Sold Date: July 15, 2015
Start Date: July 8, 2015
Final Price: $250.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 231
Buyer Feedback: 424

Here is an incredibly rare *very first* press of the first US Rolling Stones album ENGLAND'S NEWEST HITMAKERS. To be absolutely clear, this record was cut/manufactured in *England* for distribution by Decca UK's US company, London Records. The very first pressings of the first four Rolling Stones albums, ENGLAND'S NEWEST HITMAKERS, 12 X 5, NOW! and OUT OF OUR HEADS were pressed and distributed in this manner for US London. They are *not* first pressings unless it states explicitly on the label, as this does, 'Made in England' or 'Made in England by Decca LTD.'. All of these first pressings are microgroove heavy vinyl with different matrix numbers than the US-manufactured records, which began being pressed in 1965 and feature an unboxed maroon London label (no FFRR) and then a boxed blue London label after that beginning in the late '60s ('68 I think). UK Decca matrix numbers, done on US London's behalf, here indicate a *very first press* - this is one of the absolute first albums to be manufactured from the original plates for the Rolling Stones first US release: XARL-6291-1A and XARL-6292-2A (please see photos for detail). As such, the record *sounds amazing* - much better than the cheaper, later US pressings cut from US copies of the master tapes with different matrix numbers and lousier vinyl. It grades VG+ but plays EX. The hottest, richest-sounding I've ever heard the early Stones. The jacket would've been manufactured in the US (see 'Printed in USA') on the back cover, is EX...close to NM with no ringwear or seam splits - only very minor wear to the top and bottom spines (please see photo). Also contains the original London/FFRR poly-lined/deluxe inner sleeve, which was, like the record, manufactured in the UK. And, *of course*, includes the original value-added insert full-color photo, as advertised on the sleeve. This photo was never tacked or displayed and must have always been kept neatly in the jacket, as it is NM and lovingly preserved.