The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? US Orig'67 Reprise Mono Promo

$

860

ORIGINAL 1st US REPRISE RECORDS PROMOTIONAL RELEASE DJ RADIO STATION COPY

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE ~ ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? (1967)

ORIGINAL “PROMOTIONAL - NOT FOR SALE” STICKER

SPECIAL PRINT “PROMOTIONAL NOT FOR SALE” YAMETA PRODUCTION WHITE LABELS

VERY EARLY FIRST -1A / -1A MATRIX NUMBERS

US MONO MIX ISSUE WITH THE DIFFERENT TRACKS TO THE UK RELEASE

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

~ Before placing a bid, please make sure to attentively read our updated international shipping policy ~

Original promotional Reprise Records special white label DJ radio station release of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s debut album “Are Your Experienced?” released on May 12, 1967. This promotional copy is the true 1st US Mono pressing with the earliest -1A / -1A matrix number in the runout grooves. Pressed for radio stations and the media, this special issue was shipped to them several months before the album’s official release date. The US version of the album contains a slightly different track selection than the UK version having “Hey Joe”, “Purple Haze” and “The Wind Cries Mary” instead of “Remember”, “Red House” and “Can You See Me”, which are present on the UK version. Original 1st print psychedelic cover with a Karl Ferris infra-red fish-eye lens photo contains a “Promotion - Not For Sale” sticker. Special Reprise Records “Promotion Not For Sale” white labels without the Reprise steamboat logo contain the “Mono” banner and Mono “R 6261” catalog number. Even though no factory identifiers are present in the runout groove based on the double pressing ring located on Side 2 (2.69685" and 14/32"), the vinyl was pressed at one of the Columbia Records plants. The vinyl was mastered by Customatrix, a subsidiary of Columbia Records, as identified by the small “o” symbol in the runout grooves. The full matrix numbers of this promotional issue are as follows: Side 1: o 10681 R-6261-A 1-A A2; Side 2: o 10682 R-6261-B 1-A B1. The album comes with the original Reprise Records “To Play and Play Again!” inner sleeve with the adverts for the other Reprise releases.

The US issue has different tracks from the UK release, just like the cover design whose origin story we would like to write about in more details. The design of the album’s US cover art is attributed to Jimi Hendrix himself who was disappointed with the UK album’s design. The design of the US issue’s cover is different from the UK version cover that was executed by Chris Stamp and printed by the London-based Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd. It’s hard to tell why the cover design of the UK issue disappointed Hendrix, most likely not only he didn’t see himself look like Dracula in a cape but also thought that it didn’t reflect and provoke the psychologic suffering which he incorporated into his psychedelic music. In any case, I think it’s close to the truth because finding Karl Ferris and asking the famous photographer to create the cover art for the US issue of the album Hendrix said: “Go on your psychedelic trip. As far as possible.” In order to find the inspiration Ferris asked to hear more of the Experience’s music and attended several recording sessions of the band’s second album Axis: Bold as Love and found it “so far out that it seemed to come from outer space”. He used a fisheye lens for a spherical effect and the infrared film Kodak which at the time was used on the reconnaissance aircraft Lockheed U-2 taking photos of the band at Kew Gardens in London. Ferris chose the jacket with a peacock pattern from Hendrix' wardrobe and that was given to the artist by one of his fans. After seeing Hendrix with his hair combed away from the scalp, Ferris requested that he wear it that way during the photo shoot. Hendrix's girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham, trimmed his hair to improve its symmetry, forming an afro which still wasn’t popular and worn at the time. 

★

The cover is graded as Excellent Minus. It doesn't contain any splits, writing or residue, only having some light shelf wear in several places. I grade the vinyl as somewhere between Good and Very Good. It has surface marks and hairlines as well as scuffs from the original inner sleeve which is in Near Mint condition and doesn't have any splits or tears. The Side 2 vinyl has a visible scuff on Track 1 which can be felt with a finger nail (visible on Photo# 15). The clean white promo labels are in Excellent condition only having a couple of small discoloration spots on Side 1. The vinyl plays well in general but has some light occasional static along with pops in several places and a couple of light skips caused by the scuff on the first track of Side 2. Perhaps some flaws will disappear if you change the balance of your tonearm. Most likely, they could also get reduced or go away if the record was professionally cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We don't accept bids from the accounts created during the auction or the ones created by the blocked bidders. The buyers with a low rating, please contact us prior to placing a bid. In order to assure a safe transit and prompt delivery we prefer shipping our items with Priority Mail, it concerns the domestic shipping as well as the international. You can be sure that your purchased item(s) will be professionally packed as we don't save on the packing materials. 100% of our buyers are satisfied with our packaging. We guarantee an exact and professional description of each item. If for some reasons something escapes our attention, please let us know. Please do it before you make the decision to open a return request. We'll put our best effort into providing the best customer service. We 100% guarantee a full refund and issue a partial refund only in certain rare cases. We're a Top Rated Plus seller and an opened return request would negatively affect our seller performance. Who would like that? Opening a return request is your right, however, we're sorry but we'll have to block you and it's our right. We're not going to hide the fact that we prefer to see among our customers the intelligent, decent and kind people. If you don't possess these qualities, you won't like dealing with us. We don't list items for an auction often and when we do it's a small quantity as these items are highly collectible and very rare.

FOR INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS' CONSIDERATION

Due to the high risks involved when it comes international shipping, we’ve recently stopped sending our items with USPS First-Class Mail International and now use only USPS Priority Mail International Express. However, if your order exceeds the amount of $5000, we’ll have to ship the package with FedEx as oppose to USPS.

I don't have the information concerning the existing customs regulations and policies in your country. Before placing a bid please find out more details about it yourself. I don't take any responsibility for the length of customs clearance. I also don't have any opportunity to influence the work of postal carriers in any way. For this particular reason, I ship internationally only with expedite shipping service that includes signature confirmation. My capabilities are limited to the professional packing that assures a safe transit throughout the way and fastest shipping dates. After shipping the package I don't accept any claims related to the work of postal service or problems related to the absence of knowledge related to the customs clearance in your country. If you have any negative experience related to the postal service and you'd like to insure the purchased item please contact me about it beforehand. Keep in mind that just like you, I'm interested in our transaction being concluded successfully but my abilities are limited to the service I describe above.