Grateful Dead American Beauty SEALED SS AUDIOPHILE LP MOBILE FIDELITY MFSL 1-014

$

70

Grateful Dead American Beauty Still Sealed Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs MFSL 1-014.

This album was purchased about 30 years ago and is in the same Still Sealed condition as when I bought it. This is a Limited Edition LP Album, and the record itself should be in new condition because it has never been opened.

Please examine the photos carefully for exact condition. Understand that it is difficult to take "studio quality" photos due to the outer plastic reflections, but I have tried my best. I can see no seam separations or tears in the original plastic covering of any kind. There is one small pinch hole” on the “open” side of the album in the plastic about 1 ½ inches from the top (See photo). The plastic does show what I would describe as slight "rub marks" and may be a little dusty/dirty due to age and storage, but nothing that shows abuse or takes away from the Still Sealed beauty. The bottom line is that the plastic covering is not "Perfect", but is in great condition.

Though difficult to see minute detail through the outer plastic, the Album Jacket appears to be in very nice condition. Please note that almost any LP, even those brand new in the stores today, may have slight corner bends, slight edge wear, and minor color fading or discoloration. There is one ¼ inch spot on the bottom cover edge where color is missing. I have described any truly noticeable defect, but it is impossible to see/describe the tiniest of discrepancies that could be visible upon removal from the plastic or to an absolute perfectionist. Please be reasonable. Again, this album is over 30 years old!

Please contact me prior to bidding if you need additional information or photos. If you wish to examine the album in person in Naples, Florida, then I will be happy to show it to you.

If you need a "Perfect" album (which I have never seen) then please do not bid. I believe you will find it hard to find a better overall example. I have sold on ebay for over 10 years with overwhelming positive feedback. If you are a normal buyer you will be very happy!

Full Value Insurance and Tracking is included in all Shipping Costs (including media Mail) for this album. Shipping/damage issues will have to be addressed through the US Post Office.

There are no returns allowed on this album. Again, please contact me for any additional information you need. If you are a normal and reasonable buyer then you will be completely satisfied with my album.

I have an opened copy of this album and can honestly say that on an audiophile system it will make you smile. MFSL half-speeds are an incredible way to experience an album.

See my other Auctions for additional MFSL Albums and UHQR's. Thanks for bidding and have a great day ebaying!

The band began recording American Beauty only a few months after the release of Workingman's Dead, and without their regular sound crew, which was out on the road as part of the Medicine Ball Caravan tour (which the Dead were originally scheduled to join), and this led to staff engineer Stephen Barncard replacing Bob Matthews as producer—"a move that irks Matthews to this day." Barncard mused that "I had heard bad stories about engineers' interactions with the Dead but what I found were a bunch of hardworking guys."

Both Workingman's Dead and American Beauty were innovative at the time for their fusion of bluegrass, rock and roll, folk and, especially, country music. Compared to Workingman's Dead, American Beauty had even less lead guitar work from Jerry Garcia, who instead filled the void with pedal steel guitar passages on both albums. It was during the recording of this album that Garcia first collaborated with mandolinist David Grisman. "I just bumped into Jerry at a baseball game in Fairfax, and he said, 'Hey, you wanna play on this record we're doing?'" commented Grisman. Phil Lesh, in his autobiography, commented "the magnetism of the scene at Wally Heider's recording studio made it a lot easier for me to deal with Dad's loss and my new responsibilities. Some of the best musicians around were hanging there during that period; with Paul Kantner and Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane, the Dead,Santana, Crosby, Nash, and Neil Young working there, the studio became jammer heaven. Thank the Lord for music; it's a healing force beyond words to describe."

"Truckin'" and "Ripple" were released as singles, and the songs "Box of Rain", "Sugar Magnolia", and "Friend of the Devil" also received radio play. In his book on Garcia, Blair Jackson noted that "if you liked rock'n'roll in 1970 but didn't like the Dead, you were out of luck, because they were inescapable that summer and fall." American Beauty peaked at No. 30 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart (North America), while the single, "Truckin'", peaked at No. 64 on the Pop Singles chart and achieved considerable FM rock radio airplay. It was the final album with Mickey Hart until his return to the band four years later in 1975.

Track listing

All songs written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, except where noted.

1.    "Box of Rain" (Phil Lesh, Robert Hunter) – 5:18

2.    "Friend of the Devil" (Garcia, John Dawson, Hunter) – 3:24

3.    "Sugar Magnolia" (Bob Weir, Hunter) – 3:19

4.    "Operator" (Ron McKernan) – 2:25

5.    "Candyman" – 6:14

6.    "Ripple" – 4:09

7.    "Brokedown Palace" – 4:09

8.    "Till the Morning Comes" – 3:08

9.    "Attics of My Life" – 5:12

10. "Truckin'" (Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Hunter) – 5:03

Personnel

Grateful Dead

·         Jerry Garcia – guitar, pedal steel, piano, vocals

·         Phil Lesh – bass, guitar, piano, vocals

·         Bob Weir – guitar, vocals

·         Pigpen (Ron McKernan) – harmonica, vocals

·         Mickey Hart – percussion

·         Bill Kreutzmann – drums

·         Robert Hunter – songwriter

Additional musicians

·         Dave Torbert – bass on "Box of Rain"

·         David Nelson – electric guitar on "Box of Rain"

·         David Grisman – mandolin on "Friend of the Devil", "Ripple"

·         Howard Wales – organ on "Candyman", "Truckin'"; piano on "Brokedown Palace"

·         Ned Lagin – piano on "Candyman"

Production

·         Produced by Grateful Dead

·         Co-producer, audio: Steve Barncard

·         Artwork: Kelley/Mouse Studios

·         Rear photo: George Conger