SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON DOWN & OUT BLUES 1st UK PYE ToP AuDiO DeLtA BlUeS RoCk

	£		183
	$		242

SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (II)

''DOWN AND OUT BLUES''

 1ST UK PRESSING! PYE INTERNATIONAL LABELS CAT. NO. NPL 28036 (((MONO))) RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964!!! STUNNING VERY NEAR PERFECT AUDIO ON MY SYSTEMS! AUDIO GRADED AS VERY NEAR MINT!! WITH ORIGINAL GARROD & LOFHOUSE FLIPBACK COVER !!A-1M AND B-1M EARLIEST MATRIX  ''1'' TO ''1'' MOTHERS!!!

Here is another from my personal collection. A very rare and sought after blues UK 1st pressing original! This album was originally recorded by chess USA and released on the Chess labels in the US and on Pye International in the UK! This album is not just rare because it is an original 1st UK pressing but also for its condition,  an unbelievable 45 years old! (1st published in 1964) Played at loud volume prior to listing on a top system using a dedicated mono cartridge the audio was stunning cristal clear and very vibrant, almost as good as it gets, so rare to ever find like this, without the normal clicks or pops often found on these 45 year old blues albums! This album is complete with the original Garrod & Lofthouse flipback cover in at least excellent plus condition, all text can be read and is unbelievably clean for its age. mega rare and very sought after like this!

Willie "Sonny Boy" Williamson (possibly December 5, 1912 – May 25, 1965) was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills. He recorded successfully in the 1950s and 1960s, and had a direct influence on later blues and rock performers. He should not be confused with another leading blues performer, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, who died in 1948!

Williamson's first recording session took place in 1951 for Lillian McMurry of Jackson, Mississippi's Trumpet Records, three years after the death of John Lee Williamson, which for the first time allowed some legitimacy to Miller's carefully worded claim to being "the one and only Sonny Boy Williamson". McMurry later erected Williamson's headstone, near Tutwiler, Mississippi, in 1977.

When Trumpet went bankrupt in 1955, Sonny Boy's recording contract was yielded to its creditors, who sold it to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. Sonny Boy had begun developing a following in Chicago beginning in 1953, when he appeared there as a member of Elmore James's band. It was during his Chess years that he enjoyed his greatest success and acclaim, recording about 70 songs for Chess subsidiary Checker Records from 1955 to 1964. 

This album listed was his first Lp record, titled Down and Out Blues and was released by Checker Records in the US and Pye International in the UK in 1959!.

In the early 1960s he toured Europe several times during the height of the British blues craze (see American Folk Blues Festival), recording with The Yardbirds ( Sonny Boy Williamson and The Yardbirds) and The Animals, and appearing on several TV broadcasts throughout Europe. During this time Sonny was quoted as saying, " those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do". According to the Led Zeppelin biography Hammer of the Gods, while in England Sonny Boy set his hotel room on fire while trying to cook a rabbit in a coffee percolator. The book also maintains that future Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant purloined one of the bluesman's harmonicas at one of these shows as well. Robert Palmer's "Deep Blues" mentions that during this tour he allegedly stabbed a man during a street fight and left the country abruptly!

Sonny Boy took a liking to the European fans, and while there had a custom-made, two-tone suit tailored personally for him, along with a bowler hat, matching umbrella, and an attaché case for his harmonicas. He appears credited as "Big Skol" on Roland Kirk's live album Kirk in Copenhagen (1963). One of his final recordings from England, in 1964, featured him singing "I'm Trying To Make London My Home" with Hubert Sumlin providing the guitar. Due to his many years of relating convoluted, highly fictionalized accounts of his life to friends and family, upon his return to the Delta, some expressed disbelief upon hearing of Sonny Boy's touring across the Atlantic, visiting Europe, seeing the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and other landmarks, and recording there!!

Upon his return to the U.S., he resumed playing the King Biscuit Time show on KFFA, and performed in the Helena, Arkansas area. As fellow musicians Houston Stackhouse and Peck Curtis waited at the KFFA studios for Williamson on May 25, 1965, the 12:15 broadcast time was closing in and Sonny Boy was nowhere in sight. Peck left the radio station to locate Williamson, and discovered his body in bed at the rooming house where he had been staying, dead of an apparent heart attack suffered in his sleep the night before.

Williamson is buried on New Africa Rd. just outside Tutwiler, Mississippi at the site of the former Whitman Chapel cemetery. His headstone was provided by Mrs. Lillian McMurry, owner of Trumpet Records; the death date shown on the stone is incorrect!

Sonny Boy Williamson II has had an influence on modern day blues and blues rock artists, as is shown by the number of his songs that are still covered to this day!

See Photos for track listings!

The Matrix

Side 1 ''1 LP 12036 A-1M''

Side 2 ''1 lP 12036 B-1M''

The K.T tax code is hand etched on the run off grooves (only 1st UK Press)

The Mother Stampers

Side 1 ''G'' ''1''

Side 2 ''H'' ''1''

The vinyl

This is the original thick and chunky, heavier type of vinyl (only found like this on original 1st pressings)! The vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable and is free from warps or uneveness! On initial inspection the playing surface looks awesome and retains its original sheen from new! Only when looked at angled under a strong light can any blemishes be noticed, just very light suface scuffs\blemishes can possibly be seen, Importantly these have very little if (no) effect on the awesome audio quality that I heard, No loud clicks or pops!

The Audio quality

I have very carefuly played this vinyl using a dedicated mono cartridge, on a top system at very loud volume, four times prior to listing! The first thing to note, is that the audio is truly vibrant throughout, cristal clear without any signs of distortion or that this has been overplayed what so ever! Importantly I heard (no) loud clicks or pops and certainly no skips or jumps! Being very highly critical perhapes the odd very, (very) light static tick or minor light background crackle may be heard in perhapes quiet places or in between tracks but this is mostly obliterated during the audio which is truly stunning throughout! Please note! There is slight volume variation I heard in two places only on the last track on side two which is part of the way that these were pressed. All of the UK pressings that I have heard have this same slight fault due to the fact that these were pressed from early tape recordings from the 50s.  My main interest and hobby is the audio quality on vinyl. My grading is based the audio quality. This audio must grade at least  excellent plus to near as perfect for the most part\ very near perfect on my systems extreemely rare and highly collectable like this!!

Pease note! I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd very light isolated static/ crackle, mainly in between tracks (not consistant throughout the audio) Please remember that this is an original 45 year old vinyl that would have originally been played on a 45 year old system!

This vinyl has been stored in a case, laying dormant for at least 25 years or more. A constant clean before play is recomended! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves from laying dormant in a case causes static\crackle\ticks a contant cleaning reduces this and enhances the audio quality!

The Record Sleeve

This is a plain white poly lined  record sleeve. There is slight degrading with age only and slight creasing with age only. Please note the vinyl and cover are now stored sepetately!

The Cover

This is the original Garrod & Lofthouse flip back cover (laminated front only) This is in absolutely superbe condition for 45 years old! No splits or tares! Amaizingly with no main nasty creases to mention. Just two or three minor\superficial laminate creases to talk of only noticed if looked for. Any rubbing/ringware is extreemely minimal indeed! Nice and strong and straight! There are (no) splits or tares! Superbe spine all writing is legable! The rear is exceptionaly clean, I feel that you will find it hard to find better! Super glossy appearance! Very rare like this This must grade at least excellent to excellent plus in my opinion!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS 3.90 SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £36.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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