IRMA THOMAS TAKE A LOOK ORIG 1968 UK PRESS AUDIO MINT

	£		50
	$		66

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING MY LISTING FOR THIS VERY RARE 1968 ISSUE UK PRESSING

Matrix     Side1 A#1      Side2 B#1

I have been a collector of vinyl for more than 30 years, with a collection of over 2,000 albums, the time has come to part with some of the collection. Over the coming months I will be listing some of the albums I have decided to part with here on ebay as well as on my bluesvinyl4u website, while the majority of my albums are blues related from all eras, there will be a mixed bag to chose from.

The first listed here is a superb at least Excellent, very rare copy of the 1968 issue of "Take A Look" recorded by Irma Thomas on the Minit label. MLL 40004E.  Irma Thomas is one of the Soul / Blues greats in my opinion and deserves a place in every soul or blues collection. The audio is absolutely fabulous, crystal clear near perfect on my system. The MacNeill Press laminated front cover is at least excellent if not better, which I have tried to illustrate in the photos, rear is exceptionally clean.

A BRIEF ARTIST DESCRIPTION

(Scroll Down for Album Description & Supersize Photos)

Grammy Award winner (3 times nominated) Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans” a title given to her by local officials in New Orleans, was born February 18 1941 in Ponchatoula Louisiana.  Irma was a contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James, but despite her amazing talent she never managed to achieve their level of commercial success, she is however rated just as highly by many modern ‘soul aficionados’.

As a teenager Thomas sang in a Baptist church choir and auditioned for Speciality Records as a 13 year old. By the age of 19 she had been married twice and had four children and was working as a waitress at the New Orleans Pimlico Club where she sat in occasionally with bandleader Tommy Ridgley who helped arrange a recording deal with the Ronn Label. She released her first single "(You Can Have My Husband But) Don't Mess with My Man," in 1960 which quickly reached number 22 in the Billboard R&B charts.

After recording another single with the label Thomas moved to Minit where she worked with the songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint almost exclusively during her time with Minit under it’s various ownerships. During her time at Minit she produced a number of hits, along with a number of superb tracks which were not so successful at the time, including "It's Raining", "Break-a-Way," "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)," “Take A Look” and "Time Is on My Side," which was later a massive hit for the Rolling Stones who recorded it almost note for note.

Thomas moved to Chess where she released quality recordings but only Otis Redding's "Good to Me," made any impression on the charts. She signed with Atlantic Records, early 1970s and also recorded for the Cotillion label, mid-1970s. Irma began performing again in New Orleans in the late 1970s ,signing to Rounder Records, mid-1980s and released comeback album, The New Rules, 1986

Irma accelerated her live schedule touring Europe and headlining at she and her husbands club in New Orleans, The Lion’s Den. In 1991 she received her first Grammy nomination for "Simply The Best", in 1999 she was again Grammy nominated for the album ‘Sing It’. ‘After the Rain’, released in 2006, finally won her a ‘Best Contemporary Blues Album’ Grammy. She continues to perform live and Rounder records recently said of her "She remains one of America’s most distinctive and classic singers, a treasure from the golden age of soul music who remains as compelling and powerful as ever..."

ALBUM DESCRIPTION

The Album ‘Take A Look’ was Irma’s second album, released in the UK on the Minit label and contains some highly noteworthy tracks such as "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)", "Times Have Changed", "He's My Guy", "You Don't Miss a Good Thing (Until It’s Gone)" and "Take a Look"

Full Track Listing

1.   Take A Look

2.   I Haven’t Got Time To Cry

3.   You Don't Miss a Good Thing (Until It’s Gone)

4.   Some Things You Never Get Used To

5.   Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)

6.   It’s Starting To Get Me Now

7.   Times Have Changed

8.   He’s My Guy

9.   Don’t Look Down

10. What Are You Trying To Do

11. Wait, Wait, Wait

THE VINYL 

The vinyl looks absolutely superb lays perfectly flat on the turntable, on visual inspection looks in fantastic condition for 42 year old record. Only when angled to strong light can any faint sleeve removal marks be seen, side one must be near mint, side two has one visible mark but does not affect the playing quality on my system. 

THE AUDIO

The Mono audio is absolutely superb with no skips or jumps, apart from a minor amount of static crackle between a couple of tracks only that I could hear, I would rate the audio as near mint on my system. I'm sure it plays as well today as it did when first bought over 40 years ago!

THE COVER 

The laminated front MacNeill Press is in at least excellent condition with minimal creasing which I have tried to show in the photos, the rear is is exceptionally clean for a 42 year old cover . The spine is straight with no wear whatsoever.

THE LABELS 

The labels are clean with no writing or marks apart from a very small amount of spidering, which I again have tried to show on the photos, there is absolutely no spindle wear the hole is perfectly round.

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE VINYL AND COVER WILL BE INSERTED SEPARATLY IN POLY SLEEVES AND WRAPPED WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION.

I have tried to give an honest assessment of the item listed. I have played the item track by track and again given my honest view on the audio quality. The photos I have taken are intended to give you the clearest impression of the visual quality. Please note, photos are the actual item for sale.

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding the album or details regarding the listing.

Shipping 

USA \ Canada \ Japan \ Austalia - 11.76GBP Including International Signed For Delivery With Insurance & Tracking

EUROPE - 8.76GBP Including International Signed For Delivery With Insurance & Tracking

UK - Free - Sent By Recorded Delivery

All items are covered by insurance up to a value of £36.00 for loss or damage in transit. Higher value insurance can be arranged for an additional charge.Some countries however have a maximum value for insurance purposes.  Items will be despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery. normally the next working day on receipt of cleared funds. Tracking details are will be e-mailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases, but buyers must pay for the items as they are won.  

New ebayers with low, poor or no real history, please contact me before bidding otherwise bids will be cancelled.

I WILL BE LISTING MORE BLUES RELATED ALBUMS ON THIS SITE OVER THE COMING WEEKS PLEASE BOOKMARK ME