The Jimi Hendrix Experience : Electric Ladyland 1st Press 1/1/1/1

This first pressing on the iconic Track Record label plays to a fantastic standard with barely any interference.  Side A and Side D (the first record) in particular are stunning and Side C is not far behind.  Side B still plays with great quality but does have a slightly 'muddy' sound on a couple of tracks.  This is common with this LP and should not put you off!  It is just how it was recorded / produced and the majority of the side still plays with Near Mint quality!  Across all four sides I only detected one click and the clarity, depth and power of the audio is astounding.  I would go so far as to say this is the best first pressing I have ever listened to!  As detailed below there are so many highlight but the classic 'Voodoo Chile' on Side A is absolutely STUNNING as is the reprise on Side D.

The vinyls are also visually stunning with only one obvious hairline on Side C.  There are no marks or scratches and it is patently obvious they have not been over-played judging by the audio, the minimal spindle wear and the visual quality of course.  The infamous cover is also in excellent condition with only minimal wear and is far better than the majority you see today.  The original inner sleeves have also withstood the test of time very well.

As this is a genuine first press it has the 1/1/1/1 matrix and inverted catalogue numbers on the left side of the labels above 1968.  There is also no 'Two Record Set' on the labels.  The gatefold has the smaller photos of Redding and Mitchell on the inside which shows it is a 'true' first press cover.  On the 'blue text' version their photos are larger as Redding and Mitchell were not happy with the small photos hence why they are larger on subsequent pressings.

Side A / 61300##8(etched) A//1   1 1 9

Side B / 61300#9 A(both etched)#//1   1 9

Side C / 613009 B ######(all etched) A//1   1 9 5 5

Side D / 613009#8(etched) B//1   1 5 4

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Ex+ (Near Mint for the majority / T1 Near Mint / T3 Mint- )

The audio on S3 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint)

The audio on S4 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is a very strong Ex

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeves are Ex+ / Ex

Visual grading

The vinyls are in beautiful condition with an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen and there are no marks or scratches.  They look practically 'as new'!  Only on close inspection can you find a small number of extremely faint sleeve removal hairlines.  Both records (A & D first record / B & C second record) are visually stunning and the only 'imperfection' is one long(ish) faint hairline on Side C but this obviously has no impact on the stunning quality of the audio.  The run out grooves are pristine and the iconic Track Record labels have only minimal spindle wear as stated.  You don't get many first pressings looking as good as this!

Play grading

'And The Gods Made Love' plays with stunning clarity from the intro right through to the end of the swirling tape loops.  There is no 'background' and having listened intently I picked up things here I have never noticed before.  That is a true measure of the clarity on offer here.  This is the finest start I have ever found on a genuine first pressing and Mint is very much deserved.

A couple of dust ticks in the dead wax and then the 'Grandfather clock' intro on 'Electric Ladyland' plays to perfection.  It then plays with great quality and with no intrusion.  The vocals are so clear and from start to finish there are no clicks or pops and only a couple of the usual dust ticks.  The fade out has no 'background' either.  I do not use the term Mint loosely but again it is deserved here.

'Cross Town Traffic' then plays with a clarity, power and definition I do not think I have ever noticed before.  So often it is affected by distortion but this is unequivocally the strongest, the cleanest version I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.  The fade out is perfect and already you can tell this vinyl has hardly been played which has resulted in the original sonic quality still being there.  This is one of the easiest Mint grades I have ever given!

The segue into the classic 'Voodoo Chile' has no interference and the intro then plays with unbelievable clarity.  Hendrix's first vocal is equally as good and his opening guitar refrain just has no interference at all.  The first verse is 'as new' and the second is not far off that status with only one barely audible tick.  The depth of the audio here is just STUNNING and Redding's deep bass of course adds so much to the overall 'sound'.  It continues to play with imperious quality and the first extended instrumental section is breathtaking!  Hendrix's work accompanied by Steve Winwood's superlative Hammond organ is 'high end' to say the least and again there is literally no interference.  The 'Well my arrows are made of desire...' verse plays perfectly as does Hendrix' next solo section.  This leads into Mitchell's solo which again leaves you speechless!  Everything about this section is 'as new' and that includes where the music builds.  The quieter 'audience' section around the 11 minute mark has not even a single dust tick let alone anything worse and that applies to the final vocal also.  The following solo plays with incredible power and remarkably there is no inner groove distortion.  If you win this just turn this section up to max it is just phenomenal!  The 'high octane' passage at the end could not play any better and the 'audience' end section has only a handful of insignificant dust ticks.  The playback here is so clean you can almost make out what they are saying!  This has to be the most 'complete' version of this classic that I have heard and it is so rare for a first pressing to deliver such quality.  I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint- but in all honesty I'm not even sure a minus is required!

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The acoustic intro on 'Little Miss Strange' is as close to perfect as could be and Redding's opening vocal plays with a clarity that defies the age of the album.  53 years old let's not forget!  The instrumental section cannot be faulted and the final verse is just as good.  There is just a very minor touch of distortion towards the end for 3/4 seconds only so will grade as Near Mint accordingly.

The intro on 'Long Hot Summer Night' has only two mega light ticks and the first verse then plays a lot more clearly than you generally find.  This track is often affected by a 'muddy' type sound (I am sure this is how it was recorded/produced) but it really is so minimal here.  It continues to play with very impressive audio and I detected only a small number of very light background ticks and one crackle sound at the end of the fade out.  In my educated opinion I would say Ex+ is about right.

'Come On' plays with exceptional quality throughout.  The clarity is back on form here and the opening two verses have no interference.  The mid solo is awesome!  The power and clarity is as sharp and precise as it was back in '68 and the final two verses and solo more than keep up the good work.  A superlative Mint- version.

The percussive intro on 'Gipsy Eyes' is 'as new' and the first vocal is near perfect with just a very minor 'muddy' sound again.  Please don't be put off by this as this is just how it was recorded as stated earlier.  I just list any 'imperfection' even if not the fault of the previous owner!  I prefer to be 100% 'complete' in my gradings.  From then on it plays so well with none of the distortion that you so often find.  There is one click during an instrumental passage towards the end but other than that there is no interference.  Ex+

The wah wah guitar intro on 'Burning Of The Midnight Lamp' plays with stunning quality and the first verse also impresses on so many levels.  This is another track that is so often affected by sound issues and yet this has to be the 'cleanest' version I have heard in a long time.  There is no distortion and only a very minimal amount of that 'muddy' sound that is so often prevalent on this side.  There is no interference and the audio is so powerful and it's worth noting that the 'wah wah' sections could not play any better.  I will grade as Ex+ but I am sure many would grade higher.

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The 'cough sniff' intro on 'Rainy Day, Dream Away' is so clean with only a couple of dust ticks and then the actual bluesy intro with the 'spoken' verse then plays with amazing clarity and depth.  As the volume increases the playback is STUNNING!  The first sung verse is flawless and the remainder is equally as impressive.  There is no background static and the long fade out has only a couple of light ticks.  A Mint- start to the side.

The intro on the classic '1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)' has only 2/3 light ticks and the first verse then plays with wonderful clarity and depth.  It continues in much the same way with barely any interference.  There is one very quiet dull click during the third verse but really the playback is superb.  This level of clarity is only found on a vinyl that has been so well preserved and on the opening four minutes I only heard a small number of very light ticks that are totally non-intrusive.  The psychedelic section then plays beautifully - so quiet and yet there is barely any intrusion, a couple of dust ticks at most.  It easy to forget just how good Mitchell's percussion is here and it plays so clearly with great definition especially towards the end as it builds.  The following quiet section where Redding's bass is very much prevalent has a tick followed by a click but it still plays so clearly with no other 'background'.  As Hendrix and Mitchell 'build' out of this section with ever increasing volume the audio is stunning and the final vocal also has no interference.  The closing guitar section is outstanding with no sign of any distortion and 'as new' is again a correct description.  I think Near Mint is a fair assessment of the audio here.

'Moon, Turn The Tides...' ends the side with super clean audio - no clicks or pops and no obvious static.  So good you can imagine yourself back '68!  Mint-

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'Still Raining Still Dreaming' plays with genuine quality from the first note to the last without any interference.  The clarity and power on Hendrix's guitar is superb and it has lost none of its original sonic quality.  This may well be the strongest and most dynamic version I have ever heard.  The playback is stunning and even more stunning when Redding's bass is higher in the mix towards the end!  A 'high end' Mint version for sure.  Wow!

The guitar intro on 'House Burning Down' is so strong with no interference or distortion and the opening vocal is just as impressive.  The first verse has no 'background' and it continues to play with impeccable quality I am pleased to say.  This is another track that is often affected by audio issues but not here - another indication that the vinyl has not often been played?  The clarity is perhaps not quite on a level with the previous track but it is still damn good!  On this occasion I will still grade as Mint- as this is purely down to how it was recorded.  Hendrix's final classic guitar section is absolutely stunning by the way!  The 'sound' quality here is phenomenal.

This definitive version of the classic 'All Along The Watchtower' plays to a standard that is so rarely found on these first pressings.  The clarity and depth of the audio is quite simply breathtaking and I cannot emphasise enough just how immaculate this version is.  The audio is so strong and deep and there is just no interference of any kind.  Every section plays with sublime quality - the definitive version with definitive sonic quality.  The end section is of course on the higher register and yet there is no distortion.  This is MINT and then some...

The intro on 'Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)' is as clean as the first day this vinyl was pressed, it is unbelievable!  As that familiar Hendrix sound crashes in the quality is still there.  The first verse is faultless and the guitar work throughout is just mind-blowing!  I cannot describe it in any other way.  Again there is no distortion on the top end nor on the vocal and it continues to play with sensational quality.  The power and depth of the audio is just off the scale - WHAT A VERSION!  It has to grade as Mint there is no need for a minus here!

In summary this first pressing may well the most impressive I have ever listened to.  As you can tell from my comprehensive play grading there is hardly any interference and even Side B plays extremely well with very little of the muddy/distorted sound that so often affects this side.  Side A and Side D are absolutely STUNNING I have never heard such clarity, depth and power and Side C is not far behind either.  There are so many highlights but 'Voodoo Chile' on Side A and the 'Slight Return' on Side D really do stand out as does 'All Along The Watchtower'.  So many highlights, too numerous to mention!  So yes the clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio is exceptional and is the reason why we listen to vinyl as this sonic quality cannot be replicated anywhere else.  A stunning album with a stunning cover also as detailed below.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeves

The laminated E.J. Day cover is in superb condition and is without doubt one of the finest I have seen in many a year.  It has retained its original shape and strength so well which can only mean it has not been handled very much over the years.  The edges have no wear and the wide spine is also in great shape with only a slight 'rough' feel to the touch where the laminate has been affected not that you can visibly see it.  All corners are super clean with barely any wear, just minimal creasing top left, and the opening edges are pristine.  How rare is that?!  The front cover is unmarked and has only a couple of minor laminate creases and some of the usual crease lines around the edges and the back cover is the same.  The inside of the gatefold is also in superb order with only some creases around the edges again and some minor laminate creases at the top and bottom of each panel although these can only be seen when you hold it at a certain angle.  For once the inner spine is in great condition with no real wear.  This is so close to an Ex+ grade but I think a very strong Ex is perhaps nearer the mark.

I am sure the two 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner sleeves started life together as they both look the same although one has 'Made In England 1/0170' printed on one side and the other has 'Made In England 109  42' on one side.  They do both have the same Patent numbers however.  The lettering is a different colour but they both look original and it would be surprising if they were 'mixed and matched' in the factory.  They are very clean with barely any marking and there are no side splits although one of them does have a couple of small tears on the central 'window'.  There is a little creasing also but they are definitely some of the better original sleeves that you will find.

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

The records have been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

Side A / 61300##8(etched) A//1   1 1 9

Side B / 61300#9 A(both etched)#//1   1 9

Side C / 613009 B ######(all etched) A//1   1 9 5 5

Side D / 613009#8(etched) B//1   1 5 4

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

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