The Who : The Who Sell Out A2/B1 1st Press UK 1967

This first mono pressing on the Track Record label does have the 'Free Psychedelic Poster Inside' sticker on the back cover but sadly no poster.  How many do still exist today?  Not many!  Only 1000 were produced with the poster (500 mono and 500 stereo) so this does at least confirm I am selling as one of the earliest mono pressings, just look the matrix info!

The audio plays to a very high standard with very little 'background' and no clicks, pops, jumps or crackle.  It also has the locked groove at the end of S2 which 'plays' the vocal jingle on rotation until you remove the needle.

This famous cover is in excellent condition overall with only minor wear.  

Track 612 002 //  A ? 2  1 1 6 / B ? 1  1 1  1 1

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

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections / tracks 2, 3 & 6 range between Ex & Ex+)

The cover is Ex-

The S1 label is Ex+ and the S2 one is Near Mint-

The original inner sleeve is G+

Visual grading

It's not easy finding a super clean first press and but this one is an excellent example and has not been trashed like so many!  There are no scratches and not that many hairlines.  S1 does have one obvious scuff hairline on the final track and on the first track there is a longer very faint hairline and one further small hairline mark but none of these have any affect on the stunning audio.  Aside from that S1 is very clean, impressively so, and as I say very few hairlines.  S2 is in lovely condition with only two small faint scuff lines and a small number of even fainter hairlines.  I hope I haven't 'painted the wrong picture' because it is visually in lovely condition for a rare record from '67 it still has a lovely glossy sheen.  There is some obvious spindle wear on S1 (a little haphazard!) but much less on S2.  The run out grooves are very clean and the matrix info can clearly be read.  A fine example overall of this rare record.

Play grading  

S1 has minimal static on the intro 'ad' and 'Armenia City In The Sky' then plays with stunning audio from the very first groove.  There is a depth and warmth to the sound that is so impressive - each note is so clean, as are the vocals, and that pays testament to how well the record has been preserved over the last 52 years.  The depth of the bass is superb and Keen's vocals soar majestically throughout.  This really is a sublime version of this track, it is Near Mint with no intrusion whatsoever.

The interesting 'Heinz Baked Beans' has only very light static on the intro for the first few seconds and then 'plays' with fantastic audio.

The acoustic intro on 'Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand' is stunning, 'as new' in fact, and continues to play in the same manner.  I heard one faint tick only and it is easily missed.  This is another 'high end' version and again the depth of the audio is astounding.  Again there are no clicks or pops!  This sounds so good wow!  Near Mint again.

'Odorono' plays with amazing clarity from the very start.  There is no intrusion on the audio whatsoever, a couple of dust ticks maybe but no interference of any kind.  Townshend's vocals then have a clarity that is so 'clean' and to the end this track plays without fault.

I am running out of superlatives already for this album!  The following Radio London jingle is quite simply 'as new'.  'Tattoo' is spectacular and I cannot believe I am listening to a first press from 1967!  There is just one static tick (not an intrusive click!) near the end but you would be hard pressed to find a better version than this.  I am happy to grade this as Near Mint once more.

'Our Love Was' plays with wondeful depth and quality from start to finish, a powerful 'wall of sound' if you like and yes - no interference of any kind.  There is no distortion, just a stunning depth and warmth to the sound that impresses on every level.

The bass intro on 'I Can See For Miles' is phenomenal!  It is so strong and deep and Daltrey's vocals then have a clarity that is second to none.  Being a final track you would expect some inner groove distortion and if there is any it is only right at the end but really it is of no consequence.  This is one of the strongest versions of this classic I have heard in many a year on a genuine first press, the definition of the audio is 'high end' to say the least.  

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The 'Charles Atlas' intro on S2 has the bare minimum of static and 'Can't Reach You' then plays with superb Near Mint audio from start to finish.  I cannot stress enough just how well this plays, the playback is so 'clean' and again there is no interference, just one static sound on the final note.

The brief 'Medac' plays very clearly with no clicks or pops and only a little light static in the background here and there, nothing intrusive.

'Relax' is of a similar standard.  The audio is very strong with only a little static.  When stood up in the centre of the room this static is very minimal indeed and I only 'notice' it because I sit so very close to the speakers.  It is non-intrusive and the playback remains very impressive with no other 'background'.

The psychedelic 'Silas Stingy' plays with immaculate quality from the very start.  The audio is so 'clean' and throughout the entire playback I heard only one faint tick.  The clarity could not be improved and Near Mint is a fair enough assessment for this classic track.

What follows is a fabulous version of 'Sunrise' and the clarity just radiates from the record from the very first note.  The acoustic intro is stunning and it continues in much the same way.  There is just a mild hint of mega light static every now and then but believe me when I say it is so quiet!  In no way does it intrude on the mesmeric quality of the audio and it was a pleasure to listen to.  A relatively quiet track it nonetheless plays with exceptional clarity and definition and the vocal is so clean.  Any collector would be hugely impressed by this.

'Rael 1 & 2' has some static on the intro that is a little more obvious but again no clicks or pops.  As it progresses the audio does not disappoint and there is 'real' intrusion at all.  There is a little inner groove distortion as you approach the end but I do not think it 'gets in the way' as you expect it on this track anyway.  Do not let this put you off!  The playback is still very strong and the final verse is very 'clean' indeed.

In summary this highly sought after LP has a clarity and definition that you do not often find on these genuine first pressings.  There is not a single loud click or pop!  Not only that but there is very little static and the dead wax between each track is also very clean - no persistent crackle for example giving you a good indication of the clarity on offer.  It is also visually very impressive, not perfect but it is certainly the cleanest I have seen in a long time.  Of course it is a shame it doesn't have the poster but at least it has the 'Free Psychedelic Poster Inside' sticker which of course denotes it as one of the first 500 mono pressings, a rarity in itself.  The cover has also been very well preserved with only minor shelf wear.  The original inner is also included.

The Cover

The laminated E.J. Day cover has only minimal shelf wear and remains in excellent condition.  The edges and thin pinched spine are in superb order with no rubbing and there is very little corner wear also.  Just a touch more bottom right.  The opening edge is super clean with barely any handling wear.  The front cover is also very clean with no laminate lift - all I can detect are three tiny dots bottom right and a couple of very minor creases.  There are also some the usual small faint creases that you always find on aged covers around the edges.  The back cover is equally as clean and again only light creasing.  There is a little laminate lift around the spine area but this is common.  Overall quite an impressive version,

Inner Sleeve

The original polylined inner has seen better days with one large side split, some creasing and age related fading and 3/4 small tears on the top edge.

The Labels

The famous 'Track Record' labels are in excellent shape with no marks or writing although as stated there is more spindle wear on S1 compared to S2.

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

Track 612 002 //  A ? 2  1 1 6 / B ? 1  1 1  1 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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