The Rolling Stones : Let It Bleed 2A/2A Unboxed Mono red Decca label

This very collectable mono pressing plays to a fantastic standard with no interference.  There is only minimal static at the start of S1 which last for all of 3/4 seconds at most!  There are no clicks or pops and the clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is up there with the best I have ever heard and I cannot emphasise enough just how stunning the audio is!  This is a FINAL UPGRADE pressing and the classic 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' is a genuine highlight but then there are so many highlights on this album!  It has been so well preserved down the years and has obviously not been played very much judging by the audio and the minimal spindle wear.  The vinyl is also visually stunning!

The cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear and the often elusive original poster is 'as new' with no rips or tears etc.  The original red mono inner is also in great shape and is one of the original ones as the London Bach Choir credit has not been blacked out.

This can arguably be called a first pressing as the 1A/1A and 2A/2A pressings were I believe produced at the same time but to be on the safe side I will not 'sell' it as such.  It has the third label variation where Side 1/2 is on the left side of the spindle hole and Mirage Music is above the BIEM/NCB box also on the left side.

With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.

LK 5025 // XARL-9363.P-2A / XARL-9364.P-2A // BA 1 / GK 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro for 3/4 seconds Ex)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is a very strong Ex 

The poster is Mint

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner sleeve is Ex+

Visual grading

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has that impressive glossy sheen.  There are no scratches on either side and S1 has only a small number of faint 'specks' and a handful of small hairlines which are not easy to find as they are so faint.  S2 does have one hairline that is a little more obvious and also one other faint 'line' which I think was caused during the pressing of the record.  It certainly has no affect on the audio.  At over 50 years of age this is one of the cleanest versions of this album that I have ever seen.  The run out grooves are very clean and the matrix info and JT tax code can easily be seen.  The labels are also in superb condition with very little spindle wear and have lost none of their original deep red colour.

Play grading

The intro on 'Gimme Shelter' plays so clearly with only minimal static at the very start - the rest is close to perfect and plays with that familiar deep rich sound you only get with a very clean vinyl.  As Jagger's vocal comes in the playback is stunning and from then on continues to impress with a sonic quality that cannot be faulted.  The vocals are so strong and the instrumental sections are equally as good.  There is literally no 'background' and every section plays with incredible clarity and definition, even the fade out has no interference!  The first five seconds are Ex but the remainder is easily Mint-  and wow what a version!

The acoustic intro on 'Love In Vain' belies the age of the record with only a couple of barely audible dust ticks and then plays with remarkable clarity for such a quiet number.  What is immediately obvious is again the clarity of sound - there is nothing that intrudes on the audio and the mandolin instrumental section is a case in point.  In essence it is 'as new' as there is no 'background' and to the end this standard is kept up.  This may well be the finest version I have ever heard and Mint- is very much deserved.  There is no background static and I am only including a minus because there are a couple of dust ticks but should a track be downgraded for this?!  It hardly qualifies as interference as all records have them!

'Country Honk' in my opinion does deserve a Mint grade as there is no interference of any kind from 'car' intro to the 'beeps' at the end!  You could not find a more complete version.  Stunning!

The classic deep bass intro on 'Live With Me' is also 'as new' and it continues to play to the same 'high end' standard with, you guessed it, no interference.  It plays with great power and definition and the sonic quality is like you're back there in '69!  The sax instrumental section is breathtaking and the 'high octane' final section has no distortion on the top end at all.  I am already running out of adjectives in which to describe this album but this undoubtedly another Mint track.

The first few seconds of 'Let It Bleed' are of course so quiet and yet there is no 'background' to speak of.  The acoustic section then plays perfectly as does the opening vocal.  From then on it plays as per the rest of the side with wonderful clarity and depth and no sign of any interference.  It is so rare for there to be no inner groove distortion on this final track and yet there is none to be heard here.   The clarity and warmth of the audio is unbelievable and you could not wish for a stronger version.  As my regulars know I never 'oversell' my records as it is not in my interests to do so and I pride myself on my honesty so I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint such is the quality.  An immaculate end to the side.

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The intro on 'Midnight Rambler' is flawless and thereafter plays with a precision and depth that is second to none.  There is no interference and the sonic quality is just phenomenal!  I cannot stress enough just how clear and 'fresh' sounding the audio is and a prime example of that is during the instrumental section.  There is such depth to the music and yep there is no intrusion whatsoever.  The very quiet section that follows is STUNNING!  This is obviously a record that has hardly been played and that is surely the main reason why it has retained its original audio quality.  There are no clicks, pops or static and only a handful of barely audible dust ticks.  The powerful finale is again faultless and again I am not sure I have ever heard a version as impressive as this.  This is Mint- all day long!

The quiet 'You Got The Silver' plays with amazing precision from the first groove to the last.  I have no wish to repeat myself but the clarity and depth of the audio is 'as new', there are no negatives.  A couple of mega light ticks but Mint- is an honest appraisal of the audio.

'Monkey Man' is nigh on perfect from the get go.  Just one very light tick on the intro and the first vocal is then faultless.  The vocals throughout are so 'clean' and every note is just so precise, the definition is sublime, and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound at all.  The long mid instrumental is superb and to the end there is no interference.  You know the grade...

The 'choral' opening on the iconic 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' plays beautifully - no intrusion just a handful of the quietest dust ticks imaginable!  The acoustic section is then 'as new' and Jagger's first vocal is more than up to the task also.  It is again the clarity and depth of the audio that stands out and as the volume increases the more you are impressed by it!  This truly is a stunning rendition of this classic and rarely plays as well as this as it is the one track on the album that is so often played to death!  Again I cannot overstate just how INCREDIBLE the audio is here!  There are just no faults - no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either.  There is no decrease in quality as you approach the end and the London Bach Choir section here is just exceptional!  The end section especially where it reaches a crescendo and the pace increases, pure unadulterated Mint audio with no distortion whatsoever and no 'background' on the fade out.  Wow what a fantastic end to this classic album.  I'm tempted to grade as Mint but will say Mint- to be cautious.

In summary...this is about as good as it gets!  This very collectable LP plays to a standard that you so rarely find today and this is clearly a record that has been so well preserved down the years and hardly played.  This is exactly why we listen to vinyl as this clarity, depth and warmth cannot be replicated by any other medium.  The only 'background' are 3/4 seconds at the start but even then it is minimal.  This is a FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic in my humble opinion i.e. no need to purchase another as you will not find better audio on a mono pressing!  Any pressing for that matter!  The sonic quality on both cannot be faulted and the cover, inner and original poster are also in great condition.  A stunning 'package'.

The Cover, Poster & Inner Sleeve

The laminated Upton cover has only minimal shelf wear and as can be seen has the original sticker on the front.  The edges have no rubbing and the thin pinched spine is in superb order with no wear, how rare is that?!  All the corners are also very 'clean' with barely any wear and the opening edge has hardly any handling wear either.  The only 'issue' with the front cover are a few small indents and a minor scratch line on the picture of the actual record where it was at some point sat next to a 'Sticky Fingers' zip!  Not a major problem and I only just noticed it.  Aside from that it is in lovely condition with only a little of the usual laminate lift next to the spine and a minor crease top right.  The back cover is very clean when you consider it isn't laminated and has only a couple of minor creases and a 'tick' next to one of the song titles and a very small scuff on the top edge.  The mono/stereo indicator hole top right is in perfect condition and overall this is certainly a fine example of this iconic cover.

The famous original poster is in perfect condition with no tears or marking and has clearly hardly ever been handled.  The red mono inner for once is in great shape with no side splits or marking and just one very small tear on the top edge and minimal creasing.  This is the original version where you can still see the London Bach Choir credit.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

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

LK 5025 // XARL-9363.P-2A / XARL-9364.P-2A // BA 1 / GK 1

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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Postage & Packaging

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