RYAN ADAMS - CALIFORNIA EP [PAX AM] 2x7" Rare Double Vinyl 45RPM (2004) +Digital

$

55

PLEASE READ: I'm a professional collector with a massive and growing personal collection which has started to outgrow my media room. To make room for new acquisitions I am selling off the majority of my duplicates, many of which were purchased on eBay during the last 10 years. I am not a professional grader, buy I will do my best to give a thorough and accurate description. Bidding for all items begins at $9.99. The Buy It Now price represents what I would pay for the items in their current condition. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I will be listing other items between now and mid-November, including rare vinyl, Japanese imports, artist direct, limited, fan club and promo releases in order to clear up some much needed shelf space.

Ryan Adams - California [Pax Am] 2 x 7" vinyl EP (USA) 2004 [45RPM]

A. California

B. Waves Crashing

C. Secret Powers

D. Do You Wanna Get High?

I love this album. Love it. Of everything in my vast music collection this is one of my all-time favorites and not just by Ryan Adams but period, so much so that I've bought it five different times. [I know that sounds like b.s. so I included a photo to prove it.] This album was pressed on yellow marbled vinyl in a limited release, and although no one seems to know for sure how many copies are in circulation, the demand definitely exceeds the supply.

This album is as well known to Ryan Adams fans as it is rare. Originally sold exclusively on tour in 2004, this EP (along with The Rescue Blues 2x7" EP and the Now That You're Gone 7" single) has become his most sought after release. Ryan Adams created Pax Americana (label) to release these early demos back in 2004, but since he completed his contract with UMG/Lost Highway in 08/09 all new Ryan Adams music has been released on this label. These early tour EPs did not have the PAXAM catalog numbers (the etching on this one is simply "CALIFORNIA"), but the first single released ("Thank You") when he relaunched the label in 2009 was PAXAM004, so either the first three digital singles are PAXAM001-3, or these three original tour-only releases are. Personally, I think of this as the first album released (PAXAM001) by Ryan Adams on his own label (although "The Rescue Blues" was likely pressed at the exact same time).

The best guess is that this material was recorded in early 2000, months before the recording of Heartbreaker (his solo debut), as part of a collection of 4-Track Demos which are collectively known as Exile On Franklin Street, one of several bootleg albums from 2000-2001 (a very prolific period which produced way more music than any major label would have been comfortable releasing). The rumor back in the day was that this and several other unreleased albums and session would be released as a box set, and although those rumors died down when Demolition was released (a collection of songs from the various albums/session), it's resurfaced several times since. To date, the only official release of these songs is this double vinyl EP (and to the best of my knowledge, none of these songs have ever been performed live), and they will likely not be rereleased for a long time, if ever.

Part of why I love this EP so much, beyond just the music, is that it sounds so much older than it is, and everything from the lack of production polish, the room ambience, the low-fi effects, and the vinyl hiss help to build that illusion. There's a real sense of discovery the first time you hear it, like you found it in someone's attic where it's been buried in a footlocker under other obscure mid-sixties singles for the last forty years. Normally the lack of information on an album (who played on it, produced it, engineered it where it was recorded and when) really bothers me, but here it would spoil the mystique.

This is my first copy of this EP and it's not in mint condition (and after five attempts I've pretty much given up on finding a copy that is). There is some creasing along the top and spine, but very minor. There is some creasing in the bottom-left and top-right of the back cover (which I photographed). The top two (front) corners are a little dented (see photos). While several Ryan Adams releases, most notably the Wonderwall singles, have been made to look aged, the small black marks on the back cover are not supposed to be there (see photo). There are two spots on the front cover, the most noticeable of which is in the letter "C" in California (which I photographed). All of this is minor and cosmetic, but as this always sells, and usually not for cheap, I want you to know exactly what you are getting.

As for the vinyl itself, there is a very, very slight warp to both 45s which does not affect playback in any way. The C/D side single plays flawlessly, no scratches. Not true for the A/B side. This 45 is not scratched exactly, but there is a mark located in identical spots on both sides. It almost looks like something pinched both sides while it was spinning. It is noticeable during playback, usually sounding like any old 45 would, but there is a repetitive pop near the end of "California" which stands out. The jacket creasing, spots on the cover, and mark on the vinyl came from the previous owner, who never mentioned it when he listed it, but I'm doing it here. Just so you know, I've been using this as my go-to copy when I want to play these songs on my turntable. To me, the light additional noise just augments the illusion of a rare vintage album, but I realize that might not be true for everyone.

To make up for any loss in audio quality to the vinyl, I'm going to include a flawless digital copy of all the tracks included here (plus a little something extra) on a Verbatim "Digital Vinyl" CD-R. Any questions about the digital copy or its contents please send me a message. This album has sold for well over $100 before, but with the wear to the A/B side I can't ask for more than that. What I can do is allow this highly-collectable piece of Ryan Adams music memorabilia (and digital copy) to find a new home for only $9.99. If you need any additional information on the condition of this album or anything else please feel free ask.

Every Saturday between now and November 16 I will be listing a handful of new items. The first 3 Saturdays in November I will list my rare vinyl duplicates. Artists include Ryan Adams (California & Rescue Blues 2x7" and more), Thievery Corporation (The Richest Man In Babylon 4x12", 2001: Spliff Odyssey and more), some Zero 7, some U2 and others. I don't like to buy and won't sell vinyl during warm summer months. Remember, no matter how well someone packs a records, or how fast it ships, it only needs to be exposed to high temperatures or direct sunlight for a short time before it starts to warp.

November 2 – Ryan Adams vinyl & more

November 9 – U2 vinyl, Thievery corporation vinyl & more

November 16 – Thievery Corporation vinyl, Zero 7 vinyl, U2

All auctions will end on November 24th

If I overcharge on International Shipping I will refund the difference - I'm not trying to profit on shipping charges, I just want to make sure I get enough to cover the costs. Sometimes I am able to ship for almost half what I charged (I try to do this whenever possible - depends on how I package the items and the final weight/measurement of that package). If that happens, the difference gets refunded immediately after shipping. Always.

Buyers will have 8 days to pay or contact me. I now offer combined shipping on multiple items, even if they are packaged separately (during an 8 day period), giving you a week to wait for other auction items to end. Tracking numbers will be provided on all domestic shipping. I strongly encourage you to contact me if you want/need to wait more than 8 days to pay. My thanks in advance to those with good communication and prompt payment, and I hope you enjoy the music!