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The Rolling Stones : The Rolling Stones 2A/1A 1st Mono Press w/ Tell Me 2.52 Very Rare!

This very rare album needs little introduction!  It has the rare 2.52 minute demo version of 'Tell Me' which of course is very different to the longer 4.06 version that should have been on the album from the start.  It plays to a very high standard with no clicks, pops and barely any static, the clarity in that sense it stunning.  There is some vocal distortion here and there but it is often very minimal anyway and as detailed below may be more due to how it was recorded and that I was playing it on a stereo set up.  The vinyl is visually very impressive with no actual scratches and only a couple of hairlines on S1 that are a little more obvious.  When you consider the rarity of the album and the age it could hardly look any better!  You can tell it has been played a number of times over the last 59 years based on the spindle wear but it has clearly been so well preserved and very carefully handled.  A stunning example!

The cover is the version with all the corrections.  As stated on the stonesondecca site this was very common with the genuine first pressings anyway.  The errors were soon noticed and a new set produced but were then just placed in piles in the warehouse, the Decca ordering system was a little haphazard i.e. there wasn't one basically!  This is why you see some 'correct' covers with the 2.52 version and some with the 4.06 version.  The same applies to the labels also.  As can be seen the S1 label here does indeed have 'Mona' listed rather than the correct 'I Need You Baby'.

The cover itself is in very good condition with some wear but it is by no means in poor condition, I have seen many worse.  The original inner sleeve remains in excellent order with only some creasing.

This genuine first press has the first 1A matrix on S2.  The 2.52 version can also be found with a 2A matrix.  This is also one of the earlier ones off the 'printing press' as it has only a single K stamper on each side.  The unboxed grooved Decca labels remain in great condition.

LK 4605 // XARL-6271-2A / XARL-6272-1A // K 1 / K 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T2 & T6 Ex / T3 Ex+ / T4 intro Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Ex (T1 & T3 Ex+ / T6 VG)

The cover is VG

The inner sleeve is Ex-

The unboxed grooved labels are Ex+
Visual description
For this super rare vinyl to look as good as this is a genuine rarity.  It still has a very strong glossy sheen and there are no marks and no scratches either.  There are of course some hairlines (but not too many) with a couple of long(ish) ones on S1 that are still faint and have no impact on the audio.  Basically there is nothing that really stands out.  A couple of very minor faint hairline scuffs also.  There is no dulling to the surface and no groove wear either.  The run out grooves are very clean and you can easily see the KT tax stamp on each side.  The unboxed grooved Decca labels have no marking or writing and have retained their deep red colour extremely well.  There is some spindle wear but not an excessive amount.  This is clearly a vinyl that has been very well looked after over the last 59 years.  A fine example of this rare vinyl.
Play grading

S1 has a very clean run in which is a great start.  The intro on 'Route 66' has no background and it then plays with no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  If I had to say anything there is just a little distortion on Jagger's vocal but this may just be due to how it was recorded or that I am playing it through a stereo set up, either way it is only very very minor.  Even Richards' mid instrumental plays very clearly with barely any distortion.  The rest of the track plays so well and on reflection what is so impressive about this opening track is the overall clarity of sound - there is no actual interference and Near Mint is definitely a fair assessment of the audio.

'I Just Want To Make Love To You' plays to a similar standard but with a little more vocal distortion I would say.  However, there is no interference and it still has that familiar raw Stones sound.  It is the most powerful track on the side so overall the playback is very strong in my opinion.  There is no background even on the quick fade out.  Ex

'Honest I Do' plays with great clarity and there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  There is just a very low level of background static during the quieter moments - very low (!) and it does not get intrude on the overall 'listen'.  In fact I would say Ex+ is an 'honest' grade.

The intro on 'I Need You Baby / Mona' has only the lightest of background static and the opening vocal section plays perfectly.  It continues to play with exceptional clarity and...no interference.  This track plays with a greater depth than the previous tracks and the sonic quality really here is so strong.  Each note is so clean and precise and there is just no intrusion on the audio not even on the long fade out!  I will grade the intro as Ex+ but the rest has to grade as Near Mint at the very least, it is a stunning version.

If anything 'Now I've Got A Witness' is even better!  The depth and resonance of the audio is phenomenal - if I had to pick something out I would say Richards' guitar solo has just a hint of distortion but that is being really picky!  Again it is so minor and perhaps not worthy of mention.  This is still without question a superb Near Mint version.

'Little By Little' plays so well when you consider it is the final track on the side.  There is some inner groove distortion mainly on the vocal but so much less than other versions I have heard and this is a 2A/1A first pressing!  The mid instrumental actually plays with great clarity, depth and power and then the final vocal section is equal to the first.  In a sense you expect some distortion on this track precisely because it is the last one but it is worth noting it is not intrusive in my opinion and I'm sure the audio 'experience' could be enhanced when plays as a mono record.  The fade out again has no background!  I will grade as Ex although I do think some sections are stronger.  Remember no ticks, clicks, pops or jumps across the entire side!

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The run in on S2 is again unbelievably clean and then Jagger's opening vocal on 'I'm A King Bee' plays very clearly with only a very minimal amount of distorted sound.  In a way I think there should be another word because 'distortion' doesn't really describe it correctly.  Anyway...it continues with no intrusion, the clarity is stunning, and the depth of the audio is also very strong.  The instrumental at the end just has one very faint hiss that lasts for a millisecond and an even lighter tick but they are so quiet you could easily miss both.  Some very light static on the fade out also.  An Ex+ start.

'Carol' plays with real power throughout and there is no interference to contend with.  Yes a kind of vocal distortion again but overall an Ex grade is deserved.

Now for the all important 2.52 short demo version of 'Tell Me' which is of course so different to the 4.06 version.  The sonic quality is precisely the same as the previous track - no ticks, clicks, pops or static and the quieter sections play with sublime clarity.  Only on the top end is there a little tinny distortion but really for such a rare album it plays so well from start to finish.  Despite running at only 2.52 minutes the fade out is actually quite long and...has barely any background!  I believe Ex+ is about right for this super rare track.

The intro on 'Can I Get A Witness' has only a minimal amount of background static i.e. very minimal!  It then plays with very powerful audio without any interference and not too much vocal distortion.  Ex

The vocal only intro on 'You Can Make It If You Try' has no interference and thereafter plays with very clean audio.  I'm going to say it again - there is a touch more vocal distortion here and perhaps that is because we are approaching the end of the side.  I am sure Stones audiophiles will be expecting that and it doesn't detract too much from the overall 'listen'.  Once again though there are no ticks, clicks etc and you really have to admire how clean the vinyl is.  Let's say Ex

The final track 'Walking The Dog' is affected a little more but is still eminently playable with no other issues.  I'm going to grade this VG and I hope that isn't too harsh.

In summary this rare and very collectable first pressing plays to a very high standard with minimal intrusion.  As stated (a few times!) there is some tinny vocal distortion here and there but this may well decrease when played on a mono system.  In saying that it is not overpowering and in many places it is very very minimal - this is described in my track by track grading and the vast majority of the record does play with great quality.  For this super rare album to play without any clicks or pops and barely any static is so rare!!  It is very impressive visually and there cannot be many around today that 'look' as good as this one.  A genuine collectors' item that I am confident will not disappoint the winning bidder.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

This cover does have some wear but certainly not an excessive amount and remember it is 60 years old next year!  The edges are in great condition with only minimal wear on the bottom edge.  The thin pinched spine is still 100% legible and has just five minor 'crease' lines on it and all four corners have only the bare minimum of wear.  The opening edge has just a little handling wear.  The 'laminated' front cover does have some creasing mainly around the edges with the most obvious one being in the lower left corner and another top right.  Due to this there is some laminate lift in these two areas but there is no actual splitting of the laminate.  The back cover clearly isn't perfectly white but doesn't have too much marking.  Most is around the edges plus some ringwear and a very small tear top and bottom but only on the unlaminated surface, it hasn't cut through.  I would say this cover is in very good condition and I have seen many that are far worse!

The original inner sleeve has no side splits or tears and remarkably hardly any marking either!  It just has some creasing mainly in the bottom two corners.  It is poly-lined and has 'Made In England' and 'British patent No. 800513' and 'Foreign patents pending' printed one one side.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

LK 4605 // XARL-6271-2A / XARL-6272-1A // K 1 / K 1

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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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

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