Am I nuts?? (ANOTHER Abbey Road)

[PsychFan]

I decided to go out LP shopping in Boston during my lunch hour today. Primarily I was looking for an early US pressing of Led Zeppelin II to compare to my recently acquired Classic Records pressing, but to my surprise the store I went to (usually able to be counted on for such items) didn't have ANY Zeppelin to speak of ...

Anyway, I did pick up a few other things, including YET ANOTHER copy of Abbey Road. It appears to be an original UK (tell-tale thin sleeve, very glossy high-quality photo repro, "Printed by Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd." printed on back, no listing on sleeve or label for "Her Majesty," YEX-749 stampers) in superb condition -- nary a mark on it, no spindle marks ... looks great.

I already have several other AR LPs -- the MFSL, a Japanese EAS, and a later UK pressing (from the blue Beatles Collection box). (Not to mention three different CD versions.) None of those are perfect, but I like them all for different reasons.

I really felt I should leave this AR behind. (I almost hoped there'd be a gash across Side 1 or something so I wouldn't be tempted to buy it ... no such "luck.") But I knew I'd regret it later ...

I hope it turns out to be worth it ... I do like the other original UK Beatles LPs I've collected ... Will this one be significantly better than the later UK, or did it come too late in the game (post-tube, etc.)?

[PsychFan]

According to this page on orig. UK Beatle pressings:

http://www.yokono.com/collection/beatles/uk/lp/uk_lp_stereo_a.html##12-1

... My new copy is an "early press." It's got the Apple logo out of alignment with the type on the back of the sleeve.

Very exciting! Can't wait to go home and have a listen ...

[Sckott]

I have something like 8 different Abbey Roads. Ain't nothing wrong with finding sometimes the best pressing wasn't the MFSL or an early pressing!

This isn't the rule here, it's just an example. Record collecting sometimes gets rediculous. Sometimes that's when it gets fun!

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by Sckott
I have something like 8 different Abbey Roads.


Eight?!

Does that include the 8-track? :D

[Sckott]

Three different US pressings (Apple 1st and the Orange Label reissue as well as the "Finyl Vinyl" Capitol with the white Apple labels), two UK pressings, both almost identical, and late 80's to early 90s, a Japanese TOJP, a German one with the dark green apple (reissue, 1976) and two MFSLs, one never opened.

Wait, that's nine...isn't it? Sorry!

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by Sckott
Three different US pressings (Apple 1st and the Orange Label reissue as well as the "Finyl Vinyl" Capitol with the white Apple labels), two UK pressings, both almost identical, and late 80's to early 90s, a Japanese TOJP, a German one with the dark green apple (reissue, 1976) and two MFSLs, one never opened.

Wait, that's nine...isn't it? Sorry!

What about the picture disc? You do have the picture disc, don't you?

[Pat]

"as well as the "Finyl Vinyl" Capitol with the white Apple labels)..."


Also, you'll need to get the "Purple" label/Silver Print Capitol issue. Wasn't THAT the "final vinyl" for them (Capitol)!

Good to see Jimbo on the NEW site. Always appreciate the group from ICE coming over to add to the "MIX"! With the number of times the ICE board has "gone down" in recent times, you might want to make this your new home!

;)

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Pat
Also, you'll need to get the "Purple" label/Silver Print Capitol issue. Wasn't THAT the "final vinyl" for them (Capitol)!
Nope. Capitol did some pressings with the old rainbow label in the '80s. Our local library had one that I remember checking out...

[Pat]

Yeah,

After I posted the above, I thought about that Luke. I started thinking about my Rarities vinyl lp with the "retro" Capitol Black Label/ Spectrum Banded lp (white lettering though...as originals had silver print!). You caught me napping!

There was another Capitol label used on Beatle Re-Issues as well...this had a light green label with a Purple/Black "C" on it. Not sure if Abbey Road was released with this one (Apple was still vital at that point).

[indy mike]

Ooof! I'm the same way with the Yardbirds' Roger the Engineer lp - I must have a half dozen different presses, and several cd's of it, too. Gotta have both the mono and stereo mixes, as different guitar overdubs show up here and there... This is an album Steve needs to get his paws on!

[PsychFan]

I just got done listening to the original UK copy ... Without having gone to the trouble of A/B'ing it with my other copies (I also have an original US that I'd forgotten about!), I think I can say it's one of the best, if not the best, of the copies I own. I'll have to play my Japanese EAS again; that one always impressed me, even though it's a hair bright. This orig. UK is really nicely balanced, and the VOICES ... wow, definitely the best presentation of those I've ever heard. "Breath of life" ... OH yeah!

And thankfully it plays just as well as it looks -- I wouldn't say NM, but VG+ seems too weak ... something in between.

I love this album!

[FabFourFan]

Originally posted by Jeff Partyka
And thankfully it plays just as well as it looks -- I wouldn't say NM, but VG+ seems too weak ... something in between.
I love this album!

Jeff, have you taken note of all the letters and numbers in the run off area (assuming it was made by EMI in the usual way.)

The lacquer # should be there (at 6 o'clock), the mother #(s) should be there (at 9 o'clock), and the stamper letter(s) should be there (at 3 o'clock).

It would be great if you could let us know what the information is!

I think the 'key' to all this stuff was on the DCC forum at one point (it's not very tricky, actually), but it could be repeated here if anyone wants to check their EMI vinyl.

[PsychFan]

Originally posted by FabFourFan
The lacquer # should be there (at 6 o'clock), the mother #(s) should be there (at 9 o'clock), and the stamper letter(s) should be there (at 3 o'clock).
It would be great if you could let us know what the information is!

Here 'tis:

Side 1 lacquer: YEX-749-2
Side 1 mother: 9 12
Side 1 stamper: hard to read, looks like 0 (zero?) M D

Side 2 lacquer: YEX-750-1
Side 2 mother: 3
Side 2 stamper: M G P

[lucifer-chops]

"I think the 'key' to all this stuff was on the DCC forum at one point (it's not very tricky, actually), but it could be repeated here if anyone wants to check their EMI vinyl."

I'd love to know how to interpret all this data if anyone can post a link to the key ...

[PsychFan]

I think Michael Fremer went over this at length in his "Analog Corner" column in a recent Stereophile ... I'll see if I can dig up my copy. Might be worth typing in the info ...

I'm not terribly concerned, though ... the important thing to me is how the record sounds, and this Abbey Road sounds wonderful.

[KLM]

"I think the 'key' to all this stuff was on the DCC forum at one point (it's not very tricky, actually), but it could be repeated here if anyone wants to check their EMI vinyl."

I too would like to know how to decipher this information. Not only for EMI but for the vast majority of rock lps. If someone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[FabFourFan]

Originally posted by Jeff Partyka
Side 1 lacquer: YEX-749-2
Side 1 mother: 9 12
Side 1 stamper: hard to read, looks like 0 (zero?) M D

Side 2 lacquer: YEX-750-1
Side 2 mother: 3
Side 2 stamper: M G P According to the Richard Foster on the Phonogram list, the stamper key for EMI-pressed LPs is pretty straightforward, if you can actually read the markings - sometimes they are really faint!

They use the 10 letters GRAMOPHLTD as the numbers from 1 to 0, as follows:
G=1
R=2
A=3
M=4
O=5
P=6
H=7
L=8
T=9
D=0

See, it's easy! :rolleyes:

So, 0MD means stamper number 540, and
MGP means stamper number 416.

As for mother numbers "9 12", I really can't guess what that means.
IME, the mother numbers often look messed up, with one or two or three numbers visible, but not in the same orientation or general appearance, so who knows what's going on there. :eek: