Rolling Stones-UK-Let It Bleed-"Transitional" Pressing on Decca Records SKL 5025

$

31

Hello and Welcome! 

Despite being eBay Vintage Vinyl Sellers since 1999, we have recently elected to auction off several highly collectable, rare, and well-conditioned specimens 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.  We are ultra conservative in our complete analysis of the vinyl we choose to list for auction on eBay in order that no surprises will occur, other than happy ones.  

We have decided to offer for auction an Original and Scarce "Transitional" Pressing of The Rolling Stones UK 1969 Stereo Album: Let It Bleed on Decca Records SKL 5025.  This rare vinyl presents with with TWO DISTINCT variations of the UK Boxed, Blue Decca labels!  While both Side 1 and Side 2 labels show the 'Let it Bleed' release date as '1969', Side 2's label possesses what sources deem a "Type 1" style, with the silver print depicting "Mirage Music" at the label's 9:00 AM position, has the "Upside down" matrices type as "XZAL 9346", and "Side 2" at the 3:00 PM position.  The positioning of publishing credits is completely different for both sides (Please see photos) as well as the type-set font showing different sizes and placement of print.  It is believed that these labels were only found on late 1969 first pressings and early second pressings (1970).  

Most Rolling Stones enthusiasts and fans would place 'Let it Bleed' as one of the Top 3 Albums in The Stones' Vinyl Catalogue.  There isn't a "weak" song on the album.  In fact, 6 out of the 9 tracks on this masterpiece, become immediate concert staples in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and we are talking about 'Let It Bleed', 'Love In Vain, 'Live With Me', 'Midnight Rambler', Gimmie Shelter', and 'You Can't Always Get What You Want."  More recently, The Rolling Stones introduced '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 percussionists 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.P-1W  Stampers: 2D/JT/O    Side 2: XZAL-9364-P-3W  Stampers: 1/JT/C 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 Transitional 1969-1970 Pressing is yet another Decca Records 'Heavyweight' vinyl and we acquired it in the UK in 2006.  According to its prior original owner, it had lay dormant and unplayed in its original "LIB" jacket for over two decades.  Upon its initial rotation on our turntable, we noticed that the LP showed a slight rise on Side 2.  Please note that this mild unevenness DOES NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE AUDIO DELIVERY.  Both sides of this vinyl present with Full Gloss and Sheen.  There are only a few, strictly superficial surface lens on Side 1 and Side 2 is nearly devoid of any lines.  There are no scruffs, pit marks, signs of groove-wear on either side of this 42 year old slab of wax.  Many sellers would give this vinyl a grade of NM or NM-, but we are extremely conservative in our rating of any album which we have decided to list on eBay, or any other site.  This is an absolutely splendid vinyl which we feel merits a Goldmine Grade of VG++ (Exc+)        

LABELS:  The Deep Blue "Boxed" Decca Labels on both sides do show minor signs of spindle wear and "spidering."  There are no signs of writing, rips, tears on either side.  We examined the labels in daylight, under normal room "lighting", and, of course, under our high intensity lights.  Our photos will highlight our Goldmine Grade: VG+

JACKET:  Our 'Let It Bleed' Jacket was printed was Printed In England and was Laminated with 'Clarafoil' by British Celanese Limited.  We examined this jacket from many different angles and we have provided several photographs of this specimen.  We start from the front-side laminated portion and it presents with only 3  'crease' marks on the right side, where the album opening is.  There are only a few, very small crease lines, which require a search to even find, but this is an excellent example of a laminated sleeve.  It has remained highly glossy, the colors are vibrant and bright, and there are no signs of demarkation e.g. writing, rips, etc.  Of course, the Black Sticker which advertises the Full Color ROLLING STONES POSTER remains affixed to the front, left side. **THERE IS NO POSTER IN OUR SET**.    Moving to the top and bottom "rims, we see that both the Top and Bottom rims are intact; however, there is a 4 inch area to the right side which is starting to separate.  This can easily be fixed by the winner of this album IF this does require a bit of a light glueing in the future.  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 of the spine are showing very minor tip wear from prolonged storage.  On the reverse non-laminated side of this extraordinarily preserved jacket, there is the faintest sign of an LP's indentation.   This non-laminated side has kept its white background, sans for a tiny brown circle above the "U" in 'You Got The Silver" and some storage "foxing".  This back cover is free of any rips, writing, tears or  laminate lifting on the right side.  Speaking of the right side laminate flap, it 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- (Exc ++).   

INNER SLEEVE:  The UK Decca Rare Blue-lined "Stereo" 'Let It Bleed' Custom Sleeve is original to this album.  This sleeve is the rare "CENSURED" variation, which has a black rectangle over the credit to the choir.  The uncensured variant can be seen on the earlier Mono and Stereo 'Bleed' inner sleeves.  There are no seam splits, rips, tears, writing or any other structural flaw on this splendid vintage paper sleeve.  Of course this rare piece is included in the auction, yet we have housed the album in an anti-static, poly-lined new generic inner sleeve which we will use to ship/post the vinyl.  Goldmine Grade:   VG++  

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 1969/70, 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.  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 09/24/2012, 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.  Side one's first two tracks played with a low level "static" in the background, yet we attributed this to the need for more cleanings and the time it spent unplayed, gathering dust.  In no way, shape or form was this static a distraction to these classic, legendary songs.  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, during the "louder" parts of these tracks, 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!  All instances of the aforementioned "static" magically disappeared on this track as well as on the remainder of this side.  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 on the last three tracks of Side 1 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 some minor, non-distracting low background crackle appears, and than goes away a few moments later.  "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.  "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:  VG++/Exc+   

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Payment

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

-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 and an average 3-5 Day Delivery Time to anywhere in the world.  Estimated Cost is $44.00 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.

**WE NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY**  

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 Mylar or 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 "stiffeners" 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!