James acetate whereas most are single-sided;
(c) It has a different recording artist on each side of the record (but in both cases, Dick James was their music publisher and Brian Epstein was their manager); It’s a 6½“ diameter acetate and therefore slightly smaller than the usual 7” records. I don’t know whether all Dick James acetates were 6½” diameter.

You can clearly see it’s an acetate recording by the shiny metal visible inside the hole in the middle of the record.

You can also just about make out the word MeloDisc under both white labels (see second paragraph of ‘An overview of Dick James acetates’ below)

I do not know the year of production of this acetate, but as both tracks were recorded in 1963, it must have been about this time.

I also don’t know whether the two recordings on this acetate are in any way different to the equivalent tracks which were formally released on singles / albums.

The record does not come with any record sleeve.

I have no certificate of authenticity, but I can confirm that this record has been in my possession for over 40 years.
 

Condition of the Acetate:
The condition of this acetate is no better than average. However, when you play it, there are no ‘skips’ and no ‘clicks’ and both sides of the record play from start to finish without any problem. There are many visible scratches on the playing surface including needle scratches (the usual wear and tear for an acetate, I believe) but these don’t seem to affect or interrupt the music other than cause quite a bit of scratchy background noise (which you mostly notice during the quiet bits!).

This acetate has been played (by me) on countless occasions and always using a good cartridge.
 

Condition of the Acetate’s label:
The Dick James red and white labels on both sides of the acetate are in very good condition with no marks or tears (see photos).
 

An Overview of Dick James Acetates:
From researching the internet, it would appear that Dick James acetates were used for a number of reasons – for copyright, for publishing, for demo purposes, for transcribing lyrics, and for sending out to orchestras to put together covers for live radio play.

I’ve also discovered that the quality of many Dick James acetates were poor. They used blanks from a company in the UK called "MeloDisc." These acetates are known to have a relatively short life.

Beatles acetates are therefore probably the rarest of The Beatles' sanctioned acetates.

Chazz Avery, a Beatles expert, says, “It’s almost impossible to determine how many Dick James Beatles acetates exist since no one has ever really understood the criteria of when and why acetates were created for or by Dick James…….  It is my speculation that many more Dick James acetates exist but they are very rare. I would put them behind Capitol original acetates in rarity.”
 

Known Dick James Acetates:
Chazz Avery’s website also has a list of known Dick James acetates. The list, it says, is the most comprehensive available. I have no way of checking this, of course, but nevertheless, here is the list. Note that it only contains eight Beatles acetates of which only one is double-sided: -

Beatles related Dick James acetates

Bad to Me
Do You Want to Know a Secret
She Loves You/I'll Get You
Yesterday
The Word
For No One
Good Day Sunshine
Goodbye Other known Dick James acetates Billy J. Kramer, "I'll Keep You Satisfied
The Naturals, "I Should Have Know Better"
Pérez Prado,  "A Hard Day's Night"
Cilla Black, "Yesterday"
The Applejacks, "Like Dreamers Do"
George Martin, "Bahama Sound"
George Martin, "I Feel Fine"
The Big Three, "By The Way"

Photos of the Acetate:

 

 

 

 
 

Postage & packaging costs:
Because I don’t know in advance what the item’s final value will be, it’s difficult to give firm figures here to cover postage, packing and compensation cover in all circumstances.

Nevertheless, based on the assumption that the item’s final value will be no more than £1,000, I can give some figures and these are shown below.  But if the item’s final value ends up at over £1,000, I’ll need to work out new costs (based on higher compensation cover and maybe a different delivery carrier).

Alternatively, the auction winner can contact me with a desired shipping method. The buyer will have to make all arrangements for collection by his carrier; be responsible for all shipping and insurance fees; postage and packaging costs; etc.

A. postage & packing costs if final value is up to £500

(For UK delivery):
Carrier will be Royal Mail
Delivery will be made via Special Delivery, Next Day service
The cost includes compensation cover up to £500

• The buyer to pay postage and packaging and compensation cover
• Item will be despatched within 48 hours on receipt of cleared payment
• Seller only accepts payment by Paypal (preferred), or UK £ sterling cheque (if covered by cheque guarantee card)
• Payment is expected within 5 days of the end of the sale
• Postage, packing & compensation cover for UK delivery of this item: -

BY SPECIAL DELIVERY NEXT DAY = £4.75

(For Overseas deliveries):
Carrier will be Royal Mail
Delivery will be made via Airmail
The costs include £2.00 for extra compensation cover up to £500
The costs include £3.50 for ‘International Signed For’ service

• The buyer to pay postage and packaging and compensation cover
• Item will be despatched within 48 hours on receipt of cleared payment
• Payment: Overseas buyer’s payment by Paypal only
• Postage, packing & compensation cover for overseas deliveries of this item:-

BY AIRMAIL EUROPE = £8.88
BY AIRMAIL REST OF WORLD = £11.22

B. postage & packing costs if final value is between £500 and £1,000

(For UK delivery)
Carrier will be Royal Mail
Delivery will be made via Special Delivery, Next Day service
The cost includes compensation cover up to £1,000

• The buyer to pay postage and packaging and compensation cover
• Item will be despatched within 48 hours on receipt of cleared payment
• Seller only accepts payment by Paypal (preferred), or UK £ sterling cheque (if covered by cheque guarantee card)
• Payment is expected within 5 days of the end of the sale
• Postage, packing & compensation cover for UK delivery of this item: -

BY SPECIAL DELIVERY NEXT DAY = £5.30

(For Overseas deliveries):
Carrier will be Parcelforce
Delivery will be made via Global Priority service
All following costs include £20 for extra compensation cover up to £1,000
Tracking is included

• The buyer to pay postage and packaging and compensation cover
• Item will be despatched within 48 hours on receipt of cleared payment
• Payment: Overseas buyer’s payment by Paypal only
• Postage, packing & compensation cover for overseas deliveries of this item to following:-

Channel Isle = £41.70
Rep of Ireland = £45.95
Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg = £44.20
France, Germany, Denmark = £45.45
Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece = £47.05
Rest of Europe = £49.45
USA, Canada = £54.25
Far East, Australia = £62.45
Rest of World = £63.75