SOUL- FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION- RCA ACETATE -UNRELEASED OUT TAKES- 7 TRACKS- HEAR

$

110

Here is a 12 inch one sided monoaural acetate featuring seven unknown demo out takes. The track titles are not listed. The first five tracks feature piano and vocals. The last two tracks feature guitar and vocals. The label on this acetate reads Friends of Distinction. The condition of the disc is about VG to VG+, as there are some ticks and pops from wear. Please listen to the streaming audio of all four songs from this actual acetate by using the eCommerce auction player. I have included the last two tracks with guitar as the first two tracks on the streaming eCommerce auction player. Great stuff. Unknown and never heard until now !

The Friends of Distinction were a very popular soul group that recorded several releases for RCA Records in the 1960'S and 1970's. Wikipedia writes:

Elston and Butler's involvement in music entailed several groups including the Hi-Fis, Ray Charles's backing band. The Hi-Fis also included Lamont McLemore and Marilyn McCoo, who would go on to be members of The 5th Dimension. When the group disbanded in 1966, Elston and Butler recruited Cleaves and Love for a new band; initially, Elston came up with the name Distinctive Friends, but Love suggested reversing the words to Friends of Distinction. After polishing up their act for a few months during 1968, the group hit the local tour circuit in Los Angeles, California. With the support of a well-known manager, former football star Jim Brown, the group signed with RCA Records. In 1969, they released their first single Grazing in the Grass, produced by John Florez, arranged and conducted by Ray Cork Jr. Originally recorded by trumpeter Hugh Masekela, Elston wrote the lyrics to Masakela's trumpet lead, and the song became a hit. It remained on the U.S. R&B chart for 17 weeks, peaking at #5, and on the Hot 100 for 16 weeks, peaking at #3. The disc sold one million copies gaining it a R.I.A.A. gold record.  Four months later, the third release, Going In Circles, surpassed its predecessor. It climbed to #3 R&B after 19 weeks, and also reached #15 on the The Billboard Hot 100 chart. It too sold over one million copies, giving the group their second gold record.

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Here is an explanation of the grading system.

M(10) PERFECT! Label, vinyl, sound, all perfect…

M-(9) Maybe a few smudges, some very fine sleeve marks, etc. All glossy vinyl. Label pretty. Sounds great!! (sleeve marks are those tiny scratches with no effect on sound)

Ex+(8) or Vg++(8) A few sleeve marks or a few fine scratches, label still nice. Good gloss. appears-- still sounds great!! UK: EX+

Vg+(7) Probably lots of sleeve marks, OR several fine scratches, OR one or two more serious scratches, OR scuffs. Some gloss. Label is still real nice! Possibly a bit of dirt on it, etc. Overall, a fine copy. No noticeable record noise. UK:EX

Vg(6) It has sleeve marks AND: numerous very fine scratches, or a few more serious scuffs. Still nice looking overall. May be noise in quiet passages, but still sounds good! Still some gloss. Label is beginning to show signs of wear, but not serious. UK: Ex-, Or VG++.

Vg-(5) LOTS of fine scratches and almost no gloss. OR a few serious scratches, OR scuffed. Label is possibly worn. Plays with noise which doesn’t overwhelm the music. Gloss is possible, if the scratches are bad enough.UK: VG+

G+(4) COMPLETELY covered with fine scratches, OR a mix of fine and serious scratches or other defects. Label may be pretty trashed, but is generally readable. Plays with hiss, crackle or distortion, but not awful. UK:VG

G-(3) A filler. LOTS of serious scratches, definitely some audible. Noise is more prominent than the music. Label is BARELY readable. BUT: it plays ok… UK: VG- Between G and F

F(2) Almost unacceptable. Plays through. Label seriously worn. UK: G

P(1) POOR Gots lotsa scratches, scratches, scratches etc. I will NEVER list one like this.