ROLLING STONES EXILE ON MAIN ST 1st PRESS (HOLLAND) + POSTCARDS *Stunning* MINT
£
53
$
70
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Description
The Rolling Stones : Exile On Main St + All 12 Postcards & 7'' Flexi Single
This first pressing is as close to 'new and Mint' as you will find. It has only been played once or twice at most and the vinyls could not be any cleaner. They are immaculate! It includes the 12 perforated postcards plus the rare 7'' promo flexi disc featuring excerpts from the album plus two tracks on the B Side by 'Curved Air' and 'Fanny'. It was issued as a free gift by NME in April 1972.
This double album was manufactured in the UK and then exported for sale in the Netherlands so I am sure the same 'printing presses' were used. There is a Dutch catalogue number on the labels. The gatefold and inners were also produced in the UK but they interestingly have the UK cat number COC 69100. In essence it is still a UK pressing but just made for another market!
450196 // A1 / B1 / C1 / D2
The audio on S1 is Mint (track 5 is Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint
The audio on S3 is Mint (track 1 is Mint-)
The audio on S4 is Mint (track 4 is Near Mint)
The gatefold is Ex (the spine is VG+)
The labels are Mint
The original inner sleeves are Near Mint
The 7'' promo flexi disc is VG+
Visual grading
These vinyls are in fantastic, immaculate condition and I have never seen (or heard!) better. I can only detect one faint spindle trace on the S4 label and has only been played once, maybe twice judging by the pristine quality of the vinyls. To say they have a vibrant glossy sheen is an understatement! They look 'as new' and have no hairlines or scratches and no other marks either. They have been supremely well looked after down the years. This is a genuine first press that is so rarely seen like this today. The run out grooves are also beautifully clean. Wow!
Play grading
'Rocks Off' begins S1 in fantastic style and can only be described as Mint the audio is 'high end' to say the least. There is no interference on the run in and this clarity continues to the end of the fade out. The depth of the audio and definition of each note is stunning and there is no distortion either. The quieter mid section has no 'background', not even a single dust tick! It is obvious this vinyl has been hardly played, if at all! 'Rip This Joint' is of the same standard and 'rocks out' in sublime fashion, the audio could not be any more impressive. In fact there is no need to detail each track as they all play with the same breathtaking quality. The instrumental section at the end of 'Casino Boogie' is a prime example. The depth and sonic quality on this classic foot stomper is Mint yet again. The long fade out is just incredible - how a record of this age can play so 'cleanly' is testament to how well it has been preserved. 'Tumbling Dice' ends the side in supreme style, a touch of distortion perhaps which is common on any final track, but faultless audio otherwise. Not one single click or pop on this side and no static or crackle either!
The quiet intro on 'Sweet Virginia' plays with perfect precision and the quality does not decrease. There is no interference and this opening track grades as Mint once more. I am delighted to say every track deserves this accolade as S2 has no 'background'. I cannot believe what I am hearing here! The quieter sections play as well as the louder ones and that is a rarity for any first press. An example of this is the piano intro on 'Loving Cup' - not even a dust tick let alone anything worse! Yet again I cannot extol the virtues of this vinyl enough, the clarity and depth is of the highest standard possible.
'Happy' on S3 is almost 'as new' but does (shock!) have one faint click on the first chorus. I cannot locate the reason why as there is no scratch or 'speck' causing it so may be a pressing fault. It is somewhat drowned out by the music anyway as this isn't a quiet track of course! The rest of the track plays 100% perfectly. 'Turd On The Run' is another Mint track and the power and clarity here is fantastic. This high octane track so often plays with distortion but that certainly isn't the case here and this is 'cleanest' version I have heard in a long time. It is superb! The remaining tracks play without fault although both 'I just Wanna See His Face' and 'Let It Loose' deserve a special mention. The former isn't exactly a typical Stones' classic but it does play with superlative clarity for a relatively quiet track, there is no interference of any kind and plays 'as new'. The latter is quite simply sensational! The intro is so quiet and yet it plays as clearly as a recently pressed vinyl not one from '72! You would be hard pressed to find a better version. A touch of distortion on the final section but a 'high end' version without doubt. Superb!
S4 you won't be surprised to hear is of the same immaculate quality. 'All Down The Line' plays loud and true with no interference and no distortion either. There is a touch of minimal static (very minimal!) on the 'Stop Breaking Down' intro but thereafter plays with stunning precision and loudness! 'Shine A Light' is stunning from the very first note. The clarity here is astounding and again plays 'as new'. Another Mint track! The quieter sections play as clearly as the day when first released. 'Soul Survivor' ends this classic album with a little distortion on the top end but, as I always say, this is particularly common on final tracks and all audiophiles will know this! Aside from that it plays nigh on perfectly with no interference.
In summary this first pressing is a final upgrade archive copy of that I am sure. The records were pressed in England for the Netherlands market so could be deemed as a UK press also?! Regardless you will not find better clarity than on these records. With only one faint click across all four sides this is 'high end' audio, the quality is immaculate. The dead wax between every track is more or less silent and the same applies to all the quiet intros and fade outs. This has only ever been played once, twice at most such is the superb quality of the vinyls.
The Gatefold
The gatefold is in excellent condition with only minor wear. The edges are in superb shape with no shelf wear although the spine does have some rubbing down the length of it. In saying that it isn't particularly obvious. There is only a small amount of corner wear. The front cover has no marking and only one small crease bottom right and the back cover is nigh on perfect. The inside of the gatefold only has a little creasing on the right hand side.
The Inner sleeves
They are both in superb condition with no splits and only a miniscule amount on a couple of edges.
The Postcards and 7'' Flexi Single
The 12 postcards are as Mint as the day when first released back in '72. The rare 7'' single has a few light markings and does play with some light crackle.
The labels
The labels are also Mint with only one mega faint spindle trace on the S4 label.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
450196 // A1 / B1 / C1 / D2
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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Postage & Packaging
I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL. PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.
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ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
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LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item
7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra
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7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra
REST OF WORLD
LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra
7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra
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