Expert: James Michael Anderson - 5/6/2009

Question
Dear James,

May I refer to the answer you gave Carol 6/3/08 re a Sgt. Pepper's UK picture disc? You say there was a 2nd pressing which, however, came with a simple cardboard stiffener, not with the original cover (which was a replica of the 1967 sleeve with the lyrics on the back and a 10.5" hole in the front which let you see the picture disc - do you call that a die-cut sleeve??).

Now, I got exactly the record which Carol described but in the original cover and I have a strong suspicion that this is a counterfeit record. I know this is digging very deep but you may be able to clarify the matter. So here's all the boring information you'll probably need:

The Parlophone PD was issued in '79 with a cat.# of PHO 7027. The sleeve was printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse in Great Britain, the record was manufactured in Germany (this is what the sleeve says). The record itself shows the words "SIDE ONE/TWO" (all caps) with the cat.# below and the matrix YEX 637 (638 on side 2) in a third line printed into the blue sky area at the top of the picture. The matrix, which is the original '67 one, is stamped into the trail-out area of the record together with the appropriate mother/stamper information (lettered by hand) and a machine-engraved long number starting with "M6..." (probably a production number by Metronome Records who manufactured it). Now this is what I believe to be an original.

Carol's description matches the second copy I have before me. There is NO YEX-matrix but the catalogue number PHO 7027 is used as a matrix instead (with -A and -B for the side 1 and 2 respectively). Also, there is "For George and Mabel" (side 1) and "Another winner from Ernie" (side 2) engraved in the dead wax. There is only "Side One/Two" (no caps) in the blue sky area of the picture.

Does this sound like an official EMI/Parlophone release? I'm sorry for pestering you with all these details but maybe you can have a look at your own copy or copies, especially of a 2nd pressing if you have one.

I've done an internet search and found quite a few Picture-Peppers being offered. All those coming with a clear enough image of the record showed just the "Side One" printing, so it seems there are many "winners by Ernie" out there. I'm sure many collectors would be relieved if you could confirm that this was an official release.

Thank you very much for your time and patience. Kind regards, Sebastian

Answer
It is not a bootleg - that is an official release.  The late 70's/early 80's brought about an explosion of Beatles records amidst the dissolvement of the Beatles as a producer of new records.  Hence you have the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab albums as well as the colored vinyl for red, white and blue albums along with the picture discs.  What you have is a legitimate Sgt. Pepper picture disc.