JOHN MAYALL w/ ERIC CLAPTON Blues Breakers 1A/1A Mono PRESS Superb MINT- AUDIO

	£		180
	$		239

I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid / decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.
John Mayall with Eric Clapton : Blues Breakers (The Beano Album) 1A / 1A 1st Mono Press 1966
This very collectable mono pressing plays to an incredible standard - the clarity, depth, warmth and power of the audio is up there with the best I have ever heard.  There are no clicks or pops, no underlying static, and the only background is a couple of minor ticks.  I cannot emphasise enough how clean and precise the audio is and it easily qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE archive classic.  The vinyl is in lovely condition also and has only been lightly played.
The laminated cover is superb order with only the bare minimum of shelf wear and like the vinyl has been so well preserved down the years.  The inner sleeve is also in excellent condition.
This is not strictly speaking a first pressing as the unboxed ones with the grooved labels were the first issued.  This very early mono pressing has a non-grooved label but still has the 1A / 1A first press matrix.
LK 4804 //  ARL-7297-1A / ARL-7298-1A // UI 3 1 / BH 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The laminated cover is Ex+
The inner sleeve is Ex
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a stunning glossy sheen with no obvious marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a very small number of ultra faint hairlines.  S1 has a couple of adjacent hairline marks towards the end of the final track and S2 has a kind of horizontal hairline on T1 but neither has any affect on the superb audio.  The unboxed red Decca labels have no marking or writing and only a little spindle wear.  The JT tax stamp can clearly be seen on both run out grooves. 
Play grading
We begin with 'All Your Love' and it plays with superb audio from the word go.  The intro is faultless and Mayall's opening vocal section is just as impressive with no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  The audio is rich, warm and deep typical of 'clean' mono pressings and the mid instrumental has no intrusion.  The remainder is of the same high end standard and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint such is the quality of the audio.
'Hideaway' provides more evidence of a vinyl so well preserved / hardly played with a sonic quality that has not been affected by the passage of time.  The depth and warmth of the audio is astonishing and again there is no interference.  Featuring Clapton's intricate work and McVie's strong bass sound there is not one single negative.  I noticed just one barely audible dust tick and I do mean barely audible!  I am confident in grading this instrumental as Mint also.
The first Mayall penned track 'Little Girl' plays with phenomenal quality from start to finish without any background.  It's quite a powerful number and yet Mayall's vocal is as strong as ever with zero distortion.  Tremendous separation also - each note is so clean and precise.  Just played it back and noticed one very quiet static tick right at the end so will say Mint-
'Another Man' is just stunning!  The clarity and depth of sound is equal to that of any unplayed record and remember this is a sparse track with not too much going on.  A vocal, superb harmonica work and some hand-clapping!  There is no background not even any underlying static.  Mint
The piano on 'Double Crossing Time' plays perfectly and the opening vocal is equal to that.  It continues in the same precise way with nothing to detract from the audio and I cannot overstate just how strong, deep and clear the sound quality is.  Another Mint track.
The intro on 'What I'd Say' is more or less perfect with only one very quiet tick and the opening vocal has no intrusion.  From then on it plays with stunning clarity and definition and Flint's drum solo can only be described 'as new' with not even a single dust tick.  Wow!  The final vocal / interference has no interference and again Mint- deserved.
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'Key To Love' is as close to perfect as is possible.  I heard only a couple of background ticks but honestly they are so much in the background that you could easily miss them.  Mint- is fair.
There are 3/4 dull clicks in the dead wax prior to 'Parchman Farm' but then the intro has no interference at all.  The same applies to the opening vocal and it continues to play with a clarity and depth that is second to none.  Sonically it is perfect and it grades as Mint
The intro on 'Have You Heard' plays with stunning quality and Mayall's opening vocal is just as strong.  From then onwards it plays with sublime precision i.e. there is literally no background.  Once again you just have to admire the sonic quality on offer - every note is so sharp and precise and there is no distortion not even on the higher end of Clapton's guitar.  A wonderful Mint version in every way.
'Ramblin' On My Mind' of course features Clapton's first recorded vocal and it lends itself perfectly to this track.  From start to finish the audio cannot be faulted and Mint is deserved.  Impressive when you consider this is a relatively quiet track.
'Steppin' Out' and 'It Ain't Right' end the album in fine style with great power and clarity and.... no intrusion.  There is no distortion on either track and the sonic quality is superb.  Decca records were built to last and if the vinyl has been looked after there's no reason why it can't play with STUNNING quality.  There is no background whatsoever and Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio.  No exaggeration here and remember the final track is a powerful number.  Audio does not get better than this!
The 'Mono' Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The cover is in great condition with only minimal shelf wear.  The edges have no marking / rubbing and the thin pinched spine is still super clean and only slightly compressed in the centre.  All four corners are in superb shape and the opening edge has no handling wear all.  The laminated front cover has only a few of the usual faint edge creases next to the spine and the unlaminated back cover is so clean for its age.  It has barely any marking and only a couple of very small faint creases.  A fine example which is Ex+ at the very least.
The original Foreign Patents Pending inner sleeve is so clean and has no side splits and just one minor 'nick' on the central aperture.  It is unmarked and has only a little creasing.
LK 4804 //  ARL-7297-1A / ARL-7298-1A // UI 3 1 / BH 1
Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT VM-95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S Machine

I grade according to Record Collector Guidelines

Any questions please feel free to ask
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