LP MFSL 1-249 Boston half-speed, pre-release, unplayed

$

82

This is a very unusual and extremely rare copy of Boston’s Mobile Fidelity-licensed release of their eponymously titled first LP. It was an early promotional pre-release sent to a small number of writers. Its “special limited edition” number panel is blank. It has never been sealed and the disc and inner sleeve have never been out of the jacket. I verify this as the original recipient of the recording, and offer a money-back guarantee that it is exactly as described. It would be a terrific addition to any Boston fan’s collection, but particularly for the bona fide audiophile who appreciates the very best.

Produced by guitarist/songwriter Tom Scholtz and veteran Epic records producer John Boylan, “Boston” is still the biggest selling debut album of all time – more than 16 million copies. It featured the monster hit, “More than a Feeling,” which launched Boston into rock superstardom. Other tracks include, “Peace of Mind,” “Foreplay/Long Time,” Rock & Roll Band,” “Smokin’,” “Hitch a Ride,” “Something About You” and “Let Me Take You Home Tonight.”

This recording, MFSL 1-249, was part of Mobile Fidelity’s ANADISQ 200 Series, which contained 65 commercially available releases limited to a maximum of 5000 pressings each. The series featured numbered limited editions, 200 gram "super vinyl" (compositionally superior and more durable than even so-called "virgin vinyl") and special heavy-duty jackets with rice paper inner sleeves. All the Anadisq 200 releases were mastered at half-speed to allow every nuance of the master tapes to be accurately transferred to the vinyl.

In addition to the pressings being limited to a maximum of 5000 copies, each pressing session was limited to 500 pressings per stamper to all but eliminate the effects of stamper wear on the final pressings. Mobile Fidelity’s obsessive and meticulous attention to detail as well as proprietary technological advances (such as its GAIN mastering system) and utter commitment to quality (they owned their own pressing plant by this time) are clear from the moment the stylus nestles in the groove. This “disclaimer,” which appears on every release, really says a lot about their fanatical devotion to the best possible listener experience:

“Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab does not 'de-horn' metal parts in the plating process of our lacquers. To do so would cause loss in transients in the musical signal. There may be occasional pops or ticks in initial playing of the discs because of this. But, as the discs are played more, the playback stylus will polish the grooves and actually improve the sonics of your ANADISQ 200.”

Again, this particular Boston Anadisq recording is exceedingly rare. As an early promotional pre-release sent to a small number of writers, it is identical to the numbered recordings, the rare difference being the blank limited edition number panel, which of course means it was an even earlier pressing than the first numbered one. Never sealed, never out of the inner sleeve or even the jacket, the recording is in perfect and unplayed mint condition, carefully stored for over a decade. The jacket is near-mint, with some light scuffing and a ding on the lower left back corner which can be seen in the third shot. The corresponding front corner is completely unaffected.

All items in my eBay store and auctions are 100% guaranteed to be exactly as described or your money back. You are responsible for shipping back to me in the original packaging and in the same condition in which you received it. Upon receipt, I will refund the amount you paid, including the original shipping amount.