The Rolling Stones : Sticky Fingers A3 / B3 1st Press w/Insert

This very collectable first pressing has superb audio for the majority and only minimal interference.  The clarity and depth of the audio on both sides is very strong and this is a record that has not been overplayed.  The vinyl is visually in stunning condition also.

The iconic 'open top' cover is in excellent condition with only minor wear, it is a very clean example, and the zipper works perfectly.  There is one very small corner tear line but a little glue has helped considerably.   The Andy Warhol insert is inside the cover of course and the original picture insert is 'as new'.

COC 59100 // A3 / B3 // ROLLING STONES RECORDS etched in run out grooves

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / Track 1 G+ for 4 seconds)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / T4 NM- / T5 Ex+ on second half)

The cover is Ex+

The insert is Mint

The labels are Mint-

The inner sleeve is Near Mint

Visual grading

This vinyl is in lovely condition and has clearly been very well looked after down the years and not overplayed.  S1 is very clean with only one tiny mark on track 2 and S2 is similar with just one very small mark on track 4.  Apart from that there are no scratches and only a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines.  There are a small number of 'speck' hairlines on S2 but they have no affect on the stunning audio.  S1 has a little spindle wear but there is hardly any on S2.  The run out grooves and labels are in superb condition.

Play grading  

S1 begins with the classic 'Brown Sugar' and what a stunning version it is!  The intro plays with a wonderful deep sound and there is no 'background' at all.  As Jagger's vocal starts there is no decrease in quality and it continues to play with incredible precision and depth.  You can hear each note perfectly and let's not forget this record is nearly 50 years of age!  The mid sax instrumental is so powerful and I cannot stress enough just how strong, deep and clear the audio is.  It is obviously a record that has not been overplayed.  The remainder is nigh on perfect with only one very light tick.  I would grade this as Mint- the quality is that good.

The 1,2,3,4 intro on 'Sway' is very 'clean' with only a couple of mega light static ticks and then plays with great clarity and depth.  The first vocal section is faultless and the only negative during the entire track are four raspy/click type sounds after the mid instrumental.  They are not loud as such but yes they can be heard.  This is a shame because apart from that this track plays with very impressive clarity and power and no other intrusion, just two static ticks on the fade out.  In essence the majority is Near Mint but with a brief VG section.

The acoustic intro on 'Wild Horses' is one of the finest I have heard in a long time as it is so often beset by problems!  It plays with stunning clarity and only a handful of barely audible dust ticks.  The first verse is equally as good and this standard is maintained to the end with only one static click.  There are of course so many quiet sections and yet the clarity throughout is very impressive indeed.  Even with the static click I think this is deserving of a Near Mint- grade.

'Can't You Hear Me Knocking' is 'as new' on the intro with no 'background' and continues to play with superb audio.  Even the extended instrumental has no interference and the clarity throughout the track is stunning.  There is barely any inner groove distortion and with only a small number of barely audible dust ticks this is undoubtedly one of the finest versions I have heard on a genuine first press.  A Mint- version for sure.

The super quiet acoustic intro on 'You Gotta Move' is faultless and as the vocal comes in the quality is still there.  From start to finish it plays with sublime precision and there is no interference at all.  How rare is it for a final track to play with Mint audio?  This one does!

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The run in grooves on S2 have no 'background' which is such a rarity and 'Bitch' then plays with incredible depth and power.  It truly is a fantastic version and cannot have been played many times.  There is no interference and Mint is no exaggeration.  Wow!

'I Got The Blues' also plays with wonderful clarity considering how quiet it is.  The intro has barely any static and from that point on there is very little to fault.  There is a static sound on the final word of the '...in the arms of a guy' line and just a hint of minor static towards the end that is only very minor anyway.  The clarity is very impressive and there are no clicks or pops and only a handful of dust ticks.  Near Mint although the majority is even better than that!

The following version of 'Sister Morphine' is absolutely stunning!  With only a small number of dust ticks for company (even new vinyls have them!) and one light static tick the clarity and depth could hardly be any more impressive.  From start to finish the playback is so strong and the audio so clear and there is no intrusion on the audio at all.  This is Near Mint although Mint- might be more deserving :-)

'Dead Flowers' is nigh on perfect with only a couple of light clicks during the second chorus.  Otherwise the clarity and sonic quality is 'high end' so a Near Mint- grade is about right.

'Moonlight Mile' ends the album with superb quality once more.  The quiet intro is 'as new' and the first verse is equally as good.  As it progresses there is just a minimal amount of distortion on the vocal but that is to be expected for this final track and I only mention it to be complete in my grading - this is vinyl!  There is just a touch more as the volume increases on the brief section near the end but again it still plays really well!  The final quiet section is very 'clean' with only the bare minimum of light static.  So much grades as Near Mint but I think Ex+ for the second half is an honest assessment.

In summary this highly collectable first pressing plays to a superb standard overall and the only obvious interference is on S1 for a few seconds.  The sonic quality on both sides is so strong and it is true to say the majority is a of a Near Mint to Mint standard.  That cannot be said for many A3/B3 pressings I imagine!  The clarity and definition of the audio is incredibly good.  A fine example.

The Cover

This famous cover is in lovely condition with hardly any shelf wear.  To be honest there is only one obvious area of wear and even then it is minor.  The top 'flap' above the belt had a very small tear in the right corner (0.5cm) but I applied some glue and it is now held down fast, there is just some minor creasing above it.  So yes apart from that there not much else to report.  The zip works perfectly by the way!  The edges are in fantastic order and have no rubbing and the same applies to the spine which remains 100% legible.  There is hardly any corner wear either.  The front cover is incredibly clean with no marking aside from from 3/4 small indents just below the belt.  This was caused by another zip from where it was stacked in the record shop, a common occurrence.  The same can be seen on the reverse.  The back cover is in beautiful condition apart from that.  A very respectable first press cover that is one of the 'cleanest' that you will find.

The Insert

The plain white die-cut insert has no side splits or tears, no marking and hardly any creasing.

The Labels

The labels have no marking or writing on them and as stated there is only a little spindle wear on the S1 label.  Almost zero on S2. Stunning examples!

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

COC 59100 // A3 / B3 // ROLLING STONES RECORDS etched in run out grooves

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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