Sold Date: June 6, 2020
Start Date: May 3, 2020
Final Price: $189.95 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 1813
Buyer Feedback: 0

Here we offer the TRUE first stereo pressing of the greatest album of all time: The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," a cherished relic of the 20th Century--a real golden treasure from rock n' roll history.  This notable variant was produced for India by the Gramophone Co., Ltd. It is notable for including the gibberish track on the run-out groove, and for including a single-pocket album cover WITHOUT the gatefold display that was produced in other markets. To any Beatlemaniac, this is a very special acquisition--hand's down. 
On April 21, 1967, the last recording the Beatles prepared for Sgt Peppers was a recording of gibberish that would be tucked at the end of the run-out groove (the empty space after the last song, "A Day in the Life.") When record players finished playing a song in those days, the needle would just bounce against the end of the run-out groove until someone came over and lifted the tone arm. Paul's idea was to have a burst of noise, that would loop infinitely, to surprise the listener after the record finished. John loved the idea and insisted they include a 15-kilocycle dog whistle, also. Turned out, they spent 9 hours recording this brief, complex, and surreal ending to their masterpiece. The run-out groove track was only included in English pressings; and modern repressings, if they do include it, stick it on to the end of "Day in the Life," because many modern record players automatically eject before reaching the run-out groove (though they usually have a switch to disable the eject).
Also included in this special sale is a collection of brightly-colored images, worthy of framing, along with a cover key that allows you to tell who-is-who on the Peter Blake-designed cover, and, as a special bonus, a 15.25 x 7.25-inch (once folded) acid-free facsimile print of the 19th Century circus poster that inspired John to create "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite".
When this pressing was first issued, it did NOT come with the psychedelic record sleeve, nor the bonus green cut-out sheet, but only a white sleeve. This sleeve was replaced with an anti-static archival poly sleeve somewhere along the way, but this auction also includes brand-new, very high-quality facsimiles of both the psychedelic record sleeve and the cut-out sheet provided to the Western markets.

The run-out groove is stamped Side 1:  YEX 637-1; Side 2: YEX 638-1.

The album plays perfectly. It is near mint with only a few light scuffs I could find. The cover has some minor wear and someone has colored in a few chips in edge scuffs to make them less noticeable. these Parlophone album covers were made with 2 separate pieces of cardboard joined only at the glued over edge tabs of the cover design sheet, so there is no spine, and it is mostly worn along the edges, though the pocket is not split.  Altogether, a truly excellent copy of this special pressing of this legendary album, plus some!

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Thank you for your interest!