Search Results for “stereo”

Frank Sinatra – Sings the Select Johnny Mercer red vinyl Japan promotional LP with obi

Frank Sinatra - Sings the Select Johnny Mercer red vinyl Japan promo lp

Offered for sale is an original Japanese red vinyl promotional copy of the compilation LP Frank Sinatra Sings the Select Johnny Mercer by Frank Sinatra, including the original obi.

About this copy: This copy of Frank Sinatra Sings the Select Johnny Mercer is an original 1965 Japanese pressing on the Capitol label.

The cover is M- with trace wear on one corner. The rare obi is M-. This LP was issued without an insert.

The envelope-style inner sleeve is M-.

The red vinyl promo disc is M- and looks unplayed. Clean disc!

This promotional copy has printed song titles on a label that was most often used for test pressings. The name of the artist and the title of the album are misspelled on the side two label.

A gorgeous copy of a very rare (and very good) Frank Sinatra LP and the only copy, promotional or otherwise, that we have ever seen.

Background: Released in 1963 (and 1965 in Japan) Frank Sinatra Sings the Select Johnny Mercer is a compilation album by Capitol Records that was issued after Sinatra had left the label.

The album did not chart.

Allmusic.com gave Frank Sinatra Sings the Select Johnny Mercer a 4 star review:

This isn’t a definitive collection mainly because Frank Sinatra went on to record so many more great Johnny Mercer tunes for his Reprise label. But what does make it onto this CD is top-shelf. Since Sinatra was justly renown for his sensitive way with a lyric, it makes sense to compile numbers that were by written by Mercer, his favorite lyricist. Both men excelled at throwing away jazzy, seemingly off-the-cuff lingo (“Jeepers Creepers”) or at spinning sophisticated, worldly narratives “When the World Was Young.” This may help explain why so many of these songs became the definitive versions.

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Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Capitol
Catalog Number:	CP-7395
Year of Release:	1965
Format:	Stereo
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Phantom’s Divine Comedy – Part 1 sealed U.S. LP

Offered for sale is a still sealed original U.S. pressing of Phantom’s Divine Comedy Part 1 by Phantom’s Divine Comedy.

This 1974 album was thought by many to be an album by the Doors, suggesting that singer Jim Morrison had not actually died three years earlier.

About this copy: This copy of Phantom’s Divine Comedy Part 1 is a 1974 U.S. pressing on the orange Capitol label.

As the album is still sealed, the record is presumably new and unplayed.

The cover is M-, with a promotional punch hole in the upper right hand corner.

The wrap is mostly intact, though there is a large tear in the upper right hand corner and another one in the lower left hand corner.

A nice copy of an album that’s quite rare for a mid-1970s release on a major label.

Background: Not much is known about “Phantom” or “Phantom’s Divine Comedy,” as the band members were listed on the cover as:

Phantom – Vocals, guitar, piano, bag piano, bag guitar
X – Drums and percussion
Y&W – Bass
Z – Piano & Organ

The artist is sometimes listed simply as “Phantom.” While the album is called Part I, there was no “Part II.”

The singer, Phantom, was actually named Arthur Pendragon and the band hailed from Michigan.

Their lone album, the poorly titled, Part I, did not chart.

Allmusic.com gave Phantom’s Divine Comedy, Part I , a 4 star review:

How do you rate an album like this? On originality, it gets about a zero, but as a hint at what another Doors album could have sounded like, it gets a nine out of nine — “Tales From a Wizard” aping the group at its most pretentious, and “Devil’s Child” as a parody of numbers like “Love Me Two Times.” Other titles, like “Spiders Will Dance (On Your Face While You Sleep)” (which opens up seemingly bent on parodying “Alabama Song”) and “Stand Beside My Fire” are equally self-explanatory. Actually, it’s hard to imagine Morrison, Manzarek, Krieger, and Densmore coming out with something quite this unimaginative — they always added something new to each album — unless they were producing themselves and Morrison was really wasted. But the album is a good imitation of what the Doors’ music sounded like if you weren’t listening too closely to it on the radio.

Country of origin:	U.S.
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Capitol
Catalog Number:	ST-11313
Year of Release:	1974
Format:	Stereo
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Grateful Dead – Anthem of the Sun sealed U.S. picture disc LP

grateful dead anthem of the sun picture disc LP

Offered for sale is a still sealed limited edition U.S. picture disc pressing of Anthem of the Sun by the Grateful Dead.

About this copy: This copy of Anthem of the Sun is a 2018 U.S. pressing on the Rhino label of an album that was originally released in 1968.

This picture disc pressing was limited to 10,000 copies and quickly sold out.

The wrap is fully intact with no rips, tears, or holes. There is a hype sticker on the wrap describing the LP as a 50th anniversary limited edition.

A nice copy of a classic LP.

Background: Released in 1968, Anthem of the Sun was the second album by the Grateful Dead.

The album reached #87 on the U.S. album chart.

Allmusic.com gave Anthem of the Sun a 4 1/2 star review:

As the second long-player by the Grateful Dead, Anthem of the Sun (1968) pushed the limits of both the music as well as the medium. General dissatisfaction with their self-titled debut necessitated the search for a methodology to seamlessly juxtapose the more inspired segments of their live performances with the necessary conventions of a single LP. …The idea to create an aural pastiche from numerous sources — often running simultaneously — was a radical concept that allowed consumers worldwide to experience a simulated Dead performance firsthand. One significant pattern which began developing saw the band continuing to refine the same material that they were concurrently playing live night after night prior to entering the studio. … Although the uninitiated might find the album unnervingly difficult to follow, it obliterated the pretension of the post-Sgt. Pepper’s “concept album” while reinventing the musical parameters of the 12″ LP medium.

Country of origin:	U.S.
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Rhino
Catalog Number:	R1 564266
Year of Release:	2018
Format:	Stereo
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Miles Davis – Kind of Blue sealed Japan LP with cap obi

Offered for sale is a still sealed Japanese pressing of Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, including the rare “cap” obi.

About this copy: This copy of Kind of Blue is a 1981 Japanese pressing of an LP that was originally issued in 1959.

As the album is still sealed, the disc is presumably new and unplayed.

The wrap is fully intact except for a small break at the top right corner. There are two hype stickers attached to the wrap.

A virtually perfect copy of a jazz LP that everyone should own.

Background: Recorded in 1959 by a “supergroup” that included Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans, the album is also one of the best-selling jazz albums ever.

Kind of Blue is also a very well recorded album that has long been a favorite of audiophiles.

AllMusic.com gave Kind of Blue five stars:

Kind of Blue isn’t merely an artistic highlight for Miles Davis, it’s an album that towers above its peers, a record generally considered as the definitive jazz album. To be reductive, it’s the Citizen Kane of jazz — an accepted work of greatness that’s innovative and entertaining. That may not mean it’s the greatest jazz album ever made, but it certainly is a universally acknowledged standard of excellence. Why does Kind of Blue posses such a mystique? Perhaps it’s that this music never flaunts its genius. It lures listeners in with the slow, luxurious bassline and gentle piano chords of “So What.” From that moment on, the record never really changes pace — each tune has a similar relaxed feel, as the music flows easily. Yet Kind of Blue is more than easy listening. The end results were wondrous, filled with performances that still crackle with vitality. Few albums of any genre manage to work on so many different levels, but Kind of Blue does. It can be played as background music, yet it amply rewards close listening. It is advanced music that is extraordinarily enjoyable. It may be a stretch to say that if you don’t like Kind of Blue, you don’t like jazz — but it’s hard to imagine it as anything other than a cornerstone of any jazz collection.

This record is eligible for PayPal Credit financing by PayPal. U.S. customers may choose to pay later at checkout, and may receive up to six months financing with no interest. Click the banner below for more information. (opens in a new window)

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	CBS
Catalog Number:	18AP 2056
Year of Release:	1981
Format:	Stereo
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Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat original Japan LP with obi

velvet underground white light/white heat japan lp

Offered for sale is an original Japanese pressing of White Light/White Heat, the second album by the Velvet Underground, including the original obi.

About this copy: This particular copy of White Light/White Heat is a 1982 Japanese pressing on the Verve label. While the LP was released in the U.S. in 1968, the album wasn’t released in Japan until 1982.

The cover is similar to the U.S. issue; it’s black with a faint impression of a skull in the lower left hand corner.

The cover is M-. The obi is M-. The insert is M-.

The disc is M- and looks unplayed. Clean disc!

A virtually perfect copy of a classic LP.

Background: Any fan of the debut album by the Velvet Underground was likely shocked upon hearing 1968’s White Light/White Heat, an album that sounded nothing at all like its predecessor, or for that matter, like any other record to be found in stores that year. Raw, unpolished, and loud, White Light/White Heat was, and remains, the most difficult album in the band’s catalog.

AllMusic.com gave White Light/White Heat five stars:

The world of pop music was hardly ready for The Velvet Underground’s first album when it appeared in the spring of 1967, but while The Velvet Underground and Nico sounded like an open challenge to conventional notions of what rock music could sound like (or what it could discuss), 1968’s White Light/White Heat was a no-holds-barred frontal assault on cultural and aesthetic propriety. Recorded without the input of either Nico or Andy Warhol, White Light/White Heat was the purest and rawest document of the key Velvets lineup of Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen Tucker, capturing the group at their toughest and most abrasive. White Light/White Heat is easily the least accessible of The Velvet Underground’s studio albums, but anyone wanting to hear their guitar-mauling tribal frenzy straight with no chaser will love it, and those benighted souls who think of the Velvets as some sort of folk-rock band are advised to crank their stereo up to ten and give side two a spin.

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Verve
Catalog Number:	23MM 0190
Year of Release:	1982
Format:	Stereo
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Kansas – Point of Know Return U.S. half speed mastered Mastersound LP

kansas point of know return mastersound lp

Offered for sale is a limited edition U.S. half speed mastered audiophile edition of Point of Know Return by Kansas.

This was a part of Columbia’s short-lived Mastersound series of half speed mastered LPs issued in the early 1980s.

About this copy: This copy of Point of Know Return is a 1980 pressing on the Kirshner label.

The cover is VG+, with slight ring wear near the top edge and trace corner wear.

The generic Mastersound insert is missing.

The disc is M- with a couple of spindle marks on the labels, but no marks on the vinyl. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a scarce audiophile LP. Pretty good album, too.

Background: This particular pressing was part of Columbia Records’ short-lived (1980-1983) audiophile series, in which they released a number of then-new and vintage titles in high-quality, half speed mastered editions in order to compete with Mobile Fidelity and Nautilus.

These records were mastered with both the tape deck and the cutting lathe running at half speed, which produces deeper bass and better imaging than standard pressings. In addition, these records, which sold for a substantial premium over the regular pressings of the album, were pressed on high quality virgin vinyl. Mobile Fidelity’s audiophile pressings are better known than those from Columbia, but Columbia’s half speed mastered pressings are, for the most part, exceptionally good ones, and this album is no exception.

The 1977 LP, Point of Know Return was the fifth studio album by the band, and is Kansas’ best-selling LP, containing the hit “Dust in the Wind.” The album reached #4 on the U.S. album charts and was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA.

Allmusic.com gave Point of Know Return a 4 star review:

This is the definitive Kansas recording and includes their most famous tune, “Dust in the Wind.” The band is in peak form and also churned out the single “Point of Know Return,” which is still played daily on classic rock stations. While their pop-oriented approach and standard rock guitar sound helped define the classic rock sound of the ’70s, careful listening reveals that this band’s talent goes beyond colleagues such as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Boston. Yet despite the minor inconsistencies and a dated sound, their interplay and superior musicianship make this both an essential classic rock and progressive rock recording.

Country of origin:	U.S.
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Kirshner
Catalog Number:	HZ 44929
Year of Release:	1980
Format:	Stereo
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Mitzi Gaynor – Mitzi Japan LP with obi

Offered for sale is a Japanese pressing of Mitzi, the self-titled debut LP by Mitzi Gaynor, including the original obi.

About this copy: This copy of Mitzi is a 1992 pressing on the Verve label of an album that was originally released in 1959.

The cover is M-. The obi is M-. The lyric insert is M-.

The disc is M- and may be unplayed. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a classic pop LP.

Background: Released in 1959, Mitzi was the first solo album by Mitzi Gaynor.

Allmusic.com gave Mitzi a 4 star review:

Mitzi Gaynor’s Verve debut introduces a performer who gets by more on sex appeal and sass than conventional musical talent. If Mitzi sounds like a harbinger of endless pop vixen records to follow, you’re right, but there’s no denying the album’s obvious charms, either. …. Mitzi is a bold, brassy record that exults in its own femininity.

You can listen to “I Won’t Dance” here:

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Verve
Catalog Number:	POJJ-1538
Year of Release:	1992
Format:	Stereo
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Runaways – Runaways 1977 Japan LP with obi and alternate cover

Offered for sale is a Japanese pressing of The Runaways, the debut LP by the Runaways, complete with original obi and a rare alternate cover.

About this copy: This copy of The Runaways is a Japanese second issue from 1977. The 1976 first issue had the same cover as the U.S. release; the 1977 second issue had the same catalog number but a cover with a live shot of the band.

The cover is VG++, with slight corner wear.

The original obi is M-. This LP was issued without an insert, as the insert information is contained inside the gatefold cover.

The disc is M- with a number of spindle marks on the labels, but no marks on the vinyl. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a scarce Runaways LP, as this issue sold fewer copies than the original issue.

Background: The Runaways was released in 1976, and barely made a dent on the charts, reaching #194 on the U.S. album charts.

The album was influential, however, and Allmusic.com gave The Runaways a 4 1/2 star review:

When the Runaways debuted in 1976 with this self-titled LP, aggressive female rockers were the exception instead of the rule. Women had no problem becoming folk-rockers, singer/songwriters or Top 40 icons, but female artists who had more in common with Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith than Joni Mitchell were hardly the norm. With this album, the Runaways made it crystal clear that women (or specifically, adolescent girls) were more than capable of playing intense, forceful hard rock that went directly for the jugular.

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Mercury
Catalog Number:	RJ-7165
Year of Release:	1977
Format:	Stereo
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Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Deja Vu Japan LP with obi

Offered for sale is a Japanese pressing of Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, including the original obi and lyric insert.

About this copy: This copy of Deja Vu is a 1976 pressing of an album that was originally released in 1970.

The cover is VG++ with slight corner wear. The obi is M-.

The lyric insert is M-.

The disc is M- with a couple of spindle marks on the labels, but no marks on the vinyl. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a classic LP.

Background: Deja Vu is the second album by Crosby, Stills and Nash, with the addition of Stills’ former bandmate in Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young. The album reportedly took 800 hours of studio time to record, and became one of the most anticipated releases of all time.

Deja Vu reached #1 on the U.S. album charts and has been certified platinum 7 times. It also reached #5 in the UK. The songs “Our House,” “Teach Your Children,” and “Woodstock,” all reached the American Top 40.

Allmusic.com gave Deja Vu a rare 5 star review:

One of the most hotly awaited second albums in history — right up there with those by the Beatles and the Band — Déjà Vu lived up to its expectations and rose to number one on the charts. …. Déjà Vu worked as an album, a product of four potent musical talents who were all ascending to the top of their game coupled with some very skilled production, engineering, and editing. There were also some obvious virtues in evidence — the addition of Neil Young to the Crosby, Stills & Nash lineup added to the level of virtuosity, with Young and Stephen Stills rising to new levels of complexity and volume on their guitars…. All of this variety made Déjà Vu a rich musical banquet for the most serious and personal listeners, while mass audiences reveled in the glorious harmonies and the thundering electric guitars, which were presented in even more dramatic and expansive fashion on the tour that followed.

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Atlantic
Catalog Number:	P-10123A
Year of Release:	1976
Format:	Stereo
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Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends 1972 UK LP

Offered for sale is a UK stereo pressing of Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel.

About this copy: This copy of Bookends is a 1972 UK pressing on the orange CBS label.

The cover is VG+ with a small stain in the upper right hand corner and light general wear. There are several small pieces of cellophane tape at the edges.

The disc is M- and looks unplayed. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a classic LP.

This is a particularly nice sounding copy of this album, which is significant, since the master tapes for this album disappeared from the Columbia vaults years ago and all current reissues have been mastered from lower quality tapes.

Background: While Simon & Garfunkel sold a lot of albums in the United States and the UK, they weren’t that popular in Japan. Most of the S&G albums issued in Japan were compilations; the original LPs didn’t sell well and don’t turn up very often.

Allmusic.com gave Bookends a rare 5 star review:

Simon & Garfunkel quietly slipped Bookends, their fourth album, into the bins with a whisper in March 1968. They are equal collaborators with producer/engineer Roy Halee in a multivalently layered song cycle observing the confusion of those seeking an elusive American Dream, wistfully reflecting on innocence lost forever to the cold winds of change. … Bookends’ problematic, disillusioned themes, sometimes disguised in wry humor, striking arrangements, and augmented orchestral instrumentation, portray the sounds of people in an American life that they no longer understand, or understands them. Simon & Garfunkel never overstate; instead they observe, almost journalistically, enormous life and cultural questions in the process of them being asked. In just over 29 minutes, Bookends is stunning in its vision of a bewildered America in search of itself.

Country of origin:	UK
Size:	12″
Record Label:	CBS
Catalog Number:	S 63101
Year of Release:	1972
Format:	Stereo
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