SAM COOKE LIVE HARLEM SQUARE CLUB 1963 PROMO LP + MAN & HIS MUSIC VINYL SAMPLER

$

36

     This auction is for TWO (2) PROMOTIONAL ALBUMS BY SAM COOKE  --  "LIVE AT THE HARLEM SQUARE CLUB, 1963"  and   "THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC / THE SAM COOKE SAMPLER.   I play-tested both of these album in their entirety. 


     "LIVE AT THE HARLEM SQUARE CLUB, 1963"  --  I don't know how this ever stayed in the vaults for over two decades.  RCA supposedly "found the results too loud, raw and raucous"...no shit!  One listen to this album and you'll hear why this is considered to be one of the best live albums of all time...and if you're not crying by the end of side two, then you're dead.  Sam is ON FIRE, and I believe the audience is a lot of the reason why.

     On a side note, this is the version of this concert that you want.  According to the kind folks over at Wikipedia, there are three different versions of this release.  I would consider the original vinyl pressing mix the best.  This mix contains a louder audience response (however, it also contains some minor instrumental studio overdubbing not on later mixes).  The mix on the 2000 box set, "The Man Who Invented Soul", cleans up Sam's vocals (?) and brings the audience down in the mix.  Finally, there is the 2005 version...but this worthless version supposedly has a defect on "Twistin' The Night Away" where the song actually skips at the 0:56 mark (that has never been fixed).

     On to the album.  Catalogue number is AFLI - 5181, and was released in 1985 on the RCA Records label.  The COVER of the album is in VERY GOOD PLUS condition.  There are some light creases, snubbed corners...nothing major, but certainly not in mint condition.  Photo #3 shows an impression of the number "5" in the upper right corner of the front cover (this was probably made when a label was placed there and the number was written on the label...not the cover itself...and it created an impression).  There is also a small amount of white wear on the very tip of this corner.  Pic #4 is of the bottom right corner where you can see a light crease running up through Sam's shirt (it actually goes up and beyond this point, but the crease is really light at that point).  There is a snub on this bottom right corner.

     Moving along the bottom edge and to the left (see pic #5), there is a small white mark, with a light crease on both sides of this mark.  A small amount of white wear is on the very tip of the bottom left corner.  Along the closed, right edge, there is a crease right above Sam's hand (you may be able to see this in an enlargement of photo #2).  Along the top, there is some minor shelf wear above his name, and a small crease (pic #6) above the letter "A" in "Sam".

     Turning to the back cover, you can see the large gold promo stamp in the top right corner of photo #7.  There are a couple creases around this gold stamp, and a long light cut line (as if someone took a blade to the cover and was going to cut this gold stamp out) that runs from the left of the barcode and under the gold stamp.  See pic #8 for a closeup of this area.  There is some minor scuffing and shelf wear that can be seen if you tilt the cover in to the light.  There are no split seams.

     The vinyl record ALBUM is in EXCELLENT condition.  No loud pops (I don't think I heard ANY pops, because they could easily be mistaken for hand clapping on this particular album) or wear to be heard.




     Next up is the "THE SAM COOKE SAMPLER".   This is a promotional sampler containing highlights from the 1986, 28 song collection "The Man and His Music".  Catalogue number is JW-14315.


     The COVER is in VERY GOOD condition.  There is one small corner snub, some very light shelf wear, and some light markings here and there.  You can see the front of the cover in pic #1, and the back cover in pic #10.  No split seams...per se.  The bottom seam has completely come apart due to the glue drying out (pic #11).  I have fixed these myself in the past just by applying a small amount of rubber cement along the original glue line and then putting some weight (heavy books usually) on the area for a day.  Good as new.


     The vinyl record ALBUM is in VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS  (VG++) condition.  Frankly, I don't get the medleys on side one at all.  What's the point?  I heard some light tics on the small portion of the medley that contains "A Change is Gonna Come".  There are three complete songs on side two, and this supposedly contains the full-length, unedited version of "A Change is Gonna Come" (available for the first time in twenty years).  With a little fixing, this promo release is good if you don't already own it.


     There you have it my friends.  And the best thing about this auction?  That greedy S.O.B. Allen Klein's company ABKCO doesn't get a dime from it!  Though he passed away in 2009, his daughter Jody Klein picked up where he left off.  The man who destroyed the two greatest rock bands of all time...The Beatles (tho they were on the way down anyway, he certainly pushed them over the edge as their business manager in the very late 60s) and The Rolling Stones (ABKCO owns the rights to all their 1963 to 1970 output...forever). 



     If you have any questions about these items, please feel free to email me.  Also, check out my other auctions going on NOW of various other items of interest (including the 2-CD box set "Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story").  Thanks again for looking...during these most very...very...very...troubled times...

     SHIPPING RATES (all rates include cost of shipping materials):

United States (Domestic)

Media Mail (affordable, but can be slow - especially to the West Coast):

$ 4.00 1st LP, $ 1.00 each additional LP.

US Priority Mail (faster, but pricier):

$ 9.95 1st LP, $ 2.00 each additional

INTERNATIONAL RATES

Canada (First Class International) ***

$ 17.25 1st LP, $ 3.00 each additional

Mexico (First Class International)

$ 21.50 1st LP, $ 3.00 each additional

Worldwide (First Class International) ***

$ 24.00 1st LP, $ 4.00 each additional (up to 4 total).

For more than four albums, Priority Mail International (roughly double the 1st Class Costs) or insurance, contact me for specifics.

*** NOTE: SHIPPING UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES OVER $ 100 (Such as Priority with Tracking, Registered, etc. Rates and services vary by country).

Cost of postage includes $ 1.75 for shipping materials (including cardboard mailer and polysleeve).  I separate the vinyl from the cover when shipping all opened LP's.

Record Grading:

MINT (10) Perfect! Still sealed albums are presumed MINT, but covers may not be. I will not grade any opened album as "mint", since there's obviously been some handling.

NEAR MINT (9.5) ---- Close, but one or two tiny flaws that do not impact play. Vinyl may have a barely visible scuff mark, but no scratches. Label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers close to perfect with very minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident.

EXCELLENT (9) ----Disc plays near-perfect. There could be scuffs or a hairline scratch or two that does not impact play. Vinyl is bright and shiny. Label is clean and unmarked. Cover may have some slight corner creases or minor ringwear.

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (8) ---- Record handled and played occasionally, but very carefully. Very minor scratches and/or scuffs that should have little impact on the sound quality, or minor label imperfection---noted, but otherwise clean. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS records may have some light surface noise during quiet passages or between tracks. Covers: one or two minor wear issues such as writing on cover, corner creases, some ringwear, minor staining, etc. (All noted).

VERY GOOD PLUS (7) ----The record has been cared for, but has some minor flaws. Light scratches and/or marks/scuffs that won't make a big impact. Light surface noise here and there, but nothing to overwhelm the listening experience. Covers may have a few minor defects (duly noted). Those who are looking for pristine-only might not be pleased, but most music fans would be happy to have a collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD (6)---- The record has been played often with some care, but also a little neglect. Record displays visible surface wear---scratches or scuffs that will cause some minor to perhaps occasionally moderate surface noise. Vinyl could be "dull" at this point and not "shiny', or still perhaps shiny, but then a little more scratched-up. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. Most music fans would be happy to have a highly collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD MINUS (5) ---- Well-played with little luster and moderate surface noise, but skip-free. Lots of scratches/scuffs or fewer but more deeper marks. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork---seam splits, significant ring wear, tears, cuts, taping (all noted). I will only sell RARE "VERY GOOD MINUS" records.

GOOD (4) --- Pretty beat-up with lots of scratches, but not dead yet. Record should still appear not to skip, though it's possible it can. Surface noise is moderate to occasionally heavy. Seam splits are usually a bigger issue around this level with the records better off in a plastic sleeve. I only sell VERY RARE "GOOD" records. They are certainly "good enough" until another copy comes along.

GOOD MINUS (3) --- Even more beat with tons of scratches and LOTS of surface noise. Skips are possible, though I wouldn't intentionally sell a record that does. Given the right moment, fans could probably enjoy a GOOD MINUS record, but might also be irritated by it at times. I will only sell VERY VERY RARE "GOOD MINUS" records. Covers are hanging together by a thread (seams shot) but not intentionally defaced.

FAIR (2) ----FAIR records appear and sound lousy (significant surface noise, horrific scratches). I won't sell these, unless I find something that is SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Expect skipping or a very unpleasant listen. Covers may be defaced, seamless, stained beyond belief.

POOR (1) ---- Unlistenable and undisplayable.

8-2-20