Search Results for “test pressing”

Metallica – Master of Puppets original Japan LP with obi

Offered for sale is an original Japanese pressing of Master of Puppets by Metallica, including the original obi.

About this copy: This copy of Master of Puppets is an original 1986 pressing on the CBS/Sony label.

The cover is M- and is still in the original shrink wrap. The obi is M-.

This copy includes a foldout lyric insert and two photo inserts. All are M-. The generic record company postcard 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 very rare Metallica LP; this one looks nearly new!

Background: Released in 1986, Master of Puppets was the third album by Metallica, and the last to feature original bassist Cliff Burton.

The album reached #29 on the U.S. charts, but has since sold more than six million copies in the U.S. alone.

Allmusic.com gave Master of Puppets a 5 star review:

Even though Master of Puppets didn’t take as gigantic a leap forward as Ride the Lightning, it was the band’s greatest achievement, hailed as a masterpiece by critics far outside heavy metal’s core audience. It was also a substantial hit, reaching the Top 30 and selling three million copies despite absolutely nonexistent airplay. Instead of a radical reinvention, Master of Puppets is a refinement of past innovations….. Some critics have called Master of Puppets the best heavy metal album ever recorded; if it isn’t, it certainly comes close.

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Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	CBS/Sony
Catalog Number:	28 AP 3169
Year of Release:	1986
Format:	Stereo
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Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto 1994 U.S. Mobile Fidelity half speed mastered LP

Gilberto ‎– Getz / Gilberto mobile fidelity lp

Offered for sale is a copy of the numbered, limited edition U.S. pressing of Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, relesed by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs.

About this copy: This copy of Getz/Gilberto is a 1994 U.S. pressing on the Mobile Fidelity label of an album that was originally released in 1963.

This copy is number 411 of an unknown number of copies.

The cover is M-. The posterboard stiffener is M-. The disc is M- and looks unplayed. Clean disc!

A beautiful copy of a Jazz/Bossa Nova classic.

Background: Released in 1964, Getz/Gilberto caught lightning in a bottle and caught America at just the right moment to take advantage of the Bossa Nova craze that lasted for the next three years or so.

Helped by the pop hit, “The Girl from Ipanema,” the album sold more than two million copies and became one of the biggest-selling Jazz albums of all time.

Allmusic.com gave Getz/Gilberto a 5 star review:

One of the biggest-selling jazz albums of all time, not to mention bossa nova’s finest moment, Getz/Gilberto trumped Jazz Samba by bringing two of bossa nova’s greatest innovators — guitarist/singer João Gilberto and composer/pianist Antonio Carlos Jobim — to New York to record with Stan Getz. The results were magic. … This music has nearly universal appeal; it’s one of those rare jazz records about which the purist elite and the buying public are in total agreement. Beyond essential.

Country of origin:	U.S.
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Mobile Fidelity
Catalog Number:	MFSL 1-208
Year of Release:	1994
Format:	Stereo
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Doors – The Doors Japan LP with obi

Offered for sale is a Japanese pressing of The Doors, the self-titled debut LP by the Doors, complete with original obi.

About this copy: This copy of The Doors is a 1980 Japanese pressing of an album that was originally released in 1967.

The cover is M-. The obi is VG++, with slight wear at the top edge, but no tears.

The insert is M-.

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

A nice copy of a classic LP.

Background: For many listeners and casual fans, The Doors 1967 debut LP is regarded as their best effort. Containing the hits “Break on Through”, “Light My Fire” and the lengthy epic, “The End”, the album is perhaps the bands greatest effort.

Allmusic.com gave The Doors a 5 star review:

A tremendous debut album, and indeed one of the best first-time outings in rock history, introducing the band’s fusion of rock, blues, classical, jazz, and poetry with a knockout punch. The lean, spidery guitar and organ riffs interweave with a hypnotic menace, providing a seductive backdrop for Jim Morrison’s captivating vocals and probing prose. “Light My Fire” was the cut that topped the charts and established the group as stars, but …the 11-minute Oedipal drama “The End” was the group at its most daring and, some would contend, overambitious. It was nonetheless a haunting cap to an album whose nonstop melodicism and dynamic tension would never be equaled by the group again, let alone bettered.

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Elektra
Catalog Number:	P-6411E
Year of Release:	1980
Format:	Stereo
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Frank Zappa/Mothers – Bongo Fury 1975 Japan white label promotional live LP with obi

frank zappa captain beefheart bongo fury japan promo lp

Offered for sale is an original Japanese white label promotional pressing of the live album Bongo Fury, by Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, and the Mothers of Invention, including the original obi.

About this copy: This copy of Bongo Fury is a 1975 Japanese pressing on the Discreet label.

The cover is VG+ with slight edge and corner wear, mostly at the top edge. There is a sticker on the front cover that says “SAMPLE” in Japanese and English.

The obi is VG+ with slight wear at the top and bottom edge and a couple of wrinkles on the “hojyuhyo” (reorder tag), which is still attached.

The white label promo disc is M- with one or two spindle marks on the labels, but no marks on the vinyl. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a rare Zappa LP, as his albums sold poorly in Japan.

Background: Released in 1975, Bongo Fury was the twenty first album by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

The album reached #66 on the U.S. album chart.

Allmusic.com gave Bongo Fury a 3 1/2 star review:

Bongo Fury captures Captain Beefheart aka Don Van Vliet with Frank Zappa during their brief reunion for a series of shows in the spring of 1975. This album is a pastiche of both live performances — taken from two evenings at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, TX — and studio recordings that were almost a year-and-a-half old. This is the last album to feature the highly technical jazz fusion of Mothers of Invention, whose roots can be traced back to 1973 circa Over-Nite Sensation. The live portions are highlighted by the latest addition to the band — frenetic percussionist extraordinaire Terry “Ted” Bozzio, who would stay with Zappa for a majority of the ’70s. Most Zappa enthusiasts either love or hate Bongo Fury. Much of the disparity has to do with the lack of the extended fusion-based instrumentals that had graced their predecessors One Size Fits All and Roxy & Elsewhere as much as it does with the inclusion of Captain Beefheart. Conversely, those consumers whose passions tend toward both Zappa and Captain Beefheart consider this disc as a mutual zenith.

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Discreet
Catalog Number:	P-10093D
Year of Release:	1975
Format:	Stereo
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Monkees – Head sealed original 1968 U.S. Colgems LP

Offered for sale is a still sealed original U.S. pressing of the soundtrack album Head by the Monkees.

About this copy: The copy of Head offered for sale is a 1968 U.S. stereo pressing on the Colgems label.

This is the original first pressing of the album, with catalog number COSO-5008 and Gerry Goffin’s name misspelled as “Jerry.” Shortly after the album was initially released, this mistake was corrected and the catalog number changed to COSO-5008 RE.

As the album is still sealed, the record is presumably new and unplayed. The wrap is almost completely intact, except for a very tiny break at the lower left hand corner and a very tiny tear in the center of the front cover.

Due to the mirrored front cover, this album is often prone to cover wear. This is a beautiful copy and will likely be your final upgrade. Great record, too!

Background: By 1968, the Monkees’ TV series was off the air and the members were looking for a way to develop a more serious image for themselves. Working with film director Bob Rafelson and actor/writer Jack Nicholson, the group developed a film, Head, that they hoped would allow the public to view the group more seriously.

Unfortunately, the film received horrible responses in test screenings and more or less disappeared without ever receiving a wide release. It’s hailed today as a terrific satire of war, stardom, and more, and also offered six new (and terrific) songs. As there weren’t enough songs to justify an entire LP of music, the soundtrack album, simply titled Head, was filled out with dialogue and incidental music from the film, reportedly compiled by actor and friend-of-the-director Jack Nicholson.

The single from the album, The Porpoise Song, peaked at #62 on the charts and the album topped out at #45, making it the worst-selling album of the band’s career to that point. That’s a pity, as the album is now regarded as perhaps the band’s best work (we concur; it’s our favorite Monkees album.) Unfortunately, original pressings are rather difficult to find, and the very expensive and unusual foil “mirror” cover is unusually prone to ring wear.

AllMusic gave Head four stars:

“…the talents of each member are uniquely showcased — especially those of Peter Tork, whose contributions were previously too few and far between. Ironically, his acid rocker “Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again” and Eastern-flavored “Can You Dig It?” are not only among the best of the six original compositions on the soundtrack, but also among his finest Monkees offerings, period.”

Country of origin:	U.S.
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Colgems
Catalog Number:	COSO-5008
Year of Release:	1968
Format:	Stereo
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Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks 1977 Japan first issue LP with obi

sex pistols - never mind the bollocks japan lp

Offered for sale is an original first issue Japanese pressing of Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols by the Sex Pistols, including the original obi and the usually-missing survey postcard.

Note: This is the original pressing with the image at the top of the obi printed in black ink. Later pressings used blue ink.

About this copy: This copy of Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols is a 1977 Japanese issue on the Sex Pistols/Columbia label.

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

The disc is M- with one or two spindle marks on the labels, and no marks on the vinyl. Clean disc!

A beautiful copy of a classic LP that’s hard to find as a first pressing.

Background: Released in 1977, Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols is the only studio album by the Sex Pistols.

The album reached #1 on the UK album chart and #106 on the U.S. chart, though it did eventually sell a million copies in the U.S.

Allmusic.com gave Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols a rare 5 star review:

While mostly accurate, dismissing Never Mind the Bollocks as merely a series of loud, ragged midtempo rockers with a harsh, grating vocalist and not much melody would be a terrible error. Already anthemic songs are rendered positively transcendent by Johnny Rotten’s rabid, foaming delivery. His bitterly sarcastic attacks on pretentious affectation and the very foundations of British society were all carried out in the most confrontational, impolite manner possible…. It’s easy to see how the band’s roaring energy, overwhelmingly snotty attitude, and Rotten’s furious ranting sparked a musical revolution, and those qualities haven’t diminished one bit over time. Never Mind the Bollocks is simply one of the greatest, most inspiring rock records of all time.

This item 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:	Sex Pistols/Columbia
Catalog Number:	YX-7199-AX
Year of Release:	1977
Format:	Stereo
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Monkees – Re-Focus scarce sealed 1972 U.S. LP

Offered for sale is a still sealed U.S. copy of the 1972 compilation LP Re-Focus by the Monkees.

About this copy: This copy of Re-Focus by the Monkees is a 1972 U.S. pressing on the Bell label.

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

The wrap is tight and fully intact except for small 2 cm break in the wrap at the lower right hand corner of the mouth of the cover.

There are no drill holes, punch holes, cut corners or saw marks.

A nice copy of a surprisingly hard to find Monkees LP.

Background: The last original Monkees album of new material was released in 1970, and that album, Changes, did not chart.

Not long after that, the band’s original label, Colgems, had gone out of business and their American rights had been acquired by Bell Records.

Bell released a number of Monkees albums in Japan, where the band remained popular, but in the United States, the band’s only release on the label was a compilation album entitled Re-Focus, which was released in 1972.

As the Monkees had largely been forgotten by the time the album came out, the release came and went without notice and was likely hard to find in stores even at the time of release. We were trying to find a copy for our own collection in the late 1970s and found it to be a surprisingly difficult album to find, even then.

Re-Focus was re-issued by Arista Records in 1976 with a new cover photo and a new title, The Monkees Greatest Hits. That version of the album is much easier to find.

Tracks are:

Monkee’s Theme
Last Train To Clarksville
She
Daydream Believer
Listen To The Band
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
I’m A Believer
I Wanna Be Free
Pleasant Valley Sunday
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Shades Of Gray

Country of origin:	U.S.
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Bell
Catalog Number:	6081
Year of Release:	1972
Format:	Stereo
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Dave Brubeck – Time Out 1979 Japan LP with obi

Offered for sale is a Japanese pressing of Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, including the original obi.

About this copy: This copy of Time Out is a 1979 Japanese pressing on the CBS/Sony label of an album that was originally released in 1959.

The cover is M- and is still in the original shrink wrap. The obi is M-. The insert is M-.

The disc is M- with a few spindle marks on the labels and no marks at all on the vinyl. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a Jazz album that everyone should own.

Background: There isn’t much to say about Time Out that hasn’t been said before; the album is generally regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time, and perhaps one of the greatest albums of all time regardless of genre.

AllMusic.com gave Time Out a 5 star review:

Dave Brubeck’s defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move — Brubeck’s record company wasn’t keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz’s rhythmic foundation. But for once, public taste was more advanced than that of the critics. Buoyed by a hit single in altoist Paul Desmond’s ubiquitous “Take Five,” Time Out became an unexpectedly huge success, and still ranks as one of the most popular jazz albums ever. This belongs in even the most rudimentary jazz collection.

You can listen to “Take Five” here:

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	CBS
Catalog Number:	20AP 1459
Year of Release:	1979
Format:	Stereo
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Dave Brubeck – Time Out 1974 Japan LP with obi

Offered for sale is a Japanese pressing of Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, including the original “cap” obi.

About this copy: This copy of Time Out is a 1974 Japanese pressing on the CBS/Sony label of an album that was originally released in 1959.

The cover is M- with a couple of minor foxing spots and is still in the original shrink wrap. The “cap” obi is M-. The insert is M-.

The disc is M- with a few spindle marks on the labels and no marks at all on the vinyl. Clean disc!

A nice copy of a Jazz album that everyone should own.

AllMusic.com gave Time Out a 5 star review:

You can listen to “Take Five” here:

Country of origin:	Japan
Size:	12″
Record Label:	CBS
Catalog Number:	SOPM-150
Year of Release:	1974
Format:	Stereo
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Miles Davis – Kind of Blue 1999 Classic Records 180 gram 4 LP 45 RPM set

miles davis kind of blue classic records 45 rpm LP

Offered for sale is a copy of the U.S. Classic Records pressing of Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, cut at 45 RPM and pressed as a 4 LP set on 180 gram, single-sided vinyl.

About this copy: This copy of Kind of Blue is a 1999 U.S. pressing on the Classic Records label of an album that was originally released in 1959.

The first two discs are in a gatefold cover with standard artwork for this album. Discs 3 and 4 are in plain white covers with stickers identifying the disc.

The gatefold cover is M- with a tiny dent in the upper left hand corner. The other two covers are M-; there is a small dent in the lower right hand corner of disc 4.

The four single sided, 180 gram discs are M- and look unplayed. All four discs are flat. Clean discs!

An exceptionally nice sounding pressing of an iconic Jazz LP.

Background: It’s hard to find words to say about Kind of Blue that haven’t already been written; the album is routinely regarded as the best jazz album of all time. It’s also one of the best sounding jazz records ever, as it’s a terrific recording.

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.

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.

Country of origin:	U.S.
Size:	12″
Record Label:	Classic Records
Catalog Number:	CS 8163-45
Year of Release:	1999
Format:	Stereo
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