Vinyl: BEATLES Please Please Me LP Aussie Black & Gold 1963 Mono VG+ P'phone PMCO-1202

ITEM : 12” LP album.

ARTIST: The Beatles

TITLE : Please Please Me

DETAILS: Australian ‘Mono’ issue October 1963 pressing -

Parlophone Label # PMC0-1202

Matrix / Runout (Runout side 1): XEX 421-1N Matrix / Runout (Runout side 2): XEX 422-1N

GENRE : Beat / Pop / Rock

YEAR : 1963

TRACKS :

I Saw Her Standing There ; Misery ; Anna (Go to Him) ; Chains ; Boys ; Ask Me Why ; Please Please Me ; Love Me Do ; P.S. I Love You ; Baby It's You ; Do You Want To Know A Secret ; A Taste of Honey ; There's a Place ; Twist and Shout.

INFO : A more than acceptable copy of one the hardest to find Australian released Beatles albums …. the highly collectable 17th October 1963 Black and Gold 2nd pressing original Mono ‘first or A’ label LP issued in the fold-back cover.

Most sources indicate that as few as 500 of the initial / 1st pressings may have been made before this slight change (October, 1963) when EMI (Australia) altered the print to indicate that indeed they were manufacturing their own LP's as denoted here by the label print "Made in Australia by E.M.I. (Aust.) Limited" (just below PARLOPHONE).

The Black and Gold Mono ‘second or B’ labels (i.e. 3rd overall pressing) first appeared on the shelves here later in January 1964 and are identified by a single full circle around the rim ….. … perhaps a little confusing and not easy get one’s head around but in a nutshell the above outlines the first 3 original Mono ‘black and gold’ releases.

The Black and Gold label lasted until March, 1964 when the album was eventually re-pressed in the more familiar Black and Yellow label. The initial Stereo pressing appeared here the following month. Most collectors would be aware of the flimsiness of the locally made early sleeves which historically attracted ring-wear and splits due to their poor construction.

A timeless classic and serious collector’s item in any playable condition

CONDITION : Note : All records (except where Mint) have been vacuum-machine cleaned and fully played on a quality system to determine an accurate grading.

VINYL :

1. No lead in/out noise on either Side or in-between songs.

2. Has attracted a number of light surface marks along the way however tracks along sweetly without any sound issues or imperfections (i.e. no clicks or skips etc) and has great playback clarity.

3. Not overly played I would think and appearance wise naturally not as bright as it once was though still retains a fair amount of sheen and not regarded as dull by any means. A terrific loud and clean sound throughout and a genuinely pleasing listen.

4. Rated VG+ with confidence.

LABELS :

SLEEVE : (They really mucked it up when it came to issuing these early Australian sleeves for this album. Sadly they released poorly made somewhat flimsy style covers that are susceptible to ring wear, seam splits and general age wear much quicker than you would normally expect ….to find a near perfect sleeve is ‘mission impossible’ and never-mind the vinyl.)

The cover here is a bit of an exception to the rule with no writing or splits and the spine in reasonably good shape with the edges and rare-flaps intact. Ring-wear is noticeable on the back along with age marks at the centre and left top on the front plus the rear top-left corner as per photos. A few light nicks along the entry edges are evident. Rated VG.

Overall quite acceptable and the challenge to find an up-grade is not that easy these days.

PAYMENT : PayPal (quickest and easiest) OR Money Order / Bank Deposit (please contact for details)

POSTAGE :

I pack safely & securely. I combine postage costs for multiple items.

AUSTRALIA : Registered mail costs, inclusive of tracking and ‘signature required’ are $15.00.

Currently I do not post overseas.

Thanks for your interest in this item.