Sold Date: December 29, 2023
Start Date: July 19, 2023
Final Price: $199.99 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 2955
Buyer Feedback: 0

This is the Beatles' very first record ever released under their own name. A legendary and historic record, this is the original 1962 red label UK Parlophone pressing of Love Me Do b/w P.S. I Love You on Parlophone 45-R 4949. Features the original recording with a session drummer instead of Ringo! This is the only release that ever used this version. All subsequent releases of the single and whenever it was on an LP it was the other version, with Ringo on drums. So this is a real historic rarity. There were 8 different issues of the red Parlophone 45, of which this one is generally considered the 3rd, with the "ZT 1" tax code stamped in the runoff. It is still an "original", from late October of 1962. A very rare copy. The Beatles weren't exactly household names yet when this record was released, so the early copies weren't pressed in huge numbers. Later copies are much more common, which were repressed after they began to get really famous. Anyhow this is a true classic and historic record.  And a beautiful copy! The disc is just lovely, with only a couple of light superficial marks, which don't really affect the play, except for one little mark at the very beginning of Love Me Do which pops lightly a few times just at the beginning. Not bad at all. Otherwise it plays perfectly. The original Parlophone sleeve is also included, a little wrinkled but fully intact. The song titles are witten at the top right, and there is a little message written to the recipient of this gift at the lower right. The other side is clean. This is a truly beautiful copy of this early Beatles rarity. Hard to beat.