BEATLES Sgt. Pepper RARE Australian MINT Audiophile LP

$

1,500

THE BEATLES' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (AUDIO-5) released by EMI in 1983. Without a doubt the rarest 'commercial' release of Sgt. Pepper is this Australian-only Audiophile LP pressing, with the unique catalog # - AUDIO-5. Released in July 1983, EMI made just 497 copies available to the public before scrapping the entire project, which included a proposed Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon release.

This exclusive Audiophile record came into existence following a decision by EMI Australia to try their hand at half-speed mastering for a reissue series. In January 1981 they took their existing 15-ips masters for Please Please Me and Sgt. Pepper's and brought them down to 7.5-ips and cut lacquers for each title. After checking for quality these were rejected. Please Please Me was abandoned in favor of concentrating on Sgt. Pepper's so a new master was supplied by EMI UK and they set to work again. In April 1982 the first serious cut was created, with Side 2 being successful. Side 1 was more problematic and it wasn't until the third recut, which took 8 hours to cut just 40 minutes of music, that produced a result with which they were satisfied. This is known as the -3 cut and was used to create the final finished disc.

Matrix Numbers: Side 1: AUDIO 5-A -3 DB
Side 2: AUDIO-5-B DB STUDIO 301
Mastered by Don Bartley at Studios 301

This LP never went on sale in regular record stores, but was made exclusively available to the public at the Sydney Hi-Fi And Audio Show on July 3rd 1983. Just 497 numbered copies were released with unique label artwork, mirroring the black and silver one EMI box Parlophone labels of 1969 (LABEL SCAN 3), and housed inside a single pocket picture cover with AUDIOPHILE designated on the back. Each LP originally had an individually numbered sticker fixed to the top right corner of the back cover. THIS COPY DOES NOT HAVE THE NUMBER STICKER. It may have fallen off but I have no information as to the original owner, so can't give an explanation. Thanks to Bruce Hamlin of The Beatles Record Information Service in NSW Australia for background information on this unique LP.

Another copy of this album is currently up for sale on the internet (google my title item) for around $2,750. The reserve price for this copy is nearly half of that, partly due to light cover wear (corners - see below) and a missing number sticker, while the Buy-It-Now price is still considerably below the other copy's value.

This LP is in MINT condition and has no Spindle Marks on the labels and not a scratch or mark on the clean, glossy vinyl. The party I acquired it from never played it, and the original owner from whom he acquired it from had two which makes it feasible he hadn't played the 2nd copy; so together with the physical evidence, I do not believe that it has ever been played, which is why it gets a rare Mint rating.

The Cover is in NEAR MINT condition with all seams fully intact and the front and back showing Next-To-No wear. 3 corners have been bumped, thus leaving some wrinkles on each. On the two left corners, the wrinkles go in about 3/8" from the corner and on the upper right (Scan 2), they go in about a 1/2". The lower right is sharp! And the numbered sticker is missing as noted above.

What you see is what you get. I prefer a Money Order/Cashiers Check within 10 days of end of auction. I mail the same day payment is recieved. Also take Bidpay, Western Union (No Paypal on this item please) and whatever gets it here safe and fast! Buyer pays US Postal Priority Shipping for $6.00 in U.S. & for More Overseas in a well-packed LP mailer. Insurance is required for this item, unless you agree in writing to all liability for shipping. Item is GUARANTEED SATISFACTION. Please check out my other auctions for more musical items with many rare MFSL LPs coming up for auction.