VAN MORRISON - Tupelo Honey (1971) White Label Promo WLP LP w/ POSTER -1A EX/EX

$

70

Up for sale is an exceptionally rare, and pristine White Label Promotional (WLP) First Pressing copy of Van Morrison’s iconic 1971 album, Tupelo Honey.

This is a true West Coast archival find, pressed at the legendary Columbia Records plant in Santa Maria, California. It features the earliest possible -1A first-master lacquer matrix engravings. Best of all, this copy includes the original,  fold-out poster!

The back of this jacket features original white radio timing strip pasted across the bottom half. Distributed strictly to radio station DJs, this strip displays the official track lengths, publishing info, and recommended airplay tracks.

Van Morrison wrote almost the entirety of this material while living a secluded, quiet country life in Woodstock, New York. The lyrics explicitly reflect his natural surroundings and his deep love for his then-wife and muse, Janet Planet (who sings backing vocals on the album and graces the horse on the front cover).

In early 1971, Morrison relocated to California, cutting these tracks across legendary West Coast institutions like Wally Heider Studios and Columbia Studios in San Francisco.

The music seamlessly fuses rhythm & blues, country-western, folk-rock, and blue-eyed soul. The dynamic sessions feature a legendary backing cast, including Ronnie Montrose on blazing acoustic/electric guitar, John McFee on sweeping pedal steel, and the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet timekeeper Connie Kay handling drums on classic cuts like Tupelo Honey and Old Old Woodstock.

Matrix / Runout Details

• Side 1: WS 1950A 39987-1A sc A1 (Hand-Etched First Press)
• Side 2: WS 1950A 39988-1A sc A1 (Hand-Etched First Press)

• The "-1A" Marker: The "-1A" suffix is the holy grail for 1970s Warner Bros. pressings. This confirms that the record was stamped using the absolute first-ever master lacquer cut made from the original stereo mixdown tapes. The audio signal is at its most powerful, dynamic, and clear, completely free of the generation loss.

The "sc" Santa Maria Provenance: The hand-etched "sc" identifier indicates that this record was manufactured at Columbia Records’ legendary Santa Maria, California pressing plant. Renowned among audiophiles for its strict quality control in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Santa Maria plant was famous for using high-grade, heavy vinyl compounds that produced incredibly quiet surfaces with minimal floor noise.

• The "A1" Stamper Code: The "A1" etching signifies the precise position and mother-stamper mold configuration inside the physical hydraulic press machine at Santa Maria. This proves that this record was among the very first few hundred promotional copies pushed out of the press lines before the metal parts began to degrade or wear down from mass production.

• Warner Bros. Master Catalog System: The WS 1950A maps directly to the official Warner Bros. label catalog index for the stereo edition of the album, while the 39987 serves as the internal studio ledger tracking code assigned exclusively to the Side 1 stereo tape reel during production at the cutting facility.

Vinyl Media: Excellent (EX) to Near Mint (NM)

• The vinyl surface is beautifully clean and retains its gorgeous, brilliant original factory gloss.

• No deep scratches, heavy scuffs, or hairlines.

• The plain white promotional labels are bright, clean, and free of any radio station ink stamps, handwriting, or spindle marks.

• Plays beautifully with outstanding, crisp country-soul dynamic range unique to the first lacquer cut. Instruments come through clean and sounds amazing in stereo.  The guitars, bass and brass have a gorgeous dynamic punch.

• Insert Poster: Excellent (EX)

• The original large, full-size fold-out poster featuring Van Morrison with his guitar is included.

• No pinholes, tape residue, corner tears, or seam splits. *see photos - poster was gently unfolded to allow for photos. 

Album Jacket / Sleeve: Excellent (EX)

• The gatefold jacket is structurally rigid and crisp.

• Features the original bright pink/red factory hype sticker on the front cover reading: Contains The New Hit Single "WILD NIGHT".

The rear promo timing strip is entirely intact with clear text. Minimal shelf wear or edge rubbing. Spine is completely intact and perfectly legible. No split seams.

Please see photos for condition and runout markings.