AL STEWART Bedsitter Images RARE UK 67 1st Press N/M LP

	£		88
	$		116

Artist: AL STEWART

Album Title: “Bedsitter Images”

Producer: Roy Guest

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Bed-Sitter Images; Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres; The Carmichaels; Scandinavian Girl; Pretty Golden Hair; Denise at 16

Side 2: Samuel, Oh How You’ve Changed; Cleave to Me; A Long Way Down From Stephanie; Ivich; Beleeka Doodle Day

Label: CBS - original intense orange with rough textured surfaces (Please see my label scan)

Label Conditions: Both look fantastic: ultra clean and attractive with only one very light and faint spindle mark and no wear around the hole area

Cat Number: S 63087

Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Rare: only available for a relatively short time before being repressed with a new track listing. ‘Scandinavian Girl’, ‘Pretty Golden Hair’ and ‘Cleave to Me’ were dropped and replaced by ‘Lover Man’ and ‘Clifton in the Rain’. This did not sell well anyway and is rarely seen or offered and try finding this record better. This is the rarest UK-issued Al Stewart album and is highly sought-after by collectors

Original Year of Release: 1967. Reissued with different packaging and track selection in 1970 and then known as ‘The First Album (Bedsitter Images)’

Matrix Nos: SBPG 63087 A1 / SBPG 63087 B1

Brief Info: Superb debut album from this later popular Scotsman, who was born Ian Stewart. Wonderfully recorded with lovely acoustic songs and of course his very distinctive voice the special feature. This has always been a rare and elusive album and finding barely played copies is incredibly difficult. For the few who did purchase this initially, often females, most played it into the ground and when a copy does surface it’s invariably in less than wonderful condition. This one has been cherished and very lightly played and with the utmost care too. The cover has aged a little on the back with some ring-wear, tiny amount of price sticker residue and small water mark to the top left corner. The front is laminated and looks superb. With close angled viewing some manufacture laminate creasing can be seen, alongside some minimal ring-wear. As stated, it barely even shows with normal viewing but can be seen with angled viewing. Laminate adhesion in manufacture was often variable and often badly done sometimes with ugly effect and flaws. This is not ugly but is clearly a flaw I suppose, but as it has minimal visual impact it’s hardly a concern – this cover front still looks fantastic and of course has the original and unique artwork for this ultimate first pressing

Cover Grade and Format: VG++/EX, a single format with the front laminated. Printed and made in England by Ernest J. Day and including the ‘Patents Pending’ text

Lamination & Front: I have mentioned in detail above about the relatively minor and unusual manufacture application issue above. I say again however, this can barely be seen with normal viewing and (in my opinion) does not detract from this superb cover’s beauty. This artwork was only available on the original version of this album before being changed to sometime totally different. The laminate is still very shiny, clear and fresh and is fully adhered with no lifting or blisters, this being more significant on such a dark cover. Any marks are ultra fine and creases few and light, all bar one on the edges as fine hairline types that few sleeves ever fail to have. Minimal traces of friction rubs or dulling and for fine looks, this vintage and rare cover front will take a lot of beating

Cover Back: The back as aged a little more in-as-much the edges have darkened. Some light grubbiness also present again around the sides but not too much. As mentioned earlier there is some very light water damage to the top left hand corner but actual wear is minimal to the surfaces and creases have been avoided. Taking into account the vast age of this cover, this is very nice indeed and arguably looks just right for its considerable vintage

Top Edge: Unworn, laminated and straight

Bottom Edge: Practically the same again, very slight thickening to the end of the back panel, this being the resting edge, all normal

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with no minimal trace of wear and no feathering. Record enters on this edge which is guaranteed untrimmed

Spine and Text: This spine was never laminate protected, hence it has darked a little with age too. Solid, quite straight, uncompressed and delighted to say nearly all text is unworn and present. Clearly this spine is vulnerable and few will include all the text characters so intact

Corners: Tiny tip rubs only and all retain superb shape

Cover Summary: A very strong all round example of this unique and rare original 60’s cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. Any ‘flaws’ to the laminate, if indeed you choose to call it that, are ‘natural’, as made in manufacture, not by wear. The back has darkened and grubbied a little, sure, that is different. This is a lovely cover and it should please many, if not most collectors

The Inner: EX with just the usual light creasing to the left hand bottom corner. This is clean, very slightly age darkened if being critical but still very attractive. This had no manufactured lining and both window rims are immaculate and undamaged and crisp. The back flipbacks are neat and solid and for an inner this age, it’s really, really nice

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX - A superb visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and solidly pressed. A copy hardly played on all the evidence and any surface marks or traces tiny and faint (there are really only a few of these on side one). Visually a super record that should please most-all collectors

More rare Rock LPs are featured in this auction. I only accept PAYPAL!