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

Not only is this genuine first pressing visually stunning but it also plays to a fantastic 'high end' standard also.  A time warp classic that has hardly been played judging by the minimal spindle wear and the sonic quality of the audio.  As always I played every track in full and there is not one single click or pop, the clarity is so impressive.  This is very probably the finest example of this first pressing that I have ever sold and I've sold a few!

The cover is in beautiful condition and hopefully the photos do it justice.  It is practically 'as new' - it is so clean and has retained it's original look with barely any marking.  The original Emitex inner is also in superb condition.

A first pressing has a 3N/3N matrix and the labels have 'The Parlophone Co. Ltd...' around the rim and 'Recording first published 1964'.  The KT tax code is stamped on the S2 label.  The G&L cover has a mid-sized 'mono' on the front.

PMC 1230 // XEX 481 - 3N / XEX 482 - 3N // GPM 7 / GOM 7

The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 3 Near Mint / T6 & 7 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (T5 & 6 Near Mint) 

The cover is Mint-

The labels are Mint

The Emitex inner sleeve is Near Mint-

It doesn't get a lot better than this!  The vinyl retains a stunning mirror-like glossy sheen and there are no marks or scratches.  Rarely have I seen one as good as this!  There are only a few very minor sleeve removal hairlines visible under a strong bright light and whilst there is one faint hairline on S2 it has no affect on the superb audio whatsoever.  It really is very faint!  There is barely any spindle wear and the run out grooves and yellow/black Parlophone labels are also in sublime condition.

Play grading

S1 has as clean a run in that you could wish for.  Near silence!  Harrison's familiar note introducing 'A Hard Day's Night' is 'as new' with none of the static distortion that you so often find and it continues in exactly the same way.  The depth and clarity here is just out of this world!  You can hear each note with such incredible precision and in all my years of selling Beatles records I have never a stronger version than this.  Again Harrison's final notes that bring the song to a close have no 'background', another rarity.  A stunning Mint start to the album.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'I Should Have Known Better' then plays to the same 'high end' standard with no interference at all.  How many 56 year old records play this well?  The definition of the audio is just so impressive and a Mint grade is deserved.

'If I Fell' is almost as good, almost.  The clarity is again outstanding but there is just a minimal amount of very light intermittent static but is so much in the background as to be non-intrusive in my opinion.  I am sat very close to the speakers so it may not even be audible to others.  It remains a superb version and it goes without saying that there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  Near Mint

'I'm Happy Just To Dance With You' provides further evidence of a vinyl only lightly played down the years.  For a 'louder' track the audio is so strong, the clarity cannot be faulted and there is no obvious distortion either.  Mint-

The acoustic intro on 'And I Love Her' plays beautifully with no 'background' and progresses in much the same way.  This is again one of the finest versions I have ever heard and for such a quiet track the playback is stunning.  With only a couple of mega quiet static sounds this is Mint- I am confident in saying.

'Tell Me Why' plays extremely well but does have a little of the usual inner groove distortion as you approach the end of the side.  Aside from that there is no other 'background' and I am also playing this mono record through a stereo set up.  I would say Near Mint- is fair taking that into consideration. 

 'Can't Buy Me Love' ends the side in a similar way.  Yes a little distortion but a lot less than so many versions I have heard.  There is no interference and the playback is very impressive indeed.  A Near Mint- finish I would say.

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'Any Time At All' is stunning from the first note to the last and Mint is an honest assessment of the audio.  It plays 'as new' with wonderful definition.  The fade outs always provide a good indication of the clarity on any record and this fade plays with perfect precision...much like the others!

'I'll Cry Instead' is of the same standard with no 'background' at all.  The depth of the audio here is just stunning - honestly the sonic quality on this album is breathtaking!  Mint again.

It is difficult no to be repetitive but 'Things We Said Today' is absolutely stunning in every way.  The clarity and depth of the audio from start to finish is of a standard that is so rarely found today.  The fade out is also 'as new' - undeniably an outstanding Mint version for sure.

For one of the louder tracks on the album 'When I Get Home' plays with real power and distinction.  There is barely any distortion and of course no clicks or pops.  Mint- is a fair grading.

'You Can't Do That' is so impressive considering it is the penultimate track on the album.  The sound is so strong and has very little of the inner groove distortion that is always prevalent.  A superb Near Mint version.

'I'll Be Back' ends the album in fine style with no interference and again only minimal distortion.  It does not detract from what is a very 'clean' version and for a final track it cannot be faulted.  It is a very strong finish to the album and is easily one of the finest examples of this track that I have heard in a long time with no ticks, clicks, pops or crackle.

In summary this FINAL UPGRADE first pressing plays with such impressive sonic quality on both sides.  As any audiophile knows there is always some inner groove distortion as you approach the end of each side but it is very much kept to a minimum here.  From this and the overall quality of the audio it is obvious this record has hardly been played down the years - the visual 'look' of it also confirms that and rarely have I seen this album as visually stunning as this.  The run ins on each side are so clean as are the intros and fade outs, you could hardly find a 'cleaner' version in my humble opinion :-)

The Cover

The laminated G & L Patents pending are very rarely seen as good as this, it is stunning!  It is almost 'as new' no exaggeration.  The edges are in beautiful condition with no rubbing and the spine is almost as good with only a very minor amount of wear on he top corner.  The other corners have no wear at all and the opening edge is nigh on perfect!  The front cover could not look any better - it has no marking or laminate creasing and the back cover is also extremely clean with only one very faint mark top right.  The 'white' background has remained so white and the flipbacks are absolutely pristine, how rare is that!  This is the finest example I have ever seen and it has been so lovingly cared for since first purchase.  It's incredible to think it is 56 years old and I imagine it has been kept inside a pvc sleeve for the majority of its existence.  It is worth noting that it remains very strong and robust as if it has hardly ever been handled.  An immaculate cover in every way.

The Labels

They are in pristine condition and have no marking or writing and hardly any spindle wear.  The KT tax stamp is on the S2 label.  Stunning!

The Inner Sleeve

Not surprisingly the original poly-lined Emitex sleeve is in superb condition with no marking or age related fading, no side splits and only a little creasing.

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

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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Postage & Packaging

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