Expert: Pattie - 9/23/2009

Question
Hi Pattie. I have an authentic copy of Introducing The Beatles VJ Oval Label version with Love Me Do, and P.S. I Love You-Mono. In the dead wax area are these numbers, letters, etc. Side 1= 63-3402, MR encircled, a triangle'-5702-x, sm or gm incursive. Side 2= AudioMatrix, MR encircled, 63-3403 and below that the date 6-29-63, a triangle 5702-x, and the letter A. My question is what could the triangle 5702-x mean, and is the date 6-29-63 signicant to this LP. Any information from any of you experts is greatly appreciated, so thank you very much for any help. Victor

Answer
Hi Victor!

Great question. Matrix numbers can be very confusing sometimes. They vary from mono to stereo and for other various and sundry reasons. On "Introducing The Beatles", the 63-3402/63-3403 indicates that it is indeed mono, not stereo. The date of 6-29-63 is the date that the mono stampers were sent to Southern Plastics, Monarch Records and ARP. The stereo discs are dated 6-28-63 and the mono discs are dated 6-29-63 (the album wasn't actually released until 1964). Yours definitely originated from a Monarch Plant, as indicated by the "MR". The 5702-X with the triangle (or "A"), as well as the "sm" is a Monarch Records indicator of which of their many plants were used to press the records. This is the short version. The full descriptor of all the Monarch plants and their various letter/number combination would take pages. I hope this has helped and thanks for the question!

Peace,
Pattie
8^)