BOWIE DIAMOND DOGS RARE TRUE 1st UK PRESS A-1/B-1 NO 'BEWITCHED' PLAY-GRADED EX

	£		42
	$		56

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Easily one of the hardest 'post-stardom' Bowie albums to find as a true UK first pressing, this is an original 1st UK pressing with no 'Bewitched' credit on the label, bought in the UK at the time of first release. It is not a reissue. It has been played in full before listing and play-grades as Excellent (Ex).

The A-1/B-1 matrixes for Diamond Dogs remained in use for several years after the initial release, so simply having A-1/B-1 matrixes does not indicate a first pressing. In fact, most UK copies of Diamond Dogs from the mid-to-late 1970s have A-1/B-1 matrixes.

However, it is really easy to distinguish the very earliest, true first UK pressing because of an obvious difference in the information on the side one label: a true first pressing does NOT include the credit for 'Bewitched' in 'Future Legend'.

Bowie had used the melody from the 1940s Rogers/Hart song 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' for the instrumental backing to 'Future Legend', but on the very first pressing this is not credited. Copies without the credit for 'Bewitched' are very hard to find as all subsequent A-1/B-1 UK pressings had to include a credit under 'The Copyright Act 1956'. 

Unfortunately, there are lots of ebay sellers claiming that they are selling a Diamond Dogs 1st pressing, simply because of the A-1/B-1 matrixes. I've even seen one claiming that the 'Bewitched' credit signifies a true first pressing and that it was later removed! If it has a 'Bewitched' credit it is NOT a first pressing. Have a look through the other copies being offered for sale and you will see that these copies are incredibly hard to find.

(Note that different copyright laws in other territories, such as USA, meant that not all countries added the credit. Additionally, UK re-issues after 'The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988' do not have the additional credit). 

This is a true first pressing with no 'Bewitched' credit and the following first matrix numbers and earliest (A1B/A1C) 'stampers' (everything is etched):

ARL1-0576A-1oly    A1B
ARL1-0576B-1oly    A1C

The gatefold cover has no seam splits, tears or major issues, just some normal signs of age and use, including minor ring-wear, some feint marks and foxing spots, slight wear to the spine and edges and storage wear to the corners, but there is nothing significant anywhere. I would grade the cover as at least Very Good (VG), probably better. 

The vinyl has retained its original sheen with some wispy surface marks, hairlines and sleeve removal marks, but there is absolutely nothing significant anywhere.  I have played the whole record in full from start to finish and it sounds great with very little to report. There is some background noise and crackles in the run-ins/outs, fades, silent grooves and intros (although some of the silent grooves play really quietly) and I heard about six small clicks in the silent groove and fade-in intro to 'Sweet Thing' and a bit of crackle in the intro and quiet sections to 'We Are the Dead'. For the sake of completeness I would mention the occasional random click, but apart from the specific points mentioned above there is nothing repetitive anywhere and certainly no loud, persistent clicks. Needless to say, the whole record plays through with no jumps, skips or sticking.  On the whole, this sounds superb, but taking into account the few small issues mentioned above I would PLAY-GRADE this as Excellent (Ex) overall, with parts that play slightly above or slightly below this overall play-grading. A visual grade would be slightly lower - around Very Good Plus (VG+), maybe a bit higher.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £5.50, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £13.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £29.50, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.