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The Beatles 1968 White Albums X 3: The Original Top Opener & 2x Side- Openers

Sold Date: September 23, 2018
Start Date: September 16, 2018
Final Price: £99.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 879
Buyer Feedback: 41

This item is not for sale. Gripsweat is an archive of past sales and auctions, none of the items are available for purchase.


These are all stereo copies of the fabulous Beatles white double album circa 1968/9 including the original top opener, grey numbered 0349790 with tiny stereo label printed on the back, a side opener black numbered 173179 and a second side opener with just the Beatles embossed but no number. I believe all 3 albums are from different pressings in 1968/69.

The covers are in excellent condition showing only slight yellowing due to age and a few tiny dirt spots. The inner black sleeves of the top opener have split and are included but have been replaced by fresh black sleeves. The other 2 have white EMI inner sleeves in very good condition. The poster and 4 pictures are still in the top opener and the unnumbered side opener but the second side opener only has the poster.

The discs for the top opener have “an EMI recording” in a straight line on the left side of the round label and a line “ Sold in the U.K. subject to resale price conditions”. In the other 2 “an EMI recording” is in brackets on 2 lines also on the left but there is no “sold in the U.K. subject to conditions” line printed.

Visually, the best cover and vinyl appearance is with The unnumbered one, followed by the side opener and then the top opener, with some surface markings clearly visible in bright light. I suspect this is from a very early first pressing.

I have played all of the albums and enjoyed them despite a few slight crackles here and there. There was no jumping or sticking on any of them. The typical grading would fall into very good category.

The poster and pictures are in fine condition.

Can you resist such tracks as Back in the USSR, Dear Prudence, Blackbird , While my guitar gently weeps, Piggies, Ob-la-di-ob-la-da and Helter skelter, with John Lennon screaming at the end that he has blisters on his fingers as he is whacked with a frying pan.The only let down is side 4 with the space filling track Revolution 9 ( sounds like a jamming session!)

The matrix numbers are YEX 709, 710, 711 and 712-1.

If you are looking for MINT vinyl, these are not for you, you can buy fresh repressings on 180g vinyl. If you want to enjoy the Fab Four in their original state, you may appreciate these 50 year old beauties!

On 17-Sep-18 at 15:38:21 BST, seller added the following information:

Having seen some of the covers for these on EBay, I was shocked at how poor they were: creased etc. These 3 are pretty good!