Sold Date: December 23, 2024
Start Date: December 13, 2024
Final Price: $326.77 (USD)
Bid Count: 36
Seller Feedback: 7456
Buyer Feedback: 139

PLEASE NOTE: I WILL ONLY GRADE AN OPENED LP NEAR MINT (NM) IF I CAN GUARANTEE IT HAS NEVER BEEN PLAYED (i.e. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER).  OTHERWISE, NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) IS THE ABSOLUTE HIGHEST GRADE I WILL ASSIGN AN OPENED LP.


INCREDIBLY RARE original mono West Coast gatefold first pressing from March, 1967 on Verve's blue label with side indicators listed as A and B on the labels (East Coast pressings were listed as 1 and 2), each band member's first initial printed in the credits under the song titles on the label (absent on East Coast pressings), huge original black & white hype sticker on the rear cover obscuring Eric Emerson's head, arms and torso with only his hands visible in the rear photo (Verve never got permission to use Emerson's image on the cover and he sued so Verve recalled the LP and placed this large sticker over his image to avoid having to pay him-this is regularly referred to as the "torso cover" first pressing-subsequent pressings have his image airbrushed out!), around 95% of the RARE original banana sticker on the front cover completely intact, STEREO text in the top right hand corner on the rear cover and original Verve printed inner sleeve.  This has been my personal copy for over 30 years and after all this time I finally acquired a first pressing in SLIGHTLY better condition so I'm selling this copy.  In all the time I owned it I never realized the LP is mono and cover is stereo.  Whether this was a pressing plant mistake or they're simply mismatched I can't say but the odds of someone having a copy of both  versions of the first pressing to combine them seem pretty slim considering how hideously rare they are.  I've owned it for so many years I don't even remember if I bought it at a store or if it was given to me.  LP is G+ visually only with lots of light scuffs but only a few scratches that can be lightly felt.  Plays amazingly well with only moderate background noise on the quieter songs like Femme Fatale and VERY little background noise on the others with only a few occasional light clicks.  These old Verve LPs are seemingly indestructible.  Cover is VG- with some moisture foxing at the bottom and a tiny (less than 1") split at the opening on the rear gatefold at the top only.  I simply cannot overstate the historical importance of this LP.  So much ink has been spilled about the impact this LP had not only upon release but in the many years since that it seems unnecessary but some things simply bear repeating.  Widely recognized as the first true punk LP, this was undeniably the LP that lit the fuse.  The number of bands that cite this album as their main influence could fill volumes.  If you've never heard this LP go directly to Youtube immediately and keep reminding yourself that was recorded in 1966 and released in early 1967.  That's all I'm going to say.  Happy bidding. 


I USE GOLDMINE GRADING~ MINT (SEALED)  NEAR MINT: LOOKS UNPLAYED VG++:  VERY VERY MINIMAL SIGNS OF USE VG+:  AVERAGE SIGNS OF USE, NOTHING DEEP, SUPERFICIAL VG:  STILL AN OK RECORD, NOISE BETWEEN SONGS
GOOD: WORN BUT PLAYS FINE WITH DISTRACTING NOISE POOR:  FILLER COPY ONLY.  LOTS OF SCRATCHES