Expert: Steve - 8/4/2007

Question
Hello an expert "Mike" responded below to a question about the 'Let It Be' LP:
"During it's time out of print, the LP was bootlegged. It's quite easy to spot a fake - the picture on the front cover look a little washed out and the white borders around each photo are thicker than on authentic copies. Also, fake discs have an unlaminated, blurry label. Authentic discs have a sharp label with a glossy lamination to them. Also, the 'AIM' triangle symbol and the 'BELL SOUND' mark are machine-stamped into the deadwax (I have a counterfeit copy where the AIM triangle had been crudely scratched in. This never appeared on real copies - it was stamped in. Judging by your description it sounds to me like you do indeed possess an authentic copy.

There's also an interesting label error on authentic copies that can boost the value a little. The original 1st pressings of the LP credit the song 'Maggie Mae' as simply 'PD' (or Public Domain). Since approximately 4,000,000 copies had been pressed ready for release this error was not corrected for some time. Soon before the LP went out of print a small second run was done, this time having the credit to 'Maggie Mae' as the names of all four Beatles. These 2nd presses are quite hard to find these days and are worth more than the first."...
OK..my question is that my copy of Let It Be has the "Bell Sound" stamped into it but, I am unable to find "AIM" triangle symbol. After the "Bell Sound" stamp it has just "sf". Also Maggie Mae has the credits as "(P.D. arr. Lennon; McCartney; Harrison; Starkey)". Is this what you are talking about as the rarer of the two? Hope I don't have a fake.
Thanks so much...Carla


Answer
Hiya Carla,
Actually, I was referring to the "Butcher Album", when I was writing to someone a few months back.
I do know the "Let It Be" album went through many incarnations, but I do not know what is 'rarer'. I have my album back at my parent's home, and I'm not exactly sure what I posess. I have the generic compact disc now, which states, "(Trad. arr. Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starky)" after the title of "Maggie Mae".

If I were you, I'd take my album cover to a few record stores. Give them your story, and mark down what each of the places say to you. Most likely, you'll get a clearer answer from someone who actually sees what you own.
 Carla, I wish you the best of luck in your quest.
-Steve