The Beatles - With the Beatles (1963 Parlophone Mono First Pressing): The Second Album That Changed Everything

Please Please Me arrived in March 1963. With the Beatles followed in November of the same year. By the time the second album hit British record shops, The Beatles had already fundamentally changed what popular music could be and who could make it. With the Beatles consolidated that revolution: ten Lennon-McCartney originals alongside covers of American soul and R&B, all recorded in the tight, exciting live-in-the-studio style that Parlophone producer George Martin captured so perfectly.

The Robert Freeman sleeve photograph — four faces emerging from shadow, half-lit in black and white — became one of the most reproduced and imitated images in rock photography. And the vinyl inside, in a genuine first pressing, sounds the way recorded music sounded before everything became about radio-friendly polish.

Identifying the First Pressing

The most important identification markers for a genuine 1963 Parlophone UK mono first pressing:

Label: The original pressing uses the Parlophone "black and gold" label (officially Parlophone PMC 1206). The label background is black with gold text and border. Later pressings shifted to yellow and black labels, then to the familiar red-and-white Parlophone labels of the mid-1960s. The black and gold labels on original UK Beatles albums are the most sought-after in the collecting world.

Label text: The original issue label text includes "Manufactured by The Gramophone Co. Ltd." at the bottom. The catalog number PMC 1206 (mono) or PCS 3045 (stereo) appears on the label. The earliest copies are also distinguished by a publishing credit to "Dick James Music Ltd." for the Lennon-McCartney originals.

Matrix/Runout groove: The most definitive authenticity marker. The original mono first pressing's run-out groove contains specific matrix numbers etched by hand. For With the Beatles mono, look for: Side 1: XEX 447-1N, Side 2: XEX 448-1N (the "N" suffix indicates the engineer's initials, Norman Smith, who cut the lacquer). Earlier N-suffixed matrices predate later stamper cuts with different notations.

Sleeve: The sleeve on original copies should have a sharp, clear Robert Freeman photograph with good contrast. The text on the back includes the track listing and notes in specific typography. Early copies have sleeve variations distinguishable by the shade of blue used for the title text and the presence or absence of the gold writing.

"Sold in the UK" text: Later pressings include a statement about retail price and UK-only sale. Its presence or absence helps date the pressing.

Vinyl quality: Original pressings used a higher-grade, heavier vinyl compound than later budget repressings. Genuine early pressings feel substantial and play with lower surface noise when in good condition.

Mono vs. Stereo

The mono mixing of With the Beatles reflects how the album was actually produced and intended to sound. In 1963, stereo was a novelty for hi-fi enthusiasts; the mono mix received George Martin's most careful attention. The stereo version (PCS 3045) was mixed quickly and often sounds less focused.

The mono pressing commands a significant premium over the stereo:

Exceptionally clean copies of the mono first pressing — those grading at audiophile Mint or above — can exceed these ranges significantly at specialist auction. A sealed copy would command extraordinary prices.

Condition Assessment

For a 60+ year old record, condition factors that matter most:

Vinyl grade: Surface noise is the enemy. Original black and gold label copies in VG+ condition play with minimal surface noise on a properly set-up turntable. Anything below VG will have audible noise, particularly on quiet passages.

Sleeve condition: The Robert Freeman sleeve is part of the artifact. Splitting seams on the original tip-on sleeves (the folded construction of original UK album sleeves) are common. Ring wear from the record inside the sleeve is another typical issue. A VG+ sleeve is hard to find.

Label condition: Writing on labels (from radio stations, retailers, or previous owners) reduces visual grade. Label tears or water damage further reduce desirability.

Pressing integrity: Warps, chips on the vinyl, and pressing bubbles are immediate disqualifiers for high-grade assessment.

Why This Album Specifically?

With the Beatles is sometimes overlooked in favor of Please Please Me (the debut, the historical first) and A Hard Day's Night (the film tie-in, the American breakthrough). But for completist Beatles vinyl collectors, it holds a special place:

• The Robert Freeman sleeve is arguably more musically evocative than any other Beatles cover

• The Lennon-McCartney writing continued maturing at an extraordinary pace

• Covers like "Please Mr. Postman" and "Money (That's What I Want)" showed the band's R&B roots clearly

• The UK mono mixing is particularly well-regarded

• The production run of original black and gold label copies is finite and established

For a collector building a complete set of UK Parlophone Beatles mono first pressings — a classic project in rock vinyl collecting — With the Beatles is one of the more accessible and well-documented targets. The identification criteria are clear, the market is established, and the music rewards serious listening on a good playback system.

Buying Guidance

• Cross-reference matrices before buying. The Discogs database has detailed documentation of With the Beatles pressing variants. Know your target matrix before purchasing.

• Ask for photos of both labels and both sides of the sleeve. Lighting matters; ask for label photos under direct light to reveal pressing details.

• Playing grade matters more than visual grade for vinyl. A visually VG+ record that plays NM is a better purchase than a visually NM record that plays VG.

• Buy from reputable sellers who grade conservatively and accept returns if the record misrepresents its playing condition.

With the Beatles on a genuine 1963 black and gold Parlophone mono pressing is a document of a specific moment in music history — the moment when four young men from Liverpool had already changed everything and were just getting started.

Browse all Vinyl Records →

Related Items