THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO LP MONO1967 TORSO COVER WHITE LABEL PROMO NO RES

	£		340
	$		451

The VELVET UNDERGROUND and NICO.
By 
The VELVET UNDERGROUND and NICO.
Totally Different MONO Mix Original First USA Pressing.
WHITE LABEL PROMO NOT FOR SALE.
VERVE Records.
Matrix Number Side 1 V-5008
Matrix Number side  2 V-5008

~THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO ~ WHITE LABEL PROMO ~ NOT FOR SALE~

~ERIC EMMERSON TORSO COVER~TOTALLY DIFFERENT MONO MIX~

!!!! ONE OF THE FIRST COPIES OF THIS MONUMENTAL GIANT THAT WAS EVER PRESSED !!!!


Every now and then a record shows up for auction, that words like Rare and Highly Prized, just seem inadequate. This record HOLDS ALL that !!! This is a GENUINE piece of ROCK `n` Roll HISTORY which is arguably the MOST IMPORTANT piece of ROCK `n` ROLL Vinyl in the world. For these reasons this item is so sort after and highly prized by the most serious record collectors out there.  Records rarely EVER appear with a higher demand than this rare, RARE DIAMOND !!! 
I do not use camera trickery or specialist lighting to enhance the appearance of any of the items that I sell. A practise which is common place on Ebay these days. Just recently I bought a Beatles White album when I got the item it was dull as puddle water enhanced by powerful lights. To me that is a deceptive even a dishonest way of operating. What you are looking at here is exactly what the winner will get.
This is the FIRST and EARLIEST sleeve that was ever printed for this FIRST PRESSING of this iconic LP identifiable by the "Floating" TORSO of Eric Emmerson (one of the Velvets dancers) projected above the band shot on the rear panel. Eric`s face has been transposed with Lou Reed`s face. They never asked Mr Emmerson`s permission to use his image which gave rise to a Lawsuit that delayed the release date of the album. Hence the Urban title. THE TORSO SLEEVE.
THE SLEEVE CONDITION. Look to the front panel ,there is very slight edge ware, some light foxing and a little dulling of some white areas here and there, but there is no "real damage" such as rips or tares, sadly the banana has been peeled, but there are no nasty unwanted hand writing or doodling anywhere on this great item. Much of the white parts are still very white and the front panel is in pretty good shape.
The back panel, again shows minor ware here and there, some very slight dulling but nothing too bad. Have a look at the band portraits at the bottom, they still retain very vibrant colours and are very clean. Look to the band shot and that Emmerson TORSO. What an iconic piece, this is a genuine piece of Rock history.  The original VERVE inner sleeve is present it has some creases and some dulling to the edges.   Other that that it is in fine shape.
Again double the pictures and have a look at the spinal shot. A really WIDE SPINE and its in pretty decent condition. The words THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO, ANDY WARHOL and the word VERVE can all be read, its the word Produced that has suffered most damage. This 1960`s USA sleeve is made of the thickest card stock I have ever come across and it is held together very very well indeed, it is still very strong and very sturdy. The winner will know he is holding a very well made artefact. The inside of the gate fold again has some foxing due to age, some dulling to the edges where this magnificent item has been handled by previous owners over the last 54 years.  I struggle to grade a sleeve such as this I get confounded by the rarity of the item.... As serious collectors understand due to the extreme rarity of an item one can forgive such short comings as we have here as they don`t actually spoil the items appearance. To those collectors that do not hold this standpoint I say have a good long look at the pictures and bid accordingly. I think with all these points considered, this record is so excruciatingly rare (White label Mono Promo Torso sleeve) I am happy to grade this sleeve as a VERY CONSERVATIVE VERY GOOD++. 
THE RECORD CONDITION. Double click the pictures and have a look at those beautiful DEEP GROOVE white PROMO labels. These Promos were pressed before the stock copies that made it into the shops and pressed in tiny numbers then given out to the record stations to promote the album. These White Label Promos are the earliest pressings of this MONUMENTAL album in existence. Also this White Label Promo has the earliest totally different Mono mix that only made it to the very earliest Stock copies that made it into the shops. That is to say this pressing contains the version of Venus in Furs that suddenly goes right up in volume as Lou sings "Comes in bells your servant don`t forsake him" and it goes louder to a substantial degree. This volume hike adds real drama to an already dramatic song. There are a number of theories as to how this happened somebody accidentally moved the volume knob or leaned on a switch.... Who cares ? What matters is its here on this pressing and it is a very rare find !
The labels .  Double the pictures, due to the nature of the labels they do not sustain any spindle trails so they are in excellent order. Black T VERVE typeset on a white background, Not For Sale. Magnificent.
The vinyl.  This vinyl has been played and played. This is a heavy slab of 1960s vinyl, they do not make them like this any more. Both sides of the LP retain a lovely high lustre sheen and if you look at the pictures they look unmarked. Have a close look at the pictures especially the shots with the matrix numbers. There you will see many of the very lightest hairlines and there are a lot of them. You have to tilt the record into the light to see them but they are there. There are no feelable problems anywhere on this vinyl. Fortunately during the 60s records were made with a lot more shellac than the 70s onwards. This is why records from this era are way more robust and hard waring and on this LP that has paid dividends because this particular LP despite the many hairlines plays EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.
Here is a track by track breakdown of how this album plays. 
1) Sunday morning. Some light crackle at the start which fades after the first minute, after that it is flawless. 8/10
2) I`m Waiting for my man. There are 2 skips as Lou sings "up three flights of stairs" after that its flawless. Due to the skips 8/10
3) Femme Fatal. This has some exceptionally heavy base interferance. This is not a fault this was Andy Warhol`s Production or lack of it when this was recorded he said "its fine as it is" so did nothing with it. The track plays flawlessly. 10/10
4) Venus in Furs. As they reach the line "Your servant dont forsake him" the volume goes twice as loud the track plays superbly. 10/10
5) Run Run Run. No problems at all. 10/10
6) All tomorrows Parties. No problems at all. 10/10
7) Heroin. Heavy crackle during the first 20 seconds subsides after 1 minute. As Lou`s vocal starts the crackle is gone the track then plays perfectly until the intense insane crescendo at the tracks finale during this part there are 2 skips. 8/10
8)There she goes again. Slight background noise. 9/10
9)I`ll be your mirror. Slight background noise, but this is a quiet song. 8/10
10)Black angels Death song. Slight background noise. 9/10
11) European son. Very slight background noise. 9/10



For all its minor problems, I myself have enjoyed many many years of playing this incredible record.
This record plays incredibly well but its so difficult to grade as the items rarity plays such a huge part.
I think this grades as a very conservative VERY GOOD ++.
ONE OF THE VERY FIRST COPIES !!!
OF ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND MOST IMPORTANT 
ROCK ALBUMS THAT WAS EVER MADE !!!
YOU ARE BUYING A PIECE OF ROCK HISTORY !!!!!
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND and NICO WHITE LABEL PROMO NOT FOR SALE !!!!!
RARE! RARE! RARE! RARE! RARE!
Records of this importance seldomly ever appear for sale as they sit tucked away as centerpieces in the very FINEST record collections where they rightfully belong.
DO NOT LET THIS INCREDIBLE ITEM SLIP THROUGH YOUR HANDS !!!!!
This is YOUR OPPERTUNITY to own a GENUINE PIECE OF ROCK "N ROLL HISTORY.
If you miss this you will be kicking yourself for a very long time !!!

A penny start 
and 
NO RESERVE.






Postage is Special Delivery £8.50 Inland.
To France Tracked is £17.56 to Germany its the same price any record that has a value of £500 Due to insurance the postage to France and Germany changes go to £38.54
The USA is £27.35 if insurance is required to £500 that changes to £47.55