Beatles LP The Beatles’ Story 1964 MONO RCA Contract Press SCARCE 1,2 and 3,4

$

39

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

READ THIS! These records are NOT sold for perfect sound quality. They’re sold for their scarcity and VISUAL grading. They’ve been in storage for a decade, and they WILL play with surface noise that can be addressed with D4 or a VPI cleaning.  I can’t test-play at the minute. Please don’t bid if this is a problem for you.

So with that said…

Beatles LP The Beatles’ Story 1964 MONO RCA Contract Pressing SCARCE 1,2 and 3,4 Sides!

Most collectors are aware that this set was configured with the first LP having sides 1 and 4 on them, and the second LP as having sides 2 and 3.  This configuration was used all the way through from the first vinyl pressing in 1964, to the last vinyl pressing in 1983. 

This is the incredibly scarce RCA contract pressing, which reconfigured the albums to have sides 1 and 2 on the first LP and sides 3 and 4 on the other.  There are copies that use both east and west coast labels.  It’s too hard to tell which labels are rarer, because they aren’t seen often enough.

This copy uses the LA labels.

Vinyl--- Sides 1, 2 and 4 occupy the space between VG+ and EX.  They are all too strong to be graded VG+, but too many light lines to be graded as EX.  VERY light lines only!  Side 3 is VG+. 

Plates--- F3/F3. F3/F5.  Machine-stamped asterisk in the dead wax makes this copy pressed with Los Angeles plates.  But the thick trench groove on the labels, closer to the outer edge came from the RCA lathes.

Cover--- VERY strong VG+. Had it not been for some uniform yellowing, this cover would have graded Excellent.  Small punch hole in the upper right corner.  NO SPLITS.

Labels--- EX/EX. EX/EX.  All four labels are gorgeous, full, bold colors and full gloss.  But each label has a palm full of spindle marks.

Capitol Inner Sleeve--- Original burnt orange Capitol inner sleeves are present and in stunning Excellent condition.  One sleeve has creases from improper insertion at the factory.  Among the six seams, there are NO SPLITS.

A generic inner sleeve will be provided, so as not to damage your original Capitol inner sleeve en route.

RIAA: None.

As these records have been in storage for many years, they will play back with crackling and tics, however; a good moisturizing and cleaning with either D4 Discwasher or a VPI machine always clears them up.  Thanks!)

Note:  All LP’s ship outside of their album covers in order not to damage the covers during shipment.

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

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