Beatles Signed Please Please Me LP Obtained by a British Newspaper Reporter on October 31, 1964 (Parlophone PMC 12...

Description

Beatles Signed Please Please Me LP Obtained by a British Newspaper Reporter on October 31, 1964 (Parlophone PMC 1202, 1963). A signed copy of the Beatles groundbreaking first UK album is near the top of most collectors' want lists. All four of the lads from Liverpool have neatly penned their autographs on the back cover. Paul (very minor smudge), George, and John have neatly signed in ink around the Tony Barrow-written liner notes with excellent contrast and Ringo has signed over the printed area with great legibility. It was standard practice in Britain at this time for albums to be signed on the back because the fronts were coated with a slick paper that ink didn't adhere to well. No record included and the cover is VG-5 with some creases and light soiling not affecting the signatures. The flaws could either be matted out or mitigated by a good paper restorer.

The story about how these autographs were obtained is an interesting one. A twenty-two year old reporter for the East Anglian Daily Times, a local newspaper based in Ipswich, went as part of a crew to interview the Beatles on the Saturday morning before their afternoon and evening concerts at the Gaumont Theater. In a fascinating article written to accompany this album, the story is told of how he and most Brits were amazed at the Beatles' success in America. Before them, no British act had made it big in America and the British charts were full of American pop and Motown singers. He was not a big fan of the Beatles music ("...compared to the polished American performers, the Beatles sounded, frankly, amateurish...") at the time but did go into a record store and purchase two of their albums in order to obtain their autographs. He was successful in that endeavor; he kept this Please Please Me and sent the other album to an American cousin. He did attend the concert (a sell-out) but "didn't get it" as to why the girls screamed and why everyone loved them so much. He closes this article by admitting: "-But, hand it to them, they changed the world in many ways.-" It's hard to argue with that! His letter is included with the album cover. COA from Heritage Auctions.


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