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VELVET UNDERGROUND ''WHITE LIGHT\WHITE HEAT'' 1ST UK PRESSING (((STEREO))) CAT. NO. SLVP.9201 1ST ISSUE VERVE LABELS!! NEAR MINT AUDIO THROUGHOUT WITHOUT CLICKS OR POPS!! (NO) AUDIO SOUNDING MARKS OR SCRATCHES!! LOOK EARLIEST ''1'' TO ''1'' MOTHER STAMPERS!!!
''SOLD IN THE UK... TEXT ACROSS THE LABELS!
1ST PRESSING GARROD & LOFTHOUSE LAMINATED FRONT, FLIPBACK (((SKULL)))COVER IN AT LEAST EXCELLENT IF NOT BETTER!
Another from my personal collection! An extreemely rare original 41 year old 1st issue\1st stereo UK pressing of the late Velvet Underground's second album White Light\White Heat! Pressed on the original Verve labels with ''Sold In The UK...'' across the labels! Very rarely seen in this awesome top condition, highly collectable and sought after prog psych album indeed! Also a mega rarety is that this features ''1'' to ''1' mother stampers (pressed from the 1st masters in my opinion the earliest produce the best for audio quality available on vinyl, this is no exception! The audio quality was near perfect on my systems, even when played at very loud volume! (Without any loud clicks or pops!!! This is complete with the original with the 1st issue laminated front. flip back,Garrod & Lofthouse cover in at least excellent condition if not better! Very very rare and collectable in this condition!! This album has been stored in a case with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve and cover for protection for over 35 years, this is how I have always stored my records!
The Velvet Underground was an American experimental rock band formed in New York City, New York. First active from 1965 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although never commercially successful while together, the band is often cited by many critics as one of the most important and influential groups of their era and to many future musicians!!.
The Velvet Underground first gained a degree of fame and notoriety in New York City in 1966 when they were selected as the house band for Andy Warhol's Factory and his Exploding Plastic Inevitable events. The band's music and lyrics challenged conventional societal standards of the time, and broke ground for other musicians to do the same. The band favored experimentation, and also introduced a nihilistic outlook through some of their music. Their outsider attitude and experimentation has since been cited as pivotal to the rise of punk rock and, later, alternative rock!!
The foundations for what would become the Velvet Underground were laid in late 1964. Singer/guitarist Lou Reed had performed with a few short-lived garage bands and had worked as a songwriter for Pickwick Records (Reed described his tenure there as being "a poor man's Carole King"). Reed met John Cale, a Welshman who had moved to the United States to study classical music. Cale had worked with experimental composers John Cage and La Monte Young but was also interested in rock music. Young’s use of extended drones would be a profound influence on the early Velvets’ sound. Cale was pleasantly surprised to discover Reed’s experimentalist tendencies were similar to his own: Reed sometimes used alternative guitar tunings to create a droning sound. The pair rehearsed and performed together, and their partnership and shared interests steered the early direction of what would become the Velvet Underground!!.
Reed’s first group with Cale was The Primitives, a short-lived group assembled to support a Reed-penned single, "The Ostrich". Reed and Cale recruited Sterling Morrison—a college classmate of Reed’s who had already played with him a few times—to play guitar, and Angus MacLise joined on percussion. This quartet was first called The Warlocks, then The Falling Spikes!!.
The Velvet Underground was a book about the secret sexual subculture of the early '60s by Michael Leigh that Cale's friend Tony Conrad showed to the group. Reed and Morrison have reported the group liked the name, considering it evocative of "underground cinema", and fitting, as Reed had already written "Venus in Furs", a song inspired by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's book of the same name, dealing with masochism. The band immediately and unanimously adopted the book's title for its new name!!
Andy Warhol became the band's manager in 1965 and suggested they feature the German-born singer Nico on several songs. Warhol's reputation helped the band gain a higher profile. Warhol helped the band secure a coveted recording contract with MGM's Verve Records, with himself as nominal "producer", and gave the Velvets free rein over the sound they created!!.
During their stay with Andy Warhol, the band became part of his multimedia roadshow, Exploding Plastic Inevitable, for which they provided the music. They played shows for several months in New York City, then traveled throughout the United States and Canada until its last installment in May 1967. The show included 16 mm film projections and colors by Warhol!!.
In 1966 MacLise temporarily rejoined the Velvet Underground for a few EPI shows when Reed was suffering from hepatitis and unable to perform. For these appearances, Cale sang and played organ and Tucker switched to bass guitar. Also at these appearances, the band often played an extended jam they had dubbed "Booker T", after musician Booker T. Jones; the jam later became the music for "The Gift" on White Light/White Heat. Some of these performances have been released as a bootleg; they remain the only record of MacLise with the Velvet Underground. MacLise was said to be eager to rejoin the group now that they'd found some fame, but Reed specifically prohibited this!!.
White Light/White Heat (1968)
Nico moved on after the band severed its relationship with Andy Warhol, however recording began on this, their second album in September 1967, White Light/White Heat, with Tom Wilson as producer!.
The Velvet Underground performed live often, and their performances became louder, harsher and often featured extended improvisations. Cale reports that at about this time the Velvet Underground was one of the first groups to receive an endorsement from Vox. The company pioneered a number of special effects, which the Velvet Underground utilized on the album!!!.
The recording was raw and oversaturated. Cale has stated that while the debut had some moments of fragility and beauty, White Light/White Heat was "consciously anti-beauty." The title track and first song starts things off with John Cale pounding on the piano like Jerry Lee Lewis. The eerie, hallucinatory "Lady Godiva’s Operation" remains Reed’s favorite track on the album. Despite the dominance of noisefests like "Sister Ray" and "I Heard Her Call My Name," there was room for the darkly comic "The Gift," a short story written by Reed and narrated by Cale in his deadpan Welsh accent. The meditative "Here She Comes Now" was later covered by Galaxie 500, R.E.M., Cabaret Voltaire, and Nirvana!!.
The album was released on January 30, 1968, entering the Billboard Top 200 chart for two weeks, at number 199!!.
However, tensions were growing: the group was tired of receiving little recognition for its work, and Reed and Cale were pulling the Velvet Underground in different directions. The differences showed in the last recording session the band had with John Cale in February 1968: two pop-like songs in Reed’s direction ("Temptation Inside Your Heart" and "Stephanie Says") and a viola-driven drone in Cale’s direction ("Hey Mr. Rain"). (None of these songs were released until they were included on the VU and Another View compilation albums.) Further, some songs the band had performed with Cale in concert, or that he had co-written, were not recorded until after he had left the group (such as "Walk It and Talk It," "Guess I’m Falling in Love," "Ride into the Sun," and "Countess from Hong Kong")!!.
- Side one
- "White Light/White Heat" – 2:47
- "The Gift" (Reed, Morrison, Cale, Tucker) – 8:18
- "Lady Godiva's Operation" – 4:56
- "Here She Comes Now" (Reed, Morrison, Cale) – 2:04
- Side two
- "I Heard Her Call My Name" – 4:38
- "Sister Ray" (Reed, Morrison, Cale, Tucker) – 17:27
The Matrix
Side 1. ''V6 5046 A-2''
Side 2. ''V6 5046 B-1''
The Mother Stampers
Side 1. ''1'' ''A''
Side 2. ''1'' ''G''
The Vinyl
This is the original mega thick and chunky original slab of vinyl (only 1st press) later press is much more flimsier and less robust! On initial inspection the vinyls playing surface looks awesome. I can't see and deep marks or indeed any audio sounding marks or scratches! Any marks that could possibly be seen under strong light would be sleeve removal whispy scuffs only and non audio sounding that I heard!
The Audio Quality
I have carefully played this vinyl track for track at very loud volume on a top system, prior to listing. This plays through without distortion or any grooveware. There was no loud clicks or pops throughout and certainly (no) skips or jumps! This played through perfectly on my system! The audio is graded as very near mint!
Please note! This would benefit from a constant clean before each play which would reduce any static crackle! This has been stored in a case for the best part of 25 years and build up of dirt and dust in the grooves subsequently cause static crackle! I have noted debrit that could be seen on the playing surface after play! I MUST EMPHISISE THAT THE AUDIO IS RATED AT THE VERY TOP!! I heard (no) clicks or pops during the audio! I would class myself as highly critical! Please look at my completed listings of records that i have solds of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!!!!!! I would rate this audio top on all frequencies!!! very vibrant\awesome!!!
The labels
These are the 1st issue\1st press Verve Labels which feature ''Sold In The UK......'' Text across the labels (only 1st press) Spidering can be seen angled to the light. There is little if (no) spindleware, the hole is perfectly round! This has been played but definately not been overplayed!
The original 1st issue Garrod & Lofthouse Cover!
The album cover to White Light/White Heat is a faint image of a tattoo of a skull. The picture of the tattooed arm was photographed, enlarged and distorted by Billy Name, one of the members of The Factory. It is difficult to distinguish the tattoo, as the image is black, printed on a slightly lighter black background. On this cover, the album name, the Verve logo, and the band name are all on one line! This cover is printed by Garrod & Lofthouse , laminated front and flipback rear! Being primarily black in colour these are extreemely difficult to keep or indeed find in good condition. This cover is truly exceptional without any splits or tares and is super glossy laminate appearance indeed. Any rubbing\storage ware is very minor feint and laminate creases are very minimal. The rear also is exceptionaly clean for a 1st issue 41 year old cover any stain marks are only really noticable if looked for! This must grade at least excellent in my opinion!!
Please note! on later press an alternate cover was used for Polydor's mid-1980s reissues. This cover had a completely black background, without the arm in the background. On this version, the album name, Verve logo, and band name are printed on three separate lines.
There also exists a unique MGM UK cover, produced from 1976 until the early 1980s, featuring a white background and abstract toy soldiers.
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HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!
THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)
 
As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!
Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!
I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!
SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING
SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING
POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS 3.90 SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY
(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £36.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED!
Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.
All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!
I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!
MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history, Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.
PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)
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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)
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