The Beatles : Let It Be 2U/2U 1st Press 1970 (Red Apple Cover)

This very early pressing, with the red Apple logo on the back cover, plays to a fantastic standard the likes of which are so rarely found today.  S1 is 'as new' with no interference and S2 only a modicum of minor static on one track which is in no way intrusive, it is very quiet and hardly noticeable!  The clarity and definition on both sides is stunning!  The vinyl is also visually stunning and has hardly ever been played in my opinion, twice at most I would say.

Contrary to popular belief the 'red Apple' cover was not only issued with the deluxe box package.  A limited few were sent to market without the box but even more interesting is that this one has a 3U/2U matrix and the previous owner insisted this was the original cover.  Perhaps there were a few remaining in the factory after the first pressing was released?  A 3U/2U may be a second pressing but it still has a small copyright symbol (p) which supposedly was only on the 2U/2U first pressings.  A very collectable album anyway and especially in this condition.

This cover is in lovely condition, one of the best I have seen, with very little shelf wear and the original inner is also in excellent order.

With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.

PCS 7096 // YEX 773 - 3U / YEX 774 - 2U // GGR 23 / GAT 4

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint) 

The laminated 'red Apple' cover is Ex++

The labels are Mint

The original inner is Ex

It doesn't get a lot better than this!  The vinyl is visually stunning and looks 'shop fresh' with an immaculate jet-black glossy.  There are obviously no marks or scratches and all I can find are 3/4 very small faint hairlines on S2.  The record is so clean and has hardly ever been on a turntable in my opinion.  There is no spindle wear on the S1 label and only one tiny trace on S2.  Maybe played once, twice at most?  The quality of the audio certainly suggests that.  The run out grooves are also super clean and the iconic 'Apple' labels are in perfect condition.

Play grading  

The 'spoken' section at the start of S1 has no 'background' and the acoustic intro and opening vocal on 'Two Of Us' are 'as new' with not so much as a dust tick.  It continues to play with a clarity that is second to none and the sonic quality is equal to that of a vinyl pressed only yesterday not 50 years ago!  The 'whistle' fade has no intrusion either and this is without doubt a Mint start to the side.

The 'band intro' on just prior to the start of 'Dig A Pony' is again so clean and as the track 'gets going' there is no let up in quality.  From start to finish the playback is exceptional and again there is no interference to be heard.  This is why we listen to vinyl - you don't the same level of depth and warmth from any other medium and Mint is again deserved.

The acoustic intro on 'Across The Universe' could not play any better and the same applies to Lennon's first vocal.  It continues in the same way and I cannot believe what I am hearing!  I listen to every track in full so as to provide a 'complete' grade and again there is not even a single dust tick here not even on the fade out.  This is Mint from the first note to the last and I cannot overstate just how STUNNING the audio is!

'I Me Mine' is of the same 'high end' standard with no interference.  There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and no distortion on the top end either.  Mint

The brief 'Dig It' is Mint - no need to elaborate!

The quiet piano intro on the classic 'Let It Be' plays beautifully and the first verse is equal to that with only a couple of barely audible dust ticks.  And I do mean barely audible!  It continues in the same precise way and this has to be one of the finest versions I have ever heard.  As the volume increase the quality is still there which is rare as so often this track has a 'muddy' sound and a distorted feel and yet there is none of that here.  The mid solo is so strong and 'as new' describes it perfectly and to the end it plays with exceptional clarity and definition.  A sensational Mint version, no exaggeration.

'Maggie Mae' ends the side with sublime quality.  There is barely any inner groove distortion and obviously there is no other 'background'.  A suitably impressive Mint- finish. 

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'I've Got A Feeling' has barely any static on the intro and the first vocal is just as impressive.  From then on it with great clarity and power and there is no interference at all.  There are no negatives and Mint- is again deserved.  Even the band section at the end has no 'background'.

The up-tempo 'One After 909' is of the same 'high end' standard that we have come to expect of this album!  It plays with sensational power and depth and from the intro to the 'Danny Boy' end the audio cannot be faulted.  Mint

The intro on 'The Long And Winding Road' is so 'clean' and it continues in a very similar way.  There are no clicks or pops and I only detected a minimal amount of very light static and a small number of insignificant dust ticks.  This is obviously not intrusive and the playback is still superb and for once there is none of the distortion which is often prevalent on this classic track.  McCartney may not have approved of them but the orchestral and choral sections play with great precision and Near Mint is a fair assessment of the audio.

'For You Blue' plays with stunning quality throughout - perhaps a hint of barely audible static but you hardly notice it. Mint-

The 'band' intro on the classic 'Get Back' has barely any static and as music builds the audio is perfect.  It then plays with great depth and...no clicks or pops.  A modicum of barely audible again but not intrusive in any way and I only mention it to be 100% complete in my grading.  It is such a strong version and brings the album to a fine Mint- conclusion.  There is just a hint of light static on the end 'spoken' section at the end but that's hardly part of the track is it? 

In summary this very early pressing plays to a standard that is so rarely found today.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is STUNNING and there is not one single tick, click or pop and barely any static.  S2 is very impressive and S1 is just out of this world!  The sonic quality is on another level compared to so many other pressings and I am confident in saying this is a FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic.  As stated the vinyl has hardly been played and that is certainly reflected in the quality of the audio.  A very impressive 'red apple' cover also!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L cover is definitely one of the finest I have seen in a long time and has only very minimal shelf wear.  The top edge and thin pinched spine are in perfect condition and the bottom edge only has a handful of tiny 'rubs'.  The corners are also super clean with no real wear and the opening edge only has a tiny white indent mark on each side and hardly any handling wear.  The front cover is superb and has no laminate damage and just one very small faint mark bottom left.  The back cover is just as impressive with no marking aside from the small indent next to the opening edge as stated and a minor touch of ringwear that you always find.  Overall this is a stunning example of this iconic cover and it very much retains its original shape so you tell it has always been very carefully and infrequently handled.

The original die-cut inner just has one very small bottom edge split.  There is no marking and only a little creasing, not bad for a 50+ year old piece of paper!

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

PCS 7096 // YEX 773 - 3U / YEX 774 - 2U // GGR 23 / GAT 4

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

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

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I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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