A magic moment in rock history, on the same level as Sgt. Peppers, Exile on Main Street and Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. IMO it's also the coolest album ever made and one that will last forever. Earlier both rumours and numbers of a UK stock mono and a US mono promo circulated. As it shows it was just rumours and the only chances for legit monos would be a UK test press, a rather bad (unbalanced) Brazil single LP, or five tracks appearing on an issue for US Armed Forces radio. I've also heard about monos from Peru and Chile, but have to see them to believe. Lately there's been confusion about UK premiere press. I bought my first copy very early and it was as shown here, having "corrected" matrix numbers ending with -1. Inside of f/o had smaller Mitchell/Redding pics, white fonts and "Track Records" logo, the text "POLYDOR STEREO records..." situated between logo and record number at the bottom. Some decades ago another variation, having blue fonts and larger band pics, started to show up on auctions, claimed to be the the first. It was confusing for an old Hendrix fan and didn't agree with any earlier circumspections. I stayed confused till I found this very interesting article
http://recordmecca.com/news/jimi-hendrixs-electric-ladyland-exposing-the-blue-type-hype/ . According to that the blue fonts/large pic cover was a somewhat later misprint, an error originating in confusion with the "Part 2" single LP. The writer - a former record company art director - now owns Hendrix' private copy and also quotes a number of people who got it pre-release or on the first day - all those have the white fonts and small pics. At least I'm convinced and dare say the one shown here is the very first UK press. (JHÄ*)(TRÄC*)
Does it mean that 1st press have small pictures?? :))) Great information because version with blue text and large pictures is very expensive!
SvaraRaderaI believe in that article, but can't guarantee on my life it's the only truth. First press can only be distinguished by having the "corrected" matrix numbers. A "white text" cover with small pictures should also have the "Track" logo below the song list like on the picture. It's possible the two covers were done at about the same time, but the "blue" rejected because of the misprint. If you have a white print/small pic copy with corrected matrxes it's one of the first made and you don't need any earlier.
SvaraRaderaNo, I don't have any press because it's expensive, but one day maybe I'll buy it. But I notice that record collectors went crazy about blue print version.
SvaraRaderaYour version have cat. number upside down, and I think you are the owner of original 1st press. There are different version with normal cat. number.
Please take a look at the label on this auction -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JIMI-HENDRIX-EXPERIENCE-Electric-Ladyland-UK-TRACK-LP-EX-/310648963740?pt=UK_Records&hash=item48541f029c
Thanks for the link. That seems like some kind of a later hybrid with only one side having the corrected number and two having the -2 matrix, while cover is first press. A friendly tip - don't mind what color the text has, if it's all corrected matrixes ending with -1 it's first!
SvaraRaderaThis copy from Ebay contains 'set no.' on label, that's why I think it's early '70s press with cover from 1st press.
SvaraRaderaYeah looks like it. Just surprised A-side still have the 1:st matrix.
SvaraRadera