AL GREEN BACK UP TRAIN INSANELY RARE ORIG '68 HOT LINE LP w/WITHDRAWN COVER MINT

$

788

WE CURRENTLY HAVE  MORE THAN 400  LISTED ITEMS

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·       AL GREEN (CREDITED AS “AL GREENE” ON THE COVER) – BACK UP TRAIN – AL GREEN'S MYTHICALLY RARE FIRST ALBUM, FROM 1968!!! – ORIGINAL 1968 HOT LINE RECORDS STEREO LP HLS-1500S

·       ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING

·       ULTRA-RARE ORIGINAL FIRST PRESSING ON “HOT LINE” LABEL (NOT A REISSUE ON BELL LABEL WITH A DIFFERENT COVER)

·       VERY RARE ORIGINAL COVER SHOWING AL GREEN SITTING AT THE DRIVER WHEEL OF THE LOCOMOTIVE

·       ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING

·       ORIGINAL PALE BLUE HOT LINE LABEL WITH BLACK PRINT

·       AMERICAN RECORD PRESSING CO (ARP)., OWOSSO, MI  PRESSING

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

·       ORIGINAL, THICK CARDBOARD COVER (AMERICAN STYLE)

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS

·       THICK, HEAVY VINYL PRESSING

·       THE RECORD HAS A 'BELL SOUND' -AND-  'BESTWAY' - AND- ARC  STAMPS IN THE TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) AREA, EITHER ONE OF WHICH IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED A PROOF OF AUTHENTICITY OF THE FIRST PRESSING.

·       MACHINE-STAMPED MATRIX NUMBER IN TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) OF THE RECORD

·       THE RECORD HAS A DATE STAMP OF 3-22-1968 HAND-ETCHED IN THE TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX)

(►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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One of all-time great soul singers records album in 1960s (supposedly golden era of soul music) and its almost unknown today - sure, it was not earth-shaking as his later work that cemented his legend in 1970s and beyond but is it any good? Well, dear reader, if you are already here it probably means that you are familiar with honey-voiced classics and curious about his beginnings. Considering that album is such rarity and almost ignored every time when Al Green "true" work gets discussed, it comes as surprise that "Back up train" actually sounds incredibly good on its own terms.

Everything is here - falsetto, moans, swoops and that recognizable voice - you can tell its Al Green from the first moment, thought production and cellophane is different. This is our same old church boy transported back in time, framed with assured, professional palette of sounds that worked so well for countless of other singers (horns, hammond organ, female chorus) which in itself means it was all done before in works by Percy Sledge, James Carr, Otis Redding, you name it. So there is no fault with music, it still sounds like any excellent old soul album from 1960s - just listen to "Back up train", its pure magic and thought ignored today, single was a big splash back than, got Al Green nine encores in Harlem's "Apollo" and that is not a small thing. Pop audience still had no clue but ask black sisters.

Perhaps the "fault" if there is any, is that young singer relied to much on his idols - its easy to forget today that "soul" singing back in 1960s meant that singer must have powerful, raspy and screaming voice like James Brown, Otis Redding or Willson Picket (even that golden voiced angel Sam Cooke could rough it up in live performances,just check out his live albums) and Al Green was completely different kind of species, he would later find his own style (glorious, soft, love making croon) but back here he channels all of them and occasionally fails because he tries too hard to be a soul shouter. However, let's say you don't know anything about his later work or that he never recorded anything else - in that case this would be one of those obscure, brilliant forgotten jewels just waiting for re-discovery. Listen for yourself and tell me this is not a ass-shaking, great soul music.

 (EXCERPT FROM AN ANONYMOUS ONLINE REVIEW)

Nearly forgotten by all but serious soul fans, Back Up Train is Al Green's debut. Released in 1968, when he was still billed as "Al Greene" and before he worked with producer Willie Mitchell, the record is a perfectly good slice of slightly sweet period soul -- perhaps a little generic, but never less than pleasant. Much of the record was either written or co-written by the album's producers, Palmer E. James and Curtis Rodgers, who were not just part of Hot Line Records, but in the Creations, Green's previous backing band. Though they're fine as producers, they didn't have strong material as songwriters, never producing something as limber and memorable as Green's lone songwriting credit, "Stop and Check Myself." Musically, this number, along with a few other cuts, suggest the tight, sexy sound of his seminal Hi albums, but they're nowhere near as seductive as those slow grooves, nor are they as effortless. Still, it's possible to hear their roots throughout the record. Green's voice, while not as smooth as it would be just a few years later, shows enormous talent, he's equally comfortable with ballads and funky workouts, and the production, while dated, is quite appealing in how it falls somewhere between the grit of Memphis and the sweetness of Chicago soul. Back Up Train is good enough that if Green hadn't gone on to greater work, this would be the kind of record soul fanatics would treasure and trade, speculating on what might have happened if Green had been given another shot. Of course, Green went on to bigger, better things, and this stands as no more than a footnote to his career, but it's an interesting, enjoyable footnote all the same.

 (EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE REVIEW BY STEPHEN THOMAS ERLEWINE, ALL MUSIC GUIDE  /ALLMUSIC.COM/)

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·                               CONDITION:

·                               THE 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 EXCELLENT. This is one of those albums that are somewhat difficult to grade. It is somewhere between VG++ and NEAR MINT, just a notch below NEAR MINT. A few light abrasions ARE visible, but they are extremely shallow, superficial  and only moderately visually distracting (nothing significant).For the most part, the vinyl looks impeccable without any MAJOR visual flaws or imperfections. Much of the original luster is intact, and the vinyl shines and sparkles almost like new (small, superficial scuffs noted on side 1. Side 2 is actually NEAR MINT)

(b)          The record is pressed on a beautiful, thick, inflexible vinyl, which was usually used for the first or very early pressings. Usually, the sound on such thick vinyl pressings is full-bodied, vivid, and even dramatic. Do not expect to obtain such a majestic analog sound from a digital recording!

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

·                               THE COVER

THE COVER IS NEAR MINT !

The following flaws or imperfections are noted on the cover:

-        Cover has a small, neat, circular (promo?) cutout hole in one of the corners

-        Cover has a few tiny wrinkles along the bottom seam  (nothing significant)

-        Cover has a few tiny wrinkles along the spine  (nothing significant)  (VISIBLE ON BACK SIDE ONLY)

-        Minor shelf wear noted on the bottom seam (nothing significant)

NO OTHER VISIBLE FLAWS OR IMPERFECTIONS ON THE  COVER

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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 (BUT DO NOT INSIST) that you select USPS International Priority Mail OR International Express mail when making a payment.

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FINE (BUT IMPORTANT!) PRINT

 (1) The year indicated in the title bar is the year of the original release,  NOT necessarily the year of the actual pressing; for the actual generation of the pressing, please see our item description (top section, text in red letters). (2) Please do NOT bid based on the title bar, subtitle bar or item specifics box alone; instead, please read the entire description and grading before bidding; (3) Absolutely NO order cancellations after the auction closes. ever, under any circumstances. We can ONLY cancel bids before the item closes. (4) We are unable to cancel bids in the final 12 hours of the auction; if you need to do so, please contact eBay for help (5) We are unable to provide matrix-, stamper- or other pressing  information in the final 24 hours of the auction. If you require this information, please contact us well before the final day of the auction. (6) Yes, we DO combine shipments. Please click on "Shipping and Payment" tab on top of the auction page for additional details. (7)  All Paypal payments must be made from confirmed Paypal shipping addresses. NO third party shipping addresses will be honored  (8) Absolutely NO partial refunds: if you are unhappy with the merchandise you received, please return it for a full refund, postage included (9). Civilized people can disagree without accusing each other of being indecent or dishonest; if you need proof of this seller's personal integrity, please check our eBay feedback, which speaks for itself  (10) All disagreements and miscommunications can be - and will only be - solved in a civil and mutually respectful manner;  please avoid puerile, offensive, abrasive or menacing language (attempted humor is fine and usually appreciated, although overused-to-death sarcasms can be really, really tedious. (11) This seller will accommodate all reasonable requests and is generally a flexible and agreeable person (12) Our love & appreciation for your trust, loyalty and business, always and forever;  Thank You & Good Night!

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