LOVE Arthur Lee FOUR SAIL 1st Press 1969 ELEKTRA EKS74049 Sterling LUDWIG EX+ LP

$

36

One of many PSYCH and Classic 1960's Rock LPs from a fanatically well-kept collection of a long-time former DJ
Mostly 1st PRESSINGS, including a large amount of PROMOs and a few choice IMPORT LPs.
Many of these still in SHRINK WRAP ...several STILL SEALED
Quite a few WLP, Sterling, RL and Masterdisk pressings in the mix!

*Sadly I am NOT FAST at listing and am lucky to get around 50 up at a time, but they will keep on coming (as I pause between each auction series to focus on top level packing and immediate shipping) throughout this fall, several hundred to list, so keep checking back.
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USA Shipping: FREE ...no matter how many LPs
International Shipping Worldwide at EXACT POSTAGE Only cost

This auction is for:
LOVE
FOUR SAIL
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ELEKTRA Records EKS-74049
Original 1969 issue • Stereo LP
1st PRESS • BOB LUDWIG Sterling Master
MONARCH West Coast Pressing
Original ELEKTRA Inner Sleeve

VINYL is EX+
Extremely clean, very glossy, solid vinyl has a few faint hairline scuffs, viewed under hard bright light, that are inaudible. LP plays superb throughout. Labels are pristine both sides.
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COVER is EX
Bright, super-clean cover is tight and crisp with faintest touch of ring rub at very top front only; back has few minor age spots in white background around edges and a few short, mild edge creases. No writing, cut-outs or soil. Seams and spine 100% intact with no wear or splits.

STRICT CONSERVATIVE GOLDMINE GRADING
NM / EX(VG++) / VG+ / VG
BOB LUDWIG, STERLING "HOT" MASTER
First issue RED "Big E" labels
issued in STEREO only

FIRST PRESSING
MATRIX NUMBERS:
?Side One: EKS • 74049-A - MON
?Side Two: EKS • 74049-B - MON
"RL", "SS" and circled "(MR)" glyph also in trail-off wax both sides.

RL= ROBERT LUDWIG
SS=STERLING SOUND
MR=MONARCH RECORDERS
MON=PLATED at MONARCH

...rare Bob Ludwig-mastered 1st “hot pressing” of this album, with his initials “RL” (Robert Ludwig) etched in the trail-off vinyl, which identifies the first mastering from the original analog mixdown tapes - at STERLING SOUND Mastering House "SS". All the wonderful elements of Bob Ludwig’s trademark mastering style are here: incredible clarity and balanced channel separation, vivid and spacious “ambience” sound, as well as wide dynamic and frequency range of the sound spectrum.  As is almost always the case with Bob Ludwig’s masterings, the Ludwig-mastered pressings of this album are CONSIDERABLY rarer than the regular, non-Ludwig copies of this album.

Further, the "MON" ending to the matrix numbers also reveal that this pressing was not only pressed "(MR)", but also plated at Elektra's favored go-to pressing plant: the legendary MONARCH RECORDERS, The West Coast's top pressing plant of the day, who also took on custom-ordered plating and mastering work commissions for special clients ...though in this case the mastering being at Sterling by Ludwig, we have the trifecta providing nothing short of perfection on this pressing.
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a fantastic follow-up to LOVE's even more fantastic "Forever Changes" album from 1967. By the time this album was recorded, the band's line-up had changed so much that the only familiar face by now was that of Arthur Lee, the "great leader", WHOSE GUITAR WORK ON THIS ALBUM IS EXQUISITE!!! Still, the music was not only inspired and played with gusto, it is in many ways a great leap forward compared to the classic predecessor. This album has a harder, sharper edge, but the sense of melody and ornamentation is intact. Nobody - and I mean nobody - could arrange and perform a psych anthem like Arthur Lee. If you love LOVE's first three classic albums (LOVE - DA CAPO - FOREVER CHANGES), this album is a required - indeed, a demanded listening.

Widely overlooked, standing in the shadow of the celebrated predecessor, this album actually contains a number of Lee's best songs, including superb standout tracks: Robert Montgomery, Good Times, Singing Cowboy, August, Your Friend And Mine - Neil's Song (if you are an Arthur Lee fan, you no doubt know of at least some of those songs ...this is where you find them) - and the stunning Always See Your Face, which hearkens back to the feel of the 1st LOVE LP's moody, bleak classic ballads Signed D.C. and Message To Pretty.

from the REVIEW by EUGENE CHADBOURNE for ALL MUSIC.COM:
"Lee's real strength is the set of ten original songs he has provided. The tracks are deep in feeling and performed with an emotional fervor that sometimes approaches anguish. It is like going into a dark coffeehouse late at night and finding an electrically charged performer delivering messages about things familiar to one and all: love, memories, friendship, "Good Times" and even "Nothing". Lee's lyrics and performances have been compared to Jimi Hendrix, certainly a compliment. This album is such a good example of these strengths that it rises above the garage band sound to communicate a sense of time and place as well as some truly sincere feelings."


SIDE ONE A1
August 5:00 A2 Your Friend And Mine - Neil's Song 3:40 A3 I'm With You 2:45 A4 Good Times 3:30 A5 Singing Cowboy 4:30
SIDE TWO
B1

Dream

2:49 B2 Robert Montgomery 3:34 B3 Nothing 4:44 B4 Talking In My Sleep 2:50 B5 Always See Your Face 3:30
Original ELEKTRA company inner sleeve included?.?

If you still need this LP for your collection, this is the pressing to get

Disc kept in separate ANTI-STATIC inner sleeve to protect both the original inner and the vinyl
Album kept in a protective, poly outer-sleeve
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Please see my other listings for more
Vintage Collectible PSYCH, Rare 60's and CLASSIC ROCK LPs
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All records packed with vinyl (inside inner sleeve) behind cover with bubble-wrap around all sides - sandwiched between stiff corrugated flats and shipped in strong LP mailer boxes for best protection in the mail.

My LP packing is considered to be among the very best on eBay. I would have it no other way.

Check my feedback and bid with confidence! Money-back guarantee!

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