The Jimi Hendrix Experience : Electric Ladyland 1/2/2/2

This early pressing on the 'Track Record' label is one of the best examples I have heard in a long time.  The clarity and depth of the audio is so good and the vast majority plays to a Near Mint if not better!  There are only a couple of seconds of interference on S1 but apart from that the audio cannot really be faulted.  There is very little spindle wear and it is obvious it has only ever been lightly played.

The gatefold is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear.  There are two initials on the front cover but they are not that obvious.  The original inners have a little wear but nothing serious.

This is a second pressing as determined by a number of things.  The matrix info of 1/2/2/2 is the first sign, a genuine first press will have 1/1/1/1 on the run out grooves.  The catalogue number is not repeated with inverted numbers on the labels and a second press and subsequent pressings will have 'Two Record Set' on the labels also.

This second press however still has the laminated gatefold that was issued with the first pressing.  A genuine first press cover has the smaller photos of Redding and Mitchell on the inside and on the 'blue text' version their photos are larger.  There is now so much evidence to say the cover with the white text and smaller photos is the true first press.  Redding and Mitchell were not happy with the small photos hence why they are larger in later pressings.  The 'blue text' misprint versions exist in far fewer numbers and as Hendrix sold massively in '68 why would a cover be printed in such small numbers?  It doesn't make sense!

Side A / 61300 ## 8 (etched 8) A // 1  1 3 4

Side B / 613009 A? 2  420   1 1 1 2

Side C / 613009 B // 2  420   1 1 3

Side D / 613008 B? 2  420  1 2 6

The audio on Side A is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / Track 4 G+ for 2 seconds!)

The audio on Side B is Mint- (T2 & T5 Near Mint)

The audio on Side C is Mint- (T1 Near Mint-)

The audio on Side D is Mint- (T1 & 2 Near Mint- )

The gatefold is Ex

The 'Plastic Bags...' inner sleeves are Ex-

The labels are Mint-

The vinyls are in beautiful condition and retain a stunning jet-black glossy sheen.  I have not seen as many early pressings looking as good as this!  They have been so carefully handled down the years and only lightly played in my opinion.  There is minimal spindle wear, just a little more on Side C, and there are no marks or scratches to be seen at all.  The only 'blemish' is one very small faint hairline on Side C but apart from that they are visually perfect.  I can only find a couple of other tiny hairlines but they are barely visible!  Sides A, B and D look practically 'as new' with Side C not being too far behind!  The run out grooves are exceptionally clean, the matrix info can clearly be read, and the Track Record labels are also in great order with no writing or marking.

Play grading

'And The Gods Made Love' plays very clearly throughout.  The opening grooves are of course so quiet and yet there is barely any static, just a couple of light ticks, and swirling tape loops are 'as new'.  This is a strong Near Mint version.

There is one click in the dead wax just before the start of 'Electric Ladyland' and it then plays with superb clarity and depth and no interference.  With only a handful of barely audible dust ticks the playback could hardly be any better and the fade out also plays with great precision.  Near Mint again.

The classic 'Crosstown Traffic' plays with stunning clarity and definition from the first note to the last.  The power in evidence here is so impressive and there is no distortion at all.  The fade out has no 'background' either which gives you an idea of the clarity on offer here.  This truly is a breathtaking Mint version no exaggeration.

The quiet intro on 'Voodoo Chile' has only a couple of light static ticks and from then on the audio is outstanding for the vast majority!  I cannot overstate the clarity on this timeless classic.  There are so many quiet sections and yet there is very little interference.  The first half plays with stunning quality and hardly any 'background'.  Hendrix is of a course a master of his craft but Redding's deep bass and Mitchell's percussion adds so much to this 'live' track.  Not to mention Steve Winwood's input of course as his Hammond organ section is stunning!  In the following quieter section there are a couple of clicks due to a tiny speck on the vinyl but this is the only obvious intrusion during the entire 15 minutes!  Thereafter it plays with incredible clarity and each note can be heard perfectly, I cannot overstate how impressive this clarity is.  It plays with great power in the louder sections and with such delicate precision during the quieter moments.  The 'high octane' end section is so dynamic and has barely any inner groove distortion and you can easily turn it up to loud, the audio is stunning!  The spoken 'crowd' section that brings this classic to a close has hardly any static which makes a change!  Overall a fine version that grades as Near Mint overall which is only G+ for a couple of seconds!

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The acoustic intro on 'Little Miss Strange' is super clean and there is just one light tick as the vocal starts.  From then on it plays with superb precision and no 'background' at all.  A Mint- version.

'Long Hot Summer Night' more than maintains this standard with stunning audio.  There are only a minimal number of barely audible ticks but why I mention them I do not know!  I am just 100% honest in my grading but it goes without saying they are totally non-intrusive.  There are no clicks or pops and a Near Mint is easily deserved.

If anything 'Come On' is even better and seems to have a greater clarity of sound.  The audio definition is like it was pressed only yesterday and the playback could not be any stronger.  Each note is so precise and this is pure Mint audio with a fade out that also plays to perfection.

'Gipsy Eyes' plays with great clarity and this is actually something of a rarity.  This is because the vocal often has some distortion but that is not the case here and it plays very clearly indeed.  There is no intrusion on the audio and once again I can hardly believe what I am hearing!  Mint-

The classic wah-wah intro on 'Burning Of The Midnight Lamp' is 'as new' and thereafter plays very impressively and no interference.  There is hardly any inner groove distortion and this classic brings Side B to a close with Near Mint audio.

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The 'live' intro on 'Rainy Day, Dream Away' is so 'clean' and the sax/guitar instrumental that follows is stunning!  There is one click but aside from that there is no other 'background'.  As Redding's bass rises up the audio has such depth and power and as the vocal comes there is no let up in quality.  It continues in the same way and the vocal fade out has no interference and Near Mint- is deserved even with the one click.

The intro on '1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)' has no interference and as Hendrix's vocal begins it's like you're back there in '68!  The sonic quality here cannot be underestimated and I am delighted to say this classic psychedelic track continues to play with wonderful clarity and definition.  This is a FINAL UPGRADE version and each note can be heard so clearly, it is just incredible to think this record is over 50 years old!  This track has hardly been played as the clarity is quite simply phenomenal!  The long psychedelic instrumental is a prime example of that, it is so quiet in so many sections and yet there are no clicks or pops, no intrusion at all.  There are just 3/4 light ticks but this cannot be classed as interference.  This is a STUNNING Mint- version and having played every second there is nothing to detract from the wonderful quality of the audio.  There is no distortion on the top end and even the quiet ending plays beautifully with amazing precision.

The segue into 'Moon, Turn The Tides...' is perfect and this brief instrumental is as good as its predecessor.  Fantastic audio, so clear and precise, and no interference.  A Mint- finish to the side.

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'Still Raining, Still Dreaming' on Side D has only a couple of minor dust ticks on the intro and then plays very clearly indeed.  The instrumental section where the volume increases as the bass comes in is absolutely stunning.  There is one click soon after but is very much 'buried' in the music so hardly intrusive.  Hendrix's work on the final half is so strong and powerful and Near Mint- is a fair assessment overall.

'House Burning Down' often has some static distortion on the intro but that is not the case here.  It continues to play with excellent quality with only minimal 'muddiness' to the sound at the end.  Near Mint- again.

No such issue with 'All Along The Watchtower'.  From start to finish the sonic quality could not be improved upon and it plays with such depth and a real intensity.  Mint- for sure.

The super quiet intro on 'Voodoo Chile (slight return)' is flawless and the first riff section plays perfectly.  As the volume increases there is no distortion and continues to play with amazing quality.  Turn it up to maximum the playback is outstanding!  This is a very dynamic version and it goes without saying that there is no interference of any kind.  To the final groove this is Mint- in every way.  A stunning finish to this classic album.

In summary this early pressing plays to a superb standard with only a couple of seconds of obvious interference on Side A.  Apart from that the clarity and definition of the audio is very impressive and '1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)' in particular is absolutely stunning as are a number of tracks if I'm honest!  So much plays 'as new' but in a way that is not surprising when you look at the visual quality of the records.

The Gatefold

This first press E.J. Day laminated cover is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and is so much stronger and more robust than many you see today.  The edges have only a couple of tiny rubs and the spine is also very clean apart from a little wear on the corners.  The right hand corners are in pretty good shape with only minimal wear, perhaps just a touch more on the bottom ones.  The opening edge of the front cover is in superb condition with only a couple of minor 'rubs' and the one on the back cover is just a little wavy with only minimal handling wear.  The front cover is in lovely condition with only a couple of minor laminate creases and as mentioned it does have the initials MT written in pen near the spine.  The back cover just has a couple of small creases and a faint scratch line near the top.  The wear on the top right corner is a bit more obvious from the back but overall the laminate has withstood the test of time very well.  The inside of the gatefold is stunning and for once the inner spine has no laminate damage, it just has one small crease to the right hand side.  The cover remains very glossy and is a fine example of its type.

The Inners

The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bag...' inners have no side splits, just some of the usual creasing.  There are a couple of very small tears on the central 'windows'.  One of them also has the catalogue numbers written in one corner.

The Labels

The 'Track Record' labels are in superb condition with barely any spindle wear - just a bit more on Side C.  They are extremely clean with no marking or writing.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

Side A / 61300 ## 8 (etched 8) A // 1  1 3 4

Side B / 613009 A? 2  420   1 1 1 2

Side C / 613009 B // 2  420   1 1 3

Side D / 613008 B? 2  420  1 2 6

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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