A truly impressive condition copy, with great sounding audio, of this 1st press 1966 jazz rarityYear/Label : 1966 US BLUE NOTE
Label number : BLP 4202
Matrix numbers : BNLP-4202 : A (etched) / BNLP-4202 : B (etched) with "VAN GELDER" (machine stamped) and Plastylite P/"Ear" on both dead wax run out's
Nice thick, weighty and completely flat gleaming vinyl in excellent (EX) condition, retaining a wonderful jet black sheen and even when viewed closely I could not identify any scuff marks or even wispy hairlines - clearly, this is a record that has been sparingly played. Excellent plus (EX+) condition labels - unmarked except for just a few small and faintest of faint spindle trails adjacent to the centre hole on each side. The original non-laminated laminated iconic outer sleeve is in very good plus (VG+) condition - firm edges including a rigid spine where all text remains perfectly intact. There is barely any scuffing or corner rubbing at all but there is a 3.5cm seam split on the bottom edge immediately adjacent to the bottom right hand corner - if it was not for this glitch I would have no hesitation in grading the condition of the outer sleeve as excellent. All photos and text remain perfectly intact, and the front-side photo remains as iconically entrancing as ever. The reverse side 1st press "paste-on" is excellent with no age discolourationor creasing and the year "1965" has been neatly hand written just underneath the Blue Note catalogue number towards the top right corner (see photo). Note the early pressing horizontal "43 West 61st St., New York 23" text at the bottom of the reverse side. The quality of the audio is excellent plus (EX+) - no clicks, skips, repeats, or jumps and barely any crackle or interference at all - so impressive for a record of this age (though these gorgeous heavy duty 1960's Blue Note LP records were made to last, and they do!). Wonderful tone and clarity throughout with every track making for a fabulous listen. With Grant Green on guitar, Hank Mobley on tenor sax, Larry Young on organ, and Elvin Jones on drums these are top notch musicians at the top of their game...no wonder this is such a sought after LP. Comes complete with original "27 YEARS BLUE NOTE" advertising inner sleeve - highly collectable in it's own right - with no seam splits, just a little minor creasing and a single 0.5cm vertical tear on the top opening edge. Timeless, laid back jazz - wonderful!