LEON RUSSELL CARNEY MCA RE-ISSUE VINYL RECORD ALBUM AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED ELTON

$

39

     This auction is for an authentic LEON RUSSELL AUTOGRAPH.   The vinyl and labels are in near mint condition.  The album has never been played. 

     The cover has small snubs in the top left (pic #3) and bottom right (pic #5) hand corners.  There is a sawcut in the bottom left corner (pic #4).

     Over the long decades, I managed to catch Mr. Russell a handful of times...most of them in this century.  I remember (okay...because I wrote it down back then...) exactly where this autograph was obtained, because it's only minutes from my home. 

     There's a nice little club the next town over from me called The River Street Jazz Cafe that books jazz and blues artists on it's small corner stage.  In fact, I just checked their website (in Plains, PA), and Leon's name is on the long list of performers who have played there.  The date was May 14, 2005.  His bus was parked down in the back parking lot.  Afterwards, I waited ...and finally one of his handlers collected items from a few of us and took them inside to get signed.

     One of the best times I had seeing him was at a nearby yearly fair in Moscow, PA in the early 2000s sometime.  He and the band were SMOKING hot that night!  (Also saw Davy Jones of The Monkees and Flo & Eddie of The Turtles at the same fair in other years.)  Caught him opening for Bob Dylan in 2011...

     But the most memorable time was at Long Island's Nassau Coliseum in 1972.  This was one of the first concerts I had gone to as a kid.  I can't overstate the importance of George Harrison's "Concert For Bangla Desh" concerts in August of 1971, and how it led to opening up my eyes to a lot of other music.  I had no idea who Leon was at the time...wondering who the hell was this guy doing a verse on "Beware Of Darkness", and then doing the Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash".  Hell! Even Eric Clapton didn't get a solo spot!  Who WAS this cat with the wild hair?  I was hooked.  His voice is one of the most unusual and honest voices ever..  That drawl...that growl...  

     In 1974, I caught Eric Clapton at the same venue for the "461 Ocean Blvd." tour.  And on and on from there.   Never caught George tho...for some ungodly reason that I can't fathom.

     I figured that when Leon did "The Union" with Elton John, that his time with us was limited due to the health issues he had during it's recording.  I just figured he'd be with us for..a..little...while...longer... 

      Anyway, that's the story on the autograph.  "Listen to the Music".

    This is a FIVE day auction.  With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, please take note!  This auction will end on a Saturday evening.  If payment is made within a 12 hour period (say by 9am Sunday morning), I will guarantee that it will be shipped out in Mondays mail.  After that, I can not guarantee that it will get shipped before the holiday.   Just a fair warning...so take heed! 

     If you have any questions about these items, please feel free to email me.  Also, check out my other auctions going on NOW of various other items of interest (including some Zacherley and Robert Vaughn autographs).  Thanks again for looking...during these most very...very...very...troubled times...

SHIPPING RATES (all rates include cost of shipping materials):

United States (Domestic)

Media Mail (affordable, but can be slow - especially to the West Coast):

$ 4.00 1st LP, $ 1.00 each additional LP.

US Priority Mail (faster, but pricier):

$ 9.95 1st LP, $ 2.00 each additional

INTERNATIONAL RATES

Canada (First Class International) ***

$ 12.95 1st LP, $ 3.00 each additional

Worldwide (First Class International) ***

$ 22.50 1st LP, $ 4.00 each additional (up to 4 total).

For more than four albums, Priority Mail International (roughly double the 1st Class Costs) or insurance, contact me for specifics.

*** NOTE: SHIPPING UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES OVER $ 100 (Such as Priority with Tracking, Registered, etc. Rates and services vary by country).

Cost of postage includes $ 1.75 for shipping materials (including cardboard mailer and polysleeve).  I separate the vinyl from the cover when shipping all opened LP's.

Record Grading:

MINT (10) Perfect! Still sealed albums are presumed MINT, but covers may not be. I will not grade any opened album as "mint", since there's obviously been some handling.

NEAR MINT (9.5) ---- Close, but one or two tiny flaws that do not impact play. Vinyl may have a barely visible scuff mark, but no scratches. Label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers close to perfect with very minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident.

EXCELLENT (9) ----Disc plays near-perfect. There could be scuffs or a hairline scratch or two that does not impact play. Vinyl is bright and shiny. Label is clean and unmarked. Cover may have some slight corner creases or minor ringwear.

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (8) ---- Record handled and played occasionally, but very carefully. Very minor scratches and/or scuffs that should have little impact on the sound quality, or minor label imperfection---noted, but otherwise clean. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS records may have some light surface noise during quiet passages or between tracks. Covers: one or two minor wear issues such as writing on cover, corner creases, some ringwear, minor staining, etc. (All noted).

VERY GOOD PLUS (7) ----The record has been cared for, but has some minor flaws. Light scratches and/or marks/scuffs that won't make a big impact. Light surface noise here and there, but nothing to overwhelm the listening experience. Covers may have a few minor defects (duly noted). Those who are looking for pristine-only might not be pleased, but most music fans would be happy to have a collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD (6)---- The record has been played often with some care, but also a little neglect. Record displays visible surface wear---scratches or scuffs that will cause some minor to perhaps occasionally moderate surface noise. Vinyl could be "dull" at this point and not "shiny', or still perhaps shiny, but then a little more scratched-up. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. Most music fans would be happy to have a highly collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD MINUS (5) ---- Well-played with little luster and moderate surface noise, but skip-free. Lots of scratches/scuffs or fewer but more deeper marks. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork---seam splits, significant ring wear, tears, cuts, taping (all noted). I will only sell RARE "VERY GOOD MINUS" records.

GOOD (4) --- Pretty beat-up with lots of scratches, but not dead yet. Record should still appear not to skip, though it's possible it can. Surface noise is moderate to occasionally heavy. Seam splits are usually a bigger issue around this level with the records better off in a plastic sleeve. I only sell VERY RARE "GOOD" records. They are certainly "good enough" until another copy comes along.

GOOD MINUS (3) --- Even more beat with tons of scratches and LOTS of surface noise. Skips are possible, though I wouldn't intentionally sell a record that does. Given the right moment, fans could probably enjoy a GOOD MINUS record, but might also be irritated by it at times. I will only sell VERY VERY RARE "GOOD MINUS" records. Covers are hanging together by a thread (seams shot) but not intentionally defaced.

FAIR (2) ----FAIR records appear and sound lousy (significant surface noise, horrific scratches). I won't sell these, unless I find something that is SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Expect skipping or a very unpleasant listen. Covers may be defaced, seamless, stained beyond belief.

POOR (1) ---- Unlistenable and undisplayable.

11-14-16