COLLECTORS The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Very Early Pressing LABEL SIDES REVERSED
ATTENTION COLLECTORS The Beatles Sergeant Pepper Very Early Mono Pressing LABEL SIDES REVERSED. POSSIBLE UNICORN ONE OFF. This is an early pressing of this album with the original version of the cover and record label listing "A Little Help From My Friends" both leaving out the word "With.....". The back cover version is prior to those that list "Mclean Publishing". But what makes this album distinct is that the labels were applied incorrectly on the wrong sides. You can see from pictures 10 and 11 that the 5:03 minute "Within You Without You" shows on the side 2 label, but the record's 1st band for that side shows the shortest track on the record, corresponding to the title track's song length if 1:59. It's the opposite on side 1 with the lead track band being the biggest on the record but corresponding to the shortest song. The record is very clean and plays beautifully (VG++) with audiophile sound as detailed in the notes below.
As background, I went through my collection of 200+ Beatles LPs to enjoy and play test them and saw this was the earliest copy of Sergeant that I have but disc wise, one of the cleanest. I thought that I was having a senior moment in that I played side 2 when I intended side 1, but then realized that the sides were reversed, making this record even more collectible than I thought.
No way to know how many copies like this exist, but there is nothing on the internet that I could find referring to it. This was probably a machine operator error, but was it caught and any other copies destroyed or did a stack go out like this ? Was one copy made this way deliberately ? Regardless, the number will be very low and this is extremely collectible.
The front of the album cover pictures and printing are very clean. The back of the cover shows some wear resulting in a loss the red background color in spots as pictured. The seams are all intact. There is a 3/4 inch crack on the surface of the left main seam with sight wear to the print. I would therefore rate it as VG+, but look at the pics and you be the judge. Includes a clean original pink sleeve with one 2 inch split seam, plus a mint poster.
I rate the disc as VG++. The sound is excellent. I cleaned the record with an ultrasonic machine. I then auditioned it on a high end system with the preamp set to mono. My Notes: Side One: 14 very light tics, otherwise surfaces as new. Plays amazing, true audiophile (mono) sound. Superb bass with very natural sound. Side Two: Only 4 very light tics, otherwise as side 1.
Runout Stampings: Side 1: MAS 2 - 2653 - F1 # 4 Side 2: MAS 1 - 2653 - F1 # 4 Both sides have the stamped triangle with IAM.
Will ship insured in a record mailer with polystyrene reinforcement to prevent bending.
