The Rolling Stones : Aftermath 1B/2A Unboxed/Grooved Red Decca 1966

This very early mono pressing on the unboxed/grooved red Decca label plays with superb audio for the vast majority with very little intrusion.  As always I have play tested every track in full and I can say clarity and definition of the audio is very impressive indeed.

The cover has also been very well preserved and the all important back cover is very clean with only very minimal marking.  The inner is also in great shape.

There were at least 8 versions of the the unboxed/grooved red Decca labels and this one is known as version 2 so is obviously one of the earliest produced.  The band name can be seen in large letters, the font is TNR, BIEM and NCB are on the same line with Mirage Music above.  (All selections written by Jagger, Richard) is also in italics and this is the only label variation to have this.

With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.

LK 4786 // XARL-7209-1B / XARL-7210-2A // CM 1 / no stampers on S2!

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint / Near Mint- for the majority) 

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Near Mint for the majority / T1 intro Ex)  

The cover is a very strong Ex

The labels are Ex+

The original inner is Ex+

The vinyl is very clean and has no obvious marks or scratches.  It still has an impressive glossy sheen but does have a little faint mottling on both sides which has no affect on the audio.  There are also some faint hairlines but certainly nothing that really stands out.  The run out grooves are in great shape with barely any marking and you can easily make out the matrix info and KT tax stamp on both sides.  The deep red Decca labels have some spindle wear but have lost none of their original colour.

Play grading  

'Mother's Little Helper' plays with great clarity and depth from the first note to the last.  There are no clicks or pops and only a couple of very minor ticks, certainly nothing intrusive.  A Near Mint start to the album.

The intro on 'Stupid Girl' has a couple of very light ticks and Jagger's opening vocal has no 'background' at all.  It continues in much the same way with only a hint of barely audible static here and there.  It is so quiet and again the clarity is very impressive.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound here and Near Mint- is deserved.

The quiet intro on the classic 'Lady Jane' plays very clearly with only minimal background static and from that point on plays with wonderful clarity and depth.  There is very little static and what you can detect is so much in the background as to be negligible.  The music plays beautifully with each note so sharp and precise.  A very strong Ex+ version.

'Under My Thumb' plays with outstanding clarity and depth from the word go.  The intro is nigh on perfect with barely any static and it proceeds in the same way with such a strong bass sound which adds so much to the track.  There is one very light click further in but overall it plays very clearly with no intrusion.  I will grade as Ex+ but so much plays better than that.

The 'percussive' intro on 'Doncha Bother Me' has only a couple of mega light ticks and it continues to play incredibly well with barely any static and there are certainly no clicks or pops.  With only a couple of light ticks the playback is very 'clean' and some light static on the fade out this I would again grade as Ex+

The epic 'Goin' Home' has hardly any static on the intro and the opening vocal section plays to perfection.  From then onwards it plays with great precision and barely any 'background'.  There are of course so many quiet sections and yet the clarity can hardly be faulted.  It plays wonderful depth in no small measure helped by such a strong bass line and it has not lost any of its original sonic quality.  The mega quiet mid section is a prime of that - the playback is just so 'clean' and precise with only one tick and no other intrusion.  The remainder plays nigh on perfectly and final few grooves have barely any inner groove distortion.  I am confident in grading the 11+ minutes as Near Mint- such is the quality.

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The piano intro on 'Flight 505' has only very minimal light static and it then plays extremely well with only light click during the mid instrumental section.  The vocals are very 'clean' and there is barely any static.  An Ex intro but the remainder is Ex+ for sure.

'High And Dry' plays to the same standard with no real intrusion aside from 3/4 light ticks.  I don't think the clarity is quite on the same level here, perhaps something to do with how it was mixed.  Don't get me wrong it still plays very well and there is nothing that detracts from the quality of the listen in my opinion.  You just have to turn it up a little to get the full 'force' of the track, ever so slightly 'muddied' you could say.  Ex+

The intro on the classic 'Out Of Time' again has only minimal static and the first verse and chorus are more or less perfect.  It continues to play with stunning quality and with barely any interference, just one light static tick.  This is such an impressive version and it demonstrates the Stones at their very best.  The clarity, depth and sheer raw power on offer here is so strong and Near Mint is more than deserved with only the intro grading as Ex+

'It's Not Easy' again shows just how well this vinyl has been looked after and plays with superb audio from the get go.  There is no interference and is another Near Mint track.

The very quiet intro on 'I Am Waiting' plays so clearly and the first vocal is equally as good, you have to remind yourself this record is 55 years old!  There is one very light click just before the first chorus but from then on plays with great clarity and definition.  There are aa handful of light ticks at the end so I will grade as Ex+ but the majority does play better than that.

There are a couple of clicks in the dead wax but the intro on 'Take It Or Leave It' then plays perfectly.  From that point on the clarity and depth of the audio is sensational!  A stunning Mint- version without question.

You would expect some inner groove distortion as you approach the end but 'Think' is so strong from start to finish with no annoying distortion at all!  It plays with a power, depth and clarity that cannot be faulted.  Just a hint of light static on the fade so will grade as Near Mint accordingly.

'What To Do' ends the album with stunning precision and...still no distortion.  Remember this is a mono record being played through a stereo set up!  It is such a strong version and it plays with wonderful power and depth for a final track.  There are a couple of static clicks on the fade out so will again again grade as Near Mint but it is undeniably a fantastic finish to this classic album.

In summary this very early pressing plays to a 'high end' standard for the vast majority with very little intrusion.  So many of these are found in poor condition but this is certainly not one of those!  The sonic quality on both sides is so impressive and the complete lack of distortion is another highlight.  With only a couple of clicks during playback the clarity on this 55 year old record is very impressive and the cover is pretty good too!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The Robert Stace cover is in excellent condition with only very minimal shelf wear.  The edges are unmarked and the thin pinched spine is near perfect with only one small crease line across it and it remains 100% legible of course.  There is rarely hardly any corner wear and the opening edge is also incredibly clean with barely any handling wear.  The laminated front cover is in superb shape with only one minor crease bottom left and a couple of small creases next to the spine.  The back cover is also very clean and has only a little fading around the edges and a record shop 'stamp' top left.  A fine example overall and you won't find as many as good as this today!

The poly-lined inner is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears and only a little creasing.  It is very clean also with only a couple of tiny 'spots' and hardly any age related fading.

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 4786 // XARL-7209-1B / XARL-7210-2A // CM 1 / no stampers on S2!

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

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

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ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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