EARLIEST VERY FIRST INITIAL PRESSING WITH THE " -2 / -2 " MATRIX STAMPINGS
UNDOUBTEDLY THE VERY BEST CONDITIONED EXAMPLE OF RARER STEREO ISSUE

ITEM#: PAR324
PRICE: ------

The 1965 Christmas season was a very special time for Beatles fans. While previous albums had been collections of great performances, "Rubber Soul" is best appreciated when considered as an entire record - one that set a new standard for the Beatles and rock albums. George Martin's reflections indicate that this record's cohesive and innovative nature was intentional. "It was the first album to present a new, growing Beatles to the world. For the first time we began to think of albums as art on their own, as complete entities."

BEING OFFERED HERE IS INDEED AN ORIGINAL STEREO VERY FIRST AND RARE EARLIEST PRESSING WITH THE "-2 / -2" MATRIX STAMPINGS. This wonderful sounding FIRST stereo pressing dates from THE initial December 1965 release. It has THE yellow AND black Parlophone labels with the 'Times New Roman' SERIF font face and the catalog number PCS 3075. Both labels include the 'Sold in UK...'  text with 'The Gramophone Co...' worded rims. A 'KT' purchase tax code is present around the side 2 centER hole. THE MatriX NUMBERS ARE:
"YEX 178-2"  AND  "YEX 179-2". THE Stamper codes ARE: "1 / RG" AND "4 / RL". the initial tube cutting IDENTIFIED BY THE " -2 / -2 " MATRIX NUMBERS, which was THEN replaced by the " -3 " cut directly after release, plays flawlessly and our careful single test-play found no evidence of any groove / playwear or a single tick, pop or audible distraction ON EVERY TRACK. Even the most delicate tracks such as "Michelle" are unworn and a pleasure to listen to. this exquisite sounding copy retains all of the warmth and presence character of THE FACT THAT IT IS THE " -2 / -2 " INITIAL VERY FIRST PRESSING.

THE CONDITION OF THE RECORD IS AN ASTONISHING MINT MINUS.  THE VINYL IS Pristine WITH factory-fresh playing surfaces which appear 'as new' in strong daylight. Close inspection directly beneath halogen light reveals only a couple of barely visible wispy hairlines from the inner-sleeve on side 1. ONE WILL NOT find a cleaner looking copy. THE Labels ARE MINT MINUS AS WELL, WITH A superb clean AND unworn set bearing just two faint spindle trails around the side 2 centER hole only.

THE RECORD IS Housed in a 'Garrod AND Lofthouse' printed stereo cover with a laminated front panel and three rear flipbacks. THIS COVER IS A TREMENDOUS, NEAR MINT EXAMPLE, A clean, glossy and strong example which retains a richly colored, unscratched high-gloss front panel. There are three small 'thumbnail' wrinkles towards the opening edge, two spine wrinkles and a few smaller ones to the upper and lower edges. The upper tow corners have some bruising but the lower two are sharp and square. Both opening edges are unworn. The rear panel is pristine white with no trace of any age discoloration or marking. A tiny "PRINTER ERROR" red dot just below Paul's portrait is the only blemish. All flipbacks are in perfect condition, as are both seams and the fully worded spine.

THE SET IS Complete with its ACCOMPANYING original "Use Emitex..." rice-paper lined inner DUST sleeve. IT IS MINT MINUS - Clean, crisp AND white with some gentle storage wrinkles but no writing, tears or seam splits.

Hardly any early copies of this STEREO pressing survive in this condition and this example would be a valuable addition to any serious Beatles collection. BRITISH STEREO PRESSINGS ARE MUCH RARER THAN MONO, FOR RECORD COMPANIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM PRESSED RECORDS ON THEIR DEMAND. THE MARKET FOR STEREO POP RECORDS WERE COMPARATIVELY MINIMAL AS TO MONO AND THESE EARLY STEREO PRESSINGS ARE SOME OF THE RAREST BEATLES RECORDS YOU CAN FIND. MONAURAL OUTNUMBERED STEREO BY A TEN TO ONE RATIO, AND FOR THE POP MARKET, THAT NUMBER MAY BE QUITE LITERALLY 100 TO 1, FOR SO FEW WERE PRESSED.