Sold Date: June 16, 2024
Start Date: June 9, 2024
Final Price: $864.52 (USD)
Bid Count: 26
Seller Feedback: 271
Buyer Feedback: 0

ORIGINAL 1st US ELEKTRA RECORDS PROMOTIONAL COPY PROVIDED TO AMERICAN MUSIC, INC. FOR CORPORATE USE

THE STOOGES ~ THE STOOGES (1969)

STERLING SOUND “SS” MASTERING FEAT. LEE HULKO’S “LH” INITIALS ON BOTH SIDES

VERY 1st PRESSING WITHOUT “THE STOOGES” BAND NAME ON THE LABELS

“AMERICAN MUSIC, INC. HOLLYWOOD FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE.” PROMO STICKER

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

~ Before placing a bid, please make sure to attentively read our updated international shipping policy ~

This special promotional copy was provided by Elektra Records company to American Music, Inc. which was affiliated with the BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) organization whose credits are located on the back cover and labels. In spite of this copy having the commercial stock red Elektra labels, just like on the white label promotional copy “The Stooges” band name is absent on both sides. This isn’t the only circumstance that serves as the confirmation of this copy being the very early 1st pressing as its matrix numbers correspond, not to the commercial release, but to the promotional white label release. In particular, in the runout grooves of both sides you can find the “SS” abbreviation identifying the mastering by New York-based company Sterling Sound. Also, the runout grooves contain the “LH” initials of the legendary mastering engineer Lee Hulko who was a freelancer working at Sterling Sound at that time. This promotional copy was provided by Elektra Records for corporate use to American Music, Inc. whose sticker is affixed to the top right corner of the front cover underneath the shrink wrap reading “American Music, Inc. Hollywood. For Promotional Use Only. NOT FOR SALE.” This copy’s label is Elektra Records’ 7th label variation that was being used from 1969 to 1970 and still contains the large “E” logo but already has the company’s New York “1855 Broadway” address at the bottom along the rim. We’re sincerely hoping that you will be very interested in finding out that the name “Elektra” derives from Electra, one of the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione in Greek mythology. The “C” letter was changed to “K” by the company’s founder Jac Holzman which found the former to be too soft but liked the impactful punch of the latter one. Just like the radio station DJ white label, “The Stooges” band name wasn’t used on this copy’s label when its design was created. 1st print 2.69” pressing ring red Elektra labels with the “EKS-74051” catalog number. The vinyl of this copy, just like the white label release was pressed at the Columbia Records plant in Pitman, NJ containing the plant’s “P” identifier in the runout grooves on both sides. The full matrix, including the Sterling Sound’s “SS” and Lee Hulko’s “LH” initials are as follows: Side 1 - o EKS 74051A -CP-I SS LH A3 P; Side 2 - o EKS 74051B CP-I SS LH A3 P. This promo copy comes with the original Elektra “E” logo gold-white inner sleeves with the “1855 Broadway, New York City 10023” address.

★

The cover remaining in the original factory shrink wrap is graded as Near Mint Minus. I grade the vinyl as Excellent Minus for Side 1 and Very Good Plus for Side 2. The vinyl retains its original factory gloss only having some very light non-feelable surface hairlines as well as scuffs from the original inner sleeve, which are more present on Side 2. The vivid red labels are scuff- and wear-free and are in Near Mint Minus condition. The vinyl sounds amazing with just some very light occasional static which most likely would go away if the record was professionally cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. The original Elektra inner sleeve is in Near Mint Minus condition without having any splits or tears.

 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We don't accept bids from the accounts created during the auction or the ones created by the blocked bidders. The buyers with a low rating, please contact us prior to placing a bid. In order to assure a safe transit and prompt delivery we prefer shipping our items with Priority Mail, it concerns the domestic shipping as well as the international. You can be sure that your purchased item(s) will be professionally packed as we don't save on the packing materials. 100% of our buyers are satisfied with our packaging. We guarantee an exact and professional description of each item. If for some reasons something escapes our attention, please let us know. Please do it before you make the decision to open a return request. We'll put our best effort into providing the best customer service. We 100% guarantee a full refund and issue a partial refund only in certain rare cases. We're a Top Rated Plus seller and an opened return request would negatively affect our seller performance. Who would like that? Opening a return request is your right, however, we're sorry but we'll have to block you and it's our right. We're not going to hide the fact that we prefer to see among our customers the intelligent, decent and kind people. If you don't possess these qualities, you won't like dealing with us. We don't list items for an auction often and when we do it's a small quantity as these items are highly collectible and very rare.

FOR INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS' CONSIDERATION

Due to the high risks involved when it comes international shipping, we’ve recently stopped sending our items with USPS First-Class Mail International and now use only USPS Priority Mail International Express. However, if your order exceeds the amount of $5000, we’ll have to ship the package with FedEx as oppose to USPS.

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