Expert: Pattie - 3/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi there,

I have been hanging on to this record for years,  hoping that someone can tell me something about it.

This is a Beatles White Album printed on White Vinyl, Capitol label.  It is complete with all posters.  The sound quality is exceptional, a surprise for coloured vinyl.

Side three is a complete misprint!  I believe that the music is from side 3 of the Beatles "Ballads"

Anyone heard of this?   I found it in a used record store years ago.

Selkie


ANSWER: Hi Selkie! (Love your name btw...)

First of all, congrats on having the white vinyl pressing of "The Beatles". On it's own, that's a very nice collectible. Label mistakes, such as what you're referring to, happened quite frequently. A mis-spelling, or small error is far less common. If the entire side has an incorrect label, that's a mishap from the printers themselves. It does increase the albums value to some degree. Not as much as if it had the correct album label with incorrect songs. I have to assume that if you play the side, that you'll actually hear songs from "The Beatles" and not from "Ballads", correct? Now, if it DOES have the songs from the "Ballads" LP, then you've got a really rare item. Normally, the record companies use the same printers for most of the albums they're releasing and when multiple titles are being created around the same time, mistakes like what you have are possible. I'd say that it would at the very least, double the current value of your album. Still factory sealed, your copy of "The Beatles" (SEBX-11841) is valued at around $100-$150, so double that and you've got your fair market value. Thanks for the question!

Peace,
Pattie
8^)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Pattie!

Thanks for you prompt response.  The label is correct, that is the label lists the songs that SHOULD have been there, and all the songs are Beatles songs,sung by them,  which I assume are from an album called "Ballads"

I thought I might have a rare item there, so I have only played it once or twice.

Cheers

C

ANSWER: Hi again, Selkie...

Well then I was confused. It sounded to me like the copy you have had an incorrect label, not incorrect SONGS. That changes everything. Having an incorrect label does happen occasionally, however, if when you put that piece of vinyl on a record player and the songs that come out of the speakers are NOT from the White Album, but actually from "Ballads", then yes, you have an extremely rare item. It had sounded to me like it was a regular issue of the white vinyl White Album, but just one of the LABELS was from "Ballads".

If it truly does have the incorrect recordings cut into the vinyl, then it could be worth thousands of dollars. There's no way I could even estimate it's true worth, because I've never seen one (or heard of one) like that. If this is an item you'd like to sell, my suggestion is to do it on your own and not go through a dealer. They will not give you what it's worth. Wow!

Peace,
Pattie
8^)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: HI again,

My curiosity piqued, I decided to pull the album out of its angel covers and have a listen.  In fact it is side 1 that has the incorrect recordings, not side 3 as I originally stated.  Sides 2 through 4 are as they should be.

The songs on side 1 are as follows:

1.  Yesterday
2.  I'll Follow the Sun
3.  I Need You
4.  Girl
5.  In My Life
6.  Words of Love
7.  Here, There, Everywhere

Perhaps this not the "Ballads" album but something else.  Again, its been years since I listened to it.  

Any ideas?

Selkie  

Answer
Well, that's not "Ballads", it's "Love Songs", Side A. Nonetheless, if those are the recordings that actually appear on your white vinyl record, you've got quite a collectible. Now...the only thing I'm wondering is if you don't have a bootleg instead of the actual released edition. Have you had it since it's release? Did it have a small white and purple sticker on the shrink wrap?

Peace,
Pattie
8^)