THE BLACK CROWES Amorica 9 43000-1 ORIG COV 1994 US LP First Press STILL SEALED

$

80

THE BLACK CROWES Amorica 9 43000-1 ORIG COVER banned and replaced 1994 US Vinyl Record LP First Press STILL SEALED!. Has the Hype Sticker red, white and blue with star. Still sealed in the shrink wrap, has the small saw-cut as seen in pictures. No issues—nice-and-flat, straight, no damage or anything. This vinyl, ONE RECORD not 2 like the later reissues, is usually WHITE but being sealed I cannot be positive. The original banned and later replaced cover, the “Girly Cover” Lol ;-) as this is, most all were white vinyl. This umm..err..shall we say, INTERESTING cover, LOL! is actually from a 1976 issue of the Men’s magazine HUSTLER. It was originally on the front cover of that HUSTLER mag. The CROWES then decided to use it for the front of the Amorica album. The original hype sticker is supposed to be an indicator of the white vinyl too. This is one thing I admit, despite working in the industry and being a longtime collector, I am unaware of any definite indication of white or black vinyl, in these original first pressings (that you can tell when it’s sealed.). I will say that after considering this thing, my best answer here is there is probably a 50-50 chance of either white or black vinyl. This is because I believe I purchased it when I worked at a local record plant (we manufactured all the other formats too like CD, cassette et al but we had one of the best record pressing plants in the United States.). Well, I think I purchased this after the “Girly Cover” was out a little while, and the way things went, at a point the white vinyl (or any other special color) would be used-up. Then, many times the continued pressing and manufacturing of such a record would continue with the regular black vinyl. Here is a good chance to tell you awesome VINYL LOVERS and newer, younger COLLECTORS this little-known fact: ALL vinyl records are originally CLEAR VINYL. The BLACK is a color pigment added in production. So there really is no difference in the MUSIC no matter what color the vinyl is. What DOES matter are things like first pressings, early or earlier pressings, type and weight of vinyl (such as the modern-day trend of reissued old albums on Audiophile Vinyl, 180 - 200 gram weight, et al.).

To make records, first there is what is called a “laquer” which is a soft very delicate kind of vinyl cut on a “lathe.” From the laquer record “disc” is made one Master. The lacquer is coated first with silver then plated with nickel (electroplated), to make this Master. The nickel is removed from the laquer disc cutting, and you have then a metallic (nickel) disc, the master, and it is like a “negative” of the original laquer. So instead of cuttings you have the opposite—a metallic disc with ridges. Then from the Master they make 2 “Mothers.” Sometimes 4 Mothers are made but usually 2. It’s made through more plating processing and is like a regular record is, having grooves cut into it (like the original laquer was.). From the Mothers, Stampers are made. There are two to six Stampers made from a Mother Disc. Say, 2. These are “negatives” again; think of the “opposite of grooves cut” like a regular record you have in your collection. Stampers are coated with chromium. Well, the Stampers are how a record is produced. They put two Stampers on a Record Press machine on the Press Floor (there are many Presses, ppl working on different selections etc — different Artists etc.). Also is a vinyl raw material disc in this Record Press, and steam is used to operate the press. They “stamp” the individual records in this manner—each side is stamped with a different Stamper, 2 per Record. Let me tell you one thing, it’s very noisy on a Press Floor. So the Operators and others who work there use hearing protection. The presses and all machines are also HEAVY AS HELL! Lol. So I doubt you’ll ever see a record press floor, on the 2nd floor or something haha. What we always had some trouble with was, paging ppl like say a Supervisor, on the press floor from back where we worked, in a different part of the building in our office (or in the warehouse etc.). Because as I said it was noisy on the press floor. You’ll never see a press floor operation MOVED AROUND ANYWHERE either, because these machines are very heavy. The press floor is usually the oldest, first part of a manufacturing plant. Common jokes are like, “yeah they put those presses down years ago, and built the building around them.” I’ve heard of a house or two lol old houses, where someone was supposed to have parked an antique car back like 80 years ago, like an American Rambler. Then built the house around the car! The great people who worked on the Press Floor in our company, they also couldn’t enjoy the radio like the rest of us. The company played music over the PA System. When we “paged” someone, which is like a loudspeaker throughout the factory, the music cut-out briefly while you said into the phone, “Mary Smith, 2357!” 2357 was your phone extension. There was some “vibration “ too kind-of, on the press floor. Not much but maybe near a machine. They are very heavy and perform a heavy-duty operation, stamping records.

So here you have Amorica, with “that cover.” On this one here, the hype sticker is placed over the girl’s belly button. So there’s an honest attempt at censorship, right?! Lol. I like to tell people, hey, here’s your proof of “how girls were in the old days.” In case they don’t believe that once women didn’t shave it all off. The album is very good, it marks a kind-of turning point where the Crowes were attempting to return to their real roots. There’s also the beginnings of a psychedelic touch to their music (so I added Psychedelic in the above Item Specifics / Item Details section. Apparently, this album is blocked from sale on the Discogs Marketplace. I think no matter if it’s this original controversial cover or not. The Boys replaced it with a cover that had just the bikini bottom with an all-black background. Also, the bikini flag bottom is rather “lifeless.” It’s like just a triangle LOL. No sense of movement or life to it haha! Recent modern reissued versions of Amorica have the original “Girly Cover” but are 2 LPs and I believe on Audiophile vinyl. As I said, this is MINT STILL SEALED in the factory shrink, and inside you’ll probably find white vinyl. But you may find black vinyl. “It’s probably white. But it may be black.” So then there’s that. I say 50-50. I’m leaning white vinyl but it’s possible it’s black. I bought it years ago and left it sealed, because of the cover. I don’t think it was yet replaced then, but the Record Collector and VINYL LOVER!! in me knew this was going to be controversial. Some say ten years later, like 2004, and the cover would be okay LOL. I don’t know—i think maybe 2014–20 years later, and it’d be okay….I would put it in your collection as-is, maybe. You know, for the cover. Instead of opening it. Perhaps a nice frame and hang it up. You know, somewhere away from your girlfriend or wife’s constant view of it! Includes the tunes, “She Gave Good Sunflower,” (hmmm) and “Downtown Money Waster.” I told you, Psychedelic. The Robinson brothers argued when putting this album together. Chris had material and things / additional ideas, that got nixed by his bro and the rest of the band. This is actually much of The Black Crowes’ “Tall” album, which was never finished or released. Good stuff.

US buyers only please, and please only the lower 48 “continental” states. FREE SHIPPING for your convenience. I’ll also slap Insurance on it, my cost of course, and pack and ship it carefully. A great collectible from the early ‘90’s, The CROWES, so you can’t go wrong, man. Their tour starting in 2020 unfortunately got all-screwed due to Covid. Like the rest of us got!! Rock On. Thank you for looking at my records, and for listening to my “diatribe “ Those of you who know me, I love talking about records. And music. And a lot of things ha ha ❤️🇺🇸👍

***WILL DEFINITELY COMBINE SHIPPING WHERE POSSIBLE, IN-CASE YOU PURCHASE MORE THAN 1 RECORD FROM ME. If you’re just seriously THINKING about it, can hold on for a little bit also, if you’ve already purchased one and I did not ship it yet. Please don’t be afraid to message me in these cases—I’m also open to making little deals with you also. Thanks.***