Beatles-Rel. LP 1974 Paul, Wings and Mike McCartney Test Pressing, “McGear” EX

$

308

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

READ THIS! These records are NOT sold for perfect sound quality. They’re sold for their scarcity and VISUAL grading. They’ve been in storage for a decade, and they WILL play with surface noise that can be addressed with D4 or a VPI cleaning.  I can’t test-play at the minute. Please don’t bid if this is a problem for you.

Beatles-Rel. LP 1974 Paul, Wings and Mike McCartney Test Pressing, “McGear” EX!

**Warner Bros. ordered just ten copies of this test pressing.**

For those unfamiliar, Paul’s younger brother Michael went under the pseudonym, Mike McGear.  In the 60’s, he was part of a group called The Scaffold, and then later in the 70’s, he was with a Monty Python-supported group called Grimms, which included Neil Innes.  After Grimms disbanded in 1973, he released this solo album, called “McGear.”

In the same sense that Jackie Lomax had The Beatles minus John as his backup band for his album on Apple, Mike McGear had none other than Paul McCartney and Wings for his backup band.  Paul and Linda are billed as Paul and Linda McGear.  But there’s also Denny Laine, Jimmy McCullough and Denny Seiwell.  Many other greats appear on the album, including the credits of Brian Jones on sax.  I have always wondered whether that was a nod to “You Know My Name (Look Up My Number),” or whether a sax sampling of Brian is used, since Brian died 5 years earlier.  But my favorite credit is Buzz Aldrin on Moon.

This album in fact, sounds in some places like Paul McCartney and Wings, except with Paul’s kid brother on lead vocals.

Vinyl--- EX/EX.  Both sides have just one or two very light lines in a sea of glossy vinyl.  One side has that manufacturer’s cloudiness.

Plates--- BS 2825 1A/ BS 2825 1B.  Test was conducted by Columbia Records.  Thin-cut concentric groove closer to the outer edge of the labels come from Columbia lathes. 

Cover--- Issued in a blank white cover, and a diacritical information test sheet.

Test Sheet--- EX.  Great condition, hardly any wear. 

Interesting info from the sheet:

*The album was rush-released in Sept. 1974.  This test sheet reveals that the original release date intended was Oct. 11, 1974

*The opening track, “Sea Breezes” was a cover of a Bryan Ferry song.  Paul wrote three of the tracks, Roger McGough, co-member of Grimms, and Mike wrote one track and Paul and Mike co-wrote the rest.

Labels--- EX/EX.  It’s generally accepted that handwriting is acceptable on test pressing labels, since they come with no label copy.

Inner Sleeve--- VG. Generic white inner sleeve with no die-cut hole for the labels to show is present.  Sleeve presents as VG+, but all three seams have splits.

A generic inner sleeve will be provided, so as not to damage your original inner sleeve en route.

This is an amazing Christmas gift for your Beatles collector, who boasts that he has everything.  This copy is one of just ten in existence.

As these records have been in storage for many years, they will play back with crackling and tics, however; a good moisturizing and cleaning with either D4 Discwasher or a VPI machine always clears them up.  Thanks!)

Note:  All LP’s ship outside of their album covers in order not to damage the covers during shipment.

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

**Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

Shipping is $5.38 for Media Mail for up to 3 single or double albums, excluding boxed sets within the U.S.  $5.38 covers shipping for up to 5 singles within the U.S., and within the same auction week.

Winners in all other countries will be charged actual shipping to their locations, so please wait to be invoiced.  You will be quoted for the cheapest shipping to your country that the US post office can afford me.  Please let me know if you would prefer to pay for a faster means of shipping, but do NOT ask me to declare packages as gifts, or any other means of defrauding the postal services.  Much appreciated.

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