AboutStonesstein Expertise I can answer nearly any question dealing with Rolling Stones' collectibles, as I have one of the most extensive collections of Stones' LPs and singles from all over the world. I am most intimately familiar with the values of various Stones' pieces, including many bootleg albums and CDs. I have collected the Rolling Stones' music since I was 3 years old (still have my first 45!), and I have nearly every piece of music they have released and much of what they have not released.
I am also very capable of addressing inquiries into many of the Stones' paper collectibles, including tour books and tour posters.
Finally, I am intimately familiar with the Stones' live catalog, including set lists, concert dates, and concert venues. I will confess that my my knowledge is much stronger after 1966, but I have an abundance of research material at my proverbial fingertips on all dates, gigs, and venues.
The above notwithstanding, I am NOT as versed in magazine articles on the band from 1963 to the present. While I have many, I cannot profess to be able to provide more than the most general of answers to queries such as "When did the Stones first appear in Tiger Beat?" without doing my own independent research.
Also, I am NOT a musician, so I cannot discuss chord structures or musical theory questions.
Experience I have been a Rolling Stones' collector and trader for over 35 years, and I have one of the most extensive collections and print libraries on the band I have ever known. Moreover, I have hosted radio shows on the band where people called in and asked questions off the cuff. Additionally, I have contributed to various friends' articles by way of consultations as to their verifications of references and sources. Finally, I have answered numerous people's inquiries as to the value of their vinyl collections, including both Stones' items and non-Stones' items.
Question I have noticed upon searching for this record that there seem to be a few variations that sellers claim as "Original UK Pressings."
~The first has a red, unboxed Decca label, whereby track 1 and track 2 appear on a single line (on both sides) and all other tracks have their own lines. The label has J/T above LK 4955.
~The second has a red, unboxed Decca label (LK 4955), whereby track 1 and track 2 appear on separate lines, as do all other tracks. Also, this label includes J/T but it's in a different place, below P1968.
~The third is blue, unboxed Decca (SKL 4955).
I'm pretty sure the blue label is stereo, while the red labels are mono. But what distinguishes the red unboxed label Decca where track 1 and track 2 are on the same line (with J/T above LK4955) from the red unboxed label Decca where track 1 and track 2 are on separate lines (and J/T is below P1968)? Which is the true original pressing? Which is more rare? What's the difference? Hope you can help.
Thank you for your time.
-Yonatan
Answer Yonatan -
Good question!
What you are dealing with here are label variations, BOTH of which could be considered original pressings. As for rarity, I believe that both of these are considered to be equally rare, because there are not too many Mono Beggars available due to demand and due to the fact that not too many were sold, because the Stereo copy outsold it by a large margin. Thus, the red-labeled Monos are much rarer than the blue-labeled Stereo copy.
Hope this helps, and it sounds like you got some good stuff here!
