GRAIL Rodriguez Cold Fact 1970 US First Press Sussex SXBS 7000 SONIC STERLING NM

$

1,200

DESCRIPTION Up for auction is an absolute holy grail for vinyl collectors:
1970 US First Pressing of Rodriguez’s legendary debut album, Cold Fact,
on Sussex Records (SXBS 7000). SONIC STERLING Because this album was a commercial failure in the US upon its initial release, very few original copies were ever pressed.
Finding a copy that has remained completely sealed and unplayed for over 50 years is an extraordinary rarity.
This is a definitive museum-quality piece for serious audiophiles and investors alike.


Please study the high-resolution photos carefully to assess the physical condition
of the jacket and shrinkwrap before bidding.

SHIPPING & HANDLING - Secure Packaging: Ships double-boxed in a heavy-duty oversized mailer with extra cardboard stiffeners
and bubble wrap to guarantee safe arrival. - Insurance: Fully insured shipping with mandatory signature tracking is required for this high-value item. - International Buyers: Shipped via eBay International Shipping. Customs duties and taxes are the buyer's responsibility. TERMS OF SALE - Due to the rare, sealed nature of this item, no returns will be accepted once the factory shrinkwrap is
broken or altered. - Please ask any questions or request specific photos prior to bidding.



The Rodriguez - Cold Fact (1970) US First Pressing Sussex SXBS is a rare and highly sought-after vinyl record featuring the music of Sixto Rodriguez. This first edition LP, pressed on black vinyl at 33 RPM, is a collector's item from the 1970s era. The record comes in a cardboard sleeve, NEAR MINT condition, making it a valuable addition to any music lover's collection. With its unique style blending elements of jazz, soul, funk, and psychedelia, this LP is a must-have for fans of classic music.
The historical value of an original 1970 US Sussex pressing of Rodriguez’s Cold Fact rests on one of the most unbelievable, stranger-than-fiction stories in the history of rock music. It represents a bridge between complete urban obscurity in America and a massive, unintentional cultural revolution on the other side of the globe. The historical importance of this specific record is driven by the following factors: 1. The Myth of the American Flop Sixto Rodriguez was a working-class son of Mexican immigrants living in Detroit. Discovered playing in smoky dive bars with his back turned to the audience, he was signed to Sussex Records by legendary music executive Clarence Avant. Producers paired his raw acoustic style with Motown production techniques, viewing him as an urban, working-class answer to Bob Dylan. [1, 2, 3, 4, 6] Yet, when Cold Fact was released in March 1970, it was a catastrophic commercial failure. Legend has it the album sold fewer than ten copies in the United States. Dropped by his label, Rodriguez quietly walked away from music, spent decades doing grueling manual demolition and construction labor in Detroit, and had absolutely no idea his music had traveled overseas. Because nobody bought the record in 1970, the original US Sussex pressings are incredibly scarce. 2. The Accidental Soundtrack to an Anti-Apartheid Revolution While Cold Fact gathered dust in America, a copy somehow made its way to South Africa in the early 1970s. Under the oppressive, strictly censored weight of the apartheid regime, Rodriguez's raw, anti-establishment poetry resonated deeply with a generation of disillusioned white, liberal South African youth. Tracks like "Sugar Man" and "Establishment Blues" became anthems of underground resistance. The white minority government actually banned tracks like "Sugar Man" from the radio, scratching the physical vinyl promo discs so they couldn't be played. This censorship backfired, transforming the album into a bootlegged, mythological masterpiece. In South Africa, Rodriguez was household-name famous—spoken of in the same breath as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Simon & Garfunkel—while remaining totally anonymous in his own hometown. 3. The Great Mystery and Rebirth Because the internet did not exist and South Africa was culturally isolated due to global boycotts, decades passed with wild rumors circulating about Rodriguez's fate. Fans were convinced he had committed suicide on stage, either by setting himself on fire or shooting himself in front of an audience. In the late 1990s, two dedicated South African fans set out to solve the mystery of how he died. They shockingly discovered that Rodriguez was alive, well, and living a humble, impoverished life in Detroit, completely unaware of his legendary status. This unbelievable detective story became the basis for the Academy Award-winning 2012 documentary Searching for Sugar Man, which finally launched Rodriguez into global superstardom in his 70s. Summary: What a First Press Represents An original, 1970 Sussex pressing of Cold Fact is not just a piece of plastic; it is a time capsule of a historic musical anomaly. It is physical proof of the exact moment a masterpiece was rejected by the American public, only to secretly change history halfway across the world.