Sold Date: June 12, 2017
Start Date: June 5, 2017
Final Price: £127.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 5
Seller Feedback: 4445
Buyer Feedback: 77

Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand?
Hey Joe, I said where you going with that gun in your hand?
Alright... I'm going down to shoot my old lady,
You know I caught her messing around with another man.
Yeah, I'm going down to shoot my old lady,
You know I caught her messing around with another man.
Huh, and that ain't too cool.

Hey Joe, I heard you shot your woman down,
You shot her down now.
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down,
You shot her down to the ground.
Yeah!

Yes, I did, I shot her,
You know I caught her messing 'round,
Messing 'round town.
Yes I did, I shot her,
You know I caught my old lady messing 'round town.
And I gave her the gun.... I shot her!

Hey Joe, I said now,
Where you gonna run to now, where you gonna run to?
Hey Joe, I said, where you going to run to now,
Where you....where you gonna go?

Well, dig,
I'm going way down south,
Way down south to Mexico way!
Alright.
I'm going way down south,
Way down, where I can be free!
Ain't no one gonna find me.
Ain't no hangman gonna,
He ain't gonna put a rope around me!
You better believe it right now!
I gotta go now!
Hey, hey, hey Joe,
You better run on down!
Goodbye everybody....
JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: "Hey Joe" / "Stone Free" 45 RPM, FIRST UK PRESSING,16th DECEMBER 1966.
The labels credit "The Jimi Hendrix  Experience", that might sound obvious enough but a few very first pressings had an error,
Polydor did not consider the few copies with "Jimi Hendrix" credited were not suitable for releasing.  As this very first pressing
ever made clearly demonstrates, they were fixed on the same vinyl made from the first metal pressing plates / 'mothers' as the
correctly credited labels and sold side by side them.  "Hey Joe" / "Stone Free" was the debut of the world's greatest guitarist
and innovative musician, becoming the most important single ever recorded and released since,"Jailhouse Rock" & "Love Me Do"
respectively.  A once only played, UK Mint first pressing is extremely rare and even that was only one side, which means it was
most likely played by the original 1966, record shop as a sample before it was sold, a common event in the 1960's and most of the 1970's decades.


POLYDOR LABEL: 56139
Polydor pressed singles with push-out, solid centres & later in 1967, no centres, this has a  push-out centre, being 1966, there
are three connector's not the standard four.  Made in equal amounts, there is no rarity at all to the format of the centres.
 

MAITRIX:  *P*  56139  A  // 1     1  / 56139  B // 1    1
  A very first pressing and to substantiate the above sequence, I have sold fractionally later copies with a '2' digit in place of
the '1' on both Sides after the main 'A //1  ~ B//1 .'  They had "Jimi Hendrix" credited and this very first record ever made,
has "The Jimi Hendrix Experience,"  proving how chronologically label printing simply had to be made in advance of the vinyl.
Both credited labels were fixed on virtually simultaneously, it makes no difference how often I state that fact, websites and
ebay sellers still insist on stating in ignorance, 'first pressing' / second pressing etc.   How can you have a second pressing
when the very first mothers per side, are producing the same records?  That is a contradiction and also an impossibility.
The  letter *P* set inside the symbols was unique to Polydor and sometimes Phillips 60's records, but mostly from the first half
of the decade, acting to identify the genuine December, 1966 first pressings.


  ORIGINAL 1966 POLYDOR SLEEVE, JUST SUPERB!  UNSPLIT, UNAGED AND UNFADED WITH ONLY A GENTLE RECORD
  IMPRESSION AND FEW RELATED LIGHT CREASES.   THE SHAPE CHANGED IN 1967 TO A WAVY TOP OPENING, SO ONCE
AGAIN, THE POLYDOR SLEEVE ON "Hey Joe" FIRST PRESSING CAME EXCLUSIVELY IN A STRAIGHT TOP OPENING.
THE POLYDOR SLEEVE IS IN EXCELLENT+++ / NEAR MINT- CONDITION.


THE THICKLY TEXTURED POLYDOR LABELS ONLY HAVE ONE SPINDLE ALIGNMENT TRACE ON B-SIDE, THE DEEPLY GLOSSY RECORD DOES NOT HAVE ANY OF THE USUAL DEEP, UGLY SCRATCHES.  JUST THE FEATHER LIGHT TRACES OF FACTORY AND RECORD SHOP HANDLING, A VERY RARE ONCE PLAYED, MINT CONDITION RECORD.

  December,1966, a then unknown Jimi Hendrix debut 45 was on sale in UK record shops"Hey Joe" sold exceptionally well and reached
No.6 on the final day of 1966.  Average condition of these genuine UK first pressings is 'Very Good' to 'Poor',  scratched to the
  core.  As I said, this was the most important debut record recorded since Elvis Presley released "Jailhouse Rock", inspiring a
young group in Liverpool, who in turn released a debut single that changed music and society.  I consider myself very privileged
   to experience the above pair and the sensational arrival of Jimi Hendrix.  In previous descriptions of "Hey Joe" I was eager to
   detail how Jimi Hendrix first came to record "Hey Joe"/"Stone Free" and why it was released on the Polydor label and not on
    the 'Track Records' label, even though Jimi was signed with Track when "Hey Joe" was released.  Like most legendary artists,
   the facts are not always known and this involved going from obscurity to fame in a matter of only three months after arriving in
   England, in September, 1966.  The reality was two major British record companies refused to sign the greatest talent ever known,
   they turned down Jimi Hendrix!  Before I enjoy re-telling the story I must return to ever present mistakes on labels in the 60's,
   as usual, a printer error, a few of the first pressings mistakenly credited only 'Jimi Hendrix', not 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience.'
   Once again dedicated websites have correctly documented that, but as ever, jumped to incorrect conclusions by stating that was
   alone was 'first pressings' and other labels had to be 'second pressings.' Record production did not happen like that, printers
   made the labels and sent them to the pressing plants, if mistakes were made on a few, that did not mean they were all wrong!
  The same vinyl was used for all of the pre-release December,1966 first pressings, the labels were applied at random.  Indexing
   was not made at random, but strictly controlled to ensure the sound quality remained consistent, the stamped maitrix was
   made when the vinyl was molten, the labels were printed days, if not weeks before records even reached the molten state, so
    the maitrix is the only proof of dating available. I have written the same facts more times I can count on ebay, when trading at
record fairs prior to joining 14 years ago, I verbally explained that to any of my customers unaware of the record production
   procedure.  I'm not reliant on any text books or websites, why should I be?  I bought "Hey Joe" on the first day of release and
  still have that treasured record, it does not have 'Jimi Hendrix' credited, like this record,'The Jimi Hendrix Experience' was
  credited.  That personally bought very first pressing has identical textured labels etc. but most importantly of all, it also has
  the same ending maitrixes on both sides, the only one ever found on a Polydor very first pressing; ' A  // 1 / B // 1.'  Right, I
can now proceed with something much more interesting than a printer making a silly mistake 51 years ago.
  
  Today it is wrongly assumed Jimi Hendrix's arrival in England during late 1966, caused such a sensation he was beseiged by those
paid to sign new talent, with lucrative record recording contracts being offered.  Guided by the very experienced ex-Animals bass
guitarist, Chas Chandler was their manager, he put The Experience together with a song in mind for their debut single.  Chas even
taught Noel Redding basic bass guitar techniques, in theory there should have been a host of British record companies queuing up
  to sign them.  That never happened, for all Jimi's extraordinary charisma, presence and unbelievable musicianship, this debut UK
single and of course in 1967, his debut album, were all the direct result of fate intervening.  American folk musician Tim Rose had
recorded a slower arrangement of the traditional song, "Hey Joe," in 1966.  Chas Chandler had seen Tim Rose performing it live at
the 'Cafe Wha?' in New York and realised the potential of a heavier rock version, he was looking for a new artist to manage and
saw Jimi Hendrix live in the same venue.  Jimi favoured the Tim Rose version and it was custom made for a blues arrangement with
his guitar genius expressing the mood intensive feel.  Once in England, on a real shoestring of a budget they recorded and mixed
"Hey Joe", in De Lane Lea Studio, London, to save money Chas Chandler recorded the band live in the studio, 2nd November,1966.
Some simple overdubbs were required, such as Jimi's vocal harmonies and his second guitar were recorded, mixed and completed
   within one hour. Destined for "Are You Experienced," along with the B-side "Stone Free," Jimi Hendrix had also written his second
  ever song,"Can You See Me", of which a rough demo was taped that day but the full concentration fell onto the two tracks aimed at
  releasing as their debut single.  In the time honoured fashion, clutching the master tape of "Hey Joe" and "Stone Free", Chandler
  set off to find a UK record company to press, release and distribute the Jimi Hendrix Experience's debut single.
  
  The first door slammed in his face figuratively speaking, was by EMI, only recently on their Columbia label in the same late 1966,
Chas Chandler sold huge quantities of records with the Animals.  He was in fact still signed to Columbia as an 'Animal' but EMI's
A&R Department refused to even listen to the master tape or even see Chas Chandler to discuss releasing the single. Unbelievable
when you consider between 1964 and 1965 the Animals had six UK Top Ten singles, with three of them making No.1, No.2 & No.3.
He next tried Decca, where at least he got to see Dick Rowe, yes, he was the same man who had turned down the Beatles in 1962.
  Rowe heard "Hey Joe" exactly how it was mixed and would eventually be pressed and make No.6 in a matter of only a few weeks,
but he not only turned it down flat, the visual facial reaction was described by Chas Chandler as;

"Looking at me as if I was completely out of my mind."

We are talking here about the man who recently played the bass guitar and sang on "House Of The Rising Sun" & "It's My Life" and
had three Top 15 singles in 1966 alone.....for Decca, the latest of them was in October, 1966, only a few weeks earlier!
 
  Fate lent a hand when Chas Chandler met one half of the Who's management pair, Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, at a London club, the
  'Scotch Of St. James.'  Chas had brought Jimi Hendrix along to jam with The VIP's, who were friend of his, Kit Lambert was in the
  famous nightclub with a stage, after hearing Jimi jamming with his guitar, according to Chas Chandler;

  "He nearly turned over tables to get across to me."
 
  This was now the era of independent record companies forming and their owners like Chris Blackwell and Andrew Oldham were as into
  the latest sounds as the musicians.  Not vested in previous antiquated conventions and just playing it safe, but fully tuned into
the exciting psychedelia that began in 1965 and was now gathering an unstoppable momentum.  Stamp and Lambert were completely
  unconventional, well you had to be to manage The Who, Lambert immediately drew up a contract on the nearest thing he could write
  it out on ... a beer mat, the great but unknown Jimi Hendrix was signed up to Stamp and Lambert's new 'Track Records' label with
his signature written on a beer mat!  Kit Lambert did not need to hear the tracks on the Master Tape, for now though "Hey Joe" was
released on 'Track's' parent company, Polydor.   The man who turned down the Beatles and the Yardbirds with Eric Clapton, could
  now look on as "Hey Joe" climbed up the UK charts and sat at No.6 on the 31st December, Jimi Hendrix had arrived and the rest of
  the 60's decade was about to be devastated by astonishing records and live performances. Incidentally, had the Yardbirds signed
  to Decca, they would have also had two other rather gifted guitarists recording for them, instead Decca lost out on an incredible
list of lead guitarists; George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and now Jimi Hendrix!  Their only saving grace was
to briefly have Eric Clapton and Peter Green for one album per guitarist in 1966 &1967, one John Mayall Bluesbreakers appearance
only.  Peter Green left to sign for Blue Horizon, who were pressed and distributed by CBS, so another guitar genius was allowed
to leave Decca when he was still unknown... but brimimg with unbelievable talent.

  By 1966, I had seen Cream, The Who, Pink Floyd and a host of incredible artists live and once they released their debut records,
I was the first into a record shop to get my hands on a copy.  Even so, nothing could possibly prepare you for Jimi Hendrix, the
intro alone to "Hey Joe" transported you away to another dimension.  I admit my total bias to this amazing record, but that also
means will not accept anything less than a stunning looking and sounding "Hey Joe", which this most certainly will be.  I decided
  one of my undetectable plays would be the reward for finding this incredible condition, how could I resist hearing it?  For such
  ultimate condition I will keep the record's descriptive text as minimal as possible. Played with great care because as a close up
  picture of the B-side label centre shows, still with substantial delicate vinyl shavings from the 1966 pressing process.  I must
  assure anyone new to my records, I align records to spindles with the precision of a surgeon and the same professional stylus
   lowering and lifting.  As you see the label pictures, is how it will still look after I play it.
 
  To say I love my job is something of an understatement, how exciting does it get?  A Mint "Hey Joe", December,1966 single!
We were spoilt in the 60's for such fantastic records but this was really something very, very special indeed. The run-in grooves
are near silent, only natural static.  Wow, what incredible power as the intro begins, an intro that blew me clean away in 1966,
because I bought it before hearing it on the radio and had no idea what to expect, but the music papers were raving about this
record. That still sends shivers down my back, "Hey Joe" was like hearing Cream for the first time, it started a lifetime collecting
every conceivable recording Jimi Hendrix ever made, I had better concentrate on the music.   That intro was perfectly clean and
clear without any surface sound, the mono sound is overwhelming and crystal clear, with the same colossal power I first heard
  on my original single, fourty eight years later this is the exact sound that enthralled & captivated me as a very young teenager.
Not even Cream fully prepared me for this record, Jimi Hendrix put so much emotion into singing the lyrics and talking in that
improvisational manner, we would come to know so well over the next four years.  Those emotions were also generated by his
staggering blues guitar playing, just as devastating. The audio clarity is incredible, the sheer power of the bass, drums and the
guitar are usually distorting terribly on an average condition original single.  This is the only way to hear "Hey Joe", loud and
overpowering with every second of the track in immaculate sound.  Without any needle sound, all you hear is the amazing first
  ever Jimi Hendrix Experience recording.  The 60's were about to be kick started (yet again!) into one of the most exciting and
incredible periods music has ever known in rock music. How well did Polydor master and press this single?  So perfectly I can say
it will surpass your finest sounding record... but you will need a genuine Near Mint / Mint first pressing to hear how stunning
it actually was and from this record...... even though it is 51 years later!


The same smooth running opening grooves are there on the B-side  the run-in grooves are exceptionally quiet, then that really
stinging guitar note, a moody, dark atmosphere is being created by awesome percussion and now Jimi sings the first verse with
tremendous power. "Stone Free" is perhaps the greatest Jimi Hendrix B-side, over the coming years he would write other songs
  about the same subject, like "Freedom," in 1966, this was the first ever record with a 'Jimi Hendrix' composing credit.  Like the
  A-side, the sound here is breathtakingly perfect, both loud and clear, the really prominent percussion from Mitch leaps out the
  speakers in superbly projected mono sound, you get pure impact from this incredible mix, Jimi's vocals are just stunning, the
  lyrics say just as much about the man who wrote this, as the staggering sounds The Experience laid down on their first recording
  session in London.  There are tracks that you play for pleasure, then there are tracks that simply blow you away.  That meant
  both sides of the 1966 single, in "Hey Joe" & "Stone Free" are both beyond compare and a real pleasure with such perfect sound.
  {Roy}
R & M RECORDS.

My lifetime's love of music and records began at a very young age, the arrival of the Beatles and the 1960's decade
  in general had a very profound effect. It was only natural to bring all my first hand experience of collecting vinyl
  into becoming a professional record seller.  Nearly thirty years ago we entered into the wonderful atmosphere
of record fairs with the highest possible standards set. When the Internet became the world's new market place for
  vinyl, in 2001 it was time to join ebay. Those standards were rigidly adhered to as they will always continue to be,
the basics of honesty and integrity were very much part of the era the music I love originated in, so here is our friendly
and very efficient service we are proud to provide;

EVERY RECORD IS FULLY PLAYED AND COMES WITH A 'NO ARGUMENT' MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.
  I USE GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS A GLOBALLY ACCEPTED GRADING TERMINOLOGY
  FROM THE U.K. "RECORD COLLECTOR PRICE GUIDE" BOOK.
THERE IT CLEARLY STATES "Sound Quality" AFFECTS EVERY GRADING LEVEL AND THAT IS THE ONE
AND ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO ACCURATELY GRADE RECORDS. i.e. COMBINING A STRICT VISUAL
INSPECTION WITH VERY CLOSELY LISTENING TO EVERY SECOND, UNLESS PERHAPS IN THE CASE
OF GENUINELY UNPLAYED VINYL.  EVEN THEN WE STILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RECORD
WHEN A CUSTOMER RECEIVES EITHER A SEALED OR AN UNPLAYED RECORD.
 

  We take 100% responsibility after an item has been posted and offer our fullest support in the event of any problems.
"There Are No Problems, Only Solutions" (John Lennon)
MY DESCRIPTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE 100% HONEST AND TOTALLY ACCURATE ON ALL GRADINGS
FROM 'V.G.' ( VERY GOOD), TO THE ULTIMATE 'MINT' CONDITION.


ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR ITEMS ARE WELCOMED AND WILL BE PROMPTLY REPLIED TO.
 

WE ARE FULLY EXPERIENCED AT SHIPPING WORLDWIDE AND NO EFFORT IS SPARED TO PROTECT
RECORDS AND COVERS ETC.  WE WELCOME BIDDERS FROM ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

ALL RECORDS ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR SLEEVES AND PLACED INTO NEW PROTECTIVE CARD
SLEEVES AND THEN PLACED INTO NEW, HEAVYWEIGHT PLASTIC OUTER SLEEVES.
THE GREATEST ATTENTION IS PAID TO MAKING THE PACKAGING EXTREMELY STRONG & SECURE.
EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE A SAFE DELIVERY AND WE ONLY USE THE VERY BEST
QUALITY PACKAGING MATERIALS, THE COST OF THE ITEM IS IMMATERIAL, EVERY RECORD IS
TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME.

WE DO NOT TREAT POSTAGE AS A MONEY MAKING PROJECT, POSTAGE IS LESS THAN COST, USING
ONLY PROFESSIONALLY PACKED BOXES WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTIVE PACKAGING THAT DOES
WEIGH A LITTLE EXTRA.

UNDER PAYPAL & EBAY'S GUIDELINES, ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA A FULLY INSURED TRACKABLE
SERVICE.


We have kept all our charges at the same level for years now, but due to the Post Office's new price increases, regretfully we
will have to increase the cost of LP's, however, singles will remain unchanged.  Ebay were aware of that happening and have
  increased their minimum postal cost for LP's to £7.00, that figure has been enforced by the UK Post Office and it will become
our UK First Class, Recorded Delivery cost for albums up to the value of £46.  A temporary reduction this week means we can
now post LP's for £5, but who knows how long before the Post Office return to £7?

For LP's valued above £46, the cost will be £9, we are unhappy about either increase but our high standard of packaging has meant
in 13 years of ebay trading, there has not been one record damaged, we are determined to maintain that in the present and future.

IN THE UK RECORDS UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 WILL BE SENT RECORDED DELIVERY, OVER £46 WILL BE
SENT SPECIAL DELIVERY.
  FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA 'INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR.'

POSTAGE  COST FOR LP's
UK: UP TO VALUE OF £46, FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY  £5.00
UK: OVER VALUE OF £46, FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £9.00


EUROPE: FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR  £15.00


USA,JAPAN & REST OF THE WORLD FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £20.00


POSTAGE COST FOR EP's & 7"
UK: UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY £3.00
UK: OVER THE VALUE OF £46 FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £6.00
EUROPE: AIR MAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £10.00
USA, JAPAN ETC. AIRMAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £12.00


PAYMENT DETAILS.

WE WILL SEND ALL WINNING BIDDERS AN INVOICE WITH THE FULL PAYMENT AND POSTAL DETAILS,
AS NEAR TO THE AUCTION ENDING AS POSSIBLE.

OUR AIM IS TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE SMOOTH AND TROUBLE FREE.


FOR UK BUYERS;

WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, CHEQUES, POSTAL ORDERS & BANK WIRES.


FOR OVERSEAS BUYERS;

WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS IN POUNDS STERLING ONLY.
OR BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFERS.

WE WILL NOT MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS ON CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS AND WILL ALWAYS
CONDUCT ALL OF OUR BUSINESS WITH TOTAL HONESTY.
AS MUCH AS WE SYMPATHISE WITH THE WAY SOME COUNTRIES CHARGE SUCH HEAVY IMPORT
DUTIES, WE WILL NOT LIE.