The Jimi Hendrix Experience : Electric Ladyland 1/1/1/1

This rare 'Track Record' genuine first stereo pressing is in superb condition and the vast majority plays to a Near Mint / Mint- standard.  The records are in lovely condition with only one obvious hairline and there is not a great deal of spindle wear either.  They have not been overplayed and the clarity and depth of the audio confirms that.  A full grading is given below.

A first pressing is denoted by a number of things.  It has the 1/1/1/1 crossed out / corrected matrix info (as below) and to the left of the spindle hole on each label the catalogue number is repeated above in smaller inverted numbers and in brackets also followed by the Side number, A B C or D.

The labels on a first press only state 'Side A', 'Side B' etc while later pressings say 'Side A' with 'Two Record Set' written below.  They also have a slightly textured 'feel' as opposed to the smooth affect on subsequent pressings.

The laminated gatefold also has the smaller photos of Redding and Mitchell on the inside of the gatefold.  On the 'blue text' version their photos are larger.  There is now so much evidence to say the cover with the white text and smaller photos is the true first press.  Redding and Mitchell were not happy with the small photos hence why they are larger in later pressings.  The 'blue text' versions only exist in far fewer numbers and as Hendrix was a massive selling 'star' in '68 why would a cover be printed in such small numbers?  The 'blue text' is basically a misprint and the error was soon rectified.

Side A / 61300 ## 8 (hand etched 8) A // 1  ?   1   1 9

Side B / 61300#9 (hand etched 9) A # // 1  1   5

Side C / 613009 B (all hand etched) ####### A // 1   1   3

Side D / 61300#8 (hand etched 8) B // 1   1  5   4

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (track 4 is Ex- but Near Mint for the majority)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / tracks 4 & 5 Ex+)

The audio on S3 is Mint- (track 3 'Moon, turn...' VG-)

The audio on S4 is Near Mint (Mint- for the vast majority)

The gatefold is Ex

The 'Plastic Bags...' inner sleeves are Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

The vinyls have been so well cared for over the last 51 years and it is clear they have not been overplayed.  There is no that much spindle wear, just a little more on Side A, and visually they are very impressive and retain a lovely glossy sheen.  Side A just has one 'staggered' hairline mark on the second half of the record but that is the only obvious mark across all four sides!  The other sides are in beautiful condition although Side C does have a tiny scratch at the end and this is described in detail below.  There are only a very small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines on the discs and I have not seen that many later pressings as good as this genuine first press!  These hairlines are so faint it does take a while to even notice them!  The run out grooves are supremely clean and the matrix info can clearly be read and the labels are also in superb condition with no marking.

Play grading

The quiet intro on 'And The Gods Made Love' is incredibly clean with no obvious static, just the one light tick.  As we all know it's rare for the opening few grooves to play as well as this on a record that is now over 50 years of age!  The swirling tape loops are 'as new' and the quiet end section is stunning with just one static tick after the 'music' has finished.  A stunning Near Mint start without doubt.

'Electric Ladyland' then plays with sublime quality.  There is barely any static on the intro and the remainder is very impressive with only a couple of static ticks.  The fade out plays superbly.

The classic 'Crosstown Traffic' is stunning from the first groove and plays with dynamic power to the end.  This is fantastic version and has no interference of any kind and Mint is a fair grading.  It plays loud and true with no distortion and there is no 'background' on the long fade out either.  What a version!

'Voodoo Chile' has just the one click on the intro but is otherwise very clean.  Hendrix's first vocal is faultless but there are two further clicks as Redding's bass comes in.  Apart from that the clarity is very impressive and as it progresses the depth of the audio is stunning and that is helped in no small measure by Redding's deep bass which adds so much to the overall Hendrix 'sound'.  There are so many quiet sections and yet the clarity in the main is superb.  There are a couple of more clicks but for a genuine first press the actual clarity is very 'clean' with no underlying static or crackle which is a rare to find.  The solos play with great precision and there is no sign of any distortion.  Mitchell's drum solo section in particular is stunning and all I heard was just one light click.  In the 'crowd' section that follows there are two or three gentle ticks that are largely non-intrusive.  As Hendrix's vocal resumes there is one more click but that is the only 'background'.  From then on it plays with immense power and the crescendo end section is a real highlight and has barely any distortion at all.  The spoken 'crowd' section is super clean with only a couple of light static sounds right at the end.  This is difficult to grade as whilst there are a small number of clicks the rest of the audio is 'high end' i.e. no other interference.  I guess Ex- as an overall grading but it is fair to say the vast majority is far better than that!

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The acoustic intro on 'Little Miss Strange' is nigh on perfect and as the vocals begin the audio could not be any better.  From start to finish this track plays with great quality and grades as Mint- as there is just no interference of any kind.

'Long Hot Summer Night' has only the lightest of static on the intro and then plays superbly with no obvious intrusion on the audio.  There is just a minor amount of mega light background static but it is barely audible and is totally non-intrusive.  This is easily Near Mint.

'Come On' goes one better and grades as Mint- as the audio is of an immaculate standard.  The power and definition is like it was pressed only yesterday!  The audio is so precise and the audio cannot be faulted - wow!  Hendrix's work is sublime here and there is no distortion, just pure perfect audio all the way even on the fade out.

The intro on 'Gipsy Eyes' is of the same standard although there is just a touch of distortion on the first vocal.  From then on the actual music plays extremely well but with that minor distortion on the vocal here and there.  Perhaps I am being too critical as maybe this is just the way it was recorded.  It really is very minor - hardly intrusive and it still plays with excellent clarity with not one single click or pop and no static either.  However, I will grade as Ex+ just to be on the safe side.

The classic intro on 'Burning Of The Midnight Lamp' is 'as new' and continues to play with excellent audio.  As is so often the case on the first/early pressings there is some inner groove distortion but it is kept to a minimum.  It is unavoidable really and should not be downgraded as such but again will grade as Ex+ just to be cautious.

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'Rainy Day, Dream Away' plays with stunning clarity on the quiet intro and the sax/guitar instrumental is equally as good with no 'background'.  This is so good!  As Redding's bass rises up in the mix the sound is so strong!  The vocals then play with sublime precision and this continues to the very end.  A mega impressive version with a superb fade out also.

The classic '1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)' has wonderful clarity on the intro and as the vocal begins there is no decrease in quality.  As always I listen to every second of every record and I delighted to say this psychedelic track plays with amazing quality throughout and the definition of the audio could not be improved upon.  Each note can be heard so clearly and it's just incredible to think this record is 50+!  This easily compares with the version on the Electric Ladyland I sold last month and the sonic quality is breathtaking.  As for the long psychedelic piece - I'm not sure I've heard better.  This all points to a track that has hardly been played although why it wasn't in the hazy days of the 60s I can't understand why!  The depth of the audio here is just 'out of this world' and is as impressive as the day when first released back in '68.  There is no interference of any kind, not even a dust tick, and as Mitchell signals the end of this section the power is all consuming.  Turn it up loud the 'sound' just envelops the room.  This is Mint quality audio I do not mind saying and to the very end it plays to the same 'high end' standard.  Wow!

The segue into 'Moon, Turn The Tides...' is perfect but it then plays with a light tick once per revolution of the record and the last 15 seconds are louder sadly.  Definitely not mega loud but they are intrusive nonetheless.  This is the only negative on the entire side!

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  'Still Raining, Still Dreaming' has only a minimal light static on the intro and by the time the vocal begins it is barely audible.  It continues to play with very strong audio and the section where the bass volume is turned up to max the playback is stunning.  Hendrix's work here is legendary of course and indeed there is no distortion on the top end at all.  This is a stunning Near Mint version and to the very end it plays with great quality.

'House Burning Down' plays with wonderful power from the very first groove and continues in the same way with no intrusion on the audio at all.  There is perhaps just a minimal amount of distortion but I always tend to find this on this track.  It is still worthy of a Near Mint grade as there is no interference whatsoever.

'All Along The Watchtower' is 100% stunning from the first note!  On a clean vinyl such as this the audio has such depth and the sonic quality is off the scale!  It plays with incredible power and intensity and I am confident in grading it as Mint it is that good.  A fantastic version for certain.

The super quiet intro on 'Voodoo Chile (slight return)' is without fault and the first riff has only minimal distortion on the top end, it is non-intrusive.  As soon as the volume increases this minor distortion has disappeared and the playback is stunning.  This is also the case when the vocal begins and it continues in the same manner with exemplary audio and no interference of any kind.  The 'wah wah' guitar playback is so powerful and rarely for a final track as loud as this there is no distortion here.  This is such dynamic version you just can't believe what you're hearing on a genuine first press!  Right to the very abrupt end it plays with immaculate Mint precision.

In summary this highly collectable genuine first press plays with very impressive clarity and definition and very little distortion on the louder sections.  Yes there are a handful of clicks on Side A but for the large part this side still plays with exceptional audio.  Sides B,C and D are stunning with barely any interference apart from the brief instrumental at the end of S3 as described.  The iconic laminated gatefold is also in excellent condition with only very minor shelf wear.  This first press double album has been very well preserved over the decades and would add to any collection....and hopefully the 'blue text' info will be fully 'understood' one day :-) 

The Gatefold

The laminated E.J. Day cover is very impressive with only minor shelf wear.  The edges are super clean with no rubbing at all and the wide spine is also in superb condition with only a little wear/creasing on the corners.  The right hand corners have hardly any wear and the opening edges have minimal handling wear also.  The front cover has a lovely glossy sheen and only a small number of laminate creases with only one near being a little more obvious.  The back cover is even better with only a couple of mega small creases.  The laminate on both sides has no splits and this is a rarity especially on a first press.  The inside of the gatefold is in fantastic condition!  It is so glossy with only a couple of tiny creases and the inside spine is near perfect.  So often the laminate here is badly split or worn but it has just one very small separation at the top which could be improved by a little glue perhaps.

This is an excellent example of this infamous cover and as described has only minor shelf wear in my opinion.  They are so often badly damaged!  This is a very strong Ex and would impress any avid Hendrix collector.

The Inners

The poly-lined 'Plastic Bag...' inners are in excellent condition with no splits or tears and only a little creasing.  I don't think they are the originals as the print colour is different as is the numbering info.

The Labels

The iconic 'Track Record' labels are in superb condition with only a little spindle wear on B, C and D and a little more on A.  They are incredibly clean with no marking or writing on them.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

Side A / 61300 ## 8 (hand etched 8) A // 1  ?   1   1 9

Side B / 61300#9 (hand etched 9) A # // 1  1   5

Side C / 613009 B (all hand etched) ###### A // 1   1   3

Side D / 61300#8 (hand etched 8) B // 1   1  5   4

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

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