Sold Date: August 21, 2024
Start Date: July 12, 2024
Final Price: $15.00 (USD)
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In the Beginning (Circa 1960) is the first American packaging of the 1964 German album by Tony Sheridan and the Beatles, called "The Beatles' First!". It was released by Polydor Records in 1970 (catalogue number 24-4504). It was recorded in Hamburg with The Beatles in 1961 (except for "Sweet Georgia Brown" in 1962) and features Pete Best on the drums. Previous American releases of this material in 45 RPM form was split in 1964 between MGM Records and Atco Records. Polydor (which eventually absorbed MGM) established its United States branch in 1969 which explains why this package was released much later in The Beatles' history. All of the tracks feature vocals by Sheridan except for "Ain't She Sweet", sung by John Lennon, and the instrumental "Cry for a Shadow". The album was released only four days before Let It Be, The Beatles' final studio album. This is therefore the last Beatles compilation album released whilst the band were still releasing studio albums although the group was already unofficially split.

THIS COPY is an original pressing from 1970 (see Notes, below).  The vinyl has a few marks, but nothing that affects playback. The vinyl is in Very Good Plus [VG+] condition.  The original cover is in Very Good [VG] condition. The inner sleeve - Well, it shows browning from age, but I believe the true original may have shown advertisments for other Polydor albums.  So, while I'm pretty sure this is the inner sleeve I got with the album, it is not of those (i.e. it is plain).  It is in Very Good [VG] condition.

Notes

Issued 1970.
Label variation, solid block lettering in the title.

-Red label without address in rim text.
-Label has full title of "The Beatles-Circa 1960 In The Beginning Featuring Tony Sheridan".
-Song "Cry For A Shadow" mis-identified on label as "Cry For My Shadow".
-Song "Take Out Some Insurance On Me, Baby" has no comma on the label.
-Track B2 shown as "The Saints (The Saints Go Marching In)" on the label (i.e. no "When")

Gatefold jacket. All tracks true stereo.
Cover states "Previously released as SE-4215 (MGM)", which was released in 1964 as "The Beatles With Tony Sheridan And Guests"

Manufactured by Polydor Incorporated, New York, N.Y. 

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Rights Society (A1, B1): ASCAP

Rights Society (A2 to A6, B2 to B6): BMI

Matrix / Runout (Label side A ): POLP 80067

Matrix / Runout (Label side B): POLP 80068

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 1): STERLING RL POLP 80067

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 1): STERLING G POLP 80068

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 2 [etched]): POLP 80067-1 T

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 2 [etched]): POLP 80067-2 T

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 3 [etched exc. STERLING, V 3 - stamped): POLP 80067 STERLING RL V 3

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 3 [etched exc. STERLING, C 3 - stamped): POLP 80068 STERLING C 3

ENJOY!