THE ANIMALS Animalisms 1A/1A 1st Mono PRESS VG++ COVER & Incredible MINT- AUDIO
  £   82
  $   109

 


£ 82 Sold For
Jan 25, 2026 Sold Date
Jan 15, 2026 Start Date
16   Number Of Bids
  Great Britain Country Of Seller
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Description

I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.
The Animals : Animalisms 1A / 1A Genuine 1st Mono Press 1966 Decca
This first mono pressing is absolutely STUNNING!  I have of course sold many records from the 60s era of course and this is without doubt in my top 3 in terms of audio quality, maybe even top of tree!  The clarity of sound, the depth and warmth of the audio and the power is phenomenal.  Put simply there is no interference - I heard only a couple of mega light ticks and some very light static for 3/4 seconds on 'Gin House Blues' but I'd hardly say that qualifies as interference.  This album was produced so well and that is just one reason why sonically it has lost none of its original quality.  It has also been so well preserved and has hardly been played in my opinion and the vinyl itself remains in excellent condition.  I cannot emphasise enough just how immaculate the audio is and that full, deep rich mono sound is prevalent throughout.  It very much deserves a FINAL UPGRADE archive status!  To think this vinyl is 60 years old!!
The laminated MacNeill cover is in very good condition bordering on Ex- I would say.  It has some light wear, a small split on the top edge in the right corner is the worst but still not too obvious.  The front cover is very clean and the back cover is very impressive particularly as it isn't laminated.  The original Emitex inner is in superb condition.
This is a genuine first mono press and the most obvious indicator is that 'Maudie' on S1 has the publishing credit of 'Belinda' as opposed to 'Hooker' which is seen on later pressings.  The other differences can be seen on Discogs.  Interestingly the version I am selling here is ever so slightly different to the one on Discogs because there is a gap between the final two publishing credits on S1.  I think the font is different also - perhaps my version is even earlier! 
LK 4797  //  XARL-7225-1A  BK 1   ---   XARL-7226-1A  BB 4
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 first verse Near Mint)
The laminated cover is a very strong VG++   The original Emitex inner sleeve is Ex+
The grooved red Decca labels are Mint-
Visual description
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still retains a strong glossy sheen with no obvious marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can see a few faint hairlines, a couple of hairline 'scuffs' and a couple of tiny blemishes but there is nothing that stands out.  This is all purely superficial as they have literally no affect on the audio.  There is no groove or surface wear and the matrix info / KT tax stamp can easily be read on the run offs.  The grooved red Decca labels are near perfect with only a couple of tiny barely visible spindle traces on each.
Play Grading
The intro on 'One Monkey Don't Stop No Show' plays with stunning clarity and Burdon's opening vocal section is just as strong and clear.  This was recorded so loud and the audio really comes through the speakers with great power and resonance.  The first chorus has no intrusion either and it continues to play with a sonic quality that is second to none.  Seriously this is stunning!  Burdon's voice is so high in the mix and sounds so strong but not only that, every note is so clean and precise.  From start to finish there is no background, not even a dust tick, and this is unquestionably a Mint start to the album.  Wow!
'Maudie' plays with impeccable quality and that deep rich mono sound is very much in evidence.  The intro and opening vocal are 'as new' and there is just one minor tick as the volume decreases into that brief quieter section.  Rowberry's piano in the following instrumental plays with stunning precision and Burdon's vocal is at its powerful best also with no distortion on the top end.  This level does not drop and the high octane end section is phenomenal.  I cannot emphasise just how pristine the audio is!  With only one light tick this deserves a Mint- grading.
'Outcast' again impresses on every level.  A 'rockier' number and sonically it cannot be faulted.  You might think being a louder 'busier' track the audio may be affected in some way but no it is as clean as it would have been back in '66.  Mint
'Sweet Little Sixteen', a typical Chuck Berry track, plays with genuine quality also.  Rowberry's piano again takes centre stage alongside Burdon's superb vocal.  The audio is perhaps not quite as 'clean' as the previous tracks but it still plays with wonderful clarity and definition so I will say Mint-
As the sleeve notes say 'You're On My Mind' is not a typical Animals song but it nonetheless plays with remarkable quality with no sign of any intrusion.  Too ballad-like and melodic I guess!  The clarity is again flawless from the first note to the last.  Another Mint track.
'Clapping' ends S1 with STUNNING clarity and definition.  Never heard better clapping!  Honestly there is not even a dust tick and the sound resonates perfectly.  MINT!
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The delicate intro on 'Gin House Blues' plays with sublime clarity and the opening vocal section has only the lightest of static for the first 3/4 seconds.  From then on it plays with exceptional clarity for such a 'stripped' down track.  There is no intrusion on the audio and the mid piano instrumental exemplifies that - STUNNING clarity!  The end section builds with spectacular results!  Sonically it is outstanding and again there is zero distortion.  Burdon's vocal throughout is so strong and clear and Chandler's bass adds another dimension also, it's very much in time with the music.  The first verse is Near Mint but the rest of this classic very much deserves a Mint grade.
'Squeeze Her - Tease Her' plays with great power and definition from start to finish.  It's another track that gets louder as it progresses and the audio does not suffer for it.  Mint
'What Am I Living For' plays to the same exact standard without any background.  I do not want to repeat myself but audio such as this is so rare to find on a vinyl of this age, it is 60 years old very soon!  Every vocal and instrumental section plays with unbelievable quality, I cannot overstate how good!  I mean Burdon's voice is quite simply remarkable - how he was only voted 57th in Rolling Stone's 'Greatest Singers' list in 2008 I'll never know!  This is Mint is a better representation of this all time classic.
The intro on 'I Put A Spell On You' is perfect as is the opening vocal.  It continues to play with great quality and I only 'picked up' one barely audible light tick.  It's a unique version and Steel's drums towards almost seem out of place but they do add a certain something - such a deep, powerful sound also.  Mint-
'That's All I Am To You' plays with stunning quality when you consider it is the penultimate track on the album.  Loud and dynamic you would expect some inner groove distortion but there is none, nada!  And remember this is a mono record being played through a stereo set up.  Just. A. Perfect. Version.  Mint
'She'll Return It' ends this incredible with... no interference.  No surprise there.  This time just a modicum of inner groove distortion but so so minor and totally non-intrusive.  Penned by Burdon and Rowberry it still deserves a Mint- grade.
The Cover & Inner Sleeve
The cover is in very good to excellent condition with not too much wear.  The edges are very clean with no rubbing although on the top edge there is a small split by the right corner.  The spine is in superb shape with barely any wear on the corners and the bottom right corner is also super clean.  The opening edge is close to perfect also.  The laminated front cover just has one small mark in the top right corner, a sticker removal mark I assume, and some minor edge creases next to the spine mainly near the top.  The back cover I think is in excellent shape when you consider it isn't laminated.  It does have some surface rub but nothing too obvious plus a little ringwear.  The two flip-backs have very little marking / staining on the edges and there is only minimal creasing / lift on three of the corners.  I was tempted to grade it as Ex- but perhaps VG++ is closer to the mark.  A very strong example nonetheless.
The original Emitex inner sleeve is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears and hardly any marking.  It just has some light creasing here and there.
LK 4797  //  XARL-7225-1A  BK 1   ---   XARL-7226-1A  BB 4
Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT VM-95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine
  I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.


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