STATUS QUO. THE SPECTRES. BRITISH BEAT. PSYCHEDELIA

	£		206
	$		273

THE SPECTRES

(Status Quo)

"I Who Have Nothing"

EMIDISC ACETATE

This is a most fantastic 'find' for collectors of "The Quo"!

As you real fans probably know, the most prolific British Rock Band, Status Quo began in 1962 at a school in Catford, South London.  Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster who played together in a band at the school, started a band called The Scorpions. Changing their name to The Spectres, Rossi and Lancaster played their first gig at the Samuel Jones Sports Club in Dulwich, South London.

In 1963 they added a drummer, John Coghlan and began writing their own material.  After a year they met Rick Parfitt who was playing with a band called The Highlights. By the end of 1965 Rossi and Parfitt, who had become close friends, decided to work together and continue to work as The Spectres.  On July 18, 1966 The Spectres signed a five-year deal with Piccadilly / Pye Records, releasing two singles that year, the first being the one we have here,  'I (Who Have Nothing)' .   (Which was, in fact, a Ben E King number prior to being made famous by Shirley Bassey).

So what we have here is the record that started the amazing carreer of Status Quo.  Their very first outing onto record, BUT, what we are offering here is not one of those incredibly scarce records, NO, this is an ACETATE record that PREDATES even their first single!

To remind you, an acetate is a one-off record that is actually cut into wax covering an aluminium disc. These are not pressed but cut individually, that is why very few would have been made.  (you can clearly see the alumium core on a picture.  In common with most acetates, there is no track on the B-side.

I really cannot stress how absolutely important this little record is in rock history.  The absolutely first record ever cut by "The Quo"!

AND BETTER!  On the bottom of the hand written label is the line:

(Geo. Cooper Org.  Ger 4894)

This is truly amazing!  The George Cooper Organisation were just about the largest booking agency in Britain looking after most of the current pop acts and it would have been this agency that would have got The Spectres their bookings.  So,it seems, this record was made for, or by, the George Cooper Organisation and, most probably, would have been sent to a club or venue to get them work.  As I said, a real piece of history!

The audio quality is verry good but there are a few crackles at the very start as you would expect from an acetate but, as soon as the song kicks in they are inaudible.  Interestingly, I have listened very carefully to this and feel it may be a slightly different mix to tha actual record, possibly it has been taken from the master tapes before being 'equalised', a process of compressing the sound before being made into a record.  I don't know, the winner will be able to tell I am sure.

Do not miss this, you will never see one again!

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BEANOS often have some really different and exciting items here on eBay.  You can add us to your favourites or simply check what else we are currently selling by going to the top right of this page and clicking on view sellers other items (or, you could visit our real, not virtual, shop!

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As with other rare items I am listing I would like to tell you a little about me to give you confidence in bidding and to assure you that these are absolutely genuine items. I am the managing director of the world famous BEANOS RECORDS and we have had our shops in South London for over 30 years. I write about rare records, appear on TV and Radio and constantly in the National Press. It is BEANOS LIMITED that are selling this most desirable item but I want to be your contact for any queries and, also, to take away the faceless negotiation that an important international auction can sometimes have. I can tell you everything you need to know about this auction lot if you email me with any questions and, you are welcome to visit our shop and view the actual item (by prior appointment) with myself. I have to point out that most of the goods I offer on eBay are also on sale in my shop and I might have to end an auction early if I have another buyer.

David Lashmar
Managing Director
BEANOS LIMITED