PROMO The Doors WAITING FOR THE SUN @LP cvr/dsc=VG+/NM

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Record Label:  Elektra Records       EKS-74024  STEREO   

     White Label Promo (WLP)    

Date: 1968

Format:  LP, the last Doors album (and the last Elektra album) produced in MONO, in a very limited edition of about 500 compared to the Stereo version; the PROMO Stereo version (never seen a mono promo) may have been an even more limited edition pressed on virgin vinyl in better quality than mass production pressings.  PROMO copies of early Doors LPs often sell for over $200 - $300 in mint condition.

Review:  The third, best selling, and highest Billboard charting Doors studio album.  
Their 2nd #1 hit "Hello, I Love You (, Won't You Tell Me Your Name?)" is on this LP.

This was one of their six original Morrison-authored songs on their Aura acetate demo before Robby Krieger joined the group (replacing Ray’s two brothers), as was "Summer’s Almost Gone" on this LP also.  Three of the other demos were on their two earlier LPs - "End Of The Night" appeared on their debut eponymous LP, and both "Moonlight Drive" and "My Eyes Have Seen You" were on their 2nd LP "Strange Days".  The sixth demo cut, "Go Insane", finally appeared on their later live double LP album "Absolutely Live" as part of Morrison’s performance poem "The Celebration of the Lizard" that he wanted to be on this record, but had to settle for just the "Not To Touch The Earth" section of the Celebration piece.  However, compromise yielded the consolation gatefold UNIPAK cover with the full lyrics of the ‘Theatre Composition’ Celebration poem facing the "TCotL" lizard pictured opposite inside.

The album title did not have a matching song track on this record; however, two albums later Doors fans were delighted to hear the song "Waiting For The Sun" on the LP "Morrison Hotel" – it was worth waiting for...!

Grading:  cover/disc – VG+/NM

Cover:  Some minor edge wear (mostly at corners, 3 of 4 are slightly bumped), moderate spine wear (EKS 74024 on left, DOORS/WAITING For The Sun at center, and Elektra on right are all OK). 

           Front cover is virtually flawless except for a half dozen minor creases near the spine varying in length from 1/4" near the top to 2+" diagonal through Densmore's right foot, a 2+" diagonal crease from the middle of the album title at the bottom through Morrison's left shin, and a couple 1/2" creases at the right edge that are more pronounced on the inside black TCotL cover that are about 1".

           The back cover is OK inside & out, with very light top-only ring-rubbing invisible except when catching a reflection at an oblique angle, and three 1" creases near both the left edge and the spine, and a two faint longer partial diagonal creases at the bottom corners.

           See pictures.

Vinyl:  Both sides are shiny with full luster and no noticeable scratches.  Under a bright light, both sides have very minor paper scuffs that should not affect play.  See pictures – I tried to get maximum light reflection to show off "clean" surfaces, so odd circular reflections around label are from candelabra above.   Below are the results of my play grading from a critical audition on my hi-end audio system.

Label:  Perfectly clean white paper labels with large stylized white "E" in black circle - absolutely no spindle lines near hole on both sides.  See pictures – pristine!  "PROMOTION PREVIEW COPY" and "NOT FOR SALE" (except as a collectors item, of course).

Record Sleeve:  Original Elektra "E"-patterned orange & white heavyweight paper w/ all edges intact & unperforated in NM condition - high-top (back) edge slightly curled at center for about 4" in length.          

Track listing:

Side One

1.  

Hello, I Love You

2.  

Love Street

3.  

Not To Touch The Earth

4.  

Summer's Almost Gone

5.  

Wintertime Love

6.  

The Unknown Soldier

Side Two

1.

Spanish Caravan

2.  

My Wild Love

3.  

We Could Be So Good Together

4.  

Yes, The River Knows

5.  

Five to One

TERMS:

Payment:  by PayPal is required.  

Shipping:

·    USPS Media Mail with delivery confirmation, optional insurance at buyer's discretion (and risk if declined), or

·    USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation, optional insurance at buyer's discretion (and risk if declined)

Returns:  are not offered - this set is being sold "as is" - it has been described and pictured accurately.

Q & A:  Please click on the Ask seller a question link before bidding - I will get back to you ASAP.

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The results of my play grading from a critical audition on my hi-end audio system through AKG K101 Headphones:

NM as per my visual grade under bright light.  Overall a very pleasant listen with no skips, hardly any faint tracking static in the bands between tracks or in the quieter passages on either side - no more than you would expect on a NM record.  Exceptions follow:

1. Side One:  Track 3 Not To Touch The Earth - a very faint tick heard just before Morrison intones "I am the Lizard King...".
2. Side Two:  Track 4 Yes, The River Knows - very faint tick heard in the intro for a few revolutions, from a microscopic scratch  I didn't see until inspecting the record after I heard it!