Beatles
Sgt Peppers lonely hearts club band
Extremely Rare Australian Only Half-Speed Master Audiophile LP released in 1983 on Parlophone Records. Cat: AUDIO.5. Limited and numbered edition 237/497. Comes with audiophile information insert which is in Excellent condition. Still has original shrink-wrap on cover.
Rare Australian Only audio file release that never went on sale in regular record stores, but was made exclusively available to the public at the Sydney Hi-Fi And Audio Show on 3rd. July 1983. Just 497 numbered copies were released. Each LP had an individually numbered sticker fixed to the top right corner of the back cover. This copy is numbered 237 out of 497.
This exclusive Audiophile record came into existence following a decision by EMI Australia to try their hand at half-speed mastering for a reissue series. In January 1981 they took their exisiting 15-ips masters for Please Please Me and Sgt. Pepper s and brought them down to 7.5-ips and cut lacquers for each title. After checking for quality these were rejected. Please Please Me was abandoned in favour of concentrating on Sgt. Pepper s so a new master was supplied by EMI UK and they set to work again.
In April 1982 the first serious cut was created, with Side 2 being successful. Side 1 was more problematic and it wasn t until the third recut, which took 8 hours to cut just 40 minutes of music, that produced a result with which they were satisfied. This is known as the -3 cut and was used to create the final finished disc.
This LP would appear to be the Australian equivalent of the rare Nimbus Supercut release, produced in the UK for Practical Hi-Fi magazine in 1984.
Don Bartley, engineer at Studio 301 recalls:
The whole project was handled very well by EMI. I was given all the time that I needed to get it right and I seem to remember spending about 3 days on it. As it was a half speed transfer there were many test cuts done, two of which I still have and I have never played them since that time. I remember spending many hours setting up for the secret track in the lock groove at the end and somehow, I managed to get it exactly the same as the original Abbey Road cut . The tapes used were specially sent out from Abbey Road, they were not the originals but 1:1 direct copies of the originals. They were 30 ips, Dolby A and I remember feeling quite privileged and lucky the moment I started to play them. The amazing thing about this project was that I was allowed to EQ at my leisure and I must say that it was a challenge especially working at half speed. I do remember listening to the test cuts at the time and thinking how fantastic it sounded. Since then I have quite a few people comment on its quality, including Ed Kuepper From the Saints, laughing clowns etc , who said it s the best version he has ever heard.
Labels are pristine with no signs of spindle marks at all. Record is stunning no sign of any marks or scratches at all. Record is in Near Mint condition. Cover is like new and in Mint condition.
Payment is accepted by Paypal. Within Australia we also accept Direct deposit transfer and Australia Post Money Orders.
Wrapping method: All records are sent in stiff cardboard mailers then wrapped in brown paper and sealed around edges with brown packaging tape. Records are taken out of sleeve to avoid seam splits and ring wear.
Post methods within Australia: All records are posted via Australia Post. Within Australia all items come with a tracking number.
Post method for overseas: All parcels are sent via Australia Post and are sent on a standard airmail service. There are no tracking numbers on these items. If you require a tracking number the item will have to be sent as an insured item which incurs a further postage fee.
We offer combined postage for multiple purchases.
