The Rolling Stones : 2A / 5A Debut Album 1964 with rare Mona credit on Label & Cover

This rare first pressing plays to an excellent standard with only very minimal interference on one track.  The clarity and depth of the audio is very impressive.  As it is a first press it obviously has the grooved red Decca label which is also unboxed of course. 

This highly sought after LP has the rare 'Mona' credit on both the label and the cover, it should of course be titled 'I Need You Baby'.  It really isn't that common to see 'Mona' on the label and cover as a lot of mixing and matching went on in the original factory and at parties also!  This was the first cover that was issued with this album and is without doubt one of the 'cleanest' I have seen.  There is a little wear as you expect but it has clearly been well looked after down the years.  There are so many errors on both the labels and the cover and these are explained in detail on the stonesondecca site.  Of course it is the 'Mona' incorrect credit which is the main one!

This is known as one of the first pressings but does have the correct long version (4:06) of 'Tell Me'.  

LK 4605 // XARL - 6271 - 2A / XARL - 6272 5A // CG 3B / A 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T2 & T6 Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Ex (T5 Ex+ / T2 & 4 Near Mint / T3 VG- for a few seconds) 

The cover is a very strong VG+

The labels are Ex+

The original inner sleeve is Ex+

Visual grading

I would say the vinyl is in excellent condition and it still has a very clean sheen and no clouding or dulling.  There are some hairlines but it is certainly not covered in them.  There are some, mainly on S2, which are a little more obvious but there is only one that results in a little interference.  A little scratch I guess.  I think when you consider the age of this rare vinyl it has been very well looked after and has definitely not been trashed at parties in the mid to late 60s!  The run out grooves are very clean and the matrix info and the KT tax stamps can easily be seen.

Play grading

'Route 66' is so strong from the first groove to the last.  It plays with that typical Stones raw power and has no static or crackle and no clicks or pops either.  A Near Mint start in my opinion.

'I Just Wanna Make Love To You' is of a similar standard also.  A little vocal distortion perhaps but you expect that with a mono record being played through a stereo set up.  Once again there is no interference and will grade as Ex+ just to be safe.

The clarity of sound if anything is even better on 'Honest I Do' and has no underlying static and no other 'background' either.  A very impressive Near Mint version.

The intro on 'Mona' is faultless and from then on plays with great clarity and with more 'depth' than the previous tracks.  This is common with this track and from start to finish there are no negatives.  To think this vinyl is now over 56 years old!  It could hardly play any better and Near Mint is more than deserved.  Even then I might be underselling it!

The instrumental 'Now I've Got A Witness' plays with the same depth of sound and the audio is fantastic!  No ticks, clicks or pops - stunning in every way!  Near Mint

Being the final track on the side 'Little By Little' does have some inner groove distortion but is not intrusive.  You expect it and I reiterate this could be reduced when played as a 'mono' record.  The playback is still excellent - in other words you do not have to turn it down as the distortion is minimal.  An Ex+ end to the side.

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'I'm A King Bee' on S2 plays with great clarity from the get go and it continues in pretty much the same way.  There is no underlying static or crackle although towards the end there are a small number of light ticks with are of course slightly louder on the fade out.  They are not clicks and it still deserves an Ex grade.

Despite being one of the louder tracks on the album 'Carol' plays with real quality - there is barely any distortion and the playback is very impressive indeed.  In essence there is no interference and there is only very minimal static on the fade out.  Near Mint

The quiet intro on 'Tell Me' is nigh on perfect with hardly any static and the first chorus is of the same quality.  There are nine light clicks during the next verse but from then it plays with excellent clarity and only very minimal 'background' - just three/four light ticks.  I would say this is Ex but VG- during the second verse for a few seconds.

'Can I Get A Witness' is superb from start to finish with no interference whatsoever.  Jagger's vocal here is rather 'high octane' you could say but the audio is very strong and the quality has not decreased over the years.  Near Mint

'You Can Make It If You Try' again displays impressive clarity and I only detected a couple of barely audible ticks.  There is only minimal vocal and more than deserves an Ex+ grade.

The final track 'Walking The Dog' often plays with an irritating amount of inner groove distortion but I am pleased to say it is kept to a minimum here and again could be reduced anyway when played as a 'mono' record.  I will call it Ex just to err on the side of caution but is definitely a very strong finish to the album.

In summary this first pressing plays to a very high standard overall and the only obvious interference is during 'Tell Me' which only lasts for a few seconds anyway.  So the audio is very impressive overall but of course the real rarity is the fact that both the S1 label and the cover have the 'Mona' credit.  One is often found without the other so to find both together is actually quite rare today.

The Cover

The 'MacNeill' cover with the 'Mona' credit has stood the test of time very well and only a little shelf wear.  The edges are in super clean with no 'rubbing' and the thin pinched spine is also in great condition with only a couple of minor crease lines and remains 100% legible.  All of the corners have only minimal wear which makes a change!  The opening edge does have a little handling wear but not an excessive amount.  The laminated front cover is in excellent shape with only a small number of very faint creases and one small scuff mark just below the Decca logo.  There are also some of the usual faint creases around the edges.  The back cover is often found in poor condition due to not being laminated but this one is in very good order overall.  It has some light marking/fading here and there but certainly no severe staining.  There is also a small tear next to the opening edge.  The flipbacks are very clean with only minimal staining on the edges and remain firmly in place with only a couple of minor 'crimps'.  The top left corner also has a little creasing.  So when you consider the rarity of this cover I do think it is an excellent example overall.

The Inner Sleeve

The original poly-lined lined inner is in superb condition when you consider the age of this paper product!  It has no side splits or tears and only one tiny mark on the plain side.  It has only minimal creasing and has 'Made in England' and 'British patent No. 800513' and 'Foreign Patents pending' printed on it.  A fine example.

The Labels

The grooved red Decca labels for once have no marking or writing on them and have lost none of their original deep colour.  There is some spindle but not a massive amount.

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

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

LK 4605 // XARL - 6271 - 2A / XARL - 6272 5A // CG 3B / A 1

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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