Expert: James Michael Anderson - 1/3/2011

Question
Hi James,

I'm wondering if you could help me identify whether my Beatles Sgt Pepper picture disc is genuine or a bootleg.

The disc itself shows the front cover image on both sides with 'Side One' and 'Side Two' (as shown - not in upper case) at the top of the disc in the 'sky'.  No other additional text is on the disc.

The cover is a standard album cover (no hole cut out the front).  The front has 'STEREO' centered at the top.  The back has the lyrics and 'PCSJ 7027' top right.

Other points of interest include an 'interpak' logo bottom right, the following text centre bottom 'IMPORTANT WARNING - Notice - Copyright subsists in PARLOPHONE records.  It is illegal to copy or re-record such records onto tape for any purpose whatsoever and any infringement may be actionable at law.  Licenses for the public performance or broadcasting of records direct from turntables must be obtained from the association of the southern african phonographic industry.  123 Pall Mall, London, SW1 England. RECORD PRESSED FOR OR BY A REGISTERED USER.'

Also - as if the back cover is turned upside down - there is the date 20 11 78 4 under the important notice.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Luke Duffield

Answer
Yes it sounds like an authentic disc, although the cover does not seem original to a marketed album - PCS 7027 is the correct number for Sgt Pepper Stereo but, I do not know what the J is for. Also, all of the picture discs were sold in covers that were either all black or completed the album cover with the disc as the center piece..I believe that what you have may be a promotional pressing which would have been distributed to record stores as part of the original promotion.  The disc was released in 1978, so the 20-11-78 would be consistent with the UK date format.  The UK disc has the same picture on both sides where the US disc has the Sgt. Pepper drum filling the b-side.  I'm guessing you have the UK version.