Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsys LP 1970 RCA Club STAO-472 EX/NM Wally McCoy Clean

$

45

Jimi Hendrix - Band Of Gypsys (1970 US RCA Music Service Club Edition)

Up for sale is a beautifully preserved, audiophile-grade vintage copy of Jimi Hendrix’s historic live album, Band of Gypsys. This rare mail-order RCA Music Service Club Edition was pressed at the legendary RCA Indianapolis plant in 1970.

Unlike standard retail copies, this club variation features a unique audio master cut manually by esteemed engineer Wally McCoy using highly sought-after early 3S/2S lacquer sequences. If you are looking for the definitive, punchy, deep-analog mix of this legendary live performance, this is the copy for your collection.

───

📀 Detailed Condition Report

• Vinyl Condition: EX to NM

• The vinyl retains a stunning, bright, and clean original high-gloss luster. Under bright lighting, only the absolute slightest superficial scuffs are visible. The record has been cleaned and fully play-tested. It plays beautifully with incredible dynamic range and only minor, expected background noise during quiet spaces between tracks and silent intros. No skips, no loud pops.

Gatefold Jacket Cover: EX to NM

• The iconic front and back artwork is bright, crisp, and exceptionally clean. Shows only very minor, minimal handling and corner wear. The inner gatefold is remarkably clean with just minor normal wrinkling along the middle interior seam. Housed safely in a clear plastic outer protective cover.

Spine: EX

• The spine is firm, intact, bright, and perfectly legible with only minor handling wear.

Inner Sleeve: EX

Comes with a standard vintage inner paper sleeve that is bright and intact, with just a minor handling wrinkle on one corner.

───

🔢 Pressing Identifiers & Dead-Wax Matrix Codes

This copy contains a wealth of historical dead-wax markings that establish its status as an early, highly-collectible pressing:

• Club Catalog Number (Label):R 104148-A

(Side 1) / R 104148-B

(Side 2)Retail Catalog Number

(Jacket Spine/Front):STAO-472

Side 1 Matrix (Stamped/Etched):R-104148A - 3S W.L.M. I

Side 2 Matrix (Stamped/Etched):R-104148B - 2S WLM I Λ

What these codes mean & their Significance:

• "3S" & "2S" Suffixes: These codes show that Side 1 was pressed from the 3rd master lacquer cut, and Side 2 from the rare 2S (2nd) lacquer cut. Lower numbers mean the vinyl was pressed using metal stampers directly descended from the earliest, freshest generation of the master tape. This produces much better bass response and crisp highs compared to later 1970s commercial reissues.

"W.L.M." / "WLM": The hand-etched initials of Wally McCoy, a revered mastering engineer at RCA’s midwestern studios. McCoy was tasked with translating the Capitol master tapes onto vinyl specifically for this licensed release, leaving his personal mark of high audio standards.

The Capital "I": Stamped into the runout area on both sides, this identifies this disc as a product of the historic RCA Records Pressing Plant in Indianapolis, Indiana—highly regarded by audiophiles for producing thick, quiet, high-quality vinyl compounds during the classic rock era.

───

🎸 Historical Album Background

Released in April 1970, Band of Gypsys captures Jimi Hendrix at an important musical turning point. Recorded live over two historic nights at Manhattan's Fillmore East (specifically on New Year's Eve 1969 and New Year's Day 1970), the album introduced his new, all-Black powerhouse trio featuring old army buddy Billy Cox on bass and soul powerhouse Buddy Miles on drums.

Moving away from the psychedelic pop-rock of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Band of Gypsys pioneered an entirely new soundscape, fusing heavy rock guitar with deep rhythm & blues and funk grooves. This shift heavily influenced the birth of funk-rock and heavy metal.

Key Tracks Featured on This LP:

• "Machine Gun": Widely considered Jimi Hendrix's absolute live masterpiece. A blistering, 12-minute anti-war epic where Hendrix uses his guitar, feedback, and fuzz-face pedals to vividly mimic the sounds of battlefield sirens, helicopters, and machine-gun fire.

"Who Knows": The album opener, driven by an unforgettable, infectious funk bassline from Billy Cox and rhythmic scat-vocal interplay between Hendrix and Buddy Miles.

"Changes": Written and sung by drummer Buddy Miles, this track showcases the trio's soulful R&B capabilities and became a massive hit on progressive rock radio.

Shipping & Packaging Details

All orders are shipped via USPS Media Mail. Orders usually ship the next day, and always within 2 business days.

To ensure your music arrives safely, each album is carefully wrapped in protective bubble wrap and securely packed inside a specific vinyl record shipping box designed to prevent edge wear and corner dings.

Shipping Rates

• Base Rate: The album in your cart with the highest individual shipping rate will be used as the starting point. Combined shipping rates will apply to any additional items after that.

• Standard individual album base rate: 5.99

• 2LP and gatefold albums based rate: 6.99

• Special Editions (with extra inserts) base rate: Up to $``10.00

• Each additional standard album: +``$1.00

• Each additional 2LP or Gatefold album: +$1.50

Combined shipping saves you money when you purchase multiple vinyl records from our store.

How to Request Combined Shipping

1. Add all the albums you want to purchase to your eBay Shopping Cart. Go to your cart page. Do not click the "Buy It Now" or checkout button yet. Click the "Request total" button located at the top right of your item list inside the cart.

On the next page, click "Submit request" to send your cart to us. Wait for us to send you a revised invoice with your discounted shipping total. Open the new invoice and complete your payment.

Note: The "Request total" feature is currently only available on the eBay desktop website or through a mobile web browser. If you are using the eBay mobile app, you may need to log in via a browser to see this option.

I also currently have a sale if you buy 2 or more albums recieve 5% off, buy 3 or more recieve 10% off, and buy 4 or more recieve 15% off your order.