The Rolling Stones : Their Satanic Majesties Request 1P/P1 1st Press Mono

This first mono pressing plays to a superb standard with only minimal interference and I do mean minimal!  There are no clicks or pops during the actual music, just a modicum of non-intrusive static on a couple of tracks.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is stunning for the vast majority and this is easily the finest example of this very collectable LP that I  have played in 3/4 years I would say.  Visually there is some light marking/hairlines but this has hardly any affect on the 'high end' audio as described below.

The famous 3D cover is in lovely condition with only minimal wear - no marking or writing on the inside for once - and the red psychedelic inner is the most impressive I have ever seen.

If you're reading this then this iconic album probably needs no introduction.  Suffice to say the 1P/P1 first press is known as the 'true' mono mix where the bell tolls three times on 'The Lantern' intro.

TXL 103 // ARL-8126-1P / ARL-8127-P1 // CU 2C / BC 2D

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / T1 intro VG+ / T2 Ex for 3/4 seconds / T3 'snore' Ex-!)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / T2 NM- / T3 & T4 intro Ex+)  

The cover is Ex+

The labels are Ex++

The original red inner is Near Mint-

Play grading  

The intro on 'Sing This All Together' has only a little static/light crackle and the first vocal section then plays incredibly well with no intrusion at all, the clarity is stunning.  The same can be said for the mid instrumental section and the final vocal is also close to perfect with only a couple of barely audible ticks.  I would grade the intro as VG+ and the remainder is Mint- in my educated opinion :-)

The classic 'Citadel' has only a couple of light ticks on the intro and the first verse/chorus is superb with no interference at all.  There are only 3/4 light ticks in the brief 'silent' section at the half way point and thereafter plays with real power and no distortion.  The playback is so impressive and the vast majority is Near Mint and just 3/4 seconds grading as Ex - there is one pop literally at the end of the fade out.

The intro on 'In Another Land' is 'as new' and then continues to play with great clarity and definition.  As per so much of this album there is so much 'going on' with this classic track and yet the audio has not suffered in the intervening years.  The verses play with phenomenal precision and the chorus sections are incredibly powerful with no distortion at all.  It truly is a stunning version and Mint- is easily deserved.  The 'sleeping' end section is Ex- as there is a little static.

'2000 Man' plays with wonderful precision from the word go and continues in the same way.  It has genuine sense of power and depth and has no interference whatsoever.  You can turn it up to max the playback with no fear of distortion.  A stunning Near Mint rendition.

The quiet intro on 'Sing This All Together (See What Happens)' has only very minimal static (hardly any!) and then proceeds to play with exceptional clarity.  As always I listened to every second and there is barely any interference to be found.  The sonic quality is very impressive and only as you approach the end is there a little static distortion.  However, it is only minor and does not last long.  Overall the playback is stunning and even the quieter end vocal plays with majestic clarity!  I cannot remember when I last heard this track play with such clarity and definition.  After a few seconds of silence the final instrumental is faultless.  In my opinion Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio here.  A superb side overall.

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The opening grooves on S2 are so clean which is a rarity for this record and the initial 'spoken' section impresses with barely any 'background'.  The piano intro on 'She's A Rainbow' is flawless and from then on you cannot help but admire the sonic quality on offer here.  It truly is an outstanding version - every vocal and instrumental section play with a precision that you so rarely find on these genuine 1P/P1 first pressings.  There is just no interference - not one single tick, click or pop and it may well be the strongest version of this classic that I have ever heard!  There is just a minimal touch of barely audible intermittent static but it is so much in the background as to be totally negligible and I only mention it to be 'complete' with my description.  Only audible if you turn it up very loud but even then it is not intrusive in any way.  Perhaps it is not even worth a mention but hey I've said it now!  I honestly do not think Near Mint does it justice and I am confident in grading as Mint- such is the quality.  Wow!

The 'three' bell tolls that signal the start of 'The Lantern' play so clearly with hardly any static and the same goes for the following acoustic section.  Soon after the vocal begins there is one light tick and a couple of light static sounds but from that point on there is no obvious 'background' and the clarity is hugely impressive.  The quieter sections play beautifully and I only detected one further very light tick.  Near Mint-

'Gomper' plays with great clarity and only has a modicum of very light static in a couple of the quieter passages which does not intrude on the listening 'experience'.  The vocals play so clearly and the long instrumental is absolutely stunning!  There is no interference and again it's the clarity of sound that really stands out.  No ticks, clicks or pops and only minor light static on the fade out section.  I would say the opening section is Ex+ and is then Near Mint for the remainder.

The intro on '2000 Light Years From Home' has only minimal light static and once the vocal comes in the playback could not be any better.  I've played it twice now and I am quite simply blown away by the quality of the audio here!  The sonic quality is on a level that is so rare to find on these first pressings and even the quiet interlude has no interference.  The final vocal is faultless and the instrumental ending is close to perfect also with only a minor amount of mega light static.  Again it's barely worth a mention!  The intro is Ex+ but the rest is Mint- for sure.

'On With The Show' has a superb 'spoken' with just one very light tick.  Thereafter it plays with incredible precision and again I cannot stress enough just how fantastic the playback is!  The opening vocal and first instrumental section just have to be heard to be believed!  This is a mono record being played through a stereo system and yet there is barely any inner groove distortion.  Perhaps just a touch on the 'crowd' section at the end but yes - only minimal.  This is a Near Mint version at the very least.

In summary this first mono pressing plays to a wonderful standard for the vast majority and I would go so far as to say it is the most impressive version I have heard in many years.  There is only very minimal interference - to be honest the most obvious in the intro on S1 so does not last long anyway!  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is superb and I am sure any collector would be just as impressed with it as I am!  It may have been criticised when first released but this first pressing is the hardest to find from their catalogue in decent condition so was quite popular with the fans I would say.  They are regularly found with a lot of static/crackle, clicks and pops but this is not one of those!  A stunning version with only minimal 'background' as stated.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The iconic 3D cover is in great condition with only very minimal shelf wear.  The edges have hardly any rubbing and the spine is also very clean with only a little wear/creasing on the corners.  The right hand corners have very little wear and the opening edge is in superb order also with only very minimal handling wear.  The front cover is near perfect with no marking and only a little of the usual laminate lift next to the spine.  The 3D image itself remains firmly attached to the cover.  The back cover is in fantastic shape with no laminate damage anywhere and the inside of the gatefold is just as good.  For once the maze is still intact with no pen scrawling (!) and only the top of the inner spine has minimal wear which is hardly noticeable.  This is certainly one of the better examples of this famous cover that you will find.

The original psychedelic red inner is in superb condition and for once has no side splits or tears.  There is hardly any creasing and only a minimal amount of wear on the top edge.  Very very minimal!

Play Tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

TXL 103 // ARL-8126-1P / ARL-8127-P1 // CU 2C / BC 2D

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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