Rolling Stones-UK-Let It Bleed-1969 First Pressing LP on Decca Records SKL 5025

$

250

Hello and Welcome!  

Despite being eBay Vintage Vinyl Sellers since 1999, we have recently elected to auction off the majority of our personal album collection under this new screen-name. We pride ourselves as collectors, sellers and most importantly, true purists when it comes to this hobby which has turned into a huge on-line business for many folks.   Unlike many eBay sellers of LPs these days, we still feel compelled to write up complete as well as accurate descriptions of our vinyl in order that no surprises will occur, other than happy ones.  This is why we take painstaking efforts to describe every detail of our play-graded LPs, which never seem to disappoint our buyers.   

We have decided to offer for auction an Original and Exquisite Pristine Conditioned First Pressing of The Rolling Stones UK 1969 Stereo Album: Let It Bleed on Decca Records SKL 5025.  When we decided to place 'Beggars Banquet' on auction (Please Take a Look at Our  'Beggars Banquet auction  ; ), we referenced 'BB' as a Top 5 Rolling Stones Album.  'Let it Bleed' is one of the Top 3 Albums on The Stones' Vinyl Catalogue.  There isn't a weak" song on the album.  In fact, 5 out of the 9 tracks on this masterpiece, have become concert staples in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and we are talking about 'Let It Bleed', 'Love In Vain, 'Midnight Rambler', Gimmie Shelter', and 'You Can't Always Get What You Want."  More recently, The Rolling Stones have reintroduced 'Live With Me' (which should have added to the previous list since this was a staple on both the 1969 and 1972 Stones Touring Party or STP), 'Monkey Man' which is our personal favorite composition on 'LIB' and was finally played live in the early 2000s, and even Keith Richards dusted off the cobwebs on his first complete solo lead vocal with 'You Got The Silver' in 2010.  No other Rolling Stones album has yielded this amount of live concert material, and we know many people who consider 'Bleed' the band's finest work.

"LIB" is unique in that it was the only time that one of the co-founding members of The Rolling Stones and his successor were BOTH credited on an officially released studio album.  Brian Jones is listed as 'playing' percussion' on 'Midnight Rambler as well as 'Autoharp' on Keef's 'You Got The Silver'.  Mick Taylor, who would succeed Jones as lead guitarist in the band, was noted as the second guitarist on 'Live With Me' as well as playing the slide guitar on 'Country Honk'.  Interestingly, "LIB" allowed Richards to showcase his oft- criticized skills as a top guitarist, since he was the only guitar player on seven out of nine "LIB" tracks.  Keith's searing guitar work on 'Gimmie Shelter' as well as the wildly funked out 'Monkey Man', proved to us that he most definitely should be considered as one of the Top 20 Greatest Rock Guitarists of All-Time, despite Mick Taylor's irrefutable superiority as a legendary axeman.  However, on this album, what one is most struck by remains the incredible drum work of one of the most under-appreciated and over-looked "skins-men" in the history of music.  Charlie Watts' drumming on "LIB" provided a band which was clearly in transition (Brian Jones' departure from the band and pre-mature death and the inclusion of Mick Taylor as Brian's replacement), with consistent stability in terms of the Stones' rhythm section, not to mention that his percussion skills seemingly propelled the Rolling Stones into uncharted territory.  Charlie's timing is flawless and is also a major driving force of every song on this LP.  In our estimation, no other Rolling Stones album, and we are talking 50 years of material, has ever underscored or emphasized how vital Charlie Watts is to this band.  This LP and the 1969 tour brought the humble and quiet Watts his much-deserved acknowledgement as one of the best percusionists in all of music.  'Let it Bleed' serves those Stones fans a banquet which required all of the band members to share the cooking, and that this machine was not solely driven by Mick or Keith.  At least, not on this quintessential album.  

 MATRICES/STAMPERS/RUN-OFF WAX DATA: 

Side 1: XZAL 9363-P3  Stampers: 1/JT/CM    Side 2: XZAL 9364-P3  Stampers: 1/JT/U II   

Our Goldmine Grading of this or any other album entails a Visual Assessment of the Vinyl, Labels, Jacket, Inner Sleeve and Inserts (If Applicable) as well as an Aural Evaluation.  All pre-owned LPs that we put up for auction are first professionally cleaned with our VPI 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine prior to being Play-Graded on a Denon DP 54-F Turntable equipped with a SHURE M97xE Cartridge/Stylus.  Our Pre-Amp is a Denon PMA 750.  Our Polk Audio Speakers allow one the opportunity to hear any sonic distortion, variation in sound quality such as drops in sound levels, detection of the slightest background noise e.g. crackle, clicking, and, of course, jumps. All of our albums are stored upright and kept in an air conditioned, smoke free environment and are, or have been protected by polyurethane jacket protectors since our acquisition of them.  

VISUAL GRADES

VINYL:  This Stereophonic First 1969 Pressing is yet another Decca Records 'Heavyweight' vinyl, but "Bleed" even surpasses our other First Pressing Rolling Stones Album, "Beggars Banquet" which is currently listed in an other auction of ours, in gross weight.  We were shocked to read the scale whilst "Bleed" tipped in at exactly 6 ounces!  Side 1 presents with Full Gloss and Shine.  As incredible as this sounds, there wasn't a "Hairline" visible, even under high intensity lighting!  This is a 43 year old slab of vinyl and we have had our share of the "common denominator" types of "LIB" vinyls, one which many a Rolling Stones collector knows about.  Examples that are rated as "Ex", upon opening, show up with scars, pit marks or are dull, life-less, and/or are peppered with deep scruff marks, filled with deeper marks than simply "removal Hairlines", and even gouges which render any LP, unplayable.  Our copy is the absolute antithesis of that type of wax.  Side 1 of this stunning LP, showed only 3 extraordinarily thin, faint and distinct lines which were not clustered together.  Side 2, like Side 1, presented with Full Gloss and a sheen which was breathtaking, even though we owned this LP for 3 years!  There is only 1 superficial, extremely thin, yet visible line on the vinyl's surface, which spans from track 1 through track 2 on this side.  We must stress that this line HAD NO IMPACT on the audio whatsoever.  As we looked under the halogen lamps, we could not detect even one other mark, including the usual and typical "hairlines" which populate vinyl albums from this time.  Side 2 presented without any scruffs, groove wear, and the LP simply reflected back our own images in the run-off wax!  In fact, this copy of "LIB" could not have been played more than 5-6 times during its life-span.  It is one of the finest visual specimens of ANY 1969 Original 1st press "Let it Bleed" albums we have ever seen or owned.      Goldmine Grade: NM  

LABELS:  The Deep Blue "Open" Decca Labels on both sides are in Pristine Condition.  We examined the labels in daylight, under normal room "lighting", and, of course, under our high intensity lights.  We could not detect a single line on Side 1 and the label simply looks as if it were manufactured that day.  Under the halogen lamps, we saw 3, possibly 4 extremely faint indications of short spider lines on Side 2.  No evidence of writing exists, no print fade is apparent, no tears exist and both labels are simply magnificent in their presentation.  Goldmine Grade: NM

JACKET:  This Let It Bleed Jacket was Printed In England By Upton Printing Group and was Laminated with 'Clarafoil' by British Celanese Limited.  We examined this jacket from many different angles and we have provided photographs of this specimen.  We start from the front-side laminated portion and it is simply breathtaking.  There are only 2 tiny, nearly invisible 'crease' marks; one is above the "T" in "IT", the other is is on the right-side of the tire in the cake picture.  That's it.  There is no signs of laminate lifting, ring-wear, or even the initial signs of organic aging or damage when looking at the front cover.  It has remained highly glossy, all of the colors are vibrant and bright, and there are no signs of demarkation e.g. writing, rips, etc.  Moving to the top and bottom "rims, we see that these seams are100% intact and look as if they were just manufactured.  The laminated spine is fully intact and suffice to say, the band's name, album title, and the Decca catalogue numbers which include BOTH the mono as well as stereo catalogue numbers, are fully and completely legible.  Both corners are showing very minor tip wear from prolonged storage.  On the reverse non-laminated side of this extraordinarily preserved jacket, there is what appears to be a circle, where a price tag may have been removed.  Within this tiny circle, one may be able to see a 2 cm long biro/pen notation, which we cannot define.  It may be a price of the LP in British Pounds, but we simply do not know.  What we do know is that this is the only area of the jacket which is not in unbelievably brilliant condition, and it actually doesn't even detract from the reverse side's appearance.  There is a tiny "ding" to the left corner.  Backs of these jackets are generally discolored, have brownish spots on them, or are otherwise defaced by prior owners who would write their names on a corner or someplace on this portion.  Not on our copy!  This non-laminated side has managed to remain white and free of any rips, tears, or browning.  Turning our attention to yet another area of this particular title's jacket which is often prone to damage, the right side laminate flap is fully intact and affixed to the right side.  All print is legible, clear, sharp, and bright.  We are proud to say that there is absolutely no signs of "feathering" on the opening slit where the LP slips in, since it is patently obvious that this album was extremely well cared for by whoever had it.  We can go on and on about how beautiful this jacket is, or how it glistens when the light hits it, but we won't.  Instead, we will proudly assign an extremely rare (for us) rating to this gem of a jacket:   Goldmine Grade:  NM  

INNER SLEEVE:  The UK Decca Rare Blue-lined "Stereo" Uncensured Let It Bleed Custom Sleeve is original to this album.  There are no seam splits, rips, tears, writing or any other flaw found with this "Like New" example of a vintage paper sleeve which was probably never used to store this LP.  We acquired this incredible album with an additional UK Poly-lined sleeve which was the one that housed the LP.  This second UK Sleeve is one that may also be used for another vintage Stereo Rolling Stones album, or to continue the wonderful job that it has obviously been doing for this LP!  It will house the LP during shipping/posting.   Goldmine Grade:   NM  

POSTER:    Of course, there is a poster!  After all, the Black Sticker with White Print states the following:  "Full Color Rolling Stones Poster Included".  We have seen too many copies with damaged posters, posters with pin-holes, posters which look like the dog ripped off chunks of the delicate paper and obviously, copies of this title without ANY poster at all.  Our album has the ultra-rare Victor Kahn designed Poster which appeared to have never been removed or even unfolded until last night's photo shoot.  This splendid poster of The Rolling Stones is essentially a "new" 43 year old item.  We gingerly unfolded this important component of this album and snapped three pictures of it for your own analysis of its condition.      Goldmine Grade:   NM 

PLAY-GRADE 

We have taken extensive notes on this iconic Rolling Stones LP's aural delivery.  We are selling this Rare Vintage album "as is" and as such, we have listened to every track on this vinyl extremely carefully, at different audio levels, and with a critical ear.  Despite this LP being pressed in 1969, we cut it no quarter, since it is being listed EXACTLY as what it is.  This highly collectable title is incredibly difficult to even find in any condition and the onus remains on us to provide any potential Rolling Stones Vinyl Collector with an accurate evaluation of not just the visual dynamics of a beautiful vinyl, but the most crucial element pertaining to it, that being, how this record plays and sounds.  UK "Let it Bleed" albums, by auction history, are very coveted in either the mono format or in the stereo format.  There are few copies which we have seen that have the visual appeal of this particular collectable LP.  However, if one is going to spend money on any commodity which has the potential to rise in value, it needs to be right on ALL levels.  Finally, and this is something we state over and over again in our listings, and this sentiment comes straight from our love and respect for this hobby and those folks who make it such a wonderful experience.  Any record album which we offer to you, must be one which we ourselves would buy at auction.  Plain and simple.

On 04/15/2012, we cleaned this vinyl with our Professional VPI 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine and allowed it to air dry in order to lesson any instances of "static" during its Play-Grading session.  There were a few seconds of "static" PRIOR to the haunting guitar introduction to '"Gimmie Shelter".  Although rather insignificant, we felt that those few moments of what we heard, had far more to do with the vinyl getting its first VPI cleaning in its life-time just a few minutes prior to its evaluation then to anything else.  In fact, Keith's legendary opening guitar riff took over, as Mick' vocals, Bill Wyman's heavy bass lines, and, of course, Charlie Watts thunderous, yet controlled drumming, made our Polk Speakers work in a manner which they hadn't experienced in some time.  "Love in Vain", which the Rolling Stones borrowed from Bluesman Woody Payne and never seemed to return it back, begins with a couple of low level 'pops', just audible enough for us to even notice due to the aural magnitude of the sweet, somber solitude of a single guitar's strings distinctly starting to weep over a sad, lonely tale of a love lost.  For those familiar with this track, and you must be if you even have read any of this, it is on that second stanza when Charlie's drums begin to pound like a amplified heartbeat and on this LP, the pounding soon transforms into crashing thunder, which is accompanied perfectly by Bill Wyman's surging bass.  As this tune travels on, we heard such clear stereo clarity and the boys sounded as if they were doing a live show in a small bar sans the chattering of men and women.  Although we are admitted lovers of the mono format of music, this LP still delivered a sonic punch, albeit with a bit more intricacies, such as being able to distinctly hear members of the band talking in the studio during several songs--one dynamic which the mono version of the LP may not have captured as distinctly as this early stereo wax does.  

We swear that one of us actually looked out the window when "Country Honk" reached that piece where that oh so familiar car horn mimicked the sounds that we hear everyday in urban America!  For this listener, what remained stuck in my head, was that sizzling fiddle which was the perfect amount of spice for what really is only a country version of "Honky Tonk Woman".  This track, in particular, sounded superbly mixed, especially when Mick is joined on vocals by Keith.  One of the most raucous rockers "Live With Me" plays so loud and ferocious that even if the volume is turned down a wee bit, it still is a thumping bass driven, hodgepodge of guitars, piano, drums, and vocals which synchronize perfectly on this UK "Bleed", which is, for the record--no pun intended--so much more powerful then its US twin.  Keith is playing bass guitar on this track and this is when Mick Taylor's lead guitar work begins to scorch the ears as well as the speakers, particularly if one stays true to the inner sleeve's "demand" that "This Record Should Be Played Loud."  We did, and the result was hearing how "new" this vinyl sounded, despite it physically being 43 years old.  "Let it Bleed" tracked flawlessly and the sonics again, were described by one of us as "majestic."

Side 2 begins with "Midnight Rambler", one track which always seemed to be a "better" song live than in the studio, for some reason.  Nevertheless, on our vinyl, its subtle, growing intensity reaches its climax and then…Keith's guitar is is simply allowing Mick to ask, or rather, anticipate our already known answer; "Did you hear about the Boston…"  It is prior to that question where a revolution or two of very minor, faint "crackle" can be heard, which then disappears just as quickly.  "You Got The Silver" is a notable song in that it is the first full track since The Rolling Stones formed, which features Keith Richards on lead vocals.  Richards' Dylanesque singing voice is loud and clear and Keef actually makes this tune move.  A few spots of faint crackle reappear only during the quieter, softest moments of the song, and then disappear for the remainder of the album.  "Monkey Man" almost sounds as if it were recorded in punchy mono at times, but as this piece becomes more 'funky', the blast of stereo clarity, the vibes, the lightening fast leads, Watts' jungle-like drumming, transform Mick into the subject of this primal scream…This may be our favorite track on this album, as it is a "busy" song--so much is being delivered to the speakers, and it just fits, as chaotic as this song gets.   "You Can't Always Get What You Want" in stereo, is another brilliant composition as we are told yet another story about Mr. Jimmy, drugs, and just when you feel that you can relax, another element of music socks it right back at you, with a jam session worthy of any album the Stones ever made.  And, just as this song closes out "Let it Bleed", the door to the last year of the 1960s Rolling Stones ended.  Goldmine Grade:  NM   

THIS AUCTION HAS A MODEST RESERVE AND IS A PRIVATE LISTING       

*******

Payment

...is due within 48 hours Of Auction's End and via PayPal and must be made in US Dollars $

FREE USA SHIPPING!!!

VIA

 USPS 2 DAY PRIORITY MAIL 

We Do Ship/Post Worldwide; However, International Bidders Will Need to Accept The Following Terms If They Elect To Bid On This Item:

**WE WILL NOT POST/SHIP TO ITALY**

-All Payments Must Be Made Via PayPal and in USD Currency.

-Shipping/Posting WILL Require ALL International Bidders to Agree to have this Parcel shipped Via USPS International Express Mail which allows Tracking and Insurance.  Estimated Cost is $41.00 USD.

We have Pre-Set Discounts On Posting Costs, Do Not Charge 'Handling" Fees, Nor Apply Any Costs Of Our Highest Industry Standard Packaging Materials To A Winning Bidder's End Of Auction Cost.  

How Your Vinyl Will Be Packed

All LPs won from our eBay listings are first professionally cleaned with our VPI 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine and immediately placed in an anti-static poly-lined Inner Sleeve and/or a polyethylene 3 ml Album Protector prior to being professionally shipped/posted.  All Vinyl is separated from its Album Jacket.  We provide a second polyethylene/Mylar Album Protector for the Album's Jacket, Original Inner Sleeve, and any Inserts, if applicable.  Vinyl is placed between 2 cardboard pads or "stiffiners" and sandwiched between these 2 pads.  The pads and vinyl are appropriately secured and placed inside a NEW, TOP INDUSTRY STANDARD VINYL RECORD MAILER.  The Album's Jacket, already protected with a 3 ml polyethylene/Mylar Protector, is then placed on top of the sandwiched vinyl.  If needed, an additional cardboard insert or plastic "cushioning" is placed on top of the jacket's poly/mylar protector.  Finally, we secure the Vinyl Album Mailer and mark the parcel "Handle with Care" as well as "Fragile" in various spots on the mailer.

We've packed thousands of Vinyl Albums, EPs, Old and Fragile 78 RPM records as well as 7" Singles over the Past 15 years.  Our items have been shipped over the entire planet and we have never had a package arrive to a buyer damaged or had any  parcel end up missing.  Delivery Confirmation is Applied to All Domestic Packages as well as Insurance for value.  At this point in time, we Ship/Post World-wide (Excluding Italy Due To Their Postal System's Failure to Deliver Packages in a  timely rate which is acceptable to eBay)  and We Use Only USPS Express International (Expedited Posting) Mail.  This is the only way a parcel can be Tracked, have Delivery Confirmation Applied to it, and affords us the ability to place Any Amount Of Insurance on the item.  

-Seller Reserves The Right To Cancel Any Bids From Questionable Bidders (Low Feedback Percentage, Blocked Countries).

Any and all questions about this item, will be answered in a timely manner.  We ask that all questions be submitted via the eBay e-mail mechanism.

Have Fun and Bid on this unique LP!