David Bowie : Aladdin Sane 3T/3T 1st Press (with Fan Club insert)

This is a rare find as this classic album has the first ever stampers that were ever pressed!  A2 AD on S1 and A2 AF on S2.  This makes it a genuine first press and includes the original fan club insert which is still complete and in perfect condition, another rarity!

It plays to a superb standard with only two seconds of obvious interference at the beginning of S2.

This cover is so often found in poor condition but this one has only a little fading/spotting mainly on the back cover.  The original lyric insert does have some rubbing around the edges.

RS 1001 (LSP 4852) // CPRY 4543 - 3T / CPRY 4544 - 3T // A2 AD & A2 AF etched on the run out grooves

The audio on S1 is Mint- (tracks 4 & 5 Near Mint) 

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 1 intro G+)

The cover is Ex (back cover VG+)

The lyric inner is VG+
The fan club insert is Mint
The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This first press is very clean overall and still has a glossy sheen.  There are not that many hairlines on either side but there are 4 or 5 that are a little more obvious and a longer one on S2 but this has no affect on the audio.  There is also a small section of very faint scuff hairlines on 'The Jean Genie' but again this has no bearing on the stunning quality of the audio.  For 46 years of age it remains in excellent condition and the labels are super clean with only a couple of traces of faint spindle wear.  The run out grooves are also in fantastic order.

Play grading  

'Watch That Man' plays with superb power and depth from the very first groove.  Having played every second I can confirm there are no clicks or pops and no static or crackle either.  A stunning Mint- start and no 'background' on the fade out either.

'Aladdin Sane' impresses with wonderful clarity from start to finish and again there is no sound that shouldn't be there!  The music is so precise, each note can be heard so 'cleanly' and the vocals play perfectly also.  So you know just how good the clarity is - there is no 'background' on the quiet end section.  Well...just one light static tick on the final piano note!  This is another Mint- track I can confidently say.

'Drive-In Saturday' begins perfectly and continues to play in the same immaculate way.  There is no interference and again the depth and clarity of the music is very impressive indeed.  There is just a hint of mega light static on the fade out.

The intro on 'Panic In Detroit' could not be any better and as Bowie's vocal begins the audio remains strong and clear.  There is perhaps a little inner groove distortion the further you get in but this is common on this LP, unavoidable many would say.  It's just how this record was produced.  I shouldn't downgrade it really but I will grade as Near Mint as aside from that there is no 'background' of any kind.

The intro on 'Cracked Actor' is stunning!  So strong and deep, a sublime start.  It then plays with powerful audio but with a little more distortion.  Again Bowie collectors will be aware of this and apart from that it still plays with great power and again...no interference of any kind plus a superb long fade out with not even a dust tick.

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'Time' begin clearly but unfortunately has a pop and a brief skip and a further light click after five seconds.  As the vocal begins there is only a handful of mega light ticks.  As the volume increases the audio is perfect and the second quiet is superb, the clarity cannot be faulted.  The remainder is very impressive with no intrusion and the end section is stunning!  The vast majority is Near Mint with an intro that can only grade as G+ due to the interference.

'The Prettiest Star' plays with wonderful audio from the very first groove and has no interference.  To the very end it plays with great depth and there is barely any static on the long sax fade out.  I will grade as Near Mint as there is just a very mild hint of distortion although this is perhaps too critical.  It still plays incredibly well!   

'Let's Spend The Night Together' goes one better and grades as Mint- the playback is stunning from start to finish.  The depth of the audio is so strong here.  A real dynamic version.

The classic 'The Jean Genie' is so powerful from the get go and continues to play with sublime quality.  There are no clicks or pops, in fact no 'background' of any kind and only an insignificant amount of distortion during the choruses.  Again is this even worth mentioning?!

The piano intro on 'Lady Grinning Soul' plays with great clarity and very little static.  The 'silence' that follows and the first 'She'll come, she'll go...' line give a prime example of the clarity on offer here - there is no static (or worse!) at all.  It continues to impress with no interference and provides an exceptional end to this classic album.  Just a minimal amount of inner groove distortion on the final section - another superb fade out though!

In summary this genuine first pressing with the earliest stampers plays with wonderful depth and precision throughout apart from that two seconds of interference at the start of S2.  This is minimal of course and the remainder is of a very high standard with no other clicks or pops etc and barely any static.

The Gatefold

The cover remains strong and the edges and wide spine have no shelf wear and there is very little corner wear also.  The opening edge has no handling wear and being a predominantly white cover it is often found in poor condition.  The front cover is actually very clean with only a little fading and one small mark by the spine.  The back cover does have a little more fading and spotting but the inside of the gatefold is in near perfect condition.

The Lyric Inner & Fan Club Insert

The original thick card inner does have some rubbing around the edges and one faint mark but there are no splits.  The insert is complete and in pristine condition.

The Labels

The orange RCA labels are near perfect with no marking or writing and barely any spindle wear.  Superb examples!

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

RS 1001 (LSP 4852) // CPRY 4543 - 3T / CPRY 4544 - 3T // A2 AD & A2 AF etched on the run out grooves

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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