VAN MORRISON MOONDANCE SUPER AUDIOPHILE TEST PRESSING

$

203

WE CURRENTLY HAVE   NEARLY 700   LISTED ITEMS.   TO DISPLAY ALL OUR AUCTIONS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (BY ARTISTS’ NAMES)  ►CLICK HERE

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·       VAN MORRISON - MOONDANCE - ORIGINAL DIRECT LABS "SUPER DISK" EXTENDED DYNAMIC AND FREQUENCY RANGE, HALF SPEED AUDIOPHILE VINYL PRESSING - DIRECT LABS ORIGINAL 1979 STEREO LP (WITHOUT NUMBER, BUT PROBABLY SD-16604, BASED ON A MATRIX STAMP IN TRAIL-OFF VINYL)

*** ULTRA-RARE TEST PRESSING ***

·       PLAIN, WHITE, GENERIC TEST PRESSING LABEL WITH “SNEAK PREVIEW” STAMPED ON BOTH THE LABEL AND THE COVER.

·       THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, FIRST U.S. AUDIOPHILE PRESSING; THIS IS NOT A REISSUE, AN IMPORT, OR A COUNTERFEIT PRESSING.

·       THIS TEST PRESSING COMES IN ITS GENERIC, PLAIN, WHITE COVER

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS

(►PLEASE SEE THE IMAGE OF THE COVER, LABEL OR BOTH, SHOWN BELOW)

(Note: this is a REAL image of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. This is NOT a "recycled" image from our previous auction. What you see is what you’ll get.  GUARANTEED!)

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Amazing !!! An unbelievable piece: What we have here is an unheard-of TEST PRESSING of this classic Van the Man’s album! While many test pressings often have alternate or demo- versions of known, later released songs, and while it is possible that this particular test pressing contains demo or alternate versions of some of the tracks, please don’t take our word that it does. We regret  we cannot provide any competent information on how different this TEST PRESSING may be from the official release. Please contact us if you have any questions. The generic white test pressing label is (almost) entirely blank and without any details whatsoever.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TEST PRESSING APPARENTLY NEVER HAD A CUSTOM COVER;  THE ALBUM WILL BE SHIPPED IN A PLAIN, GENERIC [WHITE] CARDBOARD COVER. TEST PRESSINGS ARE RARELY – IF EVER – FOUND IN CUSTOM (STOCK) COVERS.

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More than twenty-five years from the inception of the digital era, we are still (patiently) awaiting for the arrival of this classic Van Morrison album – probably his finest and best loved work – on a decent,  24-BIT remastered and restored HDCD or similar digital medium…and, yes: we could use a few bonus tracks from the original sessions (not that anyone at WEA - OR WHATEVER THAT CORPORATE BEHEMOTH IS CALLED THESE DAYS - really cares). The only version that can currently be found on the market is now almost 20 years old, produced from what is now considered medieval and totally obsolescent technology, and sounding like a piece of …~NM LD. Yes, folks, the attitude of record labels stinketh  to high heavens, and with the entire recording industry up you-know-what creek, it is only going to get worse. Compare the sound of this RARE audiophile vinyl pressing to the compact disc, and you will  find out what you’ve been missing all these years…

The Direct LabsÔ "Super Disk" audiophile vinyl pressings of the late 1970's and early 1980's (and there was only a handful of those) were not only audiophile and connoisseur masterpieces, they have become true pieces of audio history and its lore. These majestic recordings received an intense, meticulous and laborious treatment like very few other recordings in the entire history of the recorded sound. They are characterized by the massively extended dynamic and frequency range, mastering from the very first generation of original master tapes, almost compulsive attention paid to the detail and integrity of the pressing, and the highest quality of the material: only the "virgin" (audiophile-grade) vinyl was used, and most LP albums were pressed at Germany’s "TelDec" pressing plant,  known for its near-maniacal attention paid to the fine sonic detail and audio craftsmanship. To this day, many of these recordings remain unsurpassed, delivering music reproduction as close to the actual recording session as possible, without any loss of musical information inherent in the standard practice of mastering from the inferior "production" copies.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire this great album in its FINEST audio format, no longer in print, and no longer easily obtainable.

For its extraordinary contribution to the contemporary music, superb production, craftsmanship, fine musicianship, revolutionary significance and influence it exerted on numerous generations of musicians, songwriters and general public, or for some other inherent quality, this album was voted one of top-200 albums of all time in one of the largest poll of critics, music reviewers, show business professionals and producers ever organized: the poll, which was conducted by Paul Gambaccini, the legendary BBC Radio A&R man, surveyed more than 50 top music professionals (including Roy Carr, Jonathan Cott, Robert Christgau, Cameron Crowe, Chet Flippo, Ben Fong-Torres, Charlie Gillett, Greil Marcus, Murray the K., Lenny Kaye, Bruce Morrow (a/k/a "Cousin Brucie"), Tim Rice , Lisa Robinson, Robert Shelton, Ed Ward, Joel Whitburn, Pete Wingfield, etc.). For more details, see: "Critics Choice: Top-200 albums" , Omnibus Press, Library of Congress Catalog No.7855565 (or ► click here  for the complete album listing)

For additional historical or discography information on this album, including track listing ►click here

THIS IS A NO-RESERVE AUCTION!

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·       CONDITION:

·       RECORD

(IMPORTANT NOTE: unless otherwise noted, ALL records are graded visually, and NOT play-graded!; we  grade records under the strong, diffuse room light or discrete sunlight)

(a)          WE GRADE THE VINYL AS NEAR MINT. The original luster is very much intact, and the vinyl shines and sparkles almost like new.

(b)          The record is pressed on a beautiful, thick, inflexible vinyl, which was usually used for the first or very early pressings. Usually, the sound on such thick vinyl pressings is full-bodied, vivid, and even dramatic. Do not expect to obtain such a majestic analog sound from a digital recording!

(c)           Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!!

-        COVER : This reference (test) pressing comes without any custom jacket, and will be shipped in its original, plain, generic, white cardboard cover (NOT SEPARATELY GRADED but in a very nice condition overall)

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POSTAGE & SHIPPING:

We offer two postage rates for both Domestic and International Mail: Media Mail and Priority Mail for domestic, and First Class and Priority International Mail for international orders. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: you should select priority mail when making a payment, in order to prevent any lost, stolen, damaged or undelivered orders and to obtain tracking info, which is NOT available for First Class International shipments.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE- and insurance rates vary from country to country. For SPECIFIC international and domestic postage and insurance rates ►click here. While you can be rest assured that our packaging is careful, sturdy and impact-proof,  please note we are NOT responsible for uninsured items.

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OUR REFUND POLICY :

Cash refund will be granted only for DEFECTIVE  items, but we are flexible and reasonable in reviewing the merits of each individual case. We do NOT play-grade records and can only make reasonable judgment  on the item's condition based on its visual appearance. Every bid carries a risk that purchased item might play worse than its visual grade may indicate. Still sealed items MUST be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund. Please read our complete refund policy before placing a bid. ►Click here  for the full text of our policy .

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