Beatles - With The Beatles (UK) – VERY RARE 1N/1N “Loud Cut” – Scarce E.J. Day Sleeve - LP - 1st Pressing - 1963

A highly collectible original 1963 UK mono pressing of With The Beatles, featuring the very rare XEX 447-1N / XEX 448-1N "Loud Cut" matrices and, even more unusually, housed in the scarce Ernest J. Day & Co. sleeve. This is one of the most desirable early mono configurations of the album.

The original 1N/1N cut was the first mono mastering used at the time of release in November 1963. These initial copies were produced with a particularly powerful cut and were quickly replaced after complaints that some copies could cause playback problems on less capable equipment. For that reason, surviving 1N/1N copies are considerably less common than the later matrix variations.

The sleeve variant represents another significant collector detail. Both Garrod & Lofthouse and Ernest J. Day & Co. produced covers for With The Beatles, but the Garrod & Lofthouse version is encountered much more frequently. The E.J. Day sleeve is therefore a particularly attractive addition to an already scarce 1N/1N pressing. These early EMI mother and stamper details add further interest to an already highly collectible early copy.

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Sleeve (VG):
The scarce original Ernest J. Day & Co. laminated flipback sleeve remains complete and structurally intact. The front still presents nicely and retains good overall visual impact. The rear shows considerably more age-related wear, particularly around the flipbacks, with visible rubbing, discolouration and general handling wear. Because of the heavier rear wear, the sleeve has been graded a conservative VG. Despite the condition, the fact that this is the much scarcer E.J. Day sleeve variation makes it an important part of the appeal of this copy.

Vinyl (VG / plays VG+):
The vinyl clearly shows evidence of previous play, with numerous superficial scuffs, hairlines and so-called "whispy" surface marks across both sides, together with general playwear. Importantly, there are no major deep or feelable scratches. Because of the amount of visible surface wear, the record has been conservatively graded VG visually. Playback is significantly stronger than the appearance suggests, however, and the record plays very well overall at approximately VG+ audio, retaining the powerful and energetic sound associated with the early 1N/1N cut.

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Details
* UK 1st pressing, 1963
* Parlophone PMC 1206
* Mono
* Original Ernest J. Day & Co. flipback sleeve
* XEX 447-1N / XEX 448-1N "Loud Cut" matrices
* Mother/Stamper: 2 PH / 3 LL
* Made in Gt. Britain

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Matrix / Stampers
* Side 1: XEX 447-1N (Mother 2 / Stamper PH)
* Side 2: XEX 448-1N (Mother 3 / Stamper LL)