THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO First Pressing LP Peeled w/ Emerson Torso 1967

$

80

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO Gatefold cover with peeled banana sticker. First pressing with Emerson Torso image upside down on the back cover (* see history below)

Verve Records V6-5008 Stereo

Released: March, 1967

East Coast pressing with labels giving "Side 1" and "Side 2" instead of A & B

"Three Prong Music. All Selections BMI"

"MGM RECORDS - A DIVISION OF METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER, INC. - Made in U.S.A."

Rights Society: BMI

Matrix / Runout (Side A): V6-5008 Side-1 MGS 558 Rev

Matrix / Runout (Side B): V6-5008 Side-2 MGS 559

Condition:

As seen in the photos, the jacket has been transformed into a work of folk art. Listeners have adorned both front and back with references to musicians and song lyrics, plus other oddities. I think it looks awesome... it really is a reminder of a time in which people sat around and listened to music as an experience (no sitting around on your phone while tunes are being played). I love all the rings left from drinks that were sat on the cover. Written amid all the scribbles are “David Bowie Space Oddity”, “Cat Stevens Morning Has Broken”, Rolling Stones’ “Sticky Fingers” and lyrics to “Gimme Shelter”. Also “Chevron dealer”, “His Highness Lenny”, “The Promise of the Future Not Yet Found” and references to 1972 and 73.

The vinyl is far from clean and was played heavily. There are scratches and scuffs. Surface noise is heard over the music. There are a few jumps in the first track. I listened to most of the first side, and spot played the second side. Overall, the vinyl is more of a historic object, rather than a copy you’d listen to.

So, there you have it... not a pristine collector’s example, but definitely a one of a kind first edition.

* History on the Torso cover:

When the album was first issued, the main back cover photo (taken at a performance of Warhol's event Exploding Plastic Inevitable) contained an image of actor Eric Emerson projected upside-down on the wall behind the band. Having recently been arrested for drug possession and desperate for money, Emerson threatened to sue over this unauthorized use of his image, unless he was paid. Rather than complying, MGM recalled copies of the album and halted its distribution until Emerson's image could be airbrushed from the photo on subsequent pressings. Copies that had already been printed were sold with a large black sticker covering the actor's image.

***International buyers, please message me to make sure I will ship to your country before bidding.***

Thanks for looking!