MILES DAVIS AGHARTA 2 x LP White Columbia labels & Gold stamp Demonstration

$

50

MILES DAVIS ~ AGHARTA

With gold stamp "Demonstration Not For Sale" on rear of sleeve and white Columbia labels. 

Vinyl grading - VG++

Sleeve grading - VG+

Various pictures uploaded, sleeve close ups, front and rear, disc - apologies for any tripod reflection - and a view of the label details. The pictures are part of the description, too, look them over...

'Agharta was recorded live in February of 1975 at the Osaka Festival Hall in Japan and the band with Davis - saxophonist Sonny Fortune, guitarists Pete Cosey (lead) and Reggie Lucas (rhythm), bassist Michael Henderson, drummer Al Fosterr, plus percussionist James Mtume - was a group who had their roots in the radically streetwise music recorded on 1972's On The Corner, and they are brought to fruition here. The music on Agharta, a total of three tunes spread over four LP sides, contains the "Prelude," which clocks in at over a half-hour. There is "Maiysha" from Get Up With It and the Agharta "Interlude," which segues into the "Theme From Jack Johnson." The music here is almost totally devoid of melody and harmony, and is steeped into a steamy amalgam of riffs shot through and through with crossing polyrhythms, creating a deep voodoo funk groove for the soloists to inhabit for long periods of time as they solo and interact with one another. Davis' band leading at this time was never more exacting or free. The sense of dynamics created by the stop-start accents and the moods, textures, and colors brought out by this particular interaction of musicians is unparalleled in Davis' live work. Driven by the combination of Davis' direction and the soloing of Fortune and Cosey, who is as undervalued and underappreciated for his incalculable guitar-slinging gifts as Jimi Hendrix is celebrated for his, and the percussion mania of Mtume, the performance on Agharta is literally almost too much of a good thing to bear. When Cosey starts his solo in the "Prelude" at the 12-minute mark, listeners cannot be prepared for the Hendrixian energy and pure electric whammy-bar weirdness that's about to come splintering out of the speakers. As the band reacts in intensity, the entire proceeding threatens to short out the stereo. These are some of the most screaming notes ever recorded. Luckily, since this is just the first track on the whole package, Davis can bring the tempos down a bit here and there and snake them into spots that I don't think even he anticipated before that afternoon (check the middle of "Maiysha" and the second third of "Jack Johnson" for some truly creepy and beautiful wonders). While its sister album, Pangaea is awesome as well, there is simply nothing like Agharta in the canon of recorded music. This is the greatest electric funk-rock jazz record ever made - period.

Released on - Columbia

Catalog number (on spine) - PG 33967

US issue, presumably 1975, going by 'Demonstration' status.

Produced by - Teo Macero

Duration - 97 minutes.

Matrix numbers -

Side One - AL 33968 1B

Side Two - BL 33968 1C

Side Three - AL 33969 1C

Side Four - BL 3396 1C

Please read the record grading guide below and familiarize yourself with the grades used. Goldmine standards adhered to, plus full description in all aspects.

I strive to grade fairly, and have never sold a record without listening to it first.

Visual grading is not an option at all.

This 47 year old LP I have graded as being in VG++ condition. Both sides play through with no jumping, skipping or any other audio horrors. 

There is minimal very isolated, low-level and generally non-intrusive surface noise common to any used vinyl of this vintage and grading.

The sleeve I have graded being in VG+ condition with light scuffing to the edges, minor bumps to the corners, light shelfwear to front and rear, as per age and vintage.

The labels are in good condition, with no major defects, see close-up pictures uploaded.

The inner liners are plain.

Tracklisting -

See pictures uploaded, track titles and details shown.

Any questions, email and I'll help if I can.

Thanks for looking!

:o)

Buy-it-Now, $49.50

Postage - USA - Free Shipping...nice!

Overseas orders welcome - $24, wherever.

* Records are posted in dedicated record mailing boxes with 2 corrugated cardboard stiffeners.

GRADING GUIDE. (Goldmine Standard)

* Gradings range between - for example - VG, VG+ and VG++. In some cases, for example again, VG- may be used.

MINT (M) Absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, and if it is not just out of the pressing plant it is unlikely that, personally, I would ever use this grading.

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-) A good description of a NM record is it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time. In other words, it?s nearly perfect. NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any 'spindle marks' from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects will be absent. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) or EXCELLENT (E) A good description of a VG+ record is except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint. VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.VG+ covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. VG++ is a step up from VG+ generally.

VERY GOOD (VG) Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record. VG records lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible. Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape. VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides, though it won?t be obvious upon looking. A small pen or ink mark, or an original price sticker may be noticeable.

GOOD (G), GOOD PLUS (G+) or VERY GOOD MINUS (VG?) Good does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious surface damage to the label. A Good to VG cover has ring wear, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing.

POOR (P) and FAIR (F) Records that have obvious damage, they are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them.