PLEASE PLEASE ME B/W ASK ME WHY
VEE JAY 498
RELEASED: 2/20/63
"BEATLES" WITH TWO "T"
FIRST LABEL VARIATION
COLORBAND WITH OVAL LOGO, THIN PRINT, VJ 498.01, SPIZER

CONDITION: VG+++
ITEM#: S580
PRICE: ------

 
  DESCRIPTION
(ACTUAL SCANS)

THE FIRST RECORD RELEASED IN THE UNITED STATES TO BEAR THE BEATLES NAME WAS VEE-JAY 498, "PLEASE PLEASE ME" B/W "ASK ME WHY", WHICH WAS RELEASED ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 20, 1963. VEE-JAY WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT IT HAD WITH THE BEATLES, AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, VEE-JAY DID NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL THE GROUP'S NAME. ALL INITIAL ISSUES OF THE RECORD ADDED AN EXTRA "T" TO THE NAME. IT IS THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER AS COLLECTORS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE NOVELTY OF THE MISSPELLED NAME, AND TO THE RECORD'S STATUS AS THE FIRST BEATLES RECORD ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES.

It is estimated that less than 7,500 copies in total of ALL the label variations of VJ498 were pressed. This includes Oval or Brackets Labels and the Double "T" or One "T" in the group's name.

THERE WERE THREE LABEL VARIATIONS OF THE "DOUBLE T" VEE-JAY 498, AND THIS PARTICULAR VARIATION WAS THE VERY FIRST ISSUED (VJ 498.01, SPIZER). IT HAS THIN SILVER LETTERING ON A BLACK LABEL WITH THE OVAL LOGO AND OUTER RIM COLORBAND, THE INITIALS "ARP" APPEAR IN SCRIPT IN THE TRAIL-OFF AREAS, INDICATING THIS RECORD WAS PRESSED BY THE AMERICAN RECORD PRESSING CO.

The OVERALL condition of this piece is GORGEOUS VG+++.  The labels grade an OUTSTANDING AND RADIANT VG++, with a shiny HIGH DARK gloss and clear rich fonts still intact. THERE ARE SOME SPORADIC, SUPERFICIAL "spin" LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE, YET DO NOT INTERFERE WITH THE BEAUTY OF THE BOLD COLORS OR ANY OF THE PRINT. THE B-SIDE LABEL IS EQUALLY GRADED. The vinyl on both sides are a VIBRANT VG+++ (BORDERING SLIGHTLY TOWARD NEAR MINT MINUS) DISPLAYING A HIGH SHEEN AND DEEP GROOVES. THERE ARE NO DEEP SCRATCHES AT ALL ON THIS FINE EXAMPLE.

SHORTLY AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE DOUBLE "T" ERROR IN THE GROUP'S NAME, VEE-JAY EVENTUALLY REALIZED ITS MISTAKE OF MISSPELLING THE GROUP'S NAME (AND SOARING SALES), SO THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE RECORD CORRECTED THE ERROR. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN 7,500 COPIES IN TOTAL OF ALL THE LABEL VARIATIONS OF VEE-JAY 498 WERE PRESSED. THIS INCLUDES OVAL OR BRACKETS LABELS AND WITH EITHER THE DOUBLE "T" OR ONE "T" IN THE GROUP'S NAME.

ACCOMPANIED BY ITS OWN ORIGINAL VEE-JAY 1963 GENERIC SLEEVE IN NEAR MINT CONDITION.

   

 

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