VELVET UNDERGROUND LOADED 1st UK PLUM/RED LABEL N.MiNt

	£		233
	$		309

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND ''LOADED'' 1st UK PRESS 1971 CAT NO. 2400111 ((STEREO)) 1st ISSUE PLUM/RED ATLANTIC LABELS! NEAR MINT VINYL! NEAR MINT AUDIO! BARELY PLAYED MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES EVER!!

ARCHIVE COPY NEVER NEED TO UPGRADE!!

Another from my personal collection! Purchased from new in 1971 ,,initially only ever played to record to tape and then stored in a case with the vinyl seperated from the cover and sleeve for protection, this is how I have always stored my records! This is the earliest/1st UK pressing, pressed from the earliest 1st matrix features #1 #1 matrix endings! Audio graded as near mint, vinyl graded visualy as near mint! Highly collectable and sought after original! Very rare to find especially in this condition!

Loaded is the fourth album by The Velvet Underground, released in November 1970, by Atlantic Records' subsidiary label, Cotillion. The album was the final album recorded featuring Lou Reed, though he had departed from the band shortly before the album's release. In 2003, Loaded was #109 on Rolling Stone's reissue of their 500 greatest albums of all time.

Loaded was a commercial effort aimed at radio play, another step away from the Warhol-influenced days. The album's title refers to Atlantic's request that the band produce an album "loaded with hits". Doug Yule said, "On Loaded there was a big push to produce a hit single, there was that mentality, which one of these is a single, how does it sound when we cut it down to 3.5 minutes, so that was a major topic for the group at that point. And I think that the third album to a great extent shows a lot of that in that a lot of those songs were designed as singles and if you listen to them you can hear the derivation, like this is sort of a Phil Spector-ish kind of song, or this is that type of person song." Reed was critical of the album's final mix. Reed left the Velvet Underground on August 23, 1970 but Loaded wasn't released until three months later, in November!

 After its release, Reed discovered that the album had been re-edited and resequenced without his consent. One of Reed's sore points resulting from that unauthorized re-editing was that the "heavenly wine and roses" melody was cut out of "Sweet Jane". In the original recording, this part was intended to provide a perfectly flowing bridge to a full-fledged plagal cadence two-chord version of the chorus (earlier choruses in the song have a 4-chord riff). In Reed's initial solo performances, he would include the verse (see for instance American Poet), until 1973, when he would routinely leave that verse out, as the bridge fits less well in a more hard-rock version (as heard for instance on Rock 'n' Roll Animal). However, the post-Reed, Doug Yule-led Velvets always performed the song with the verse re-inserted!

 A career-spanning retrospective of Reed's recordings with the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist, NYC Man (The Ultimate Collection 1967–2003), which Reed compiled himself, uses the shorter version. Reed also felt snubbed by being listed third in the credits on the album; and by the large photo of Yule playing piano; and by all the songwriting credits improperly going to the band, rather than Reed himself. Newer releases have satisfied many of Reed's concerns—he now is properly acknowledged as the sole songwriter for the album; he is listed at the top of the band line-up, and since the 1995 box set Peel Slowly and See, another mix is available, restoring "Sweet Jane," "Rock and Roll" and "New Age" to the full-length versions Reed had originally penned!

 The album does not feature Velvet Underground stalwart drummer Maureen Tucker, as she was pregnant at the time (she is still credited on the album sleeve, however). Drumming duties were performed mainly by bassist Doug Yule, recording engineer Adrian Barber and Doug Yule's brother Billy. Lou Reed has commented that "Loaded didn’t have Maureen on it, and that’s a lot of people’s favorite Velvet Underground record, so we can’t get too lost in the mystique of the Velvet Underground...It’s still called a Velvet Underground record.

Original copies of the album have no silence in between the first two songs, "Who Loves The Sun" and "Sweet Jane," with the first note of the latter being heard at the precise moment the former completely fades. Some later pressings break the segue with the insertion of a few seconds of silence. All CDs of 'Loaded' retain the original segue without the silence!

Track Listing.

1."Who Loves the Sun" – 2:50

2."Sweet Jane" – 3:15

3."Rock & Roll" – 4:47

4."Cool It Down" – 3:05

5."New Age" – 4:39 Side two

6."Head Held High" – 2:52

7."Lonesome Cowboy Bill" – 2:48

8."I Found a Reason" – 4:15

9."Train Round the Bend" – 3:20

10."Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" – 7:23

The Matrix

Side 1. ''2400111 A#1''

Side 2. ''2400111 B#1''

This is the original earliest thick and chunky type of vinyl with deeper grooves (only found like this on the original earliest UK pressings) The vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable and is free of any warping!

On initial inspection the vinyl looks almost like new and it is hard to see a blemish on the playing surface! It is quite obvious that this vinyl has barely ever been played at all in fact this vinyl has barely had a handful of plays only! Only in strong light could possibly any\very few light sleeve removal marks possibly be seen only (nothing that would cause any loud clicks, ticks or pops)

The Audio Quality

I have played this vinyl track for track one time only, at very loud volume on a top system! The audio is as good as it gets in any format in my personal opinion absolutely very near as perfect on my system! cristal clear and very very vibrant indeed! Please note! Certainly the most sought after and incredibly rare to ever find 1st issue 1st press, in this awesome top top condition! The vinyl and audio is graded as very near mint the best that you will ever find! Please do not underestemate the rarety of this album like this, any light static that could perhapes be heard in the odd isolated quiet places would be contributed to a build up of dirt and dust in the grooves from this vinyl being stored , laying dormant in a case for more than 40 years !! Audio is graded at least excellent plus to very near mint in my opinion!

Please note, I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd very light static  that may be heard in the odd isolated quiet place, please remember that this is a genuine 41 year old vinyl that would have originally been played on a 41 year old system!

Points to note! this vinyl has been stored in a case , laying dormant for over 40 years! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves from laying dormant causes static crackle\ticks. A constant clean before each play is highly recomended. This will reduce any static and will enhance the audio quality!

The Labels

These are the 1st issue plum/red Atlantic labels These are superbe! rarest and most scarce to ever find in this condition, highly collectable!,Amaizinly  (perhapes a hint of a handfull of spidering only seen if angled to the light) There is little if no spindle ware the hole is perfectly round! Try to find anything like this after 41 years!!! Unbeleivable!!

The Record Sleeve

This is the originalwhite Poly lined sleeve with black text. Features patent no and dated 03/71 . No splits or tares just light staining fading with age only. This is the original!

The cover

This is the 1st issue UK printed unlaminated cover ! Printed by MacNeill Press Ltd.! Absolutely stunning superbe condition throughout ! No splits or tares and just very minor real storageware worth to mention! The rear is exceptional any rubbing ware you really have to scrutinise to notice any or light ringware is extreemely minimal indeed, light crease to mention at the bottom right only but you have to look to notice this! The spine is also superbe without rubbing and all text is legible! This top copy must grade at least excellent to excellent plus in my opinion you will find it hard to find a better copy anywhere! This cover has always been stored in a case seperated from the vinyl and sleeve for protection which has obviously preserved this cover for all of these years! Excellent plus!

An archive copy never need to upgrade from this awesome vinyl!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £42.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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