The Jimi Hendrix Experience : Electric Ladyland early Track Pressing

This early pressing on the Track Record label plays to a superb standard with only minimal interference.  The only 'obvious' interference is a little distortion on the first two tracks of Side D where the clarity of sound is not as impressive as the rest of the album.  As detailed below there are so many highlights and 'Voodoo Chile' and '1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)' in particular play with stunning quality.

The vinyls are also visually stunning with no marks or scratches and have only minimal spindle wear.  Only lightly played in my opinion.  The infamous cover does have some shelf wear but is a better example than many you will find today.

This is a slightly later pressing as it has a 1/2/2/2 matrix and 'Two Record Set' can be seen on the labels.  The gatefold however is a first press cover in that it has the smaller photos of Redding and Mitchell on the inside.  On the 'blue text' version their photos are larger.  There is now so much evidence to say the cover with the white text and smaller photos is a true first press cover.  Redding and Mitchell were not happy with the small photos hence why they are larger in later pressings.

With international shipping (including Europe) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.

Side A / 6130 ####  7 (hand etched 7)   A // 1   1 6 9 0 1 8

Side B / 613009   A ᐁ 2   420   1 1 1

Side C / 613009   B // 2   420   1 1 1 2

Side D / 613008   B ᐁ 2   420   1 2 9

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / T4 intro for 30/40 seconds VG++)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint / T5 Ex)

The audio on S3 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint / T5 Ex)

The audio on S4 is Near Mint- (although T1 Ex & T2 Ex-)

The gatefold is VG+

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeves are Ex-/Ex+
Visual grading
The vinyls are in beautiful condition with no marks, scratches or groove wear.  They have a jet-black glossy sheen and at first glance you would think they were new!  Even on very close inspection I can only find a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines on the first record (A & D) and I can't find any on the second (B & C)!  The first record only has a little spindle wear and the second has barely any so judging by this and the audio quality it is clear they have only been lightly played.  The run out grooves are super clean and the Track Record labels are near perfect with no marking and only a little spindle wear as stated.
Play grading
S1 begins with a superb version of 'And The Gods Made Love' which has only very minimal static on the intro.  Once the swirling tape loops 'kick in' the playback is faultless.  A Near Mint start.
'...Electric Ladyland' then keeps up the good work and plays with no interference whatsoever, just a handful of barely audible dust ticks.  Mint-
'Cross Town Traffic' then plays with stunning power and depth from the first groove to the last.  The clarity is so impressive and again Mint- is deserved.
The bluesy intro on the classic 'Voodoo Chile' plays very clearly but there is a light tick once per revolution of the record for the first 30 seconds or so.  Not really intrusive and certainly not loud.  As the vocal begins the clarity is stunning and it continues in much the same way.  I'm up to 6 minutes so far and apart from one light tick the playback has been absolutely fantastic!  There is so much power, depth and warmth in the music and it has retained its original sonic quality which can only mean it has not been over-played.  It continues to play with mesmeric quality and there is no 'background', not even during the quieter sections.  Hendrix's work is of course legendary on this track and the clarity and power on his guitar here is just phenomenal accompanied by Redding's deep bass.  There is just Just a mild hint of inner groove distortion towards the end for a few seconds and then the 'high octane' section plays with incredible power and...no distortion.  The quiet 'audience' outro is close to perfect with barely any static.  I would say the first 30/40 seconds grade as VG++ and the remainder is Near Mint but more Mint- such is the quality.

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'Little Miss Strange' plays stunning clarity and depth from the get go and this standard is kept up to the very end.  There is no sign of any interference and Mint- is easily deserved.

The intro on 'Long Hot Summer Night' has only a small number of dust ticks and then plays with great precision.  There are no clicks or pops, no static either, and the playback cannot really be faulted.  The fade out also plays perfectly.  I don't think I should downgrade due to non-intrusive dust ticks so Mint- it is.

The intro on 'Come On' is STUNNING and it then plays with a greater clarity of sound than the previous track.  This is common I find and can only be down to the recording/production.  The mid solo is 'as new' and the remainder is equally as good.  An immaculate Mint version.

'Gipsy Eyes' begins with a perfect percussive intro and the first vocal just has a hint of distortion on it for 2/3 seconds at most.  Hardly worth a mention really.  From then onwards there is no interference aside from a minimal amount of distortion at the end again.  Near Mint

The intro on 'Burning Of The Midnight Lamp' is 'as new' with no sign of any 'background' and the first vocal then plays with a little distortion which is common anyway with this track.  There is one light click in the next 'wah wah' section and thereafter plays well but yes some distortion again, still an excellent listen though.  The actual 'wah wah' guitar sections play perfectly but overall I will grade as Ex

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The classic bluesy intro on 'Rainy Day, Dream Away' plays so well with only one very light tick at the start and a minor click just after one minute.  There is no background static and this clarity of sound carries on into the first vocal.  The remainder is without fault, including the fade out, and even with a minor click I still think this is worthy of a Near Mint grade as the rest is so darn good!

The intro on '1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)' is 'as new' and it continues to play with outstanding quality I am pleased to say.  The first four minutes have no 'background' of any kind and the psychedelic section is very similar but with 3/4 static ticks during the first minute.  Hardly intrusive, this is vinyl after all!  From then on it plays extremely well with only a couple of light clicks but it is worth pointing out that the vast majority is stunning.  Mitchell's percussive has never played with such definition and Redding's bass section has only a couple of barely audible ticks.  As Hendrix 'builds' out of this section the playback is so strong and precise and his next vocal has no interference at all.  The 'high octane' passage that follows is close to perfect with just one light click but there is no inner groove distortion whatsoever and the closing section is flawless.  This is such an impressive version and being such a clean vinyl there is no underlying static to affect the sonic quality.  Difficult to grade in a way but I would say it ranges between Ex+ and Mint-

'Moon, Turn The Tides...' ends the side with audio that is as good as it would have been back in '68!  Mint

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There is no interference on the 'Still Raining Still Dreaming' intro but the clarity is not quite as clear in my opinion.  Perhaps this is just the way it was recorded.  Sill an excellent listen!  It plays with a minor distorted sound but there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  Ex

'House Burning Down' plays in a very similar way but again there is no other interference.  I would say the final section has a little more distortion and Ex- is about right here.  Don't get me wrong it is still eminently 'listenable' just not quite as stunning as the rest of the album.

Normal service is resumed with the classic 'All Along The Watchtower' that plays with wonderful depth and power from the opening groove.  This is a very strong version with only very minimal distortion towards the end.  Near Mint-

The intro on 'Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)' has only 3/4 mega light ticks and as that familiar Hendrix sound crashes in the audio is very powerful indeed.  From then on it plays extremely well with barely any inner groove distortion.  If anything the second half is even better.  It is so dynamic and you can certainly turn it up to max.  A fantastic Near Mint- finish to the album.

In summary this early pressing plays with superb audio for the vast majority and it's only S4 that has some intrusion.  As I said not interference as such, just a distorted 'muddy' type sound on a couple of tracks.  The remainder of this classic album plays with a clarity of sound that can hardly be faulted.  There are so many highlights but 'Voodoo Chile' on S1 deserves a special mention, the clarity, depth and power here is exceptional.  But then that is the case on so many tracks!  There is very little interference across the entire album truth be told - a very small number of clicks but they are not loud and there is no underlying static which is a rarity.  A very impressive 'listen' overall.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeves

The laminated E.J. Day cover does have some shelf but nothing major and it is certainly better than many around today.  I've seen some shockers!  The edges are very clean with barely any rubbing and the wide spine is in excellent shape.  It is slightly angled as is common but it has one only tiny rub, a couple of minor creases and only a little wear on the corners.  The right hand corners are in excellent order also with minimal wear, just a little more on the front cover bottom right.  The opening edges have some handling wear but not an excessive amount.  The front cover is very clean with no marking but does have a few laminate small creases on the right side and the back cover is actually even better with only 2/3 minor creases.  The inside of the gatefold again is unmarked but the inner spine does have some wear/rubbing on the two edges but no actual damage.  Not a perfect cover but a respectable one.

I don't think the two 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner sleeves are original but they are both very clean and only one has a small tear in the top corner and on the central 'window'.  There are no side splits and just a little creasing.

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

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

Side A / 6130 ####  7 (hand etched 7)   A // 1   1 6 9 0 1 8

Side B / 613009   A ᐁ 2   420   1 1 1

Side C / 613009   B // 2   420   1 1 1 2

Side D / 613008   B ᐁ 2   420   1 2 9

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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