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    Just one of inkFrog's Creations

Description

THE METERS

SELF TITLED DEBUT LP

PRISTINE SHRINK-WRAP COPY

THICK VINYL

JOSIE 4010

• RARE 1969 SHRINK WRAP NEAR MINT MINUS STEREO US 1ST PRESSING on the DEEP GROOVE cream JOSIE label (see photo). This great LP contains both of their early hits "Sophisticated Cissy" and "Cissy Strut" and is a cornerstone for any serious collector of funk or hip-hop music. There is no band tighter than the Meters and this debut Josie LP really shows it. Good luck finding another shrink-wrap original.
• The LP is pressed on DEEP GROOVE thick JOSIE vinyl (see photos).
• The TRUE STEREO ORIGINAL ANALOG mixes are full bodied, punchy with incredible fidelity and are much more desirable than any LATER pressings.
• This shrink-wrap JOSIE cover is manufactured from thick American style cardboard stock with a pasted on back paper slick (see photos). There are two original breathe holes in the shrink on the front cover (see photos).
• Do not be fooled by inferior digital re-mastering, re-mixes or compilation CD's. This is an original STEREO ANALOG recording; the real thing.

The Meters defined New Orleans funk, not only on their own recordings, but also as the backing band for numerous artists, including many produced by Allen Toussaint. Where the funk of Sly Stone and James Brown was wild, careening, and determinedly urban, the Meters were down-home and earthy. Nearly all of their own recordings were instrumentals, putting the emphasis on the organic and complex rhythms. The syncopated, layered percussion intertwined with the gritty grooves of the guitar and organ, creating a distinctive sound that earned a small, devoted cult during the '70s, including musicians like Paul McCartney and Robert Palmer, both of whom used the group as a backing band for recording. Despite their reputation as an extraordinary live band, the Meters never broke into the mainstream, but their sound provided the basis for much of the funk and hip-hop of the '80s and '90s.

Throughout their career, the Meters were always led by Art Neville (keyboard, vocals), one of the leading figures of the New Orleans musical community. As a teenager in high school, he recorded the seminal "Mardi Gras Mambo" with his group, the Hawketts, for Chess Records. The exposure with the Hawketts led to solo contracts with Specialty and Instant, where he released a handful of singles that became regional hits in the early '60s. Around 1966, he formed Art Neville & the Sounds with his brothers Aaron and Charles (both vocals), guitarist Leo Nocentelli, drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, and bassist George Porter. The band grew out of informal jam sessions the musicians held in local New Orleans nightclubs. After spending a few months playing under the Sounds name, producer Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn hired the group; without the vocalists; to be the house band for their label Sansu Enterprises.

As the house band for Sansu, the Meters played on records by Earl King, Lee Dorsey, Chris Kenner, and Betty Harris, as well as Toussaint himself. They also performed and recorded on their own, releasing danceable instrumental singles on Josie Records. "Sophisticated Cissy" and "Cissy Strut" became Top Ten R&B hits in the spring of 1969, followed by the number 11 hits "Look-Ka Py Py" and "Chicken Strut" a year later. The Meters stayed at Josie until 1972, and during that entire time they reached the R&B Top 50 consistently, usually placing within the Top 40. In 1972, the group moved to Reprise Records, yet they didn't sever their ties with Sansu, electing to keep Toussaint as their producer and Sehon as their manager. Ironically, the Meters didn't have nearly as many hit singles at Reprise, yet their profile remained remarkably high. If anything, the group became hipper, performing on records by Robert Palmer, Dr. John, LaBelle, King Biscuit Boy, and Paul McCartney. By the release of 1975's Fire on the Bayou, the Meters had a Top 40 hit with Rejuvenation's "Hey Pocky A-Way" (1974), and they had gained a significant following among rock audience and critics. Fire on the Bayou received significant praise, and the group opened for the Rolling Stones on the British band's 1975 and 1976 tours.

During 1975, the Meters embarked on the Wild Tchoupitoulas project with Art's uncle and cousin George and Amos Landry, two members of the Mardi Gras ceremonial black Indian tribe, the Wild Tchoupitoulas. The Meters, the Landrys, and the Neville brothers — Aaron, Charles, Art, and Cyril — were all involved in the recording of the album, which received enthusiastic reviews upon its release in 1976. Cyril joined the Meters after the record's release. Despite all of the acclaim for The Wild Tchoupitoulas, its adventurous tendencies indicated that the group was feeling constrained by its signature sound. Such suspicions were confirmed the following year, when they separated from Toussaint and Sehorn, claiming they needed to take control of their artistic direction. Following the split, the Meters released New Directions in 1977, but shortly after its appearance, Toussaint and Sehorn claimed the rights to the group's name. Instead of fighting, the band broke up, with Art and Cyril forming the Neville Brothers with Aaron and Charles, while the remaining trio became session musicians in New Orleans. Modeliste, in particular, became a well-known professional musician, touring with the New Barbarians in 1979 and moving to L.A. during the '80s. (AMG)

This beautiful shrink-wrap Josie LP has an incredible track line up of hits. Please see the cover/label photos for the track listing. This copy is from my personal collection. I'll let the market decide what this one is worth. Please bid accordingly. Please see the other rare original LP's I have up for Auction.

Cover/Jacket Condition: Near Mint Minus ...the black cover is very clean and without wear still protected by the original shrink-wrap. There is only very light wear at the opening corners where the shrink falls short (see photo). The seams are intact and sharp. The spine is intact and lettering sharp protected by the shrink wrap (see photo). No cut-out holes, corners, drill holes, saw marks, writing, indents, saw marks, razor marks, stickers, dirt or dust spots, mildew or mold spots, water damage, stamps, warping, bar codes, or peel off marks.

Record Condition: Side 1 & 2: Very Good+ ...the thick vinyl has full LIKE NEW gloss with light surface marks. The JOSIE labels are very clean with no writing, stains or stickers and only the beginning of wear around the spindle holes (See photos). The listener can easily enjoy the great music. later vinyl pressings can't even come close to the fidelity of this original US Josie LP.

Thanks for looking!!!

WHY BID ON THIS ITEM?

HERE'S WHY!

ALL MY LISTINGS INCLUDE:

Vinyl Grading Policy:

• All records and jackets are visually graded unless noted otherwise. CAUTION: Please be aware that the play grade may differ from the visual grade. If you want me to play a particular song and give you an assessment of background noise, etc. Please email me. We all have records that look worn but play great and vice versa. It is not possible to play as well as visually grade each LP listed. I TRY TO GRADE CONSERVATIVELY under the guidelines on this page, which generally follow the GOLDMINE standards. Although I try to be conscientious as a grader, there is the possibility that something could slip by me. In the event an item is not as described, REST ASSURED I will always offer a money back guarantee for purchase price of the item if returned safe and secure and requested within five days of receipt.
• Mint = A mint item must be absolutely perfect. Certainly never been played if not still sealed. This would be an item where it was opened but not played maybe just to check the label variation.
• Near Mint = The record shows no obvious signs of wear. The vinyl should show no wear from playing only the slightest of paper scuffs are acceptable. The jacket should look as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink-wrap.
• Near Mint-/Very Good++ = The record or cover is clearly better than VG+ but not Near Mint. There should be some signs that the vinyl was played infrequently and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took excellent care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have light scuffs and or very minor light scratches that do not affect the listening experience at all. The label and spindle hole will be without flaws other than the lightest of spindle trails from being played only a few times if at all. The cover should be bright and sharp and will have only the very first evidence of discoloration or ring wear or creased corners. Although there may be some evidence of seam/spine wear, seam splits are not permitted for this grade. The jacket may be marked as a cut out by a drill hole, saw mark, cut corner or punch hole. I will try to list any cover flaws of significance.
• Very Good+ = This is equivalent of the VG+ grade in Goldmine. The record will show signs that the vinyl was played but taken care of. Record surfaces will show signs of wear including some light scratches/scuffs that do not significantly affect the listener experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Spindle holes will have some wear but not be enlarged or damaged in any way. The cover will have general wear/ring wear but not to the extent that it materially impairs enjoyment of the picture cover. Slight seam splits are OK for this grade. Again I will try to list any cover flaws of significance.
• Very Good = Unless it is a rare collectible, I usually will not sell records where both the cover and vinyl are below a VG+ grade PERIOD. This grade is included since some times there may be either a cover or record that the flaws in VG+ grade above are more pronounced but the other part of the package is of a higher grade. If it is the vinyl I will play grade it to be sure that the listener can still enjoy the music.
• BID WITH CONFIDENCE! All items are FULLY GUARANTEED. If requested within five days of receipt, I will refund your full purchase price (excluding refund of shipping costs) upon return of the item if you are not satisfied, period. If you want protection related to lost or damaged shipments you must insure your winnings. I pack all records removed from the jacket, sandwiched between corrugated cardboard before insertion into the mailer box. Many times I will also use bubble wrap or a box inside a box packing method to further protect your item.
• I do not grade inner sleeves but will let you know if there are any inserts, posters, stickers or other items included with the RECORD or TAPE.
• Items that do not sell are usually not re-listed. Please contact me if interested and provide sufficient information to identify the item.

Payment and Shipping

Payment & Shipping Terms:

• All payments in US dollars only, Money orders, Cashiers Checks, Bank Checks, I NOW ACCEPT PAYPAL TOO. According to ebay policy, I can no longer accept cash by mail as a form of payment even if the buyer is using registered mail and is willing to accept the risk of loss. All non personal check acceptable payment methods get shipping within 1 business day of receipt. I TAKE PRIDE IN OUTSTANDING COMMUNICATION AND ULTRA FAST LOW COST SHIPPING (Please check my feedback). Personal checks are accepted if drawn on a US bank and buyer is willing to wait for me to ship until your check clears. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding acceptable payment methods.
• Winning Bidder must contact me in 3 days (72 hours) from receipt of my auction closing notification email to arrange payment and mailing.
• I follow the ebay non payment rules so if you have not made payment do not be surprised if you get a eBay non paying bidder notice after 10 days. I agressively work to get my final value ebay fees back if the item is not paid for within the auction terms.
• IF YOU CANNOT PAY WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIME FRAMES PLEASE DO NOT BID!
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• I make best efforts to ship within 24 hours of receiving cleared payment. THOSE THAT PAY PROMPTLY AFTER AUCTION END GET EVEN FASTER SHIPPING TURNAROUND. Shipping is actual postage cost (plus $2.00 for proper packaging materials) for either priority or media mail including delivery confirmation within the United States. Insurance is optional at the buyer discretion.
• International shipping is for PRIORITY MAIL INTERNATIONAL with tracking. Shipping costs are calculated based upon actual postage (plus $2 for bubble wrap, a box and proper packing materials) to keep weight and postage costs as low as possible while properly protecting your item.
• I only ship priority airmail for international destinations and will require registered mail or global express for high dollar international shipments. I will ship FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL mail to save $$$ for low value items based upon the buyers feedback record if the buyer expressly accepts any risk of non delivery or loss as there is no shipment tracking or delivery confirm with that method. Please inquire before bidding if that is the shipping mode you desire.
• Save on shipping cost per record when I mail two or more records in one package. I do consolidate international and domestic shipments to help save postage. Please inquire for cost information.
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