THE WHO TOMMY 1969 UK FIRST PRESS 2LP ULTRA RARE

	£		181
	$		239

THE WHO :- Tommy - Original 1969 UK Track 613013 / 613014 Stereo 2LP with Three Way Open Out Sleeve and Picture/Lyric Booklet (Limited Edition No 56)

This album has been owned by my wife and I since it was given to us by Kit Lambert of the Who new in 1969 as a gift for the work my wife did working for the Who’s agency. Not only is this an excellent condition First Pressing – it was an early First Proof Limited Edition. The First Proof stamp can be clearly seen in photograph 8, together with the printed phrase "limited Edition .number 56" in photograph  9.  When limited edition copies come up on ebay they are highly valued and normally in 5 digits (30,000 +) This was a very early first pressing. It has the Three Way Open Out fully laminated Ernest J Day Sleeve ( the rear of which has 613 013/4 number in top left hand corner)

Original First Pressings rarely show up in this kind of order and from their original owners with a full history............................It can only retain its value in the future.

Track Listing:-

1. Overture
2. It's A Boy
3. 1921
4. Amazing Journey
5. Sparks
6. The Hawker
7. Christmas
8. Cousin Kevin
9. The Acid Queen
10. Underture
11. Do You Think It's Alright?
12. Fiddle About
13. Pinball Wizard
14. There's A Doctor
15. Go To The Mirror!
16. Tommy Can You Hear Me?
17. Smash The Mirror
18. Sensation
19. Miracle Cure
20. Sally Simpson
21. I'm Free
22. Welcome
23. Tommy's Holiday Camp
24. We're Not Gonna Take It

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Matrix Numbers:- Record One - Side One 613013 A#1 / Side Four 613013 B#1

Record Two - Side Two 613014 A#1 / Side Three 613014 B#1

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Condition of Vinyl:- I have fanatical standards for my records and therefore would only grade these as very good. (others might grade higher) They are not mint – this is a 39 year old album which has been played but is very well looked after. Both discs play perfectly with very little if any surface noise. They have a few inaudible small "paper scuffs" but nothing which can be heard audibly. Side 3 has an additional few small hairline marks again totally inaudible. No spindle wear – see photograph ............. Good sound quality throughout :They have good shine and the marks can really only be seen under a close inspection light.  Put  Pinball Wizard  on, turn up the volume and  I defy you not to have a big grin on your face!

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Label Condition:- Beautifully bright Track clean labels .......... no wear at all

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Condition of Sleeve:- The Laminated Sleeve is bright , crisp and clean ................ no creasing or laminate lift. Minor signs of wear on the front lower edge bottom corners (very slight) ................... no edge or spine use: Graded in VG++ condition.

The Booklet has minimal use only :

Characteristics of a ‘TOMMY’ First Issue, First or Very Early Pressing:-

1/. The outer cover is a triptych style gatefold with two single layer panels which hinge out from a double slip cover. The outer design is from a pop art paint by Mike McInnerney showing a sphere with diamond shaped cut- outs and seagulls, and the important feature is that all first issues covers outer surfaces were LAMINATED and they are easily recognisable because of the VERY HIGH GLOSS finish which gives them a MUCH BRIGHTER BLUE appearance. This glossy laminate is very distinctive and not easy to confuse with the relatively dull matt blue finish of the later re-issues. The first issue covers were made by Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd London. W.11., marked ‘Patent pending’, this is credited on the back of the cover bottom left corner following the track list / credits and just above the Track Record logo.

2/. On the back of the outer cover, top left hand corner the first issues have the Track Catalogue numbers printed, which are 613 013/4, whereas the later issues have the set number, which is 2657 002.

3/. Gloss finish is an important part of identification with the vinyls as well because you will notice that the first pressings have a much more ‘polished’ high gloss finish than the later pressings.

4/. The vinyls are noticeably heavier for the first pressings, weighing in at around 140-145 grammes each, the later pressing typically weigh around 110-125 grammes.

5/. The record labels on first pressings are a deep matt black when viewed head on in daylight and slightly coarse anthracite when viewed in reflected light at an angle, later pressings have a ‘flatter’ and ‘greyer’ finish, even from head on, and even later pressings are almost a dark silvery or titanium colour with an outer ridge. Also, on Track first pressings from this era the labels are usually aligned (or in the same orientation) either side of the same vinyl, later pressing alignment tends to be random.

6/. More easily noticeable on the first issue record labels is the fact that they state ‘DOUBLE ALBUM’ (Record 1 [or 2]) underneath the catalogue number at 9 o’ clock (most of the variants have the side 4 backed on to side 1 on Record 1, and side 3 backed on to side 2 on Record 2; so that is not a reliable ‘separation’ characteristic as it is on some albums).

7/. First Pressings have predominantly ‘1’ matrices and ‘1’ or low number stampers in the vinyl run off area of each side.  Later pressings have 2’s’, 3’s, 4’s etc occasionally mixed up with a ‘1’.

8/. In my opinion first pressings, as is the case with most vinyl recordings, deliver noticeably better audio in terms of clarity and ‘reality’; but this of course subjective and a matter for the individual listener.

9/. Last, and by no means least, the illustrated lyrics booklet which accompanied first issue albums has a LIMITED EDITION NUMBER PRINTED IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER WHERE INDICATED in this case 56. Unfortunately this is not always a reliable feature as after the Limited Edition run was finished the Record Company continued, for quite a long time, to include non-numbered books and some unscrupulous sellers have printed, or even written a number in to try and maximise the value. They can usually be spotted and this one is COMPLETELY AUTHENTIC - we had it from new!

10/. If an album has all of the characteristics listed 1-9 above, WHICH THIS ONE HAS, then it is a GENUINE UK FIRST ISSUE, FIRST OR VERY EARLY PRESSING.

The key features are listed below:

• COMPLETE ORIGINAL UK DOUBLE ALBUM & FIRST ISSUE
• A UK FIRST PRESS WITH FIRST MATRICES & STAMPERS
• SUPERB HEAVYWEIGHT VINYLS EXCELLENT TO PLUS CONDITION
• STEREO RECORDING FORMAT DELIVERING SENSATIONAL AUDIO
• ORIGINAL TRACK MATT BLACK ‘DOUBLE ALBUM’ TEXT LABELS
• ORIGINAL UK ‘TRIPTYCH’ GATEFOLD ERNEST J. DAY & Co. ‘Patents pending’
• ORIGINAL LIMITED EDITION NUMBERED ‘56’ ILLUSTRATED LYRIC BOOKLET
• ONE OF THE HARDEST TO FIND POPULAR PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS IN THIS VARIANT