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Tracklisting & More Information
Tracklisting:
01. Back In The U.S.S.R.
02. Dear Prudence
03. Glass Onion
04. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
05. Wild Honey Pie
06. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
07. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
08. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
09. Martha My Dear
10. I'm So Tired
11. Blackbird
12. Piggies
13. Rocky Raccoon
14. Don't Pass Me By
15. Why Don't We Do It In The Road
16. I Will
17. Julia
18. Birthday
19. Yer Blues
20. Mother Nature's Son
21. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me & My Monkey
22. Sexy Sadie
23. Helter Skelter
24. Long Long Long
25. Revolution 1
26. Honey Pie
27. Savoy Truffle
28. Cry Baby Cry
29. Revolution 9
30. Good Night
Detail:
The labels are dark green Apple labels with 'Sold in the UK" text.
These labels also have 'An E.M.I. Recording' text.
Popular folklore would have it that the first 300,000 sleeves were reserved for Mono, making the first real stereo sleeve number 300,001. It would also have it that 'An EMI Recording' did not begin to appear on the labels until the later stereo issues.
This, of course, is rubbish.
True: The first 300,000 or so came in mono covers, which also have the stereo catalogue number on the spine but are not printed stereo on the back. These covers often held stereo copies of the album [like this one]. They were occasionally stickered 'stereo' on the back, but often the stereo discs were just put in the mono sleeves.
True: Most of the initial run copies did not have the 'An EMI Recording' text, but some did. You are most likely not to find this text on the low number mono but with the stereo it becomes 50:50 as to whether this text appears or not. Once the 'Sold In The UK' text was removed from the label in late 1969, this text was on all the subsequent issues.
The matrix numbers are machine stamped into the dead vinyl, they are as follows:
Side One YEX 709-1
Side Two YEX 710-1
Side Three YEX 711-1
Side Four YEX 712-2
Folklore would also have you believe that only -1 matrices are the very first pressings. This too is rubbish, as the quantity that they were pressing [12,000 for advance orders alone] made it necessary to press from several stampers simultaneously and -1 to -4 are still really 'first' presses, as the pressing never stopped. This one is close, with just the side four matrix -2.
True: The lower stamper numbers would tend to indicate a likely lower number sleeve but it was not always the case that a lower number sleeve guaranteed a lower number stamper inside.
The real order & sequence of stampers, labels and sleeves is surrounded in mystery. Suffice to say that there are multiple variations, even when you can be fairly sure that the vinyl & sleeve were issued at the same time and not swapped with other copies, either by the retailer at the time or later.
Condition:
The vinyl on this copy remains in very respectable VG+/EX- with just a few light surface hairliness & a few spindle marks around the label centre holes to show for its forty five years. All four sides show only light evidence of play.
The four portraits remain in superb condition & are printed on the heavier stock photo paper. They have no pin-holes or sellotape marks. Also included is the large double sided fold-out picture/lyric poster. This does have small pin holes in the corners but remains in superb condition with no discolouration, rips or other significant defect.
The fully laminated, top opening, internal flipback picture sleeve remains in VG/VG+ condition with just a little age yellowing at the edges, a couple of scuffs to the corners & minor shelfwear. There is one area of discolouration to the front of the sleeve, which has downgraded the sleeve to VG, but this does not detract too much from the overall 'feel' of the piece. The incredibly low seven digit number of 0002031 has been stamped onto the front of the sleeve. The back of the sleeve is plain, being technically for the mono release.
This is a very low number copy & ones like this seldom surface for sale. It is offered here in its completely original state, with no attempt made to replace any of the parts with non-original newer, better condition copies. This is an authentic copy, with all parts 'as is'. The historic anomalies have been detailed above but it is indeed a stereo copy in a low numbered mono sleeve, as it was issued in 1968.
A very nice copy of this great album in very acceptable condition!
DOUBLE LP
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