VELVET UNDERGROUND 3rd ALBUM ULTRA-RARE ORIG'69 MGM LP ORIG CLOSET MIX IN SHRINK

$

337

WE CURRENTLY HAVE  MORE THAN 300   LISTED ITEMS

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·       VELVET UNDERGROUND - SAME TITLED THIRD ALBUM ("VELVET UNDERGROUND") -  ORIGINAL 1969 MGM RECORDS STEREO LP SE-4617

·       ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING

*** RARE ORIGINAL "CLOSET MIX" - UNAVAILABLE ON VINYL SINCE 1969 ***

·       DEEP GROOVE PRESSING

·       WEST COAST PRESSING  (ABBREVIATION W.C. ON THE DEAD WAX STANDS FOR 'WEST COAST')

·       ORIGINAL MGM LABEL WITH AQUA-BLUE (TURQUOISE) AND SILVERY/GOLD YIN-AND-YANG MOTIF AND SMALL “ROARRING LION” LOGO (LATE 60’s STYLE)

·       THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, FIRST U.S. PRESSING; THIS IS NOT A REISSUE, AN IMPORT, OR A COUNTERFEIT PRESSING.

·       THICK CARDBOARD COVER, AMERICAN STYLE.

·       COVER IS STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL SHRINK (CELLOPHANE) WRAP

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS (ALL PUBLISHING CREDITS ON THE LABELS: ASCAP (NOT BMI)

·       THICK, HEAVY VINYL PRESSING

·       MATRIX NUMBER IN TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) :  SE 4617...SIDE 1...MGS1824 REV SP (SIDE 1) AND  W.C. SE 4617...S-2...MGS1825 SPECIAL REV (SIDE 2)

(►PLEASE SEE THE IMAGE OF THE COVER, LABEL OR BOTH, SHOWN BELOW)

(Note: this is a REAL image of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. This is NOT a "recycled" image from our previous auction. What you see is what you’ll get.  GUARANTEED!)

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Upon first release, the Velvet Underground's self-titled third album must have surprised their fans nearly as much as their first two albums shocked the few mainstream music fans who heard them. After testing the limits of how musically and thematically challenging rock could be on Velvet Underground & Nico and White Light/White Heat, this 1969 release sounded spare, quiet, and contemplative, as if the previous albums documented some manic, speed-fueled party and this was the subdued morning after. (The album's relative calm has often been attributed to the departure of the band's most committed avant-gardist, John Cale, in the fall of 1968; the arrival of new bassist Doug Yule; and the theft of the band's amplifiers shortly before they began recording.) But Lou Reed's lyrical exploration of the demimonde is as keen here as on any album he ever made, while displaying a warmth and compassion he sometimes denied his characters. "Candy Says," "Pale Blue Eyes," and "I'm Set Free" may be more muted in approach than what the band had done in the past, but "What Goes On" and "Beginning to See the Light" made it clear the VU still loved rock & roll, and "The Murder Mystery" (which mixes and matches four separate poetic narratives) is as brave and uncompromising as anything on White Light/White Heat. This album sounds less like the Velvet Underground than any of their studio albums, but it's as personal, honest, and moving as anything Lou Reed ever committed to tape.

 (EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE REVIEW BY MARK DEMING, ALL MUSIC GUIDE  /ALLMUSIC.COM/)

Velvet Underground released this, now legendary 3rd album, to practically no reaction from either critics or the public. It sold miserably and quickly disappeared into great R&R black hole. Fast forward into the future - it is now almost forty years later, and what was to have been an obscure effort by a local band not much known outside their native city is being hailed from everyone and anyone as one of the great marvels of Rock’n’Roll and probably one of 30-or-so best albums ever made. The Velvets’ third album is truly and honestly one of the most inspiring pieces of music to ever hit my record player. The songs on side A are mostly ballads (and what a gorgeous batch of ballads: ‘Candy Says’; ‘Jesus’ and ‘Pale Blue Eyes’ are some of the warmest and most humane songs Lou Reed ever penned) - and the songs on B side are either uptempo songs or attempts to make some avant-garde music in the absence of recently departed John Cale. Whatever the concept, it worked; even Brian Eno felt compelled to cover "What’s going on" from this album, and he is not the one to lend himself easily to doing covers. The album takes listener through the dark and somewhat contorted Velvets’ world, in which surreal is real and vice versa. Still, this album has much more in common with reality than their previous efforts and exudes an air of warmth, joy, irony and even a gentle sense of humor, something its predecessor (White Light/White Heat) sorely missed. Listening to Maureen Tucker take the singing lesson on "Afterhours" will put a smile on your face. If my memory serves me well, one of the British singers-songwriters or rockers of the punk generation (was it Elvis Costello?) declared "Candy Says" his favorite song ever. And hearing it in this, original version will explain why. THE MUSIC: This album was originally released in United States, and was issued as a mix which was selected by Lou Reed himself (The so-called "Closet Mix"). This original mix was later replaced with the so-called "Valentine Mix",one chosen by the Velvets' recording company, and which places emphasis on guitars and rhythm instruments. Therefore, two mixes exists: The original "Closet Mix" was less derivative, less harsh and softer, sweeter than the more aggressive "Valentine Mix". The "Valentine Mix" which was preferred by MGM, Velvet's recording label clearly has its advantages, including the unbelievable clarity and sharpness of sound, particularly guitar solos. There is only one problem with it, though: Vocals, and human voices, which are some of the most critical elements of the album, are pushed into the background and sacrificed to the instruments, particularly the lead guitars. Some of the Jazziest, and most expressive and emotional singing Lou Reed and the rest of the crew ever attempted was, regrettably, either lost or obscured in the process. To hear the singing and the vocals on this album as they were really meant to be heard, this is the version to have - the one and only one.

For its extraordinary contribution to the modern music, superb production, craftsmanship, fine musicianship, revolutionary significance and influence it exerted on numerous generations of musicians, writers and general public, or for some other innate quality, this album was voted one of top-200 albums of all time in one of the largest poll of critics, music reviewers, professionals and producers ever organized: the poll, which was conducted by Paul Gambaccini, legendary BBC Radio A&R man, surveyed more than 50 top music professionals (including Roy Carr, Jonathan Cott, Robert Christgau, Cameron Crowe, Chet Flippo, Ben Fong-Torres, Charlie Gillett, Greil Marcus, Murray the K., Lenny Kaye, Bruce Morrow (a/k/a "Cousin Brucie"), Tim Rice (of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Evita" fame), Lisa Robinson, Robert Shelton (who wrote liner notes for Bob Dylan's first album), Ed Ward, Joel Whitburn, Pete Wingfield, etc.). For more details, see: "Critics Choice: Top-200 albums" compiled by Paul Gambaccini, Omnibus Press, Library of Congress Catalog No.7855565 (or ►click here   for the complete album listing)

For additional historical or discography information on this album, including track listing ►click here

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·                               CONDITION:

·                               RECORD

 (IMPORTANT NOTE: unless otherwise noted, ALL records are graded visually, and NOT play-graded!; we  grade records under the strong, diffuse room light or discrete sunlight)

(a)          WE GRADE THE VINYL AS STRONG VG++, just a notch below NEAR MINT. A few light abrasions (probably just sleeve scuffs inflicted in storage over the years) ARE VISIBLE, but they appear fairly  insignificant relative to the overall condition of the vinyl, and are only moderately visually distracting. For most part, the vinyl looks impeccable, without any MAJOR visual flaws or imperfections. Much of the original luster is intact, and the vinyl shines and sparkles almost like new.

(b)          The record is pressed on a beautiful, thick, inflexible vinyl, which was usually used for the first or very early pressings. Usually, the sound on such thick vinyl pressings is full-bodied, vivid, and even dramatic. Do not expect to obtain such a majestic analog sound from a digital recording!

(c)           The record has a "deep groove" (an indent in the label about 1/2-inch from the edge of the label, which on SOME labels is associated with very early or first pressings).

(d)          Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!!

·       COVER

COVER IS STRONG NEAR MINT,  STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL ►SHRINK WRAP   (A SMALL PIECE OF SHRINK WRAP IS MISSING)

The following flaws or imperfections are noted on the cover:

-         Cover has one corner slightly worn / frayed / bent (just a beginning of the split seam)

-         Cover shows JUST A HINT of yellowing on both sides, apparently from aging.

-         Minor shelf wear noted on the opening side (nothing significant)

-         Cover has a few tiny wrinkles along the spine (BARELY VISIBLE)

NO OTHER IMPERFECTIONS ON THE COVER:

-        No ring wear

-        No cut-out (drill) holes.

-        No cut-out corners

-        No saw-marks or indents

-        No dirt/dust rubbing stains (friction marks caused by rubbing against other covers)

-        No writing

-        No stamps

-        No peel-off marks

-        No stains

-        No mold or mildew spots

-        No stickers or labels

-        No water damage

-        No razor marks, scratches, pressure marks, lines, streaks, or  cuts.

-        No warping

-        No wax, glue, paint or liquid drops on the cover

-        No glue traces or wax residue.

-        No bar codes

-        No RIAA stamps or stickers. 

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POSTAGE & SHIPPING:

We offer THREE postage rates for both Domestic and International Mail: Media Mail, Priority Mail and Express Mail for domestic, and First Class, Priority International Mail, and Express International Mail for international orders. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: WE RECOMMEND that you pay for USPS International Priority Mail OR International Express mail when making a payment in order to obtain tracking information, which is NOT available for First Class International shipments.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE rates vary from country to country. For SPECIFIC international and domestic postage rates ►click here. While you can be rest assured that ►our packaging is careful, sturdy and impact-proof, please note that damage, loss or theft in transit is always possible, and in the case of some countries even PROBABLE. To discuss this potential problem and ensure flawless delivery, please contact us thru eBay BEFORE placing a bid.

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