Beatles White Album Vinyl LP MONO UK 1st issue 0063599

	£		210
	$		278

An increasingly rare chance to own a low numbered (actually 0063599) copy of this collector’s item in the first edition UK mono version. This edition has many differences in the track mixes from the stereo version. There’s a good article about this here: http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pcs7067.html

I judge this copy, vinyl and sleeve, to be in EX - excellent condition with good thick shiny vinyl.  It sounds just great on a hi-fi turntable fitted with a mono cartridge. All 4 labels have the early wording: “Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions, see price lists”. The sleeve corners are really pretty sharp particularly at the top. It certainly does not have the battered and torn corners and spine that one sees so often.

It has the original black inner sleeves in the correct early top opening outer sleeve. The poster is included so you can look carefully and find the photo of Macca pole-dancing naked! Poster is intact with no drawing pin holes or sellotape marks from being displayed on a bedroom wall. There is just one fold, top right, which has come apart by about the first 2 inches from the edge. The 4 colour photos are not present.

Matrix markings on side one are XEX 709-1 at 6 o’clock, 5 at 3 o’clock, OM at 9 o’clock.

Matrix markings on side two are XEX 710-1 at 6 o’clock, 7 at 3 o’clock, OL at 9 o’clock.

Matrix markings on side three are XEX 711-1 at 6 o’clock, 2 at 3 o’clock, HG at 9 o’clock.

Matrix markings on side four are XEX 712-1 at 6 o’clock, 2 at 3 o’clock, HG at 9 o’clock.

This release is probably the most essential to have in both mono and stereo, as almost every track has some difference. But the following thirteen tracks have the most marked variations.

"Back In The U.S.S.R."

The airplane overdubs occur in different places on the mono and stereo versions.

"Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da"

The stereo version has hand-clapping during the intro, the mono version does not.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

The stereo version has some vocal sounds from George at the end, the mono version does not.

"Blackbird"

The bird sound effects are quite different between the stereo and the mono release.

"Piggies"

The pig sound effects are quite different between the stereo and the mono release.

"Don't Pass Me By"

The mono version is much faster than the stereo, and therefore is shorter.
The violin sounds at the end are markedly different.

"Why Don't We Do It In The Road"

The stereo version has hand-clapping during the intro, the mono version does not.

"I Will"

The stereo version has more prominent bongos.

"Birthday"

The stereo version has extra vocals at the end of the second chorus.

"Sexy Sadie"

The stereo version has two taps on the tambourine during the intro, the mono version only has one.

"Helter Skelter"

The stereo version has a fade-out/fade-in dummy ending with Ringo's shout of "I've got blisters on my fingers", the mono version does not ! ... this makes the stereo version almost a minute longer.

"Long, Long, Long"

The stereo version is fine, but on the mono, George's double-tracked vocal is embarrassingly out of synch.

"Honey Pie"

The stereo version has a shorter guitar solo than the mono version.

It was the mixing of the mono version of the album into which the Beatles put their effort and attention. The stereo version was mostly produced by George Martin without them.

The mono version has now finally been released on CD as part of ‘The Mono Box’ released on 9th Sept 09. You have to buy the box set of all the Beatles albums to get it. When the Abbey Road engineers first played the White Album mono master tape, which hadn’t been touched for years, all the joins and splices fell apart: it had been so long since it had been played, all the adhesive in the splicing tape had dried out.

Here’s a chance to compare the original with that CD transfer. However to do that please note that you will need to play it with a mono rather than a stereo hi-fi stylus. Most manufacturers, such as Ortofon and Shure, produce mono styli which will fit into your existing cartridge. Played with an ordinary stereo cartridge you will be delighted with sides 1 and 3, but on sides 2 and 4 if played loud you may notice some distortion only on the left channel. It’s only particularly noticeable on I Will and Julia at the end of side 2. This happens with mono records, any stereo information they may contain and which is picked up by a stereo cartridge will be spurious by definition. It was probably like this from new. A simple solution if you don’t have a mono stylus is to just turn off the left stereo channel. You won’t be missing anything: it’s a mono album after all, so you will hear it as it was meant to be heard, through a single speaker. Of course if your interest is in collecting rather than playing vinyl, all this is totally boring and academic!

In all, this is a very nice mono copy to have in your collection and I’ll be pleased to answer any questions regarding it and will ship worldwide to meet your requirements at the appropriate cost.

Have added one more photo to show sharpness of corners.