The Last Poets 1970 VG+ LP US ORIGINAL Douglas3 VG Gatefold w/lyrics Hip Hop/Rap

	£		15
	$		20

Play tested on Thorens TD320 Mk2, fitted with Ortofon Bronze via Quad and Celestion Studio Monitors. Described upon listening - please ask if any other questions so as to avoid any misunderstanding. Have a look at the photos and read descriptions carefully before bidding. 
AllMusic -John Duffy   If rap could be traced to one logical source point, this exceptional piece of vinyl would be it, without question. Though the strict adherence to syncopated rhythms and standard song structures are absent, all the elements that would later become the hallmarks of hip-hop by the early 1980s (and predictable fare by the 1990s) are here: vivid depictions of street level violence, vivid apocalyptic predictions of racial genocide. All that is missing are pointless party anthems. But running through all the songs on the Last Poets' debut is an urgent sense of the need for radical action in the nation as well as the black community. In addition to railing against the injustices perpetrated by white America, the Poets' comment on the economic and social devastation of drugs ("Jones Comin' Down," "Two Little Boys"), complacency in urban families ("Wake Up Niggers," "When the Revolution Comes"), the emotional release of sex ("Black Thighs"), and the weight of oppression that leads to hopelessness ("Surprises"). At the same time, they warn of the dangers of half-hearted commitment to revolutionary change: "don't talk about revolution until you are ready to eat rats." In the same manner that Marvin Gaye's landmark album What's Goin' On depicted the problems that doomed black culture, the Last Poets are now seen by many as prophets. But also like Gaye, the realization that the problems depicted on The Last Poets are now much worse marks the record as an unheeded warning, far more than just a piece of Black Power kitsch. Track listing No. Title                 Lead vocals       Length 1. "Run, Nigger" Abiodun Oyewole 1:14 2. "On the Subway" Alafía Pudím 1:33 3. "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution" Omar Ben Hassen 5:16 4. "Black Thighs" Omar Ben Hassen 1:31 5. "Gashman" Abiodun Oyewole 2:45 6. "Wake Up, Niggers" Alafía Pudím 2:49 7. "New York, New York" Abiodun Oyewole 3:36 8. "Jones Comin' Down" Alafía Pudím 2:51 9. "Just Because" Abiodun Oyewole 2:31 10. "Black Wish" Omar Ben Hassen 1:34 11. "When the Revolution Comes" Omar Ben Hassen 1:47 12. "Two Little Boys" Abiodun Oyewole 1:51 13. "Surprises" Alafía Pudím 2:09
Personnel Charles Davis – poet, lead vocals (tracks: 1, 5, 7, 9, 12), backing vocals Jalaluddin Mansur Nuriddin – poet, lead vocals (tracks: 2, 6, 8, 13), backing vocals Umar Bin Hassan – poet, lead vocals (tracks: 3, 4, 10, 11), backing vocals Raymond "Nilaja" Hurrey – percussion Danfort Griffiths – engineering Doug Harris – photography
Notes Back cover incorrectly lists "When The Revolution Comes" as track B5.  Recorded at Impact Sound Studio.  Distributed by Pip Records, 850 Seventh Avenue, N.Y., N.Y. 10019, A division of Pickwick International, Inc.
Barcode and Other Identifiers - grey label variant Matrix / Runout (Side A): Douglas 3A X Matrix / Runout (Side B): Douglas 3B 

• All records are packed carefully in MusicMax or similar with card stiffeners and/or bubblewrap. 
• Record supplied with a poly inner - new if not already present, packed separately to sleeve in outer poly cover to preserve its condition.
• Dispatched promptly. 
• Please check postage costs and be happy with them before you bid. That's what I charge and covers my costs, so allowing me to price records realistically and without having to worry about what they sell for. Standard is insured to £20 and a number is provided on the receipt that is unique to the package. It works well, assuming you pay quickly, I pack the items well, and hasten to the post on the next day. 

Mint (M)   Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed. Should be used sparingly as a grade, If at all.

Near Mint (NM or M-)   A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly)that no record is ever truly perfect. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like. Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap. 

Very Good Plus (VG+)   Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value. A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK". The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG)   Generally worth 25 percent of Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them. 

Good (G), Good Plus (G+)   Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white). A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.

Poor (P), Fair (F)   Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near Mint price. The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon.