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Tracklisting & More Information
This album was first released in November 1968. All evidence pointed to it arriving in shops in early 1969 with the standard bordered poly inner and punch hole sleeve. That's all we'd ever seen it in and these were always referred to as the first issues. They are, but they're not the first batch of first issues.
This copy is a true 'first'.
This sleeve DOES NOT have a punch hole in the back.
The sleeve spine is clearly marked 'stereo', where the punch hole sleeves were dual purpose [red bordered inner for mono, blue bordered inner for stereo].
The labels have the date AT THE BOTTOM and retain the J/T Tax Code which is missing from subsequent issues.
What was previously believed in good faith to be a first version therefore now has to be treated as a second version & this copy must be considered the real first version. Both were really the first pressing, but this copy has the older design inner, sleeve & labels, so must be one of the earliest copies to have been manufactured.
Decca's records are notoriously sketchy at best, so just how many of these hit the shops before the more familiar version came out, we'll never know. What is for certain is that it could only have been around for a maximum of six to eight weeks and probably a lot less than that given the Christmas rush.
It does seem to suggest that the early pressings may have been all stereo, as the sleeve is clearly marked as such. Until someone discovers a mono pressing like this, we'll never know. Given the changeover within weeks to the dual purpose cover with punch hole, which was everywhere from mid 1969, it seems unlikely that they would have pressed much more than to fulfill pre-orders, so perhaps the first mono copies were those sent out in a punch hole sleeve with red bordered inner. I'd certainly like to know if an early mono like this exists with a dedicated mono sleeve.
That makes this an extremely rare copy of an album that is already rare.
The rest of the info you need to know before we move on to condition:
The labels are standard wide band blue 'ffss' stereo labels. The early style here is indicated by the date still being at the bottom of the label and the J/T tax code which was removed on later labels.
The vinyl is unbanded, just like Sgt Pepper, making this very unfriendly to Radio DJs & encouraging you to place the stylus at the beginning & play through to the end, rather than skip to your favourite tune. This was pressed as an album, not a collection of tracks.
The inner is the earlier style used by Decca with four bordered boxes. The one at the top is titled "IMPORTANT!", the one to the left "THE RECORD" & the one to the right "THE EQUIPMENT", with "Playing Speed 33 1/3 r.p.m." at the bottom.
It's printed 'Made In England' under the left box
All text is in a similar dark blue to the label.
The sleeve is similar to the later design in that it is front laminated and gatefold, but is WITHOUT the multipurpose punch hole at the back & actually has just 'Stereo' on the spine. The sleeve was printed by Robert Stace and, as per usual, was laminated with 'Clarifoil' by British Celanese.
The band, as well as John Mayall, were:
Mick Taylor on Guitars
Stephen Thompson on Bass
Collin Allen on Drums
The album was co-produced by Mike Vernon [Blue Horizon] & has Peter Green guesting on Guitar on the first track.
Condition:
The laminate is the 'floating' variety which does not quite extend to the edge of the sleeve. Normally this leads to heavy scuffing at the edges, but not so this copy. Edge scuffing is minimal, the spine is fully legible & the laminate is uncreased. There is just a little scuffing to the bottom edge and just very, very minor wear elsewhere with the sleeve grading a pleasing Near Mint. The inside colours are still bright, wear is negligible & the single board front is free from the usual creases.
The vinyl too grades Near Mint with no spindle wear and virtually no trace of ever having graced a turntable - superb!
All in all this copy remains in wonderful condition and will delight any new owner.
Tracklisting:
01. Vacation
02. Walking On Sunset
03. Laurel Canyon Home
04. 2401
05. Ready To Ride
06. Medicine Man
07. Somebody's Acting Like a Child
08. The Bear
09. Miss James
10. First Time Alone
11. Long Gone Midnight
12. Fly Tomorrow
LP RECORD
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