Beatles-Rel. LP John Lennon PROMO Highlights from the Imagine LP AFRTS 1971, VG+

$

23

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

READ THIS! These records are NOT sold for perfect sound quality. They’re sold for their scarcity and VISUAL grading. They’ve been in storage for a decade, and they WILL play with surface noise that can be addressed with D4 or a VPI cleaning.  I can’t test-play at the minute. Please don’t bid if this is a problem for you.

Beatles-Rel. LP John Lennon PROMO Highlights from the Imagine LP AFRTS 1971, VG+!

These are rare beyond rare LP’s.  The AFRTS was the American Forces Radio and Television Service, which made their own sampler LP’s for radio airplay. 

THIS IS NOT A RADIO SHOW!  These discs have no DJ hosts, no commercials and no locked bands.  Each side is a sampling of the latest albums from an artist, as opposed to a compilation.  Side 2 features highlights from The Chi-Lites’ latest album.

What makes these albums of interest apart from their scarcity is that they are mastered completely differently than the commercially-released albums they came from.  So for example, my notes say that “It’s So Hard” is bass-heavy, pushing the sax into the foreground and the drums and John’s lead vocal into the background.  “How Do You Sleep” is presented in either very-near mono, or it IS in mono.

These albums were also the property of the U.S. government back in those days, but have since been allowed onto the collector’s market.  You can find a few of these highlight LP’s for sale every year, but the copies which feature solo Beatles are so rare that you don’t find them at all.

Vinyl--- VG+/VG+.  In full disclosure, this copy is such a strong VG that it’s leaning on the fence of VG+.  The original yellow inner sleeve was given an internal catalogue number, which they wrote on in black Magic Marker.  Sadly, the ink transferred onto the playing surface of the vinyl, but very fortunately, it affect playback minimally, and only with headphones.

The silent grooves play with surface noise from the light scratches, but once the music starts, they are inaudible.

Plates--- A lot of dead wax markings, which are the mastering job numbers assigned from the military, as opposed to any Capitol pressing plant.

Cover--- VG+.  Plain white cover with light dirtwear, no ringwear.  Some tape residue on one side, as well as some fading from what looks like having sat on a shelf.

Labels--- VG.  Unfortunately, the person who received this album noticed that it came in a blank white cover, and thought to naturally write all over the labels.

Inner Sleeve--- VG. Generic yellow construction paper-quality inner sleeve with die-cut hole for the labels to show is present.  Magic Marker and ballpoint on one side.  Heavy wrinkles and fraying at the top, but NO SPLIT SEAMS.

A generic inner sleeve will be provided, so as not to damage your original Capitol inner sleeve en route.

Regardless the condition, you’re not going to see one ever again.  I sure never did.  This will make a jaw-dropping Christmas gift, or an obscure addition to your collection, and no one else’s.

As these records have been in storage for many years, they will play back with crackling and tics, however; a good moisturizing and cleaning with either D4 Discwasher or a VPI machine always clears them up.  Thanks!)

Note:  All LP’s ship outside of their album covers in order not to damage the covers during shipment.

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

**Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

Shipping is $5.38 for Media Mail for up to 3 single or double albums, excluding boxed sets within the U.S.  $5.38 covers shipping for up to 5 singles within the U.S., and within the same auction week.

Winners in all other countries will be charged actual shipping to their locations, so please wait to be invoiced.  You will be quoted for the cheapest shipping to your country that the US post office can afford me.  Please let me know if you would prefer to pay for a faster means of shipping, but do NOT ask me to declare packages as gifts, or any other means of defrauding the postal services.  Much appreciated.

I ship on Mondays and Thursdays.  This means that immediate payments will be shipped out the following morning, and later payments must wait until the first available Monday or Thursday after payment is received.  Please pay within 7 days of the auction ending.  I do leave negative feedback for non-payers.

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