ROLLING STONES "THROUGH THE PAST DARKLY" GREEN VINYL 1977 DUTCH DECCA LP RARE

$

25

ROLLING STONES "THROUGH THE PAST DARKLY" DUTCH DECCA ~ GREEN VINYL 
THE ROLLING STONES "THROUGH THE PAST DARKLY (BIG HITS VOLUME 2)" RARE LIMITED EDITION DUTCH PRESSING ON TRANSLCUENT GREEN VINYL LABEL: DECCA – 6835 206 STEREO RELEASED: ORIGINALLY SEPTEMBER 12, 1969 ~ THIS PRESSING 1977 COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: HOLLAND ~ THE NETHERLANDS RECORD COMPANY: THE DECCA RECORD COMPANY LTD. LACQUERS/MASTERS CUT AT PHONODISC B.V. ~ BAARN, HOLLAND ( 'Y' & '670' IN MATRIX) PRESSING: PHONOGRAM PHONODISC B.V. ~ BAARN, HOLLAND LABEL CATALOG NUMBER: 6835 114.1 / 6835 114.2 RIGHTS SOCIETY: STEMRA PRESSED ON BEAUTIFUL TRANSLUCENT GREEN VINYL ALBUM COVER ART/PHOTOGRAPHY: ETHAN RUSSELL MATRIX (SIDE A): (Stamped) AA 6835 114 1Y 2 670 03 11 MATRIX (SIDE B): (Stamped) AA 6835 114 2Y 2 670 03 11
CONDITION: VINYL: VG+  JACKET: VG+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been going thru my large vinyl record collection over the past few weeks and pulling out some LPs that I thought that someone else would want for their collection. I've been collecting records for nearly 50 years and it's time to pass some of them on to the next generation of collectors.
After all, we are just temporary 'caretakers' of these musical gems until the next owner and next collection takes them in.
This week on EBay I am offering up this rare 1977 Dutch, Limited Edition Pressing of the classic 1969 Rolling Stones "Greatest Hits" collection 'Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)', pressed on translucent Green vinyl. 
This is my personal, original, copy that I purchased 'new' back in early 1978, shortly after its release, and has remained in my record collection ever since.
I've taken great care of this record for nearly 50 years now. It's been poly-line sleeved, inside and out, since I purchased it, stored properly in my collection, and it's still in great, very clean, original condition. 
Please read the full description of this album's content, recording history, fantastic album cover, and details on the record's condition below. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a nice, clean, fantastic sounding Dutch pressing, basically an 'Audiophile' pressing at the time, newly mastered by Phonodisc B.V. and pressed by Phonogram/Phonodisc in Baarn, Holland.
This was a brand new, high-quality repressing at the time, but this Dutch pressing was designed to look like the older original 1969 UK first pressings, right down to the thinner European style jacket. 
The address used for London Records at the bottom of the back cover is the early 9 Albert Embankment, London location. 
Odd that this 1977 Dutch re-issue would use the older 60's UK style, but they were trying to replicate the UK original as close as they could, just update it with improved sound and green vinyl. It's actually very cool, and a fantastic looking and sounding record. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE SOUND ON THESE 70's DUTCH PRESSINGS
Although the Rolling Stones aren't known for their audiophile sound, especially on their late 60's albums when their music could be heavy, dense, muddy and murky at times, these Dutch pressings sound stellar.
This album was newly mastered, freshly re-cut, re-plated, and pressed by Phonogram/Phonodisc B.V. in Baarn, Holland, one of the better pressing plants in Europe at the time.
It sounds amazing and was the best sounding pressing of 'Through The Past, Darkly' available at the time, one of the reasons I purchased the whole series of 6 or 7 different albums that they pressed back then.
This album sounds clear, bold and punchy, with great separation, and plenty of depth and bite. 
This fantastic sounding Dutch pressing reveals just how deeply layered, dynamic and intense the Rolling Stones music was. 
The soundstage is nicely balanced, deep, and 3D wide, typical of Stones mixes, with lots of hard panning of guitars and separation of the instruments.
It has great presence and sounds fantastic, exactly how you would want it to, and expect it to sound; heavy, powerful, vibrant and very dynamic, with lots of punch.
The drums & guitars sound great; loud, bold & punchy - perfect, but the album also sounds warm, intimate, and sensitive where it should, on the mellower tracks.
This is an amazing sounding pressing; well mastered, sounds great, and all pure analog, not even a thought of anything digitally sourced. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This album has been repressed, re-released, and remastered over the years, but as a Rolling Stones fan and Stones vinyl collector, this is one of the copies you want; a very well made Dutch pressing of one of the band's classic albums, on beautiful, translucent green vinyl, and in great, wide, punchy, all analog sound.
This is a fantastic record to add to any Rolling Stones classic Rock collection.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In terms of both performance and recording quality, the music here represents the full sound of the Stones in their early prime, recorded and released as the turbulent sixties came to a close.
For years, the Stones had been called the World's Greatest Rock'n'Roll Band, but the first time that designation ever applied was here in the 1966-1969 period. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF 'THROUGH THE PAST, DARKLY'
By the fall of 1969, it had been 10 months since the release of the band's last album, 'Beggars Banquet', in December 1968, and much had changed within the band and with their music.
The summer of 1969 was a time of great change for the Stones and they were at a crossroads. 
Mick's rise as the leader of the group, and Brian's increasing drug use, all took a heavy toll on him. Brian was becoming unreliable and distanced himself from the band. 
A talented multi-instrumentalist, Jones had previously contributed extensively to their music, creating an integral part of the Stones' sound, but by the early summer of 1969, that relationship wasn’t working anymore.
Brian was becoming a problem, a liability, and getting in the way of the band's music and creative process. By the summer of 1969 Brian started to lose control of both himself and the direction of the band that he founded. He was spent, exhausted and spiraling. His flame was quickly fading out.
On July 3, 1969, the once talented Brian was found dead, floating in his swimming pool at his estate, Cotchford Farm. "Death by misadventure".
The next day, July 4, 1969, the band's new “Honky Tonk Women” single was released in the UK. 
The day after that, July 5, 1969, the Rolling Stones, without Brian, but with the addition of new guitarist Mick Taylor, played their free concert in Hyde Park in memory of Brian Jones.
Things were changing quickly for the band.
'Beggars Banquet' had sold well, but the Stones were preparing for their 1969 American tour, their first in three years since the summer of 1966, and needed to release a new album on the American market ahead of the tour. One that would have built-in appeal and sell well, to generate income to help them pay for the tour.
The band's next album, 'Let it Bleed' was being worked on and recorded, but was facing delays and setbacks and wouldn't be ready for months, after the tour had already started.
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" and “Honky Tonk Women” had both been huge smash hit singles, but were not yet available on any LP, so there was huge demand to get those songs onto an album.
The decision was made to release a new 'greatest hits' album that focused on those 2 songs, as well as to remind America of all the great music and hit singles they had released since 1966, the last time they toured the states.
'Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)', the Rolling Stones' second Greatest Hits compilation, after 1966's "Big Hits: High Tide and Green Grass", was released in September 1969, just ahead of the American tour. It made a huge splash on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching the #2 spot in the UK, #3 in the US.
Released at the end of the flower-power sixties, this album focused on their legendary diverse pop-psych singles from 1966-1969 and served as the closing to one of the group's most vibrant eras. It brings together some of the band's greatest hits during their time with Brian Jones.
'Through The Past, Darkly' served as a terrific "Greatest Hits" compilation, but was also conceived as a fitting tribute and farewell to the band’s founder Brian Jones, who had passed away in July. It was meant to highlight his musical and artistic contributions to the band during the past few years, a period of explosive, radical changes for the group. 
Brian can be heard all over these songs. He shares 12-string guitar duties with Keith on “Mother’s Little Helper". He can be heard playing organ on “Let’s Spend the Night Together, saxophone on “Dandelion,” and mellotron on “2000 Light Years from Home” and “She’s a Rainbow.” The flighty trippyness of 'We Love You' sounds and feels particularly Brian-ish.
As a fitting epitaph for Brian, a brief poem of remembrance was printed on the album jacket: "When this you see, remember me and bear me in your mind. Let all the world say what they may, speak of me as you find."
Keith said that Brian was "Such a beautiful cat, man. He was one of those people who are so beautiful in one way and such an a$$hole in another." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UK vs US VERSIONS
Although released at the same time in both the US and the UK, 'Through The Past, Darkly' was mostly directed at the US market.
In the late 60's, it was common in England for bands to release their best songs as stand-alone singles. Those songs would then typically not be included on the band's current LP release, but in America, the albums usually contained the hit singles. Because of this, the US and UK track lists of 'Through The Past, Darkly' are significantly different, but both are great.
The UK version, this version, is a nice collection of non-album songs that were only previously available there on 7" singles or EP's, plus a few rarities and obscure album tracks.
The UK/European version of 'Through The Past, Darkly' included the big hits 'Honky Tonk Women' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', plus the songs  'Sittin' on a Fence', 'You Better Move On', 'Let's Spend the Night Together', 'Ruby Tuesday', 'We Love You' and 'Dandelion' that were never released on LP there before.
Unlike the U.S. version, the UK version lacks "Have You Seen Your Mother" and "Paint It, Black", 2 songs that fit into this era of the group, but were recorded just in time to be included on the UK version of their earlier Greatest Hits album 'Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass)' released in November 1966.
Instead, the UK version includes the rare tracks "We Love You", "Sittin' On A Fence", and "You Better Move On", not on the American version.
"We Love You", featuring guest backing vocals by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, was the A-side of a 7" single, the Stones' first new release of the summer of 1967. It was a hit in the UK, but the B-side, "Dandelion", was the hit in America. That's why "We Love You" was left off the US version.
'Sittin' on a Fence' is an 'Aftermath' outtake. originally released in 1967 on the US 'Flowers' compilation album, but unreleased in the UK at the time.
The obscure "You Better Move On" is a song from The Rolling Stones' self-titled 1964 debut EP that would have fit better on the earlier "High Tide" compilation in 1966. It feels oddly 'out of place' here, placed right in the middle of all the other late 60's rockers and pop-psychedelic gems, but still very cool to  hear.
'You Better Move On' is also the one track on this compilation that is in 'reprocessed' stereo, all the rest are in 'true' stereo and have fantastic, pure, all analog sound. ~~
The US version is completely composed of hit singles, including all of the US A-sides, plus a few B-sides, from May 1966's 'Paint It Black', through 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', 'Street Fighting Man', right up to the present time, with July 1969's 'Honky Tonk Women'.
The US version has more true hit singles, but sounds choppy and disjointed, whereas the UK version is not as singles-oriented and is certainly odd and quirky, but it's also better - more diverse, interesting and rewarding musically than the American version. It works more like an 'album' and has a better flow. 
Here is the tracklist and sources for this Dutch pressing, which follows the UK/European format:
'JUMPIN' JACK FLASH' (May 1968 Single) 'MOTHER'S LITTLE HELPER' (UK Non-album but on U.S. 'Flowers' July 1967) '2000 LIGHT YEARS FROM HOME' (from 'Their Satanic Majesties Request') 'LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER' (January 1967 Single) 'YOU BETTER MOVE ON' (Originally released on the 1964 EP 'The Rolling Stones') 'WE LOVE YOU' (August 1967 Single) 'STREET FIGHTING MAN' (August 1968 Single - also on 'Beggars Banquet') 'SHE'S A RAINBOW' (from 'Their Satanic Majesties Request') 'RUBY TUESDAY' (January 1967 Single) 'DANDELION' (August 1967 Single) 'SITTIN' ON A FENCE' (UK Non-album but on U.S. 'Flowers' LP July 1967) 'HONKY TONK WOMEN' (July 1969 Single) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the UK, 'Through the Past Darkly' was the only album that contained "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Honky Tonk Women", which made it essential to fans and quickly propelled it to gold record status. ~~~
Unlike most greatest hits collections, the songs on 'Through the Past' are not in chronological order. It has it's own magical kind of 'un-chronological logic' and it's own charm.
it's remarkable to hear just how smoothly the Stones' straight-ahead rock & roll classics like "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Honky Tonk Women" blend together and fit in perfectly with the art-rock gems like "Mother's Little Helper", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Let's Spend The Night Together" and the psych-pop acid flashbacks like "She's a Rainbow," and “2000 Light Years from Home”. 
Side two of the UK version opens with the rough 'n' tough "Street Fighting Man" and ends with their latest single "Honky Tonk Women", bringing the band's single's history right up to date. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greil Marcus, reviewing for 'Rolling Stone' magazine in September 1969, hailed 'Through the Past, Darkly' as "an album of tremendous impact" and "one of the great party records" filled with "loud, tough, flashy rock and roll". 
He mentioned that all the songs were terrific and fan-favorites, but he also lamented the absence of certain songs that had not yet appeared on any album.
Robert Christgau also echoed this disappointment in 'The Village Voice' mentioning that some great songs were were left off.
Fans and critics expressed disappointment over the conspicuous exclusion of tracks like "19th Nervous Breakdown", "Who's Driving Your Plane?" or "Child of the Moon" from the time period, great B-sides not available on LP at the time.
'Child of the Moon', the B side to 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' is the most glaring omission. It was the Stones swan song to their psychedelic/experimental period, which is what this album was all about.
Some felt that they would have made much better choices than 'You Better Move On' and 'Sittin' on a Fence' that were included. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This album also served as a final summary of the Stones as singles artists. From this point onwards, the Stones' medium of choice would be complete albums, with an occasional single release.
July 1969's "Honky Tonk Women" single was the last non-album A-side the Rolling Stones would ever release. It was also their last UK #1 hit single.
The version of "Honky Tonk Woman" on this album sounds fantastic; a perfect wide stereo mix that ping-pongs back and worth between the guitars and horns and the interplay between lead and backing vocalists.
The bass and drums kick in, right down the middle, anchoring the whole song. It's hard not to tap your foot along to the groove.
"Honky Tonk Woman" sounds amazing, so musically distinctive and different. It serves to define the end of the old 'Brian era', and the beginning of a new sound, new era and a new lineup for the band. The barroom swingin' "Honky Tonk Woman" was the first hit with  Mick Taylor on guitar and the band's first real use of Sax and horns in the recording process.
It was a fantastic powerful new single in 1969 that announced and unleashed their new sound, new direction and their future. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE ALBUM'S TITLE
The album's title, 'Through the Past, Darkly' was an obvious play on St Paul's biblical words in 1 Corinthians 13  "For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face..."
Some claim that the title actually came from the 1961 Ingmar Bergman film 'Through a Glass Darkly', about a young, crazy, sexually confused schizophrenic, which Mick, Brian and Charlie, as art-school types, would have been quit familiar with. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE ALBUM JACKET, ARTWORK & PACKAGING
The original American version of this album came in a very cool, eight-sided, octagonal die-cut gatefold sleeve designed by John Kosh, with great cover shots of all 5 Stones, taken by Ethan Russell, pressed up against, and looking thru panes of clear and shattered glass.
It's still considered one of rock's best, classic gatefold album designs and covers.
The UK and European version was not a gatefold, and used one of Ethan Russell's window pane shots for the font cover and a picture of the group lying on the ground, spread out like a 5-pointed star, for the back cover.
Many Stones collectors and experts have pointed out that this was the very last photo shoot taken with Brian Jones. They also note that Ethan Russell's pictures show all of the individual Stones with the longest hair they would ever have in their careers, looking their most burned out, 'druggie' and cave-man like. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interestingly, the UK version has long been 'out of print'. In the CD era, the UK version was phased out and all pressings, both CD and Vinyl, followed the US track listing. This album's later reissues around the world followed the US format and tracklisting.
For Record Store Day in 2019 ABKCO Records released 'Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)' on orange vinyl, with a gatefold cover in the octagonal-shape of the original U.S. issue. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 1970, Allan Klein's terrific 2-lp Abkco release 'Hot Rocks' made Decca's "Big Hits: High Tide and Green Grass" and "Through the Past Darkly: Big Hits Vol 2"  somewhat redundant, turning them into historical curiosities.
Today, Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol.2) is unfairly overlooked. Yes, it has been supplanted and superseded by more comprehensive vinyl collections and box sets, but it is still the original ‘Greatest Hits’ package, the way the band intended, and still one of the best, most potent retrospective collections of late 60's singles that one can find. Still a great album and a great listen.
Plus, 'Through The Past Darkly' sounds so much better than 'Hot Rocks'. Crisp punchy sound and terrific dynamic range. 'Hot Rocks' was mastered with a dead and compressed sound, like 70s FM radio, and was cranked out by Klein as 'product'. 'Through The Past Darkly' was carefully chosen, well mastered and well pressed and sounds amazing.
Although no Rolling Stones compilation is ever 'perfect', every fan has an opinion of what it contains and what it lacks, 'Through The Past Darkly' is a really solid collection and sounds fantastic.
Overall, this is a perfect album. At the time, late 1969, The Stones were the decade's most notorious rock & roll rebels and this album was a perfect concentrated 'snapshot' of an incredibly creative period in the band’s life and history.
The Stones went on to release 'Let It Bleed' at the beginning of December 1969, near the end of the American tour, and that same week, the band finished up their U.S. visit with a free concert at the Altamont Raceway in California.  A whole new Stones era was just a shot away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A terrific, iconic compilation, with a great tracklisting, that's still very accessible and amazing to hear decades after the fact.
Overall, a great vintage Rolling Stones record and one that belongs in your collection.
It has a great visceral rawness and psychedelic energy to it and it fits in perfectly between 'Beggars Banquet' and 'Let It Bleed'. 
It's a 'must-have' classic album to have on vinyl for collectors and fans of the band. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONDITION: I tried to show good hi-resolution photos of the jacket, labels, and vinyl in my pictures.
This is my original Dutch, translucent green vinyl copy of 'Through The Past Darkly' that I purchased nearly 50 years ago, back when it was a 'new' release.
It was purchased in the record shops of Greenwich Village, which were my regular vinyl digging grounds in those early New York years of collecting.
I've taken great care of it since. This record has been sleeved and stored properly for decades, and is still in quite nice condition.
VINYL: The vinyl is still fantastic. A very cool green color, clean and bright, with a nice glossy sheen. 
The green vinyl makes it hard to see details, but I can only see one light superficial scratch, over 'She's a Rainbow' on side two, otherwise it still looks terrific, and I'm sure you'll be happy with it.
This record is beautifully pressed on thick, heavy, high quality vinyl and has fantastic sound to match. 
I'll call the vinyl a very conservative VG+, to keep everyone happy, but you can see from my photos how terrific it still looks. 
LABELS. This pressing has grey, early, UK style, unboxed Decca labels.
The label has the overlapping circles ('Stereo') and "Made in Holland" on the right side, and the boxed 'Sterma' Rights Society logo on the left.
The labels are clean and bright; no dings, scuffs, writing or damage, and the spindle holes are clean and sharp, suggesting infrequent playing and my careful handling over the years.
I haven't messed with this disc or cleaned it, other than my trusty 'DiscWasher' brush, in almost 50 years, so it has a few dust specks, and would likely benefit from a good deep cleaning to make it even better looking and better sounding than it already is. I'll leave that up to the winning bidder.
JACKET: As you can see from my pictures, this still looks very nice for a nearly 50 year old import copy. I purchased this record 'new' back in early 1978. It has some very, very mild edge wear from being stored, moved, and shifted around in my collection over the years, but still looks great. 
As you can see from my pictures, it still looks terrific. I tried to show details in my photos.
No names, marks or writing. The spine is straight, and the great cover art is clear, bold and sharp. 
This 1977 Dutch pressing has the record company listed as:  
"© 1969, The Decca Record Company Limited, London." "The Decca Record Company Limited ~ Decca house, 9 Albert Embankment, London S.E.1"
"This stereo record can also be played on mono reproducers provided either a compatible or stereo cartridge wired for mono is fitted. Recent equipment may already be fitted with a suitable cartridge. If in doubt consult your dealer."
The round red circle at the top right of the front jacket is actually printed on the jacket, not a hype-sticker. The JEMS import sticker is an actual sticker, not printed. 
The whole album, except for the red circle, resembles a 1969 UK first pressing copy, right down to the thinner European style of cardboard jacket. ~~~
These original 1977 Dutch green vinyl pressings are getting very difficult to find and you just don't see them turn up for sale that often, especially in great condition. Since this fantastic Stones album got played, and played hard, usually not under optimal conditions, and on 'average' equipment, even if you find a copy, it's usually trashed. 
This copy of 'Through The Past Darkly' is a beautiful, relatively clean, original 1977 green vinyl, limited edition, Dutch pressing. An amazing rare survivor and a real gem. In my opinion, and in my experience, it's about as good of a 'used' copy of this classic album as you're ever likely to find these days. 
Very nice, all original, and a real gem. I'm sure you'll be very happy to add it to your collection. It would make a great addition to any Classic Rock or Stones vinyl record collection.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** NOTE: I'm selling this rare 'Collector' record "AS IS" and "NO RETURN". It's rare, still quite nice and as described, and I'm sure you'll be very happy with it. A great, rare, original, excellent sounding copy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m recently retired and downsizing and letting go some gems and rarities from nearly 50 years of vinyl record collecting. 
All records have been carefully evaluated and graded by me. I visually inspect all records under bright light, personally gently clean them with a soft cloth and then, if unsure, play them on a modern high-end turntable and system to get a true picture of condition. 
Please look at all the high-resolution pictures I added. They are all my own and are of the actual record being sold. The pictures are part of the description and can show small details, label variations, and condition better than I can put into words. 
My grading is fair and honest. I have had over 3,700 happy and satisfied EBay customers over the years, with 100% positive feedback, and I have been buying/selling on EBay for nearly 30 years, so please bid with confidence!
I'm a One-man operation, this is a hobby, not my job. I do this for fun. I do this because I love music, love collecting vinyl and want others to share in that same experience. I take my time listening, researching, grading, listing and packaging. I will NOT sell any record that I personally would not want in my collection.
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THANK YOU for looking and reading if you got this far. I know I rambled on a bit, but can't help it. I have a passion for records, especially the Rolling Stones. 
I hope this listing was entertaining and informative.   -- JOHN