ROLLING STONES No.2 1st PRESS 1A/2A MONO BLIND MAN UNBOXED Grooved DECCA EX+/NM
£
64
$
84
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Description
The Rolling Stones : No.2
This very early 1A/2A mono pressing on the red non-boxed Decca grooved label plays with superb audio overall and minimal interference.
This of course has 'first press' flipback cover with the infamous 'Blind Man' credit on the back. This cover is very clean and has very little marking and certainly no writing or tears etc.
LK 4661 // XARL - 6619 - 1A / XARL - 6620 - 2A // UM 2 B / UM 3 B
The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections / tracks 1 & 2 range between Ex & Ex+)
The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections / track 1 intro VG+ for two seconds / track 4 Ex)
The cover is Ex
The labels are Near Mint-
The inner sleeve is VG+
Visual grading
This vinyl is in fantastic condition and retains a very healthy glossy sheen. There are no scratches and only a small number of faint hairlines plus a small faint fingerprint type mark on S2. You won't find many 1A/2A records cleaner than this! It really does have a very impressive visual look. There is not a great deal of spindle wear either so it has definitely not been over-played. The labels and run out grooves are also very clean.
Play grading
'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love' has a little static on the intro but is very much in the background. After the 'spoken' section the vocals play very clearly and there are no clicks or pops. The audio is very impressive throughout with only a minimal amount of mega light static here and there, very minimal! It does not detract from the overall listen.
There is some light static on 'Down Home Girl' but again this is largely in the background. I just write what I hear and I do sit very close to the speakers so any minor imperfection is picked up. There are no clicks or pops and no distortion either. I would say these two opening tracks grade as Ex but many sections easily play as Ex+.
'You Can't Catch Me' plays with stunning depth and clarity and it is patently obvious this track was recorded in a different studio. It has a completely different 'feel' to it. It has a greater depth and warmth and grades as Near Mint such is the quality. The fade out plays nigh on perfectly.
The classic 'Time Is On My Side' has minimal static on the intro (it is not crackle!) and then proceeds to play with great clarity and barely any static. I don't like using the phrase 'for a record of this age' but it really does play extremely well for 54 years old! The fade out plays very cleanly again.
'What A Shame' has barely any 'background' on the intro and continues in the same way. There's such a deep rich tone on this track and the playback is very impressive. A hint of mega light static now and then but certainly nothing that detracts from the audio quality. No clicks or pops and only a little inner groove distortion towards the end!
'Grown Up Wrong' plays with stunning quality and especially so for a final track. There is no distortion and again there is such depth and warmth on show here. A Near Mint grading is deserving in my opinion.
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'Down The Road Apiece' has one click (the first on the album!) right at the start and a touch of light static and then plays fantastically well and with no other interference. Aside from the first couple of seconds this plays with immaculate depth and rarely have I heard better. The long instrumental that closes the track is just so good, it is breathtaking! It easily grades as Mint- the playback could not be any more impressive and that includes the fade out.
'Under The Boardwalk' keeps up the standard and plays superbly from the very first groove. There is only a very minimal amount of light static here and there but it is so quiet as to be inconsequential. A stunning version with great depth and very strong reverb.
'I Can't Be Satisfied' plays so clearly and with only the bare minimum of static. To most people static is not interference and adds to the audio experience overall. This is vinyl! In saying any static here is totally non-intrusive and when it's this quiet I don't know why I mention it really! Too honest for my own good! There are no clicks, pops or crackle and obviously no skips.
'Pain In My Heart' does have a little more static but there is no other interference. The static is largely in the background and doesn't intrude on the quality of the listen. Having listened to numerous early mono pressings this track always plays with a little static for some reason.
With only minimal static on the intro 'Off The Hook' then plays with superb clarity and there is hardly any inner groove distortion which is surprising. This points to a record that has been well preserved and not over-played. It continues to play with great quality and is near faultless to the very end. A stunning version.
'Suzie-Q' ends the album in impressive style with no interference other than a little inner groove distortion. I am playing this through a stereo set up so this I am sure would improve when played as a mono record. Don't get me wrong it still plays incredibly well and the hand claps have never sounded better!
In summary this mega early mono pressing plays with wonderful quality and depth and there is only one click to be heard! A little light static here and there but no more than you would expect and the clarity remains very impressive. The cover is also in lovely condition with very little marking which makes a change.
The Cover
The laminated 'Clout & Baker' cover is one of the most impressive I have seen in a long time. Being such an early pressing it obviously includes the infamous 'blind man' text. The edges are in fantastic condition with no wear at all and the thin pinched spine only has a couple of mega small crease marks and remains 100% legible. It looks so good! The corners have only very minor wear which is a rarity and the opening edge has very little handling wear also. The laminated front cover at first glance could hardly look any better! There are just a couple of minor creases on the front and some minor creases around the edges. The back cover is very clean with very little fading and very minor marking lower left. Not perfect but you won't find many better!
Inner Sleeve
The original inner sleeve just has one small corner split but there are no side splits. There is also some creasing but there is no marking or 'spotting'.
The Labels
The grooved unboxed labels are in wonderful condition with no marking or writing and there is not too much spindle wear either. The KT tax code is stamped on both run out grooves.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
LK 4661 // XARL - 6619 - 1A / XARL - 6620 - 2A // UM 2 B / UM 3 B
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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