VERY RARE John Kay of Steppenwolf TEST PRESSING LP # 5

$

99

I'm starting this LP at $99 rather than setting a reserve, in hopes that more fans of John Kay, the lead singer of Steppenwolf, will have a chance to bid on this.

This is the EXTREMELY RARE TEST PRESSING of 10 John Kay songs for the album titled "All in Good Time".  The center record labels state "This is a test pressing for use in determining the technical quality of the recording only.  It is not intended for sale or distribution outside of this company."

When I got this through a friend in the recording industry in 1982 it was unopened and unplayed.  Counting the review play I gave it today, each side has been played only 5 times (yes, I keep a playlist).  The center engraving on the LP says it's copy # 5.  I don't know how many test records of this were made, but I've never seen another one advertised anywhere in the 23 years I've owned it, and if you can believe the urban legends and fan club sites you will read there were between 5 and 10 copies made.  I have never been able to verify how many Test Pressings of this album were pressed.

As with most Test Pressings, the plain white cover with a taped-on Record Information Sheet is unremarkable.  Other than some smudging (my practice of storing my albums in vinyl sleeves didn't come till much later), the cover has no rips, tears, wrinkles, or bends even on the spine or at the corners.  Even the paper record sleeve is flawless with no tears, folds, or bends.

The Record Information Sheet is dated 2/10/78, with a planned commercial release date for the album of March 13, 1978 at a retail price of $7.98 (the good old days!).  Please see my pictures at the very bottom of this listing for the song list as well as other closeups of the items included.  It is in Stereo, and the Code Number is SRM-1-3715.  The center labels on the record read Columbia Record Productions, Santa Maria, TEST PRESSING.  The Record Information Sheet says the test pressing is from Phonogram, Inc. and the label is Mercury.

The vinyl is in nearly MINT condition (I have rated this "nearly" since I only rate unopened unplayed LPs as mint).  It plays flawlessly on my high end turntable & cartridge setup.  Sonically this is an excellent recording, totally quiet between songs, with good soundstage and imaging, and extraordinarily good engineering in getting the balance between voices and instruments just right.  As you can imagine, the company doing the Test Pressings sent only the finest hand (ear!) selected LPs from their pre-production run to the record company for evaluation, as they wanted it approved without another go around.  That and the limited availability of Test Pressings are the key reasons they are so highly valued by audiophiles and collectors.  They are always of better sound quality than their mass-produced offspring.

Included is the original 4-page background summary of John Kay's life and career that was inside the album when I opened it...it is also in perfect condition with no bends, creases, folds, tears, etc.  This summary also includes a fantastic track-by-track breakdown of the songs with comments by John Kay.  This is a must have for the John Kay fan/collector!  If you have any questions whatsoever about this item, please contact me.

Please check my feedback (100% positive on over 680 buy/sell transactions) and feel free to ask my buyers about the condition of the albums they've purchased from me.  I am obsessive about their cleanliness and handling and storage.  The level of care my vinyl LPs receive is superb.  You, the winner, will receive this LP professionally cleaned and treated with GruvGlide, with the album sent inside a clear vinyl protective sleeve.

PAYMENT:   I accept only PayPal.    REPEAT - I ACCEPT ONLY PayPal.  If you have negative feedback, please contact me to discuss or I will remove your bid...sorry, I am not tolerant of people with spoiled or bad attitudes...the rest of us are having too much fun out here to put up with any nonsense.  That said, I'm a reasonable guy and willing to give people second chances with a proper agreement on the conditions established up front.

SHIPPING:  I will ship worldwide and postage will be for only the exact amount...no additional charges for packing materials and no additional handling fees.  Insurance is highly recommended, but if you want to chance it for a couple of bucks that's your life-lesson to learn.  The insurance money won't replace an historical object like this, but it will ease the pain if it's lost or damaged.  Overseas buyers, please contact me with your desired method of shipment if you want a direct price quotation.

Because I care about the condition this LP arrives to the winner in, it will be packaged to withstand all manners of weapons of mass destruction and tsunamis.  If there is anything special you want in the way of shipping, packing, etc. just please ask prior to auction close and we'll reach agreement.  You are my customer and I will do as you please (within the law and within the limits of common sense). 

VERY COOL NOTE: See PayPal's financing option at the top right!!!   You CAN afford to bid this way UP so you are not outbid, and then you can pay for it through PayPal over time in installment payments.  YES!!!

I've protected this LP to keep it pristine for you and now my work here is done...it's time for me to auction off a considerable portion of my music collection to a new generation of listeners who want to explore our rock heritage and savor some of the richness that only vinyl LPs can offer when played on proper gear. 

Please watch my listings.  Over the next several weeks I will be selling dozens of my rare and precious albums I've collected and cared for since 1970.  When I bought albums I always tried to get 2 copies, a new one to play and a new one to save back.  I will be selling some of each.  If there are any specific LIVE Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin,  Jimi Hendrix or other '70's or 80's albums you are interested in or maybe have heard of but couldn't find, or maybe just want to know if some of these urban legends even exist, like this one, please contact me and I will try to get those listed next.   Peace, love, thank you!  Sky

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