The Beatles : Rubber Soul 1/1 Loud Cut First Pressing

This 'Loud Cut' vinyl is in excellent condition and the vast majority plays with Near Mint quality.  S1 is stunning and S2 is almost as good with only minimal interference for 3/4 seconds.  It is one of the earlier 'Loud Cut' pressings as it has the first known label variation and just the two stampers on each side.

The G&L Patents Pending cover has also been very well preserved with only minor wear.

'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' etc printed around the perimeter edge with 'Sold in U.K. subject' text also.  This is the first label variation with the San-serif font and a space between the song title and the * indicator.  The KT tax code is on S2.

PMC 1267 // XEX 579 - 1 / XEX 580 - 1 // PP 3 / LH 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 7 Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 2 VG- for 2 seconds / track 4 intro Ex-)

The cover is a very strong Ex

The inner sleeve is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint-

 Visual grading

This is a very impressive looking vinyl with only a small number of imperfections.  There are only a small number of faint hairlines of which only a couple are a little more 'obvious'.  There is a scuff mark on S1 but this has no affect on the stunning audio at all.  There is one tiny 2 or 3mm scratch on S2 which causes some very brief interference but you won't find many better 'Loud Cut' vinyls than this one.  It isn't perfect but it remains a highly creditable copy and it still has a lovely glossy sheen also.  There is some spindle wear but only inside the inner ring so whilst the record has been played a fair amount it has also been very well preserved down the years.  Aside from that the labels are very clean as are the run out grooves.

Play grading

'Drive My Car' has only minimal static on Harrison's intro and then plays with very impressive audio.  There are a small number of barely audible 'ticks' but they are totally non-intrusive, they are not clicks!  There is one quiet dull click type sound just before the fade out but overall this opening track plays with excellent clarity and very little interference.  An Ex+ grading is a honest appraisal here.

'Norwegian Wood' again has minimal static on the intro and then plays with superb clarity.  This is so good!  The so called 'muddy' bass is certainly in evidence here but the playback cannot be faulted and plays 'as new' no exaggeration!  Each note plays with stunning precision and this may be the 'cleanest' 'Loud Cut' version I have ever heard.  As mentioned there is a scuff on this track so I am delighted to say it has no affect whatsoever on the immaculate Near Mint audio.  The fade out is also super clean with only a couple of dust ticks right at the end.

'You Won't See Me' is of the same quality and there is no static or crackle and certainly no clicks or pops.  I can't believe what I am hearing!  The fade out also plays perfectly.

The aggressive vocal sound is obvious on the 'Nowhere Man' intro and the 'muddy' bass is also prevalent throughout - it's very interesting to listen to!  Again you could not wish for a better version - there is no interference of any kind and a Mint- grade is a true reflection of the audio on offer here.

'Think For Yourself' plays with great power and depth and again no interference and 'The Word' also plays to the same superb standard.  This track has no distortion which is indeed a rarity.  So often there is some inner groove distortion as you approach the end of any vinyl and this is another indication that the record has not been overplayed and has been preserved very well.  The fade out here is so clear, not even a dust tick!

What follows is quite possibly the 'cleanest' version of 'Michelle' that I have heard on a 'Loud Cut' pressing.  As any Beatles enthusiast will know this track often has a fair amount of static distortion on the vocal.  There is none in evidence here and all you can hear is a little background static.  It is not intrusive and it goes without saying there are no clicks or pops and the fade out is also mega clean.  A very impressive version that easily deserves an Ex+ grading

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'What Goes On' plays with wonderful depth and clarity from the first groove to the last.  The definition of each note is agin so impressive.  The 'muddy' bass is again very much to the fore and the vocals are remarkably clear.  Another sublime version that is Near Mint although I am sure many would grade higher!

For a relatively quiet track 'Girl' plays with excellent clarity.  There are three gentle clicks during the 'She's the kind of girl who puts you down' line but they are not that intrusive as this passage has the loudest volume on the track.  The remainder of the track plays without fault and the fade out is perfect.  I often mention fade outs as this gives a great idea of the clarity on offer.  This track is Near Mint but VG- for two seconds!

The acoustic intro on 'I'm Looking Through You' plays with perfect precision and continues in the same way as the vocal begins.  The depth of the audio here is so strong and rarely there is no distortion on the top end of the Hammond Organ.  A fantastic version with no interference.

The quiet intro on 'In My Life' has very little static but there is one click just prior to the vocal.  There is another very light click 20 seconds later but thereafter plays with great clarity and no other obvious interference.  There is just a touch of mega light static in a couple of sections but aside from the intro this plays extremely well.

'Wait' is a prime example of the aggressive vocal sound that led to the production being halted on these first pressings.  Taking that into account this is Mint- as there is no 'background' at all.  In a word, stunning.

'If I Needed Someone' also has no interference and the only 'background' is a little distortion on the top end.  This is no doubt due to it being 1) a 'Loud Cut' press 2) a mono record on a stereo set up and 3) the usual inner groove distortion when nearing the end of the side.  It is nonetheless a wonderful version that impresses from start to finish.  No static etc at all.

'Run For Your Life' ends this fine album in a similar way.  The playback is 'high end' and there is nothing that detracts from the superb quality of the audio.  In fact there is very little distortion and that is so rare for this track!  There are no clicks or pops and plays with such a strong dynamic for a final track.  With a near perfect fade out this is a superb ending to this highly collectable album.

In summary this rare 'Loud Cut' first pressing plays with remarkable clarity and depth for a record that is now 54 years old.  S1 in particular is stunning and whilst there are 4/5 clicks on S2 they are largely 'lost' in the music and not that intrusive.  There is barely any static and there is no crackle at all.  There are a few hairlines, one scuff and a mega tiny scratch but it is definitely one of the 'cleanest' I have seen.  Any collector would be very impressed by the visual 'look' and the quality of the audio.  The 'Patents pending' G&L cover has also been extremely well preserved as detailed below.

The Cover

The G&L 'Patents pending' cover is in one of the 'cleanest' I have seen for a 'Loud Cut' first pressing.  The edges and spine are in fantastic condition with only one small 'rub' mark on the bottom edge.  The corners have very little wear, just a little on the bottom right one.  The opening edge has some handling wear but nothing major.  The front cover is in great shape with no laminate splits or lifting and only a small number of creases next to the spine.  The white background on the back cover is extremely clean with only the faintest of marking, the photos might not even show it!  The flipbacks are also in great condition with none of the staining or creasing that you so often see.  Overall an excellent example and you won't find many better!

Inner Sleeve

The poly-lined inner sleeve is not an Emitex one but I have no reason to doubt that it isn't an original one.  It has 'Made In England' and 'British & Other Patents Pending' printed on one side plus a British Patent number also.  It has no splits or tears, just some creasing and age related fading.

The Labels

They are super clean with no marking or writing and just some spindle wear inside the inner circle as stated.  The KT tax stamp is on the S2 label.

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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