FREE HIGHWAY 1st UK PRESSING MINT AUDIO MiNt VinYl 1st ISLAND BLUES ROCK PROG

	£		219
	$		290

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Free "Highway" 1st UK Pressing 1970

Cat No ILPS-9138 Original 1st Issue Island (Pink Rimed) Labels!

Earliest -1U -1U Matrix Endings! Look Mega Earliest "1 to 1 Mother stampers for side one!

Near Mint Stunning Best Audio Quality! Near MInt Vinyl!

Complete With Original Island Record Sleeve & 1st Issue Embossed rear E.Day & co Cover!

Near Mint Archive Copy Never Need To Upgrade From This Vinyl!

Here is another from my personal collection! This album has been stored in a case for over 25 years! ,, with the vinyl and sleeve seperated from the cover. This is how I have always stored my records! This album is extremely rare to ever find like this. Please note the earliest 1st uk pressing with 1u 1u matrix endings and ''1'' to ''1'' mother stampers for side one and "2" Mother stampers for side two! , from my personal experiance the earliest pressing i.e. \the 1st batch to be pressed, produce the best audio quality that is available on any format!. Please note that all through my collecting career I have strived to find the earliest copies of albums for my collection and this awesome album listed is very scarce to find like this! The audio is exceptional compared to later pressings which sound very bland in comparison!

Hear the complete album in the player below! Actual recording from the vinyl!

Highway is the fourth studio album by English rock band Free. It was recorded extremely quickly in September 1970 following the band's success at the Isle of Wight Festival but with an attitude of relaxation, having achieved worldwide success with their previous album Fire and Water and the single "All Right Now"!!.

From a writing point of view Highway continued in the same vein as previous albums, with Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser collaborating on seven of the nine songs. For the most part it was the easiest of their albums to record as they had achieved their desire to have a hit single and returned to the studio with renewed confidence. Paul Kossoff however found sudden fame more difficult to deal with, and remembered the aftermath of 'All Right Now' as being "a great increase in pressure from every angle" (quoted in Phil Sutcliffe's liner notes). He preferred the more serious, weighty songs on the album such as "Be My Friend", which he saw as an antidote to the "frivolity" of "All Right Now"!

It was their last album to be recorded in a position of success and security, as its failure contributed to the emotionally-insecure Kossoff's growing drug addiction and the band's temporary split, from which it never truly recovered. Some, including Simon Kirke, also cite the death of Kossoff's idol Jimi Hendrix (which occurred during the sessions for this album), as an important factor in his eventual breakdown!

Much to the band's disappointment, the album only reached #41 in the UK album charts (the previous album Fire and Water had reached #2) and reached only #190 in America, not generally enough to register on chart listings. The single release "The Stealer" failed in the UK also, and reached only #49 in America. (Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke would later re-record "The Stealer" with Bad Company in 1975 during the sessions for Run with the Pack, but the track was not included on the album.)

The album received a lukewarm critical reaction. The single release "The Stealer" had not been Island Records boss Chris Blackwell's first choice: he had wanted to release "Ride on a Pony" but this was changed at the band's insistence. Some, such as engineer Andy Johns, blamed the album cover which was aesthetically flat compared to previous releases and did not display the band's name. It was believed that some fans who otherwise would have bought the album failed to notice it because of this!.

The fallout was immediate. Relations between Fraser and Rodgers deteriorated, putting more pressure on Kossoff who slid ever further into Mandrax addiction. This left only Kirke to try and keep the band together. They returned to the studio in early 1971 and managed to record four tracks before they eventually split, after fulfilling contracted tour dates. These 'limbo' tracks included the surprise hit single "My Brother Jake"; the other three have surfaced on various other albums over the years!!

1. "The Highway Song" 4.14
2. "The Stealer" (Fraser/Rodgers/Kossoff) 3.14
3. "On My Way" 4.04
4. "Be My Friend" 5.45
5. "Sunny Day" 3.07
6. "Ride on a Pony" 4.17
7. "Love You So" (Rodgers/Kirke) 4.54
8. "Bodie" 3.05
9. "Soon I Will Be Gone" 3.01

The Matrix

Side 1. ''ILPS 9138 A-1U'' (ONLY 1ST UK PRESSINGS)

Side 2. ''ILPS 9138 B-1U'' (ONLY 1ST UK PRESSINGS)

The Mother Stampers

Side 1. ''1'' ''R'' (Look Earliest "1"to"1" Mother Stampers)

Side 2. ''2'' ''A G''

Please note! ''1'' to ''1'' Mother stampers from my experiance produce the best for audio quality available on vinyl!! mega rare to find like this!

The vinyl,

This is the original thicker heavier and deeper grooved vinyl and more robust than later pressings. On initial visual inspection to be honest this vinyl looks superb, almost as new in my opinion ! retaining its original very glossy sheen from new . This vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable and is free of any warping. Any other marks that could possibly be seen would be sleeve removal marks be seen only, to be honest it is hard for me to see any.  Please note! There are (no) audio sounding marks that I heard during playback that caused any loud clicks or pops at all in fact even in between tracks is almost as silent I heard No background static at all which believe me is so rare to find like this!.

The Audio Quality

 This was very near as perfect absolutely awesome crystal clear sound! A real rich and vibrant audio only found on these early 1st pressings! It is important to note that it is easy to be critical about these early 70s pressings and there are many quiet tracks on this album. Please note! any static\ticks that might be heard would probably be caused by the fact that this album has been stored laying dormant for all of its storage life!,, a build up of dirt and dust over the years causes static and a constant clean before each play will reduce this and enhance the audio quality! This vinyl sounded awesome and is probably the best that I have heard of this pressing. There were (no) signs of any grooveware or that this vinyl has been overplayed in any way at all and visably this vinyl looks awesome in my opinion! Top Copy! cristal clear and vibrant audio!. I have played this through track for track and it is my opinion that this audio will be hard to surpass for an original 37 year old vinyl! POINTS TO NOTE! EXTREEMELY SHARP AND VIBRANT AUDIO WITH RICH AND BASSEY FEEL (ONLY HEARD LIKE THIS ON 1ST PRESSINGS! I would grade the audio as at least excellent plus to near as  perfect  Visually the playing surface looks very near mint in my opinion!

please note! I always add this disclaimer! That although I never heard any major problems at all during the playback of this vinyl and i have given my honest opinion when describing the audio quality,, Please allow for the odd isolated static (not) consistant through out the audio. Remember that this is an original(not a reissue) that is 38 years old and would have originally been played on a 38 year old system, although visibly and audibly in my opinion this barely been played UNBELEIVABLE TO FIND!!!! Please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see from my 100% positive feed back that i normally get it right!!! The audio is awesome on all frequencies and will be hard to surpass!

Points to note! This has been stored in a case with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve and cover (This is how I have always stored my records) and has been laying dormant for at least 35 years! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static\crackle\ticks! A constant clean before each play is recomended,, This will reduce this static and enhance the audio quality!

The Labels

This is the original Island 'pink rim' labels. In awesome condition almost as new! Only when angled to the light, I can barely see two spider trails on side one and only one spider trail on side two. This has obviously only been played less than a handful of times only. Little if no spindle ware the hole is perfectly round!  

The Records Sleeve

This is the original plain Blue Island paper sleeve. with (no) splits or tares just light creasing\fading\staining with age only. The original!

The Cover

This is the original 1st press E.Day & o printed unlaminated cover! Please note! only the earliest 1st press covers feature the embossed photo of the four band members at the rear! Please note! Due to the very fragile nature of these original E.Day covers, these are extreemely difficult to keep in good condition and are often seen in a terrible state!  This cover is in superbe condition with just the barest of rubbing that can barely be notice unless looked for. Slight crushing at the spine but all text is readable.   There are no splits or tares. Amazing to find with No creases worth to mention! The rear is exceptionally clean one of the best looking covers that I have seen. No ring wear to mention so very rare!  This is very rare to find in this condition beleive me! This must grade at least excellent plus if not better in my opinion!   

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 IS 18.76 GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 15.76 GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

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!

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

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