James Brown - The Payback 1973 x2 lp Polydor OG 1st Press Monarch Funk RARE

$

34

Welcome to our Summer 2026 "Classic / Golden" era Soul/Funk/Rare Groove lp Part 1 sale, we cover some early ground with a few pre-1967 releases, largely the vast majority are from 1968-1974, mostly concentrated in the early-mid 1970's,  no modern reissues! WE COMBINE SHIPPING! -(Just kindly wait till end of auction for invoice :)
We have so many, that Part 2 will be even more, bringing tons of rare "Golden Era Soul/Funk", coming soon!

60 lp's all originals , many have soundclips, which are from the actual record :)

This week features a really nice curated slab of rare funk, soul lp's from the "classic golden era" or as Thes One put it "Vietnam War Era", we have a handful pre-dating 1967, the vast majority being concentrated in the early 70's, beginning with a very nice OG 1st press of the legendary 1973 GSF Records lp "Skull Snaps", a minty Funkadelic legendary Psych-Funk original 1970 Westbound lp "Free Your Mind and Your A** Will Follow", Allen Toussaint's 1975 Conceptual Psychedelic Funk masterpiece rarity "Southern Nights" lp, the insanely rare Hawaiian Private Press 1970 lp by Gordon Broad (Heavy Soul/Funk!), an unknown South Korean Psych Funk lp on Jigu Records, the first 3 Sylvers lp's on Pride, yep "I, II, and III", James Brown "The Payback" original double lp, Jimmy Castor Bunch "It's Just Begun" - minty fresh, everything from New Birth, Ace Spectrum, White Heat, some badddd rare heavy open drum breaks, instrumental rare-groove style funk, CCM Funk / Psych Funk Rock "First Gear 1972 Myrrh lp" for example....Lorraine Ellison's original OG 1st press 1969 "Stay With Me" on Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Records (not the 1971 version that is more common, and on thinner vinyl!!), we got heavy representatives on labels from ATCO, Hot Wax, Buddah, Cadet, Westbound, AVCO, All Platinum, RCA, Invictus, Gordy, Playboy, MCA, Atlantic, Pride MGM, Capitol, to Private Press world, and so much more :) 

ASSISTIVE NOTE:
To give the best  "map" for this sale, we'll have 21 leading off to give somewhat of a highlight of each area of items, then tending towards Chronological, than Stylistic in what we hope will be a nice ordering, the kind as fellow crate-diggers, we would be stoked to see.... If you want to view how we ordered it up, go to sort by "Ending Soonest", as listed newest will be the tail end & ending earliest is the beginning (if you filter by "ending soonest", you'll get the layout!), we hope this might help :)

**Note on grading: We have been proud to send thousands of records to delighted customers, but there is always room for improvement, we want to continually strive to be as accurate, honest, and detailed as possible. These records that have been collected and loved over the years, coming from a collector, one who listens to the records, enjoys the music, we are only growing more meticulous in our visual aspect of grading the vinyl, while also maintaining a balanced emphasis on the sound quality, utilizing sound clips (we do not manipulate them whatsoever, and we never will!), full front to back recent thorough listenings, and for the covers to use detailed photos, write detailed aspects for the grade, we want people to know exactly what they're getting, as collectors, lovers of music, we promise to always carry ourselves with integrity, we're in the business of delighting people, to treat others as the best experiences we've had as buyers, and all of our items are guaranteed. We won't stop growing, learning, and listening. A very special warm thank you to all our incredible return "customers", we really think of you all as fellow friends in vinyl, and if this is your first time bidding with us, we hope our "record" speaks for itself, ensuring a secure feeling to bid with confidence, thank you all, truly together we make this community one that spreads the love, sharing in this special thing of all of ours :) ***

* After this week's auction, (In no particular order) we have in the auction pipeline:
Classic Golden Era Soul Funk Part II, nearly 80+ lp's, top shelf stuff.....
2nd Modern Soul / Gospel / Boogie / AOR, Part "II"
More Deep Funk / Soul 45rpm 7", as well as AOR / Power Pop / Rock 45rpm 7"
A giant stash of rare Open Drum Breaks, emanating from a variety of groovy genres, the kind of lps both dope / under the radar sale!
A few more cooking, not to mention our exciting, anticipated:
Part 4 "Giant Jazz"; jazz funk, spiritual, fusion, synth jazz underground, etc. sale lp's

*^(Each are loaded with some of the rarest, high end stuff, plenty that haven't shown up in years, unknown mind-blowers, Grail Pieces, like always, all original editions!)
We'd be honored if you'd consider saving us as a favorite seller :)***

All soundclips used are unedited directly from the item up for sale :). See below for detailed grading!
***Everything is 100% guaranteed! We've sold over 1,500+ records in the past year alone, with 100% positive feedback, bid with confidence :)

Feel free to message any questions!

*Note: Any Item that does not have a soundclip, feel free to message us, and we can make one for you :) 

**Note: for items with multiple players, the title of track is above each player; the player enables scrolling through!**



[Please feel free to message us if you'd like a soundclip from this record :)

Media Grade:  EX (both lp's, all four sides, extremely nice copy of this x2 lp, light paper sleeve scuff or two DNAP under bright light, had it VPI cleaned a year or two ago, it's been resting in MOFI inner's, my long keeper copy, plays so clear in this funkified down to the bone soul, try not to bust a move, or run to your nearest sampler.....)
Sleeve Grade:  VG+ (conservative grade, light corner bump, faint shelf wear, overall structurally solid/intact, extremely sharp shape for this one, beautiful gatefold inlay, one of the better copies you're likely to see, a crisp above average, See Photos!)
Year / Label / Catalogue #:   1973  /  Polydor  /  PD 2-3007 (1st press, stereo, "Sterling" "RL" = Bob Ludwig mastering! 1A / 1A / 1A / 1A, stampers, etched "10/13/73"  meaning the VERY first press run! The first press run for the release was likely Monarch plant. International catalogue # 2672 015 is below Polydor logo on back cover, on labels.)
Brief Comments: Well, if you know about "stampers", for example RCA, 1s/1s means very first press, other majors had other variations to delineate this, Polydor kept it simple, alpha-numeric, but the real tell-tale sign, indicating this was the copy that was shipped to stores, for the opening release date, is the "10/13/73" etched in deadwax. The Payback hit stores December of 1973, just in time for the holiday season, these were pressed in October, Sterling RL meaning Bob Ludwig mastering would be the best possible sounding copy, which is why it was first. They didn't designate a pressing plant, but Polydor typically did their very first run through Monarch, for funk/rock, "louder" music, best pressings.
This is the Dark Side of The Moon of Funk, it is a concept album in many ways, linked by those amazing Axelrod like interludes (Pete Rock has used them on so many tracks, J Dilla found a variation on the last side, using that one!), sonically, and thematically it's meant as a whole, with linear notes on the back giving a glimpse.... It's shocking how little is written in comparison with even the most peripheral obscure Prog Rock albums.... James Brown, is painting the results, possibilities, aspirations, fears, hopes, dreams, brutal realities, and conceptions of overcoming, to not be overcome by our worst selves, but to use mind, body, and soul power....Shooting his best shot, in trying to impart all he can, whatever wisdom, truth-telling, and armed with Fred Wesley, Jabo Starks, Charles Bobbit, the J.B.'s writing, and backing the Godfather of Soul, in what is surely his masterpiece.
James Brown has so many amazing records (is there really a bad one?), but The Payback, is the zenith, so much, they had to make it a double album! If only one album could sum up The Godfather of Soul, capital F "Funk" music, stand with the best albums of the era, of all-time, it's this one, and don't take my word for it, by any means, it speaks for itself far more eloquently.....
A tough one to part with it....I've never seen a copy this nice, and in recent years, I haven't even spotted a thrashed one in person, I get around the US, it's the most iconic, heavy for a reason....many reasons..... I may yet again be blessed enough to encounter a first press, but not a "very first" 1/A "10/13/73" Sterling RL, the very first to hit stores.....even the promo version has a better chance to come up in nice shape, there's plenty enough radio stations, former DJ's that kept those clean (those have a DJ suffix in the runout), but I digress. 
I truly hope this stunning album, that is way beyond words, will go to a loving home, to enrich soul, body, and mind, as the spirit of "The Godfather of Soul" is in every groove, every note, between the notes, we all gotta Payback, it's my time to pay back for how much I've gotten out of this one, but putting it forward, indeed "We Got A Right To The Tree Of Life", each and everyone of us, looking out for all our brother and sister branches....
Beautiful OG Very 1st press, true keeper copy :)




*Tariffs aren't going to impact used vinyl records / music media, we wish they were never in place at all, so for international buyers, don't worry on that account! **Note ^That is in regard to EXTRA ordinary tariffs for political reasons, if you are an international buyer we urge you to contact us prior to shipping for clarity!
For our record grading, we stand by the merits outlined in the scale below, anything VG or below will have a detailed explanation in brackets next to the grade.
For sleeves, we will mention anytime there is split, or defect not visible in the photos in brackets next to the grade, otherwise we refer to the photos for the merit of the grade. Of course any questions, concerns, are always welcome :) 
Our media grading scale is as follows: [*Quick note, our VPI is still in storage on the other side of the US, we do brush clean many  items carefully, but we have to prioritize, we won't leave anyone stranded with a filthy record, only "filthy" good! We don't factor dust particles into the grading]
NM = Essentially a pristine album, like new, rarely used.
EX = Under bright light if there is any scuffs or mark, which will be inaudible, most collectors and sellers would tend to consider it closer to NM, EX is also the grade others might call VG++ under the same level of conservative scrutiny.
VG+ = More then a small handful of scuffs, light marks, nothing feelable, will have high-gloss, a thoroughly enjoyable copy that may only have tiny moments of barely perceptible surface noise overpowered by the music. Our VG+ will satisfy the vast majority of collectors as a nice keeper copy, as collector's ourselves for nearly two decades, this grade is aimed to be a great keeper. Note if say the record has a light DNAP warp, but otherwise is NM, we will automatically put it to VG+ and detail that. Another scenario is if a copy plays at a solid EX, but visually is VG, the composite grade will be VG+, and detailed as such.
VG = More hairlines, more marks, maybe a few visible scratches, no more then two feelable scratches (which automatically lowers to VG-), there likely will be surface noise, but will play through, still being an enjoyable copy, the audio quality will satisfy most collector's (the golden rule: if it doesn't satisfy us, it won't be VG), if a record is otherwise EX, but has a slight momentary skip, where 99% of the record is EX, we will note that, and put it at VG. Usually will retain a nice gloss.
VG- = More Scratches than VG, surface noise will jump out more, it be overpowered for longer stretches, or compete with the music in places, it will likely play all the way through on most turntables, a copy that you can still get a decent play enjoyment from.
G+ = Lots of scratches, deeper ones, surface noise now mostly overpowers or competes with the music. It may skip in some places. We don't tend to sell G+ copies, unless the rarity is so great, and that will be precisely detailed.
Thrashed = Pretty much a "Theoretical Grade" for us, it be for all intents & purposes virtually unplayable, it would be for display purposes, or perhaps if you needed the cover but not the record. It's "theoretical" because so far we haven't sold or identified anything intended to sell at this bottom level.
Every item is guaranteed to YOUR satisfaction, no questions asked, 100% refund. We stand by our integrity, our goal is to make sure you are absolutely delighted with your purchase, to deliver a cherished album to your collection :). On the slightest chance of human error, if we make a mistake, we take accountability for that, we don't anyone to have a record they aren't happy with! Bid with confidence :)
If you have multiple items, please wait for us to combine shipping for you! We can combine up to 4 items for the standard shipping rate, and save you $ on additional items. We don't charge a single penny over what the shipping costs, so you are paying only the amount the postal service receives!
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We have it set to 5 day shipping / handling time, as a just in case, typically about 98.7% of our orders are shipped out the day of payment (first day the post office is open), with the vast majority being the second day. We'll message on the extraordinary off-chance if doesn't go out on Tuesday (our auctions mostly ending on Saturdays, Sundays), with the reason and day it will go out, so far that's only happened once on a giant order, and all was well.
Thank you from EnfieldVinyl, a family business, and the auction venture of EnfieldRecords :)
Kindly,
-Alec :D
&
-Ellie :)