The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys, WHITE LABEL PROMO

	£		83
	$		110

The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys, White Label Promo 

ORIGINAL COPY. FIRST UK  PRESSING. Released 1979. Stereo. Fiction Records, catalogue number FIX 1, matrix stamper numbers; FIX 1 A// 1 E STR 1/ FIX 1 B// 1 E STR 1.

On the A side runoff `The Gatwick Sound' and `Strawberry' are etched into the groove, on the B side `Strawberry' is etched into the groove. These are refernces to where the album was recorded.

Vinyl Condition, Visual: MINT

The vinyl appears slightly dusty, but unmarked, shiny and fabulous looking. It has been kept in a polylined inner sleeve.

Vinyl Condition, Audible: MINT

Really this is in fantastic condition and only has a liitle light static that would disappear with play. It's really just a little dusty from being UNPLAYED for 26 years!

No skips, no jumps, no sign of any play, no wear. There is a tiny amount of dust crackle on the intro of side 1, track 1, and a little static crackle on the spoken intro to side 2, track 1 and track 3. Plays superbly.  Well preserved and cared for, no decrease from the original sound quality. Kept in stunning condition by the previous owner.

Label Condition : EXCELLENT (NEAR MINT).

Plain white label numbered 1 or 2.Tiny brown mark on side 1.

This is a fantastically rare item from this collectable band. A white label promo copy of the first Cure LP, identified from the matrix stampers and virtually unplayed. This is the original UK issue, not the later import, and thus includes `Foxy Lady, Meathook, So What and It's Not You'. Not currently for sale anywhere in the world, this is one of the rarest Cure items.

Tracklist:

• 10.15 Saturday Night
• Accuracy
• Grinding halt
• Another day
• Object
• Subway

• spoken intro, Foxy Lady
• Meat Hook
• So What
• Fire in Cairo
• It's not you
• Three Imaginary Boys ( with 12 bar jam following)

AMG Review

Maybe it was youthful exuberance or perhaps it was the fact that the band itself was not pulling all the strings, Three Imaginary Boys is not only a very strong debut, but a near oddity (it's an admittedly "catchy" record) in the Cure catalog. More poppy and representative of the times it was made that any other album during their long career, Three Imaginary Boys is a semi-detached bit of late-'70s English pop-punk. Angular and lyrically abstract, it's strong points are in its utter simplicity. There are no dirges here, no long suites, just short bursts of energy and a rather strange cover of Hendrix's "Foxy Lady." For some, this is the last good Cure record, many fans of this album being in no way prepared for the sparse emptiness and gloom that would be the cornerstone of future releases. For the most die-hard Cure-head, however, it's an interesting sidenote, hard to place in the general flow of the band's discography. Cure leader Robert Smith has voiced many times over his mixed feelings about the record, most notably the cover art (the three "representative" appliances on the cover, the lack of a real track listing — all the songs are represented with arty type pictures — and in no real order) and the production, which at times is admittedly a little muddy, but even that lends it a certain youthful charm. What the Cure would do next wasn't entirely obvious to the listener of this album, but there are some definite hints.

This item is offered with a money back guarantee, please see below.

    Our accurate condition gradings are based on those used in the UK 2006 Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide. Please see below for a complete explanation.

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UK Record Collector Grading System:

MINT: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in the sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition.

EXCELLENT (US version of this term: Near Mint): The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in the sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.

VERY GOOD (US version of this term: VG++): The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover, or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

GOOD (US version of this term: VG): The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits etc.