The Ventures "Walk Don't Run" 1960 DELETED JACKET ART 1st Press NM-

$

300

The Ventures "Walk Don't Run" 

Super rare 1st run jacket art with a deleted black & white photo of the band on the back instead of the regular issue "outline" art that Venture record collectors are familiar with. 

Here's the short story...

In 1960, when The Ventures first released "Walk Don't Run" as a 45 single, Dolton/Liberty Records (of Seattle, WA.) had little idea how quickly this single would become a success, and when it did, they had The Ventures cut enough tracks for this full-length, 33 rpm, debut record. In the standard industry promotional strategy used at the time, they rushed The Ventures on the road to tour. 

As vinyl was being stamped for this debut LP, the cover art team realized that they only had black & white promo pics of the group to choose for jacket art. So they picked the black & white picture of The Ventures you see on the back of this listing. Knowing they didn't have a color photo of the group for the cover slick, and the group was out on the road touring, they arranged to hire a model and use some of the stockroom workers as stand-ins for the cover shoot.

When vinyl and printed jackets were pulled together and first issues were readied for shipping, and The Ventures still on tour, the Liberty people began to realize that there might be some confusion with their record customers as to who The Ventures really were primarily because this was their first LP- no one had seen The Ventures. Marketing worried that customers might think The Ventures were the people on the cover instead of the boys in the black & white photo on the back. The jacket art group decided to solve this potential dilemma by creating a tracing of the black & white picture and use it as artwork instead of the photo. In this way, customers would not be able to see who the Ventures really were and not be confused. The jackets with the black & white photo on the back would be deleted and not used. The "outline" artwork of the band is what we always see on the back of "Walk Don't Run". I have included a photo (#3) of the approved and released jacket art for the LP. 

Over the years, record collectors discovered the existence of the rare "first run" jacket that has the actual photo of the group on the back. Apparently a few had leaked out into the hands of buyers.

(For reference, on pages: 52, 53 of "Walk Don't Run" by Del Halterman he writes about the launch of this debut LP and speaks about this change to the jacket.)

A very serious Venture collector whom I talked to recently said that he has been hunting for these elusive "first run" (deleted) jackets for years and has only found a few. He also said that no one really knows how many leaked out., or how many have survived. 
I recently found one of these in a suite of Venture LP's that I picked from a Venture collector 20 years ago. I had no idea myself that such a deleted jacket existed until recently when a Venture collector pointed it out to me. (My thanks to Tom B., a real gentleman and self-proclaimed "Venture fanatic since 1960".)

Condition

The jacket is in very good (VG++) condition with its face slick and back paste not showing much wear. The edges are great with just a very tiny bit of wear at the very tips of the jacket. The spine is perfect. There is a light crease across part of the back, top-right. There are also some staple holes in the top right corner. It was common practice in the late 1950's and early 1960's to staple the retsil sticker to the jacket. Please review my photos as I have uploaded pics of every view.

The inner sleeve is in excellent condition. The original Liberty printed inner sleeve is included and it is in (VG++) condition with just some of the expected age-related (58 years) yellowing. The record is in a new MOFI anti-static and anti-scratch master sleeve to keep it clean and protect it. Please review my photos.

The LP is in fantastic NM-/NM- playing condition. I have listened to many copies of "Walk Don't Run" over the years and this is the best copy I have listened to. Most of these records were loved to death. This record was pressed using the 2nd label version with the "6920 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles 28 California" address. It is a light blue-green "Dolphin" label. A few very rare and equally elusive copies use the Seattle, WA. address that is considered by collectors to be the 1st label variant. The runout matrix has the following numbers indicating a first release/ED 1 and first stamping. The "H" designated Columbia's Hollywood, Calif. pressing plant:

Side 1: "BLP-2003-A (Side 1) H III"

Side 2: "BLP-2003-B (Side 2) H H I"

The Lp was manually cleaned by me using a carefully researched, archival-quality detergent and lab-grade rinse water- nothing harsh. I grade my records visually and through play-grading. Sometimes there is a big difference. I always assign my grade for how a record sounds versus what it looks like. 

Notes:

Label: Dolton BLP-2003

Format: 1 x LP MONO

Country: US Pressing

Year Released: 1960

Visual and Play Grade:

Side 1. NM- Very clean with a good gloss and most of its factory rainbow luster. One noticeable hazy scuff line and a few very light and hard to see sleeve hairlines. One light spindle mark around the center hole indicating light play and careful handling. The sonics are strong and clean like a good mono recording should be. Plays clear and mostly quiet with a slight bit of very low-level running noise in spots. This low-level noise is only noticeable on my system between track changes. 

Side 2. NM- Very clean with a good gloss and most of its factory rainbow luster. Four light scuff lines and a few very light and hard to see sleeve hairlines. One light spindle mark around the center hole indicating light play and careful handling. The sonics are strong and clean like a good mono recording should be. Plays clear and mostly quiet with a slight bit of very low-level running noise in spots. Once again, this low-level noise is only noticeable on my system between track changes. 

Shipping:

Domestic and international shipping is free. I will send fully insured and by Registered mail. The album will be inside a new 2 mil. outers sleeve. The record and inner sleeve will be placed between the jacket and outer sleeve to prevent splits during shipping. I use a pro-quality 200# mailer with padding and stiffeners.  

~~~~~~~~~~ END OF LISTING ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Record and Jacket Grading Standards

I have been very unhappy with the variation in grading I see between record sellers. While all grading seems to reference the Goldmine grading standards, there are subtle variations in a condition that can make a big difference in the sonic enjoyment of a record, especially at the higher quality end of the grading spectrum. As such, I have created my own grading standards for records and jackets that points out these finer differences.

(SS) Still Sealed:  "Still Sealed" is a grade I am reserving for factory-sealed records that have never been opened. This grade assumes the disc inside is undamaged and in "Mint" condition but this cannot be verified until the disc is opened and examined. The jacket will have its original shrink wrap.

(M) Mint: "Mint " is a grade I am reserving for a perfect record. There are no scratches, scuffs, hairlines, fingerprints, spindle marks or other indications that it has been handled or played. The jacket will have its original shrink which is opened. The are no corner bumps, scratches, marks, creases or other signs of jacket wear.

(M-) Mint Minus: A "Mint Minus" record may have one very light paper scuff but no hairlines or other surface scratches. It looks clean and unplayed. I may also use a "Mint Minus" to grade a sealed record that has corner bumps or tears in the shrink wrap.

(NM) Near Mint: "Near Mint" is a record that is virtually flawless, clean and glossy. A near perfect, rarely-played record. May play with some very light and occasional dust or static related light noise that is only heard in the quietest passages. The vinyl and label surfaces show no obvious sign of wear. It looks clean with the factory shine and there may be a very light, barely visible paper scuff or two and a few light hairlines but no scratches. An LP jacket has no seam splits or any other obvious signs of wear but one or two light creases are acceptable. Ring wear should be almost invisible. No punch holes or other discount marks.  Very minimal corner bumps. Artist signatures are the only acceptable forms of handwriting for this grade. Basically, "Near Mint" looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

(NM-) Near Mint Minus: Same as above, yet shows a few very light hairlines which have no effect on the sonic quality. The record will have its factory gloss and ?rainbow luster? and only light spindle marks. Ring wear is minimal but starting to show lightly at the top and bottom. The jacket may have discount cuts or sales stickers, which will be noted. Artist signatures and minimal owner marks are the only acceptable forms of handwriting for this grade.

(VG++) Very Good Plus Plus: Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show signs of use and may have slight paper scuffs or very light surface scratches that only reveal themselves in the quietest of passages and don't detract from the overall sonic quality. Most factory shine is still present. Slight edge warps that do not affect the tracking or sound quality are OK and will be noted. An LP jacket may have some signs of ring wear and shelf wear and a small corner bump or two these are minimal and acceptable for this grade.  A small seam split is also acceptable and will be noted. Light owner signatures, DJ marks and other forms of handwriting are acceptable for this grade. In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be a showcase piece. All but the most discriminating collectors will find a ?Very Good Plus? record highly acceptable.

(VG+) Very Good Plus: Many of the defects found in a VG++ record are more pronounced in a VG+ disc but it is still a keeper. Surface noise is evident upon playing, but does not overwhelm the music. Groove wear will start to be audible and a random click, tic or soft pop may be evident but will not detract from the enjoyment of the recorded material. The jacket may have a seam split or ring wear and labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. A small light stain or some discoloring may be evident. The cover may exhibit a combination of these flaws but they will not overwhelm the piece.

(VG) Very Good: A VG disc will have more flaws but it is still a keeper. Surface noise is evident upon playing but does not overpower the music. Groove wear will be audible along with occasional pops and tics but there are no skips. The jacket may have a significant seam split and the spine may be seriously flaked. Labels and jackets may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. A small light stain or some discoloring may be evident. The cover may exhibit a combination of these flaws but they will not overwhelm the piece.

(G+) Good Plus, (G) Good: ?Good? means acceptable?not completely roached. The grade I usually reserve for listing the rarest of records. A record in ?Good? condition can be put onto a turntable and will play but it will it will have significant audible surface noise. A jacket or sleeve has larger seam splits and there may be significant water stains. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

Special Note:

(+) Plus: An extra "plus? may be added occasionally to a grade to highlight the finer points of some better grades.