Joni Mitchell • BLUE • DCC 180g • SEALED • TEST PRESSING + COVER, FREE LP eBook

$

350

 
?   Detailed Shipping Cost Breakdown Below — See what your shipping money is paying for!   ? ?   FREE BONUS:  LP Collector e-Book on CD-Rom included with LP purchase!   ?
(see details below description)

Joni Mitchell

•  Blue  •

1999 DCC 180g Sealed Test Pressing, mastered by Steve Hoffman, with official DCC gatefold cover

15 years ago (1999) there were only 10 test pressings made.  One was destroyed.  By 2005 there were just four sealed examples in the world. 

9 years later, this may be the only one left.

DCC Compact Classics label: LPZ-2069

White Label TEST PRESSING – Never officially released

Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” never made it to production when Steve Hoffman mastered it for the DCC label in early 1999.  This is one of only ten 180g Test Pressings ever made by DCC.  One was destroyed and five were sold years ago.  The remaining four copies were still sealed and in Steve Hoffman’s possession as of 2005, when this album was purchased from Mr. Hoffman.  More details below.

Extremely rare 1999 original DCC 180g Audiophile Test Pressing, from the original master tape

STILL SEALED

Comes WITH the original but never-released DCC gatefold album cover

Mastered by Steve Hoffman, this example was acquired from Steve Hoffman’s personal collection.

In correspondence with Steve Hoffman (a copy will be provided to the winning bidder upon request), he explained that exactly ten Test Pressings were originally made on February 24th, 1999.  When the deal fell through and the project was scrapped, five of the Test Pressings were sold privately.

The 6th Test Pressing of “Blue” was destroyed when the DCC office was shut down.  Steve Hoffman kept the other four Test Pressings, which to my knowledge were the only remaining sealed examples in the world at that time.

On April 6th, 2005 Mr. Hoffman put this sealed Test Pressing of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” up for auction on his own music forum website, along with many other rare DCC LPs and CDs, in order to raise money to upgrade his online Forum.  

"Blue" is considered by many as Joni's best album, and many would say the best album of the singer-songwriter genre ever made.  Best possible sound, and true rarity for the collector, being one of only nine in existence, and possibly the only sealed example left in the world.

______________________________________

For Steve Hoffman’s own words:

To see the original Steve Hoffman Forum ‘auction’ listing and details, please go to the Hoffman music forum, go to advanced search, check the “search titles only” box, then search keywords: “ 2nd SH Forums Fundraiser: Beatles, Elvis, Joni Blue ”.

The run-off auction began on April 15th, 2005 with most of the same information, but added the explanation for the run-off (to see the original quote, go to the Hoffman music forum, go to advanced search, check the “search titles only” box, then search keywords: “ JONI MITCHELL TEST PRESSING FUNDRAISER ”

______________________________________

Gatefold Album Cover

(Near Mint) No ring-wear, no seam-splits, straight corners, never used.

This is a difficult cover to photograph.  I tried indoors, outdoors, and different color backgrounds.  It has a deep gloss, highly reflective and this makes photos appear different shades of blue in sunlight depending on the angle, to even a purple color at some angles under fluorescent light.  The best photos turned out to be the ones taken outdoors in good sunlight.  You will see that at an angle the blue looks lighter, particularly against a black background, and straight-on photos look deeper blue, particularly against a white background.  It’s not just in the photos, that’s how the color changes when you look at it in person under different lighting conditions.

I tried to keep myself out of the reflection, but I was only partially successful.  There are a couple of tiny white spots that are visible in the photos where the blue has “lifted”, but it’s a great album cover, the authentic “DCC” cover designed for this never released album.

Record LP

Still sealed since new, just as I received it from Steve Hoffman, in the customary RTI plain white cover with the date (Feb 24 1999) and catalog number (LPZ-2069  A / B) in the upper right hand corner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Cost Breakdown based on $1,200 sale price, for purposes of example:

Double Box Packaging:  The sealed Album will be placed inside an additional new clear poly outer protective album cover, sandwiched between two album-sized cardboard stiffeners which are then carefully taped, lightly squeezing the album between the cardboard stiffener edges, enough to prevent the album from sliding up and down or side to side, to help prevent seam splits to the sealed album during shipping.  The album is packaged in a record LP mailer box with bubble-wrap cushioning and cardboard stiffeners, then sealed all around.  The record mailer box is then placed inside a larger heavy cardboard shipping box and surrounded by foam peanuts on *all* sides.  Your record album will be packaged safely and insured. 

Tracking: You should automatically receive your Tracking Number by email when the Shipping Label is printed.

eBay History of Record LP sales: 14 years on eBay.  Please do check my Seller feedback comments with regard to accurate LP grading, safe packaging and quick shipping.

Feedback: if there is any problem with your package, please contact me so that I have the opportunity to resolve the issue before leaving feedback.  My goal is to have happy customers and repeat business.  

Payment:  per eBay’s new policy, please make payment via PayPal within 2 days.

Shipping and Handling Time: Packages normally ship the day after payment (excluding weekends and holidays) with email notification and Tracking number.

No Return Policy:  This is a factory sealed record LP, long out of print and not replaceable. Like any sealed record LP, it cannot be guaranteed against defects of any kind once opened, so this item can only be sold “as is”, for which eBay provides the selected 'No Return' policy in effect for this listing.  Please also be aware of eBay's Policy regarding sealed "Music" items which cannot be returned if opened, see this link http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/return-item-condition.html and scroll down to "Music" for details.  Please check my feedback, it will be clear that my customers are happy!

International Buyers – Shipping Options: International shipping options are listed above (see Shipping and Payments tab), shipping cost is automatically calculated by eBay shipping calculator. 

International Buyers – Customs Fees: Please be aware that your country may charge you Import Duties, Taxes or other Fees at the time of Delivery which are NOT included in the Item price or shipping.  Any such Import charges are the Buyer’s responsibility.  Please check with your country’s Customs Office to determine any additional Fees before bidding.

Weight Limit of 4 Lbs. for International First Class Mail:  Please note that First Class International Mail has a 4 Lb. weight limit.  If you make multiple purchases and the combined weight is over the 4 Lb. weight limit we will have to use two separate First Class International packages or use Priority Mail International.  If your combined total is over 4 Lbs. then I will contact you about the shipping (one package vs. two), but the shipping cost should be basically the same.
 

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