Are they worth buying?

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In Reply to: Beatles Parlophone Question posted by Brixton77 on December 15, 2005 at 01:09:20:

Any NM Y&B UK Parlophone label Beatle pressings are "worth" buying. But it depends upon the price -- and to some degree which pressings (1st, 2nd, 3rd, '82 mono reissues, etc.)-- as to how "worth" it. They sound great and are desired by collectors as well.
The Y&B label was used from around April/May '63 until mid-'69. There are a number of subtle variations which can help pinpoint the age of the pressing. The only exceptions are the 1982 mono reissues (which are easily distinguished by the MONO over the yellow PARLOPHONE -- the 60s pressings did not indicate MONO).
In general, the earlier UK Beatles LPs are easier to find in mono and the later LPs are easier to find in stereo. So 1964 UK pressings of Hard Days Night are probably at least 10:1 mono to stereo. Mono/stereo pressings seemed to equal out in the UK around the time of Sgt Pepper (1967).
Beyond collectibility though, it is important to note that EMI in the UK did not create new metal parts for each Beatles repressing; they simply used the metal parts until the wore out. So all 4 of these records were almost certainly pressed from the original tube cut lacquers -- regardless of whether they are 1st pressings or later pressings Y&B labels from, say, 1969. (In fact, to my knowledge only one set of lacquers was EVER created for both Hard Day's Night mono & Help mono LPs and Sgt Pepper stereo wasn't recut until the 70s. Revolver mono has a little more complicated history, but no new lacquers were EVER cut after mid-'66).
FWIW, I just found a VG+ 1st UK Stereo pressing of Rubber Soul for $15 at Ameoba Records. They had it in with the other run of the mill Beatles stuff with a sticker that said "UK import". I was suprised when I saw the 60's 3 flipback cover -- and even more surprised when I saw that it was a 1st pressing. Was it worth $15? You bet. Would it have been worth $100? Not to me because I already had one, but surely someone else would pay $100 for it.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Beatles Parlophone Question - Brixton77 01:09:20 12/15/05 (9)

Are they worth buying? - mb 14:13:18 12/15/05 (0)

Re: Beatles Parlophone Question - ParloFax 05:09:16 12/15/05 (3)

Re: Meant Y&B version of PPM is 4th press. NT - ParloFax 05:11:35 12/15/05 (2)

Re: Meant Y&B version of PPM is 4th press. NT - CAFC 05:29:05 12/15/05 (1)

Re: Meant Y&B version of PPM is 4th press. NT - ParloFax 06:37:37 12/15/05 (0)

This Link Will Give You a lot Of Info On Those - Backbeat1954A@aol.com 02:16:40 12/15/05 (0)

Re: Beatles Parlophone Question - CAFC 01:42:06 12/15/05 (0)

Re: Beatles Parlophone Question - Brixton77 01:31:09 12/15/05 (1)

Yeah. Wuz gonna say something about that. - HenryH 03:10:38 12/15/05 (0)

Follow Ups

Are they worth buying? - mb 14:13:18 12/15/05 (0)

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