TODD RUNDGREN TODD RARE TEST PRESSING WITH THE LETTER

$

163

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·       TODD RUNDGREN – TODD (RUNDGREN’S FOURTH SOLO ALBUM) - ORIGINAL 1974 BEARSVILLE RECORDS STEREO 2-LP SET 2BR-6952BS-2818

·       ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING

*** ULTRA-RARE TEST PRESSING ***

·       PLAIN, WHITE, GENERIC TEST PRESSING LABEL  WITH ONLY HANDWRITTEN ANNOTATION ON IT.

·       THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, FIRST U.S. PRESSING; THIS IS NOT A REISSUE, AN IMPORT, OR A COUNTERFEIT PRESSING.

·       THIS TEST PRESSING COMES IN ITS GENERIC, PLAIN, WHITE COVER

·       INCLUDES TYPEWRITTEN DATA SHEET STILL AFFIXED TO THE FRONT COVER, WITH A TENTATIVE TRACK LISTING,  PROPOSED TITLE, ARTIST- AND PRODUCER CREDITS,

·       INCLUDES A RARE LETTER FROM THE WARNER/BEARSVILLE LABEL (FROM A GENTLEMAN NAMED PETE JOHNSON, WHO WAS APPARENTLY WARNER’S A&R MAN) TO SOMEONE NAMED LAUREL, WHO WAS PROBABLY AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

·       ALSO INCLUDES XEROX-COPIED REPLICA OF THE PLANNED COVER ARTWORK

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS

·       The bidders should note that this is a rare Bob Ludwig-mastered “hot pressing” of this album, with his initials “RL” (Robert Ludwig) etched in the trail-off vinyl of the disc. All the wonderful elements of Bob Ludwig’s trademark mastering style are here: incredible clarity and balanced channel separation, vivid and spacious “ambience” sound, as well as wide dynamic and frequency range of the sound spectrum.  As is almost always the case with Bob Ludwig’s masterings, the Bob Ludwig-mastered pressings of this album are CONSIDERABLY rarer than the regular, non-Ludwig copies of this album.

·       MATRIX NUMBER IN TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) ENDS WITH '-1A/-1A/-1A/1B'.  ON SOME LABELS,  SUFFIX '–1' DENOTES THE VERY FIRST, ORIGINAL PRESSING)

·       THE RECORD HAS A 'STERLING' STAMP IN THE TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) AREA, WHICH IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED A PROOF OF AUTHENTICITY OF THE FIRST PRESSING.

(►PLEASE SEE THE IMAGE OF THE COVER, LABEL OR BOTH, SHOWN BELOW)

(Note: this is a REAL image of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. This is NOT a "recycled" image from our previous auction. What you see is what you’ll get.  GUARANTEED!)

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Amazing !!! An unbelievable piece: What we have here is an unheard-of TEST PRESSING of this classic Todd freak-a-tronic album! While many test pressings often have alternate or demo- versions of known, later released songs, and while it is possible that this particular test pressing contains demo or alternate versions of some of the tracks, please don’t take our word that it does. We regret  we cannot provide any competent information on how different this TEST PRESSING may be from the official release. Please contact us if you have any questions. The generic white test pressing label is (almost) entirely blank and without any details whatsoever.

The album comes with the neatly typewritten album data sheet (which also serves as a revision log) which contains all the details of the test pressing, including artist name, producer name, song titles, timings, assigned catalog number, scheduled date of release, list of revisions made thus far, performer credits, etc. The generic white test pressing label is mostly blank except for the neatly handwritten song titles.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TEST PRESSING APPARENTLY NEVER HAD A CUSTOM COVER;  THE ALBUM WILL BE SHIPPED IN A PLAIN, GENERIC [WHITE] CARDBOARD COVER. TEST PRESSINGS ARE RARELY – IF EVER – FOUND IN CUSTOM (STOCK) COVERS.

***

Maybe some listeners thought that the sonic trip A Wizard, A True Star was a necessary exercise in indulgence and that Todd Rundgren would return to the sweet pop of Something/Anything? for its follow-up. Not a chance. As it turned out, A Wizard was the launch pad for further dementia, and, depending on your point of view, indulgence. Its follow-up was Todd, an impenetrable double album filled with detours, side roads, collisions and the occasional pop tune. That those pop tunes are among his best may come as little consolation to the lightweight fan who has stumbled upon Todd. Conceptually, A Wizard, A True Star may be the wilder record, but Todd is a more difficult listen, thanks to the layers of guitar solos and blind synth prog tunes, such as "In and Out the Chakras We Go." Large stretches of the album are purely instrumental, foreshadowing the years of synth experiments with Utopia that were just around the corner. The murk subsides every so often, revealing either exquisite ballads ("A Dream Goes on Forever"), blistering rock ("Heavy Metal Kids") or, more murk and dementia (particularly with how Gilbert & Sullivan rear their heads not only on the requisite novelty "An Elpee's Worth of Tunes," but an honest-to-goodness cover of "Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song"). These are some major additions to his catalog, but the experiments and the excesses are too tedious to make Todd a necessary listen for anyone but the devoted. But for those listeners, the gems make the rough riding worthwhile.

 (EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE REVIEW BY STEVE HUEY, ALL MUSIC GUIDE  /ALLMUSIC.COM/)

THIS IS A NO-RESERVE AUCTION!

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·       CONDITION:

·       RECORD

(IMPORTANT NOTE: unless otherwise noted, ALL records are graded visually, and NOT play-graded!; we  grade records under the strong, diffuse room light or discrete sunlight)

(a)          WE GRADE THE VINYL  AS  NEAR MINT. Some VERY LIGHT AND SUPERFICIAL abrasions – mostly sleeve scuffs -  are (barely) visible, but are probably inaudible,  and do not affect visual integrity or beauty of the vinyl. The original luster is very much intact, and the vinyl shines and sparkles almost like new.

(b)          The records are pressed on a RELATIVELY  thick, inflexible vinyl. This is NOT a thin, flimsy ('dynaflex' type),  vinyl, but not the thickest, most rigid vinyl, either.

(c)           This test pressing comes with three original inserts (shown below): (1) Original typewritten track listing (2 sheets); (2) Letter from Pete Johnson of Bearsville Records and (3) 3-page Xerox copy of the anticipated cover artwork

(d)          Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!!

-        COVER :

-        This reference (test) pressing comes without any custom jacket, and will be shipped in a plain, generic, white cardboard cover (NOT SEPARATELY GRADED)

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POSTAGE & SHIPPING:

We offer THREE postage rates for both Domestic and International Mail: Media Mail, Priority Mail and Express Mail for domestic, and First Class, Priority International Mail, and Express International Mail for international orders. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: WE RECOMMEND that you pay for USPS International Priority Mail OR International Express mail when making a payment in order to obtain tracking information, which is NOT available for First Class International shipments.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE rates vary from country to country. For SPECIFIC international and domestic postage rates ►click here. While you can be rest assured that ►our packaging is careful, sturdy and impact-proof, please note that damage, loss or theft in transit is always possible, and in the case of some countries even PROBABLE. To discuss this potential problem and ensure flawless delivery, please contact us thru eBay BEFORE placing a bid.

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WE OFFER UNCONDITIONAL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE WITHIN 7 DAYS FROM THE RECEIPT OF THE MERCHANDISE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED (THE BUYER PAYS FOR THE RETURN POSTAGE); Still sealed items MUST be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund Some restrictions apply. Please read our complete refund policy before placing a bid. ►Click here  for the full text of our policy

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