The Doors Lp EKS 74007 1967 Rare 1967 Press w/Orig. Inner & SUPERB AUDIO NM-

	C$		200
	$		145

On offer is a vintage 1967 U.S. pressing of The Doors' self-titled debut Lp.   Since most of you already know that this album is an undisputed masterpiece, I will mostly discuss details that are relevant to this particular pressing and what makes it so unusual and rare.
I believe this pressing dates from July or August 1967 because of specific details in the matrix runout.  
The matrix numbers for this pressing are: 
Side 1       EKS - 74007 A     (AL -1) scratched out     SON 
Side 2       EKS - 74007 B     SON  (AL) scratched out  
The AL designation corresponds to the Allentown Record Co. (or ARC) in Pennsylvania.  These letters were scratched out and replaced with the letters SON, which corresponds to the Sonic Recording Products factory in New York.  Initially,  Allentown was given the contract on the U.S. east coast to press The Doors' first record. However,  due to the sudden success of the single, 'Light My Fire' that summer,  another pressing plant had to be contracted to meet demand.  This is where things get interesting.  When carefully examined, one notices something unique and peculiar on this vinyl record.  The outer edges (where one generally holds the record inside both palms) have "serrations" or "ridges"....they almost look like little "teeth" (please look at the last photo in this listing). This was presumably done to help secure the record in the record buyer's hands.  In over 40 years of collecting The Doors on record, I've NEVER seen this before.  I have seen it on some vintage [Blue Note and Impulse] jazz records I've owned.... but never in the rock genre.  The strange thing is the Sonic Recording plant were not known for doing this.  The only pressing plant in New York that had this "trademark" was the (now defunct),  Keel Mfg. Corporation in Hauppage, Long Island.  But there are no identifying symbols or letters in the matrix that show that it was pressed there. A bit of a mystery.  
The labels for this record also have a detail that places it's pressing within the "vintage" 1967 time frame.  The word "Stereo"  are printed using an older font style....not used after 1967.  
The cover has an unusual, ["embossed"] letter "E" stamp at the upper left corner.  I have taken a close-up picture to make it easy to identify ( see 2nd photo) indicating a batch manufactured for export? Or, a reference to Elektra Records?  This is something I have not been able to figure out.    
What is NOT a mystery is the quality of the audio from this pressing.  Having owned dozens of first U.S. and Canadian pressings over the years,  it becomes very easy to know when a particular pressing is a good one; or in this case, a GREAT one. Impressively clear, detailed and distortion-free audio; Manzarek's keyboards in particular stand right out.  'Back Door Man' sounds SENSATIONAL! To my ears the difference was striking and obvious. I auditioned this record at very loud volume and still no flutter or distortion was heard.  I'm quite sure this pressing was mastered from a 1st generation tape.  
From my experience The Doors' first album and LA Woman are the hardest ones to find in decent condition as first or early pressings.  Most copies found have pressing issues;  have been heavily played and/or suffer from groove damage resulting in unbearable surface noise.  Fortunately the copy offered in this listing is truly the exception; a real gem and certainly a contender for a final upgrade. 
Cover: Excellent.....for the most part, this jacket is in superb condition.  Near-perfect spine...no unsightly ring wear, stains, writing, and other issues;  the only visible flaws are just some minor scuffing at the corners and a crease at the upper left corner which extends to the back....but due to the relatively thick card stock used, it is not very distracting.  The colors are the "correct" hues and true to the way these early printed covers should appear. 
Inner-Sleeve: Excellent.....one of the best I've seen...with hardly any discoloration.  An inoffensive 1" seam split to one side but other than that there is hardly any wear. A higher quality (audiophile) inner sleeve will be included to house the precious record. 
Record: Near Mint(minus).....Stunning....one of the cleanest examples I've ever seen.  Both labels are near perfect (and even have bits of vinyl not yet removed from the spindle hole) and show that this record has hardly been played. The record has good weight and thickness.....any marks and scuffs that appear under bright lights were no doubt there from new.  I heard some isolated moments of static-like ticks on a couple of songs and  the odd tick on another;  but comparatively speaking, this record plays beautifully; and one can even make an argument that this is likely as close as you'll get to a just-unwrapped vintage pressing of this album. 

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