THE COLORS S/T DEBUT SET OF 2 STERLING SOUND ACETATES RARE NEW WAVE/POWER POP LP

$

159

The Colors - The Colors

INSANELY RARE SET OF TWO ACETATES FOR THIS ALREADY RARE INDIE POWER POP/NEW WAVE GEM!

(Not "Synth Pop", but rather good ol' guitar-bass-drums, herky-jerky, nerve-y Power Pop/New Wave - i.e. REAL New Wave! Produced by Blondie drummer Clem Burke! Very cool! They were a NY band that did this one album and then pretty much fell through the cracks - WHAT A SHAME!)

Both acetates come from the legendary Sterling Sound in NYC. The first acetate is double-sided and contains the full LP, although only Side 1 has a label. The second acetate is single-sided and features only Side 2, which is labeled.

It is very possible that there are differences in the mix and/or mastering between these two copies of Side 2!

However, given the fragile, temporary nature of acetates (they are only meant to be played 3-5 times before being discarded) we refuse to play any one of the three sides, and cannot verify whether or not these two copies of Side 2 are in any way dissimilar. Discovering any sonic differences between these acetates and the commercially-released version (if they do in fact exist) will be YOUR adventure!

Comes in a white Sterling Sound box, with a sticker carrying the text "THE COLORS 9/20/82" at the bottom-left corner on the front, and a "Jem Records Import" sticker at the top-left corner on the front.

We are not sure why it is labeled an import when it was clearly made in the US (and Jem was obviously an American company which imported LPs made outside the US). It really only adds to mystique of this already mysterious piece!

There is also a lined sheet of paper taped inside the box which features a name, date, and (typically) an electronics manufacturer brand handwritten on each line, in that order. We can't make heads or tails of it, but have included many photos for your speculation.

Let us just say that, in light of the tens of thousands of "STERLING" stamps we've have seen in our years in the biz, it is always an honor to hold in our hands something which was handled by the legendary staff of Sterling Sound themselves!

Acetate 1 Grade: VG+ - Really in very nice shape. We see none of the white film which normally permeates the surface of every acetate we receive. There are a couple of light marks, nothing deep or ugly whatsoever. We also see a light touch of groove-wear on the first track of each side, although it is very light. The grooves are NOT gouged at all - this is very common and negligible wear such as that observed on the average used-but-not-abused conventional vinyl record. Still mostly glossy, actually - probably played once (these things wear quick, don't forget). No chipping or flaking of the nitrocellulose whatsoever.

Acetate 2 Grade: EX - We don't think this one was played at all! No wear whatsoever, extremely glossy, just a light, unobtrusive, incredibly minor mark here and there. No white film on this one either! Of course no chipping/flaking! This one's a BEAUT!

Good luck!