BEATLES 'PLEASE PLEASE ME' 1963 UK 1st PRESS RED LABEL

	£		86
	$		114

THE BEATLES - PLEASE PLEASE ME / ASK ME WHY

 7-inch 45 rpm single

Red Parlophone Label, 1963 1st Pressing, Type C Sleeve

Catalogue Number 45-R 4983, Matrix Nos 7XCE 17217-1N & 7XCE 17218-1N, without 'Made In Gt. Britain' credit

PLEASE PLEASE ME  Mother Code: 1  Stamper Code: L

ASK ME WHY:  Mother Code: 2    Stamper Code: L

Tax Code: MPT

Condition: Sleeve: VG+  Vinyl: A-side VG+  B-side VG (see notes below)

Summary

This is an original 1st pressing of 'Please Please Me', The Beatles' first UK No.1 hit single (NME Chart). The impact this record made in the early months of 1963 was immense. For sheer originality, power and attack there had been no British pop record like it. Every other UK pop record was eclipsed overnight.

Why so collectable ?

The principal reasons early copies of this 45 are so sought after today are the position ‘Please Please Me’ holds in The Beatles’ song catalogue as their first major Top Ten hit; and the fact that first pressings pre-dated a significant change in Parlophone label design by a mere few weeks. As a result those with the early red label are more scarce than those with the later black label design.  To replace Parlophone's red 45 rpm record labels EMI, Parlophone's parent company, opted for what was considered a more contemporary look using silver lettering on a black background, which they applied to this and other group labels of the period (eg Columbia and HMV).  This remained EMI's principal label style throughout the rest of the 1960's and all subsequent 1963 batches of this record (and later) were pressed with the new black and silver design. Owners of an original red label copy of 'Please Please Me' have the satisfaction of knowing that theirs is one of the very earliest copies of this massively successful and hugely influential single which catapulted The Beatles to stardom.

Condition of this original copy of ‘Please Please Me’

There are several light surface scratches on the vinyl and on the A-side at about 9 o’clock there is a scuff mark. Notwithstanding these comments the vinyl retains a good glossy sheen, is pleasing to look at and the audio quality of both sides of the record remains strong.  I rate the audio quality of the A-side at a strong VG+ with the B-side weighing in at a respectable VG (see Grading Definitions below).  Both labels are unmarked apart from normal signs of spindle wear; and spider marks (where the record has been placed on the deck with less than absolute precision). 

The sleeve is an original Type C Parlophone sleeve, one of three types used for this release though not the one supplied with this copy when new, as a different catalogue number ('4935') is written in the space provided on the front of the sleeve in the top left corner. (This was a common practice used by retailers for ease of identifying records stored behind their counters). The sleeve is in nice VG condition with no splits or tears and displays good strong colours.

This record plays really well, especially the all-important A-side. The cachet associated with this 45 is that it really is one of the earliest copies of The Beatles' first No 1 hit single and only this release and 'Love Me Do' ever originally appeared with red Parlophone labels. I am confident the successful bidder will be pleased with this record.

Be aware of reissues !!! 

Starting in 1982 EMI (UK) embarked upon a 20th Anniversary re-issue of every one of The Beatles' major single releases. Early in 1983 'Please Please Me' was re-issued in a picture sleeve, bearing a record label which fairly closely replicated the original first red label release.  Fairly closely is not the same as identical fortunately, so it is quite easy to identify re-issues which are worth only a fraction of the value of original copies. Re-issues bear many distinct differences. The most noticeable are that the text 'A' SIDE appears at 9 o'clock ('B' SIDE on the B-Side of course), a George Martin production credit has been added just beneath this; the matrix number has been moved to the right side under the catalogue number; and under that the word 'MONO' has been added.  A larger typeface (or font) is used throughout.  There are other differences too, but these are the easiest to spot and will tell you immediately whether you're looking at a 1963 or a 1983 copy. (And Note: much of the foregoing is also true of 'Love Me Do' re-issues).

For Payment Instructions and Returns Policy – Please Scroll Down

Notes about my Records

Record Gradings

The gradings I use are those defined by Record Collector, sometimes supplemented by + or – signs for fine-tuning.  For example an otherwise Excellent record with minimal very light scuff marks which are purely cosmetic and have no impact upon audio quality might merit an EX- rating rather than a wholesale downgrading to VG.   At the end of the day record gradings are always subjective, but I try hard to be accurate.  Record Collector defines seven gradings ranging from Mint down to Bad.  I seldom offer a record in anything less than Very Good condition unless it is particularly rare or collectable. These are the definitions I use:

Mint (M): The record is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality.  The cover and any extra items (eg booklet, poster, lyric sheet) are in perfect condition.  Sealed or unplayed items should be Mint.

Excellent (EX): The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality.  The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good (VG):  The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch.  Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good (G):  The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches.  The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

Lower grades are defined but I rarely use them.

My assessment of a record's condition is based on my experience of almost 25 years occasional trading (record fairs, mail order, shop stall sales and eBay).

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

UK CUSTOMERS: Payment by PayPal preferred. Cheques or postal orders please make payable to Keith Ashford. Orders under £20 please pay by PayPal or UNCROSSED Postal Order ONLY. Cheque payments: (both paper AND eCheque) I regret dispatch must wait while the cheque is cleared. 

OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS: Payment by PayPal ONLY please.

ALL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: Items will be re-listed 7 days after the sale date if payment is still awaited unless I have agreed a time extension.

RETURNS POLICY

My buyers have seldom found it necessary to return items but you will find me courteous and considerate in my dealings with you if a problem arises

In this event and once return has been agreed between us items must be returned in the condition received within 14 days of that agreement (28 days for non-UK customers). On receipt of returned items a refund will be made within three working days (sooner if possible).

Thank you for reading this.  Good luck with your bidding !