ROLLING STONES LET IT BLEED ORIG DECCA UNBOXED MONO LP

	£		33
	$		44

ROLLING STONES

'LET IT BLEED'

ORIGINAL FIRST PRESS 1969 UK DECCA MONO LP

UNBOXED DECCA LABEL

UNCENSORED RED INNER SLEEVE

VERY GOOD CONDITION

Label / Catalogue No: DECCA (Red Unboxed) / LK 5025

Matrix No's XARL-9363P-1A / XARL-9364P-2A

This is an original, mono first UK pressing of the Rolling Stones classic LP 'Let It Bleed'.  It is on the red Decca label, with the unboxed logo.  Mono records were pressed in very small quantities by 1969.  The Beatles 'Abbey Road' album, from the same year, did not get a mono pressing at all and 'Let It Bleed' was the very last Rolling Stones original LP to appear in mono.  The label changed at this time aswell, with the initial pressings labels having an unboxed Decca logo and later ones have a box around the Decca logo on the label.  This is the first pressing.

The inner sleeve was exclusive to this LP aswell, it is a Decca red paper inner, with full credits printed on it, which was very unusual for Decca at the time (stereo originals have a blue inner sleeve and reissues do not have this inner at all).  The initial inner sleeves gave a credit to the London Bach Choir for the introduction to 'You Can't Always Get What You Want'.  Later inner sleeves censored this credit by blacking it out.  This is the original uncensored inner sleeve.

'Let It Bleed' has been regarded by many fans and critics as one of the greatest of all the Rolling Stones albums for a long time.  Almost every track is now regarded as a classic and original first pressings will always be in demand.

TRACK LIST

Side 1

1. GIMMIE SHELTER

2. LOVE IN VAIN

3. COUNTRY HONK

4. LIVE WITH ME

5. LET IT BLEED

Side 2

1. MIDNIGHT RAMBLER

2. YOU GOT THE SILVER

3. MONKEY MAN

4. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT

CONDITION

SLEEVE = VERY GOOD +

The classic, iconic sleeve is in a strong very good condition.  It shows some minor creasing at the edges, though nothing deep.  There are no tears, writing or stains.  The spine is unworn with all text readable. This is a well looked after sleeve which is laminated on the front and has the peephole to indicate a mono or stereo pressing on the back.

INNER SLEEVE = VERY GOOD +

The original, uncensored inner sleeve is also in a strong very good condition, with only light creasing.  Surprisingly, for a 39 year old flimsy paper sleeve, there are no splits.  There are also no tears, writing or stains.  An irreplaceable inner sleeve in well above average condition.  I will send the LP out in a seperate Decca polylined inner to prevent this getting split in the post. 

RECORD = VERY GOOD

I have play-graded the record from beginning to end and it is a very enjoyable listen throughout.  There is a slight bit of crackle and distortion on the build up of 'Gimmie Shelter', though not throughout the whole track.  There is also a slight 'bump', not an edge warp, in the LP which sounds quietly, though noticeably, on the acoustic guitar introduction to 'Love In Vain'.  This is not a large bump and is barely noticable by a visual grading, it seems to be a minor pressing fault, which is very unusual for Decca.  It did not cause the stylus to jump and is only audible for about 45 seconds.  This isn't very loud either, but it is noticeable on the second track on side one and visually on 'Midnight Rambler' on side 2, though it barely affects the audio during this track.  The 'bump' is not across the whole LP or even most of it.  It is about 2cm long and causes very little audio interference.  Aside from what is mentioned above, the LP plays very well throughout with only very light crackle in places and no loud clicks or distortion.  This LP is still in very nice condition, though not perfect. It has no deep scratches at all and very few surface marks.

LABELS = EXCELLENT

The red unboxed Decca labels look great, with no stains, tears, marks or writing, just some spindle trail on both sides.

Overall, this is a nice, well looked after, but not perfect copy of one of the rarest UK pressings of a 60's Decca Rolling Stones album.  Sorry, but this LP does not include a poster.

Many Thanks for looking.