MARVIN GAYE IN THE GROOVE ULTRA-RARE PROMO-ONLY MONO LP

$

104

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·       MARVIN GAYE - IN THE GROOVE - ORIGINAL 1968 TAMLA RECORDS MONO LP TM-285-DJ

·       ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING

·     *** ULTRA-RARE PROMOTIONAL-ONLY MONO COPY; MONO VERSION OF THIS ALBUM WAS NEVER COMMERCIALLY RELEASED IN ANY WAY OR FORM ***

·       *** WHITE LABEL PROMO ***

·       *** IN ADDITION, THE PROMOTIONAL STICKER ON THE COVER CLEARLY IDENTIFIES THE ITEM AS PROMOTIONAL ***

·       ORIGINAL TAMLA LABEL, WHITE PROMO VERSION

·       DEEP GROOVE PRESSING

·       ORIGINAL, THICK CARDBOARD COVER (AMERICAN STYLE)

·       THICK, HEAVY VINYL PRESSING

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS

·       MATRIX NUMBER IN TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) ENDS WITH '-1…'. ON SOME LABELS, SUFFIX '–1' DENOTES THE VERY FIRST, ORIGINAL PRESSING)

(►PLEASE SEE THE IMAGE OF THE COVER, LABEL OR BOTH, SHOWN BELOW)

(Note: this is a REAL image of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. This is NOT a "recycled" image from our previous auction. What you see is what you'll get. GUARANTEED!)

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Tamla/Motown issued this album in 1968, initially with a title "In the grove", and then, when “I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE” became a monster hit and a biggest seller in Motown's history, promptly changed the title (and the cover) to "I heard it through the grapevine". (oddly, Marvin's was not the first rendition of the song - Gladys Knight and the Pips scored a minor hit with it about 5 months before Marvin Gaye made it his signature song and one of the most important songs in the history of Soul music...not to mention rock music - just ask Electric Light Orchestra who 'borrowed' the entire song under the title 'Showdown'...not a bad version, mind you - it's just that theirs is not a SOUL song anymore). THE MUSIC: unlike most of Marvin's 1960's albums (Hello Broadway ; Tribute to Nat King Cole; When I am alone I cry; Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye; or: That's the way love is), this is NOT a ballad album . On this album, which is truly a Marvin's grand rehearsal for "What's going on" , Marvin sings some vigorous and robust soul music; This is a grand SOUL album in the best tradition of the word, and Marvin is backed by the Motown's stellar studio band. The song titles include some of his best -known 1960's songs, such as title track, "Chained", "You" and a positively gorgeous rendition of Four Tops' "Loving you is sweeter than ever". It is apparent that major effort went into the production, which I can only characterize as elaborate and infinitely subtle.

THE WHITE LABEL PROMO, RADIO STATION-, AUDITION OR DEMONSTRATION COPIES AND RELEASES (such as the one we have here) were often distributed to the radio stations before the record was released to the public, sometimes as much as four months ahead. These records are generally considered to be the "first among equals": the VERY FIRST generation and the VERY FIRST pressings of the particular title; a PROTOTYPE and the earliest known official pressing of the record. In this case, however, this is a rather moot point, since this rare promo-only version of the album was never commercially released to begin with.

The bidders should note that this album contains mono mixes which are either considerably different: much more raw and "punchy" than the common, commercially available stereo mixes.

For additional historical or discography information on this album, including track listing ►click here

THIS IS A NO-RESERVE AUCTION!

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·       CONDITION:

·       RECORD

(IMPORTANT NOTE: unless otherwise noted, ALL records are graded visually, and NOT play-graded!; we grade records under the strong, diffuse room light or discrete sunlight)

(a)            WE GRADE THE VINYL AS BORDERLINE NEAR MINT. This album probably does not qualify to be graded NEAR MINT by using stringent, rigorous grading – but, in our opinion, it is very close to NEAR MINT. At our own risk, we will grade it as NEAR MINT, but be forewarned: if you are rigorous and demanding collector, this album may be VG++ for your standards, or below your expectations. Some light abrasions and sleeve scuffs are visible, but are probably not sufficient to significantly lower the overall grade. Please inquire if you need more information.

(b)            The record has a "deep groove" (an indent in the label about 1/2-inch from the edge of the label, which on SOME labels is associated with very early or first pressings).

(c)             The record comes in the original stock inner sleeve.

(d)            The record is pressed on a beautiful, thick, inflexible vinyl, which was usually used for the first or very early pressings. Usually, the sound on such thick vinyl pressings is full-bodied, vivid, and even dramatic. Do not expect to obtain such a majestic analog sound from a digital recording!

(e)             White Promo Label version of this title is much rarer that a regular, commercially released, version of this title. We estimate that stock copies of this album outnumber promo copies by a ratio of at least 70:1.

(f)              In addition, white label promo-only MONO pressing of this title is much rarer, and by far more preferable to its stereo counterpart. We think that the mix is more natural, humane, "organic" and that the mixes are somewhat different than on the stereo version. We estimate that stereo copies of this album outnumber mono pressings by a ratio of at least 200:1.

(g)            Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!!

·                               COVER

THE COVER IS NICE --- ABOUT EXCELLENT OR VERY GOOD+++.

The following flaws or imperfections are noted on the cover:

-         Cover has some light ring wear (nothing significant); On the scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the least, and 10 being the most severe), we assess the severity of ring wear as 2 (front side) and 3 (back side).

-         Back cover has circular tarnish (grayish, dust-covered sections, which closely follow the contour of the record), probably caused by friction or by rubbing against other covers during the storage. The tarnish is similar in appearance to a common ring wear, but, UNLIKE ring wear, these grayish areas may be possible to clean up with a minor effort and with a right cleansing solution.

-         Cover shows some light yellowing on back side, apparently from aging.

-         Minor shelf wear noted on the seams (nothing significant)

NO OTHER IMPERFECTIONS ON THE COVER:

-         No split seams

-         No cut-out (drill) holes.

-         No cut-out corners

-         No saw-marks or indents

-         No wrinkles or creases

-         No writing

-         No stamps

-         No tearing: no chips, dents or nicks on the seams

-         No peel-off marks

-         No stains

-         No mold or mildew spots

-         No stickers or labels

-         No water damage

-         No razor marks, scratches, pressure marks, lines, streaks, or cuts.

-         No warping

-         No wax, glue, paint or liquid drops on the cover

-         No glue traces or wax residue.

-         No bar codes

-         No RIAA stamps or stickers.

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Generally, US POSTAGE is $5.80 FOR THE FIRST ITEM shipped via USPS PRIORITY MAIL (this includes a small $1.00 packaging surcharge).

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE- and insurance rates vary from country to country. For SPECIFIC international and domestic postage and insurance rates ►click here. While you can be rest assured that our packaging is careful, sturdy and impact-proof, please note we are NOT responsible for uninsured items.

Media- and Surface Mail rates are available ONLY to orders of $200.00 or more. NO EXCEPTIONS.

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OUR REFUND POLICY :

Cash refund will be granted only for DEFECTIVE items, but we are flexible and reasonable in reviewing the merits of each individual case. We do NOT play-grade records and can only make reasonable inference on the item's condition based on its visual appearance. Every bid carries a risk that purchased item might play worse than its visual grade may indicate. Still sealed items MUST be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund. Please read our complete refund policy before placing a bid. ►Click here for the full text of our policy .

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