The Jimi Hendrix Experience : Are You Experienced A1/B1 1st Press

This record has been so well preserved over the last 54 years and one reason is because it has not been played very much.  That is confirmed by the visual and audio quality, no groove wear and only minimal spindle wear.

The cover is also in excellent condition although the spine does have some wear.  Aside from that it is in great order and for once the back cover is incredibly clean.  The original inner is also in excellent shape.

This is of course the first record on the Track Record label and as it is a first pressing has the silver/black labels and an A1/B1 matrix.  Only the front cover is laminated.

612001 A ? 1  4 1 6

612001 B # ? 1  1 1 7 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T1 & T3 Ex+)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Ex+ / T2 Near Mint)

The cover is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint-

The original inner is Ex

Visual grading

This vinyl is visually stunning and still has an lovely jet-black glossy sheen.  There are no scratches and only a very small number of faint hairlines on each side.  The first track on S2 has a faint 'squiggly' type hairline and there is a also a very faint small scuff hairline on the final track but they have no affect on the stunning quality of the audio.  There is no groove wear and the vinyl overall remains very clean indeed.  The run out grooves are also very clean with only a couple of minor fade 'areas' and the Track Record labels are in superb shape with no marking and only minimal spindle wear.  A superb example!

Play grading  

Aside from a couple of mega faint ticks the intro on 'Foxy Lady' has no 'background' and the same applies to the audio feedback loop which has no distortion at all.  The first vocal section is close to perfect with only a handful of barely audible dust ticks and it continues to play with great quality.  Hendrix's guitar work, as you would expect on such a clean vinyl,  is so strong and dynamic and the audio has such depth from start to finish.  There are no clicks or pops - no intrusion at all basically.  Whilst it does plays superbly I do not think the overall clarity of sound is quite as impressive as the rest of the side so will grade as Ex+ accordingly.  Of course it might be because of how it was recorded so might be doing myself disservice but not calling it Near Mint but I would rather be safe than sorry.

The dead wax between the tracks is practically silent giving you a good idea of the clarity on offer here.  The intro on 'Manic Depression' could not play any better and that applies to the first vocal also.  If anything this track has an even 'cleaner' sound than the previous and the clarity is exceptional.  The mid solo has lost none of its original quality over the last 54 years and again there is no interference of any kind.  This is a mono record being played through a stereo set up and yet there is literally no distortion - I don't think I've heard a better version.  I can get a little enthusiastic when I hear classic recordings play as well as this but I can be forgiven!  I am happy to grade this as Near Mint it is STUNNING!

A couple of static ticks in the dead wax this time and then the bluesy intro 'Red House' is so 'clean' with only a couple of very quiet background ticks.  From then on it plays to a wonderful standard and for a relatively quiet number the clarity is very impressive.  I did detect one light click and 3/4 minor ticks but the music is so clean and 'fresh' sounding and Redding's deep bass adds so much to the audio.  It is already obvious this record has not been played very much - there is no groove wear and the original sonic quality is very much maintained.  Ex+ overall

'Can You See Me' plays with great quality from the very first note and proceeds in much the same way.  I detected a couple of light ticks after the first verse but you could miss them they are so quiet and another light tick towards the end but that is the only 'background' during the entire track.  Hendrix's work is again mind-blowing!  It is another one of those 'turn off the lights and imagine yourself back in the 60s' moments!  The clarity, power and depth of the audio is sublime and Near Mint is very much deserved in my opinion.

The Fuzz Face intro on 'Love Or Confusion' is so deep and strong and there is only one tick.  From then on the sonic quality is just on another level, it's so good I had to play it twice!  The power and clarity here is absolutely amazing.  The mid instrumental is a prime example of that - the definition of the audio is outstanding and that applies to the entire track.  There is some light static on the fade out but overall this has to be Near Mint it truly is a stunning version.

'I Don't Live Today' ends S1 in imperious style you will not be surprised to hear.  The percussive intro is 'as new' and it then plays just as well as the rest of the side.  This is an important point to make as final tracks often do not play as well due to inner groove distortion which obviously affects the clarity.  Unbelievably there is no obvious distortion here at all!  The playback is incredible - this is such a powerful track and in all honesty I cannot believe the sonic quality on offer here.  Even during the 'gentler' moments there is no interference and the 'high octane' end section is sensational, it could not play with any greater precision.  The fade out/in sections are so 'clean' with only a couple of very light ticks.  This may well be a somewhat ubiquitous term of mine but I am sure I have never heard a version as strong as this - it is easily Near Mint if not better.  There cannot be many 'final tracks' from 1967 that I have graded in such a way!

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The 'psychedelic' intro on 'May This Be Love' plays with great clarity and only very minimal static.  The first verse is faultless and it continues in the same precise way.  There are no clicks or pops and again no underlying static.  The clarity of sound is what stands out here and there is just no intrusion on the audio.  There are 3/4 light ticks on the closing solo but they are very much 'hidden' in the music and easily missed.  I will grade as Ex+ but yes the majority is better.

No such issue with 'Fire' as it plays with STUNNING quality from start to finish with no interference.  There is such depth to the music and each note is so sharp and precise with no 'muddiness' to the sound at all.  Mitchell's percussion is a case in point - if you win this listen out for them, you'll know what I mean.  Near Mint

The intro on '3rd Stone From The Sun' is 'as new' I can pay it no higher compliment  - ok time to over-enthuse again and I apologise in advance!  I had to play this twice just had to confirm what I was listening to!  The clarity, definition and warmth of the music is on another level, other worldly you could say!  I have just never heard anything like it and this psychedelic classic is quite simply STUNNING from the first note to the last and that includes the fade out.  Has this track ever been played?!  There is not even a dust tick let alone anything more.  This is of course largely an instrumental and yet the 'vocals' play with sublime precision also.  I cannot emphasise enough just how STUNNING this version is.  I sometimes grade as Near Mint just to be cautious but on this occasion I will Mint as the audio is just breathtaking!

I am pleased to say 'Remember' is of the same 'high end' standard as there is no 'background' of any kind.  Pure unadulterated Mint audio from beginning to end.  Another perfect fade out giving further evidence of the clarity on offer here.

The classic intro on 'Are You Experienced' is immense!  No ticks, clicks etc just Mint audio once more - the power of the music just reverberates around the room!  It proceeds to play with a quality that defies its age and I am just sat here in awe!  I guess 'as new' correctly sums it up - there is no interference and remarkably no distortion either.  You just do not find sonic quality like this on later pressings and Mint is again deserved.  I do not use that term loosely - I listen to every track in full so as to provide a 'complete' grading and Mint is not a selling technique and is nothing to do with the age of the LP either, it is purely based on the quality of the audio.  This classic final track delivers on every level and provides a perfect finish to this stunning first press.

In summary this first pressing plays to a standard that is rarely found today.  The word 'rare' is too often used but it certainly applies here.  In all my years of selling on eBay I have never found this classic debut album playing with such strong sonic quality.  There is hardly any interference, barely any static and only a very small number of insignificant ticks.  It has clearly not been played very much and has been so well preserved over the last 54 years.  It has a stunning visual quality and  as described above the clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is second to none.  What a find!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

These E.J. Day covers are so often found in poor condition but this does not belong in that category!  Overall it remains in excellent condition and has only a little shelf wear.  The top edge is perfect with no rubbing and the bottom edge has only one tiny rub mark.  The spine does have some rubbing/wear all the way down and is only partially legible but there are no splits at least.  This is the most 'affected' area really but the rest is very impressive.  All corners remain very strong with barely any wear and the opening edge is very clean with hardly any handling wear.  The laminated front cover has no marking and only a few laminate creases but there are certainly less here than you usually find.  You often the right hand side is badly worn due to being handled so much but there is only very minimal creasing here, another sign that the record has not been removed many times.  The back cover is one of the cleanest I have seen in a long time.  It isn't laminated so is often found marked/stained but there is no marking here at all.  It has only one small scuff bottom right and a couple of minor creases.  This is a fine example overall and definitely better than most.

The original poly-lined inner has no side splits or tears, some light creasing and a little age related fading around the edges.  It has 'Made in England 057' and 'British Patent No 800513 & 973939' printed in blue on one side.

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

612001 A ? 1  4 1 6

612001 B # ? 1  1 1 7 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

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