Beatles - A Hard Days Night - UK Vinyl LP - Matrix Nos: XEX 481-3N / XEX 482-3N

	£		112
	$		148

STUNNING EARLY EXAMPLE

THE BEATLES - Album Title: A HARD DAYS NIGHT. Cat Number: PMC 1230 - MONO / 33.3 rpm.

Matrix Nos: XEX 481-3N / XEX 482-3N & Stamper Codes: 3 GLP / 4 RGL

Label/Format: Parlophone – This has all the criteria for the ‘first pressed’ format. The Beatles albums were ‘pressed’ a multitude of times but the label and cover designs changed slightly to give a more accurate indication of time of manufacture. This example is clearly very early and the labels have the ‘First published 1964’ text. Also ‘The Parlophone Co Ltd’ text on the label rims and ‘Sold in UK’ etc text above the hole.

Side one appears to have just one embossed letter, which looks like a ‘J’, this is pristine with no rubbing or chipping. It could conceivably be the more familiar ‘T’, but has no ‘K’, the regular pair seen, but this really does look more like a ‘J’ to me. All text and press registration is spot-on, sometimes there is a shift in the plates which give a burred appearance but not on these, is sharp, crisp and precise, in fact this pair are amongst the best I have ever seen on the album. (Please see my label pictures for all information needed).

Label Conditions: Both in amazing conditions are I hope my pictures show. Ultra clean, fresh and highly attractive, and without doubt, this vintage mono Beatles classic has hardly been played. Just one spindle mark and the odd tiny trace on side one, and barely anything at all on side two. We all know what these incredibly popular early Beatles mono records usually look and sound like these days, and both labels, playing surfaces, sound, inner and cover all come close to reminding of new. YES, this supreme example really IS that good.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 145 grams. A typical heavy pressing from this label and era.

Country of Manufacture: England. Original Year of Release: 1964

Rarity & Overview: The album itself is never hard to find, it sold in vast numbers, but like always, it’s the conditions that make the difference. Any copy of this record that looks hardly played and offers clean, distortion-free sound is a different matter. Far fewer examples are seen or offered that have avoided over-use and abuse on Dansettes or similar vintage record players that stripped away the delicate groove walls and now make them unlistenable. Often used at parties, loaned to friends, plastered in writing or played to destruction with worn out, chipped and non-aligned stylue – this was very much the norm for such popular records. The covers are usually tatty, grubby, badly creased, torn and written on. Finding clean and undamaged examples is much more difficult and, and this one is sensational. Even on my highly revealing LP12, for which these mono records were never designed, this record gave a remarkable account of itself. A loud and dynamic mono sound with the utmost detail and barely anything to fault at all. Just look at the cover, both sides are exceptional, the back is little short of reference standard and almost as white as when issued with pristine flipbacks. Cover-protected from the day it left the shop and I doubt if record, inner or cover has seen light-of-day for decades or even been handled much at all. All elements of this set could prove to be a substantial upgrade for many, I can hardly imagine finding one a great deal better. I never offer Beatles albums lightly, they have to be of a certain standard, this beauty makes my near mint grading.

Cover Grade and Format: MINT(-): a single format with front laminate that wraps around all closed edges on to three large rear flipbacks. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse which includes the ‘Patents pending’ text. Also included is the original tracing paper style lined inner sleeve.

Lamination & Front: Little short of STUNNING! The laminate retains a mirror-like shine, freshness and clarity with no lifting, blisters, chips or dulling, even when viewed critically under angled light. The surface so smooth, it appears more like glass and has no indentations or dinks. Any surface trace marks or creases are very few, fine and faint, and unusually, minimal hint of rim impression from the quite thick record – a gentle trace near the top right only. This one really does take you back to the 1960s when they were in the shops and seen at their best prior to the usual handling and abuses most soon suffered.

Cover Back: Jaw-drop stunning, and bar a couple of very fine, small hairline left edge surface crease traces, could grade full Mint. It just goes prove no matter the age and popularity, covers can still be seen looking almost new even into six decades of existence. The main back panel as barely aged or darkened at all with ring wear or impression, rubbing or issues of any real note at all. All three flipbacks have to be seen to be believed: put simply – they are pristine perfect – I struggled to fine just one mega-faint semi-hairline surface crease on the bottom one only. Seeing is believing, have another look at my pictures, this back is unlikely to ever be found better.

Top Edge: Straight, clean, smooth with no scuffs, chips or wear at all.

Bottom Edge: Same again up to the very tip of the right corner that has a microscopic rub. This edge rarely seems to escape chipping or cracking, rarely, if ever seen it better than here.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly sharp with little wear and minimal thickening, no chipping or burring. The manufactured trim is a little ‘rustic’ and not clean-cut like some which is not unusual for these more mass-produced thicker card covers. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way.

Spine and Text: As near perfect as they get: solid, mainly straight, uncompressed, all text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate that is silky smooth to the fingertip. A trace of bowing if being ultra critical as vintage laminate tries to contract, better this than large lifts – few will better it. The ends are lightly tapered in manufacturer and the entire surface still ultra white and totally unaged.

Corners: All four again almost as made: very neat and sharp with just the tiniest tip rub on the bottom right, again going beyond critical. All retain near mint shape with no enhancements, dinks or creases.

Cover Summary: A near reference standard cover, never an easy one and the general lack of wear and ageing on this beautiful example, more noteworthy. Yes, the odd small gentle surface crease on the front, but little else and it will take a remarkable example to better it. As stated already, this could prove the ultimate upgrade for many collectors and it truly does come close to reminding of new.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): this has the tracing paper type lining with is perfect, as seen inside two immaculate, crisp undamaged window circles. Only marked down from Mint(-) for a fairly gentle corner crease, but little else to fault. All edges are unsplit or torn and has NO repairs. Minimal traces of discolouration and this fragile inner sleeve has aged little – all good indicators the record has made few trips out.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+) / EXCELLENT(++): a very fine visual copy that is clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed. Thick vinyl with wide, deep grooves and looking very impressive. Viewed more critically under bright angled light, some very fine whispy surface marks are seen – without doubt, the owner dry-cloth cleaned his records and as such, these ultra fine and totally harmless surface traces are quite common. What is far less common is the total lack of penetrating marks, scuffs or scratches, these playing surfaces (and labels) are exceptional for a mid-60s mono record. It has avoided the perils of the Dansette era, genuine early copies rarely do so and there lies the difference. Unless an umplayed copy surfaces – which is pretty unlikely I feel – this will take some beating and it should please many, if not most collectors.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This splendidly preserved record plays up to, and most all, even above it’s high visual grading with barely anything to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Another master-class in production by George Martin and this copy does it more than high justice. Any surface sounds are minimal to none and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no pressing noises, pops or clicks. No sound degrading was noted, and this being played on a very revealing stereo system for which this record was not really designed. Any old mono record that sounds impressive on such equipment is testament to it’s quality and this one delivers great, clean and precise audio quality with no high frequency clipping or focus loss. Remember, just one play on a worn stylus, and the sound is ruined. Just one arm drop or jolt on a typical mono record player, and there is a crator or deep scratch to potentially write-off another Beatles classic. This has avoided such trauma and both channels are clean and sharp, with no ‘mono’ noise from either channel when played in stereo. With such a lovely cover, inner sleeve and lightly played record, this copy sets a very high standard and it will please many, if not most collectors – as stated, the entire package could prove a significant upgrade for many, and these early Beatles albums do not come along as often as the later ones like this. 

Strongly recommended for investor or collector

Intend to let auction run to conclusion so no 'Buy It Now' option. 

P & P £7.00 to UK address. Could courier abroad at buyers cost.

Please email for further info...