Paul McCartney McCartney II / 2 1980 1st UK Parlophone PCTC 258 BBC Press

$

85

• Artist: Paul McCartney

• Album: McCartney II

• Year: 1980

• Label: Parlophone / EMI

• Catalog Number: PCTC 258

• Format: 12” LP, Stereo

• Country: UK

• BBC Gramophone Library Copy: Yes (Provenance indicated by multiple BBC labels and return slip)

Visual & Physical Attributes

• Cover: Original UK gatefold sleeve featuring front portrait of McCartney with shocked expression. Inside gatefold includes pool image with rainbow and smaller quirky shots of McCartney.

• Condition of Sleeve:

• BBC return sticker present (“Please Return Promptly”) and BBC Gramophone Library barcode on both front and back covers.

• Moderate edge and corner wear from institutional use.

• Bright colors intact; spine readable.

• Inner Sleeve: Original printed lyric sleeve present with song texts and credits.

• Vinyl Labels:

• Classic EMI Parlophone design in black with silver text.

• Both sides display BBC Gramophone Library stickers.

• Matrix/Runout (etched):

• Side A: PCTC 258 A-1

• Side B: PCTC 258 B-2U

• Denotes an early UK pressing.

Tracklist

Side One:

1. Coming Up

2. Temporary Secretary

3. On the Way

4. Waterfalls

5. Nobody Knows

Side Two:

1. Front Parlour

2. Summer’s Day Song

3. Frozen Jap

4. Bogey Music

5. Darkroom

6. One of These Days

Provenance Significance

This copy originated from the BBC Gramophone Library, making it historically valuable for collectors who seek unique institutional pressings. Features include:

• BBC inventory barcodes

• BBC Gramophone Library stamp

• Handwritten requisition numbers and usage log on the front sleeve

Such provenance adds historical significance, particularly to McCartney collectors and Beatles historians.

Condition Assessment

• Vinyl: Appears to have light scuffing and some hairline marks typical for library use, but no deep scratches visible from images.

• Labels: Excellent; stickers intact and legible.

• Sleeve: VG to VG+ considering wear and BBC markings (which some collectors find desirable as provenance).

Collectibility Factors

• BBC Gramophone Library Copies: Rare and highly collectible for Beatles/McCartney specialists.

• Early UK Pressing: Adds desirability compared to later reissues.

• Condition: Provenance increases rarity despite moderate wear.

Historical Notes

• McCartney II marked Paul’s experimental return to solo work after Wings disbanded. Known for synth-heavy tracks like “Temporary Secretary” (now a cult favorite) and the hit “Coming Up”.

• BBC library copies were used for internal programming and often bear unique archival marks, making each piece a one-of-a-kind collectible.

Please understand that this is an official UK archival record from the British Broadcasting Corporation and the sleeve(s) may contain archival stickers from the BBC. Some of these stickers are 'on top' of the plastic with some 'underneath' (i.e. on the sleeve itself). Some sleeves have been 'laminated' either by way of 'punching' the plastic wallet to two parts of the sleeve or by fully wrapping the plastic to the sleeve. Where sleeves are laminated stickers can be removed with the use of appropriate sticker removal fluids however it is unlikely that stickers can be removed from any sleeves that are not laminated. The sleeves as such in this collection are generally graded as VG with the records often VG+ to Ex+.

The BBC Gramophone Library: A Historic Institution in British Broadcasting

Overview

The BBC Gramophone Library was the centralized archive and distribution hub for music and spoken-word recordings used by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) across its radio and television networks. Established in the 1930s and reaching its peak usage from the 1950s through the 1980s, the library served as a critical resource for programming, background music, and live broadcasts.

Primary Roles:

1. Music Programming & Licensing

• The BBC did not allow advertising, so it relied heavily on pre-licensed or internally approved music for airplay.

• The Gramophone Library held tens of thousands of LPs, singles, and 78s, carefully cataloged and labeled for legal and logistical reasons.

2. Record Circulation Across Studios

• Library copies were loaned out to BBC producers and engineers working on everything from Radio 1 pop shows to classical music programs and regional BBC radio stations across the UK.

• Many records bear checkout stickers and barcodes with issued/returned fields, tracking circulation between studios.

3. Archiving Broadcast-Ready Media

• The BBC required high-quality and clean copies for broadcasting, so many library records were early or first pressings sourced directly from record labels or distributors.

• Labels often provided the BBC with promo or advanced copies, which were then filed and made broadcast-ready.

4. Editing, Marking, and Custom Labeling

• Library staff often marked faults or added stickers (e.g., “STEREO”, “DO NOT USE SIDE B”, “OBSCENE LYRICS”) based on BBC content standards.

• Some records have cue sheets or fade/duration notes handwritten on inner sleeves for radio DJs and engineers.

5. Preservation & Disposal

• When formats shifted (vinyl to CD, then digital), the BBC began deaccessioning large portions of the library.

• Many records were sold, gifted to staff, or disposed of — though some were retained for archival and legal purposes.

Collecting Significance

Records from the BBC Gramophone Library are now highly sought after due to:

• Direct association with British radio history

• Unique, institutional provenance (often impossible to fake convincingly)

• Early pressings used during the golden age of BBC radio (1950s–1980s)

• The possibility that famous BBC DJs (e.g., John Peel, Annie Nightingale) handled or played the exact copies

Legacy

The BBC Gramophone Library remains a legendary archive in British media history, now largely digitized or merged into newer holdings. Physical copies like yours are time capsules, often tied to decades of public service broadcasting, music history, and cultural memory.