THE JACKSONS LIVE MICHAEL JACKSON 1981 7-TRACK TEST PRESSING

$

26

This is a 12” double-sided 7-track 33 1/3 RPM test pressing of The Jacksons Live! Recorded on Columbia Records (Pitman, NJ).  Etched into the dead wax of both sides are the matrix numbers: PBL-37546-1E and PAL-37547-1E.  I’m unsure if this test pressing has the same songs and/or mixes as on the officially released version.

This test pressing is in G condition and has a fair amount of storage wear, scuffs and scratches.  Unfortunately, this test pressing wasn’t handled well over the last 40-years and I can’t say whether it will play through any skips, so it is being sold AS IS.  Please hear snippets of this acetate in the following media player.  I played the disc on an Ion turntable with external speakers, which has a lightweight tonearm that I believe was better suited to avoid wear and I held my iPhone centered between the speakers.  I think this captured the sound pretty accurately.   

     What you’ll hear are portions of some of the songs/tracks on this acetate and where I’ve joined those pieces may sound awkward, but it is just the edit point and not a skip.   

I’m in downsizing mode and this week I’m be posting 63 acetates, test pressings and other interesting and hard to find records all in separate auctions that I’ve collected over the last 30-40 years.  The range of speeds of these acetates, test pressings and records run from 16 2/3 to 33 1/3 to 45 to 78, with sizes ranging from 7” to 10” to 12” and single and double sided.  There also are quite a variety of vanity paper labels for the studios who cut these, as well as a number of them that have no paper labels, with some having grease pencil notations around the spindle hole or notations on the paper sleeve or with no writing at all.  I’ve tried to include as much information I could find on these discs, as well as through doing research and as you’ll hear, I’ve included sound samples for each.

I’ve chosen not to clean any of these acetates, test pressings or records to not cause any potential damage to these rare and fragile recordings.  With that said, if you choose to clean these yourself, you may just find that the condition and quality of the audio may be improved.  When these acetates, test pressings or records were found in an original paper sleeve whether it had important notations on it or not, I’m including it even if it is torn beyond repair and then placed the acetate in another sleeve for protection.  

Just a note for those unfamiliar with metal acetates - these records are extra heavy from the center of the record being made of metal. These records are the first versions ever cut from the master tapes or from a direct live source (even before test pressings or promo copies and have the closest sound to original source material) for the purpose of feedback on the mix or performance by those involved in the recording process or just as a document for archival purposes.  These discs were expensive to make, so very few, if no more than one are usually made and as you can imagine, these discs are quite RARE and sometimes the mixes or performances can be different from the final release, if they were even released.  Test pressings are typically made once the mix has been approved, but pressed for final review before the commercial copies are pressed.

FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Packages are insured for free up to $200 USD, for $201 USD and over there is an additional insurance fee of $1.80 per $100 USD.  Please ask for a final total before making payment if your item(s) total $201 USD or more and I will send you the correct invoice.  I pack my records extremely well and haven’t had any damage occur due to my packing, but because it will be shipping through various hands from the US to your country, insurance is required and will be paid by the winning bidder.  Please don’t ask me to reduce the cost of the merchandise on the customs form, as that will not cover the full insured value.  I thank you for your understanding.