The Rolling Stones : The Rolling Stones 2A/4A Early Mono Press Unboxed Red Decca Label

This early Mono pressing plays with superb audio with not one single tick, click or pop and no static either.  The clarity is very impressive and even the usual distortion that you find on these pressings is kept to a minimum.  The vinyl is visually stunning with no marks or scratches and is easily one of the finest examples I have seen from this era.  This is a record that has been so well preserved and has clearly not been overplayed.

The cover is in superb condition with only very minimal wear, one of the cleanest I have seen.  The original mono inner is also in fantastic shape with barely any wear.

This unboxed / ungrooved version was pressed around '68 or '69 so isn't one of the earliest and obviously has the correct 4.06 version of 'Tell Me' plus 'I Need You Baby' on both the label and the cover.  In saying that you will not find many better!

LK 4605 // XARL-6271-2A / XARL-6272-1A // HB 1 / AG 51

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint / T6 Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T5 & T6 Ex+)

The cover is Ex+

The original 'mono' inner is Ex+

The unboxed / ungrooved labels are Near Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in great condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen despite its 50+ years.  There are no marks or scratches and no obvious hairlines either.  Only under a strong bright light can I see a small number of faint sleeve removal hairlines which clearly do not impact on the sound quality.  There is no dulling to the surface and no groove wear either.  The run out grooves are very clean and you can easily see the JT tax stamp on each side.  The unboxed / ungrooved Decca labels have no marking or writing and whilst there is some spindle wear there is not too much.  A fine example of this early pressing.

Play grading

The run in on S1 has no static etc and then 'Route 66' plays with superb audio from the word go.  It has that familiar raw Stones sound and from start to finish there are no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

'I Just Want To Make Love To You' is very similar but there is perhaps just a little more distortion on the vocal although in fairness I am sure this is more down to the way it was recorded / produced.  This mono record is also being played through a stereo set up.  There is no actual interference and I will grade as Near Mint

'Honest I Do' again plays with a clarity you rarely find on such an early pressing.  There is no interference not even any background static and the playback is very clean indeed.  Mint-

The intro on 'I Need You Baby' is perfect and Jagger's opening vocal is just as strong.  It is well known that this track plays with a greater depth than the previous ones and again this is purely down to how it was recorded I'm sure.  Each note is so clean and precise and even the long fade out plays perfectly. A Mint- version I would say.

'Now I've Got A Witness' if anything plays with more depth and resonance and I cannot find one single fault!  Richard's solo often has some distortion but not here!  Another Mint- track... at the very least!

'Little By Little' plays with very strong audio when you consider it is the final track on the side.  These early pressings often play with a fair amount of inner groove distortion as you approach the end of the side and whilst there is some here it is no more than you would expect or hope for.  There is no other intrusion and overall I think Ex+ is deserved although it could be argued that is a little harsh as I am sure the distortion was there back in '69!  It's one of the vagaries of vinyl!

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'I'm A King Bee' plays with stunning quality throughout with no interference.  A touch of minor distortion on a handful of words but obviously not intrusive and the overall clarity is very impressive.  A superb version and the end instrumental plays perfectly with no background on the fade out.  Near Mint

'Carol' plays with great power and there is no interference to contend with.  There is minimal vocal distortion but I do not think it needs to be mentioned really as, again, this is a result of how it was recorded etc.  Near Mint

The intro on the 'correct' version of 'Tell Me' has no background and the opening vocal is just as good.  It progresses in the same way with no ticks, clicks, pops or static - just that familiar raw Stones sonic quality.  Near Mint is again about right.

'Can I Get A Witness' provides more evidence of a vinyl only lightly played and plays with genuine quality from the intro to the fade out.  With no obvious intrusion this plays with very powerful audio and Near Mint is again deserved.

The vocal only intro on 'You Can Make It If You Try' has no interference and from then on it plays very well indeed.  Ok I'm going to say it again - there is a touch more vocal distortion here but no doubt that is because we are approaching the end of the side.  Aside from that there is no literally no interference and I will grade as Ex+ accordingly.

The final track 'Walking The Dog' is so much 'cleaner' than so many versions I have heard and does not have too much distortion at all.  Less than you would expect!  An Ex+ end to this classic debut album.

In summary this mono pressing plays to a very high standard with no actual interference i.e. no ticks, clicks, pops or static so in that sense the vinyl is very clean indeed and the visual quality is just as impressive.  There is a little distortion here and there but isn't intrusive and I am sure the Stones' audiophiles out there would confirm it is always prevalent anyway.  In my opinion it is kept to a minimum precisely because the vinyl has been so well preserved and only infrequently played.  A fine example overall with a lovely cover also.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated non-flip MacNeill cover is in great condition and has only minimal shelf wear.  The edges and thin pinched spine are so clean and there is hardly any wear on the corners either.  The opening edge is close to perfect with no obvious wear, it is just very slightly wavy.  The 'laminated' front cover has only a couple of small creases in the top left corner and a handful next to the spine as is common.  This version has the blue / green Decca box in the top right corner.  The back cover is incredibly clean when you consider it isn't laminated and has no obvious marking at all.  A touch of fading near the top?  It is only very minor and overall it deserves an Ex+ grade.  A superb example.

The original poly-lined red mono inner is in lovely condition with no side splits or tears, no marking and very little creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

LK 4605 // XARL-6271-2A / XARL-6272-1A // HB 1 / AG 51

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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