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This listing is for:
The Velvet Underground
'THE VELVET UNDERGROUND'
...self-titled 3rd album
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MGM Records SE-4617
Original 1969 issue Stereo LP
CLOSET MIX • 1st West Coast ASCAP Pressing
Original INNER SLEEVE included

VINYL is VG+
Full Gloss Vinyl, VERY Clean, with only a very few tiny surface marks, viewed under hard bright light, that are mostly inaudible. Side 1 also shows a section of sleeve 'brush' wisps that are only a sheen on top of grooves, with NO physical affect to vinyl - and NO audible effect whatsoever. LP plays very clear with no distortion or background noise. Playback reveals especially quiet grooves. Plays EX to NM throughout. Labels are immaculate both sides.
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COVER is VG (+)
Overall extremely clean, crisp and flat with straight edges and sharp corners all around. Moderate shelf wear and mild ring wear. Small drill hole u.l. corner; hard to see: in l.l. portion of MGM Lion logo - easier to find on back (u.r. corner). With out the drill-hole I would otherwise confidently grade cover as solid VG+. No stains, writing, soil or other marks. Seams and spine 100% intact with no splits.

*Please excuse any 'grainy' look to pictures (...from low-light photos).

STRICT CONSERVATIVE GOLDMINE GRADING
NM / EX(VG++) / VG+ / VG

First US pressing with Lou Reed's original "Closet Mix".
West coast pressing (most likely H.V. Waddell, Burbank CA)
with "All Selections Published By Virpi. Inc. (ASCAP)"
printed on labels both sides.

MATRIX NUMBERS (etched)
Side One: SE 4617  Side1  MGS1824 Rev.BP
Side Two: SE-4617  S-2  MGS-1825  SPECIAL REV
"W.C." also etched in trail-off wax, side 2
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...these are the correct CLOSET MIX Matrix numbers for the West Coast pressing
as can be verified at DISCOGS and various VU collector sites.

There are significant and illuminating differences in Lou's CLOSET MIX from the 'VALENTIN MIX' that MGM replaced it with.
a couple of specific differences of note are immediately noticed in 2 songs:
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Some Kinda Love:
On the more common Valentin mix - runs 3:57, nice steady, bouncy, foot-stompin' beat, very spirited.
CLOSET MIX - totally different take - runs 3:40. Not as lively as the other version. Lou sings in a softer, stoned, druggy voice and the whole band sounds like they are trying to stay awake. Much more intimate and personal, almost hypnotic.
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What Goes On:
On the more common Valentin mix - runs 4:45, has the organ mixed way up, very shrill sounding, in a good Velvet Underground sort of way. Everything sounds sort of fuzzy.
On the CLOSET MIX, the overall mix is much clearer, doesn't have the organ mixed up as high, or as shrill, and fades out earlier.

Overall the entire Closet Mix version of the album sounds very intimate, personal and almost cavernous at times, like Lou is sitting right in front of you.

Side 1 :
1. Candy Says
2. What Goes On
3. Some Kinda Love
4. Pale Blue Eyes
5. Jesus

Side 2 :
6. Beginning To See The Light
7. I'm Set Free
8. That's The Story Of My Life
9. The Murder Mystery
10. Afterhours

Original MGM company "SOUNDS OF NOW" inner sleeve is crisp, clean EX/NM with no creases, splits, soil or tears.
(Inner appears to have originally been packed with corner folded over inside - like many inner sleeves - and so escaped the small Drill-hole)
...Vinyl kept inside a separate anti-static lined inner sleeve, to protect both the vinyl and the original inner.

Utterly SUPERB Sound on this Rare Original 1969 CLOSET MIX that has been stored away for decades
...one of two found in this amazing collection - first one already sold (within 1st day).

Album kept inside of a protective, poly outer-sleeve.
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Please see my other listings for more Vintage Collectible
Progressive Rock, Psych and other Rare LPs.
___________________________________________________
Beginning to unfold an utterly vast melded record collection, ferreting out the duplicates and passing them on. My life-long best friend, who was a DJ at the Radio Station I co-founded in the 1970's - and who worked for me at my California record store in the '70s and '80s - has now finally left this mortal coil, bequeathing me his deep Vinyl Mine - Several thousand records (mostly LP's, but also many 45's), several hundred collectible and Rare, Out of Print CDs and Box Sets, plus posters and other memorabilia - most of which will all become available as I move through the collection.

Always collecting everything he could - with strong tastes in rare and often obscure Psych, worldwide Prog, Electronic and Space Rock, Classic '60s Rock, innovative Hard Rock, UK Blues Rock, Glam, Odd sounds, all things Tolkien and Disney, Hawaiian Slack Key and more.

We had very similar tastes - so numerous prime duplicates are emerging now. Many PROMOS, IMPORTS and 1st PRESSINGS are included - indeed some still sealed.

Following soon, I will begin listing numerous LP auctions, with low opening bids - starting with the Prog, Electronic and Space Rock, then the Psych and on from there. You WON'T want to miss those!! (it may take me several weeks (months?) to list them all... just finished going through all the LP boxes - checking Pressing, Edition and Condition (most so far are VG++ to NM). It's all coming soon...

Following the LP's will be either the CDs or the 45's next - and then ultimately the posters and other paper. Truly a great (and enormous) collection!

after thousands of miles, many days spent gathering it all and several thousand dollars spent flying out to California and then trucking it all back to my new home, the tip of the iceberg now emerges - a few choice pieces off the top, listed at set price to recoup some expenses now. I'm not yet near ready for the full-scale auctions that are planned to begin soon.

.It may be a while until I can organize my 1st auction series of at least 100 LP auctions at one time, but mark/save this listing eBay ID and check back.

Diligent collectors WILL be rewarded!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You deserve and will receive FAST SHIPPING and CAREFUL, SECURE PACKING.

My LP packing is considered to be among the very best on eBay!
All records packed (with vinyl inside inner sleeve, behind cover for open LPs) with bubble-wrap around all sides - sandwiched between stiff corrugated flats - and shipped in strong LP mailer boxes, for best protection in the mail.

SHIPPING RATES:

USA:
Media Mail: FREE
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Priority Mail: EXACT POSTAGE
 ~for COMBINED Shipping Discount:
place all items in CART and make 1 payment for all items.

Combine buys and save on shipping.

ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:
I Charge EXACT POSTAGE only, Worldwide.
FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL or PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL - Your Choice.

*OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS:
for all packages below $100.00
I will ALWAYS offer you choices
The standard LOWEST rate that the US Postal system allows (First Class International),
or the FASTER, but higher rate, which includes Full Tracking (Priority International).

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All packages above 4 Lbs (5-6 or more LPs) can NOT ship by the low 1ST CLASS International rate.
Those must go by higher (but faster) PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL RATE with FULL TRACKING.
These are US Postal System rules, not mine.

 

ALL ITEMS OR COMBINED PACKAGES OF $100.00 OR OVER, SHIPPED OVERSEAS
must ship FULLY INSURED by PRIORITY MAIL INTERNATIONAL for FULL TRACKING.

 

for COMBINED purchases SHIPPING DISCOUNT
simply place all desired items from my listings in checkout cart;
then make 1 payment for the combined items.

Customs charges are the responsibility of the buyer.
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*PLEASE do not ask me to mark the item as a 'GIFT' for customs. Unfortunately, I cannot.
The postal clerks know better; I ship Records constantly (over 40 years) and cannot fool them.