The Beatles : A Hard Day's Night 3N/13 1st Mono Press 1964

This first mono pressing plays to a very high standard with no ticks, clicks or pops.  There is some of the usual distortion here and there which you always find when a mono record is played through a stereo system but overall the clarity and depth of the audio is very impressive.  You can also tell the vinyl has not been over-played as it remains very clean with a very glossy 'look' and not very much spindle wear.  It is visually in great condition.

The cover has been very well preserved and has only very minimal wear and the back in particular is very clean which is a rarity.  The Emitex inner is also in excellent condition.

This is a genuine first pressing as denoted by 'The Parlophone Co. Ltd...' around the perimeter edge and 'Recording First Published 1964' on the labels.  It also has the 3N/3N matrix and a mid-sized 'mono' on the front cover.  This is the first label variation by the way as the title 'Songs from the film...' takes up more room on the S1 label than on later pressings.

PMC 1230 // XEX 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // GAM 1 / GGO 2

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (T1, T2 & T4 Mint- / T7 Ex) 

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (T1 Mint- / T2 Near Mint / T5 Ex / T6 Ex-)  

The cover is a very strong Ex

The labels are Ex+

The Emitex inner is Ex+

This 57 year old vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen.  There are no scratches on either side and only a few faint hairlines can be found of which only a couple are a little more obvious but they have no affect on the audio.  S1 has a very small faint scuff mark and I do mean faint!  The run out grooves are very clean and the KT tax code can be seen on the S2 label.  The labels are in great shape and have only a little spindle wear.  I have just noticed there is a very small name next to the £ Trade Mark on each side but is written in black so is not at all obvious hence why I only just noticed it now despite me having this LP for a few months!  Overall this is a fine example of this vinyl and rarely seen as good as this today.

Play grading  

The lead in grooves on S1 are so incredibly quiet you already know this record has been very well preserved!  Harrison's familiar opening note on 'A Hard Day's Night' for once has no distortion and from then on plays with exceptional clarity and with a richness of sound that cannot be faulted in any way.  This is a stunning start to the album and Mint- is an honest appraisal of the audio.

'I Should Have Known Better' keeps up the standard and plays with great quality from the first note to the last with no interference.  The clarity just radiates from this recording - there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and each note is just so sharp and precise.  Mint- again although I'm not sure if the minus is required!

'If I Fell' is almost as good.  Almost!  There is just a minimal amount of static distortion on the vocal every now and then but it is very quiet and in the background and still plays very clearly with no ticks, clicks or pops.  I think Ex+ is about right.

For a louder track 'I'm Happy Just To Dance With You' plays so well without any interference.  Mint- is once again deserved.

'And I Love Her' plays with great clarity with no intrusive clicks etc but again there is just a hint of static distortion on the vocal.  Perhaps this could be removed when played as 'mono' as I playing it through a stereo set up.  Ex+

As you approach the end of the record you always expect some inner groove distortion but on 'Tell Me Why' it is not very intrusive at all.  You certainly do not need to turn the volume down!  There is no interference and grades as Ex+

The final track 'Can't Buy Me Love' has a little more distortion but is still eminently listenable.  Again I'm sure this could be improved when played as a mono record.  An Ex finish to the side.

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'Any Time At All' plays with superb audio from the get go with no interference.  John's vocal is very powerful with no sign of any distortion and Mint- is deserved here.

'I'll Cry Instead' also plays to a very high standard.  I detected just a minor touch of barely audible static so will grade as Near Mint although that may be a little harsh.

'Things We Said Today' plays with very clean audio and again there are no ticks, clicks or pops but every now and then you do hear a mega light static sound on the vocal.  You may even miss it as it is so quiet - it is totally non-intrusive but will grade as Ex+ to be safe.  It is still a superb version.

The powerful vocal intro on 'When I get Home' is nigh on perfect and it continues to play with very strong audio.  When you consider how 'loud' this track is the playback is very impressive indeed.  There is only very minimal distortion.  Ex+

As we are getting closer to the end 'You Can't Do That' displays a little more inner groove distortion but it is still a very impressive version with no other interference.  Ex

'I'll Be Back' ends the album with no interference just a little more distortion as you would expect.  Ex-

In summary this first pressing plays to an excellent standard with no ticks, clicks or pops just some inner groove distortion here and there.  I often think I am far too 'honest' in my gradings as any mono record from this era will play with some distortion and I am sure it could be 'managed' better when played in mono.  This is a fine album nonetheless which is very impressive visually as stated above.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The Patents Pending G&L cover is in excellent condition and remains very clean indeed with only very minimal shelf wear.  The edges and spine are in superb shape and the corners have very little wear, just a little more bottom right maybe.  The opening edge has only minimal handling wear.  The laminated front cover is very impressive with just some of the usual laminate creases around the edges, a minor crease top left and a couple of very small white 'scuffs' next to the opening edge.  The back cover is in lovely condition, it isn't laminated of course, and yet it remains so clean with only light fading in a couple of areas and no obvious marking at all.  The flipbacks are still firmly attached to the cover and they have hardly any of the usual staining that you so often see.  A fine example overall.

The original poly-lined Emitex inner is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears and only a small number of very faint 'spots'.  It has only minimal creasing also.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

PMC 1230 // XEX 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // GAM 1 / GGO 2

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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