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Exceptionally rare 7˝ EMI one-sided acetate pressing of the Beatles' breakthrough hit "Please Please Me," as heard on the mono 45 RPM single released on January 11, 1963. The acetate disc bears a black-and-white Emidisc label with handwritten notations: "Please Please Me, The Beatles."
One of the earliest known Beatles Emidisc acetates, this example was cut from a late November 1962 take. By this point, the song's arrangement had been radically altered from earlier demos, ultimately requiring 18 takes to achieve the version that producer George Martin immediately recognized as a hit. His prediction proved accurate—'Please Please Me' was the Beatles' first single to reach number one on both the NME and Melody Maker charts. It then became the title track of their first studio album, recorded soon after to capitalize on the single's success.
Although this acetate lacks the recording engineer’s initials on the label, research confirms that the handwriting is that of pioneering EMI cutting engineer Peter Vince, who joined the studio in April 1962, just prior to the Beatles’ first sessions there in June.
This very acetate was featured in Record Collector Magazine (September 2017), noted as part of a collection once owned by UK session musician Laurie Payne.
To date, we know of only two genuine Emidisc acetates of 'Please Please Me' to have surfaced. This particular example was last sold by Omega Auctions (UK) in 2022.
Condition (VG+): The disc displays a fair amount of surface marks and scuffs, but no feelable scratches to the playing surface. The label is clean, showing only proper aging. There is no deterioration to the lacquer on the playing side (with some minor wear to the lacquer around the rim), with some 'ring like' effects to the blank 'B' side. It plays great!
Accompanied by a high-fidelity digital transfer (.wav file) of the acetate's contents on a USB stick.
From the Mark Erbach Collection.
