ROLLING STONES - The Rolling Stones No. 2 

Rare 1965 UK first issue 12-track deep groove mono LP 

On the unboxed Decca logo 'ffrr' label

Housed in a front laminated picture sleeve with 'blind man' text on the back

The group's second British album actually appeared after their second US LP, mostly owing to the fact that the British rock & roll audience wasn't focused on the long-player as a medium (Singles and EPs were the driving force of the business in England then).

It uses the same David Bailey cover shot that had graced the US issued '12 X 5' album two months earlier, but only four songs (Under The Boardwalk, Suzie Q, Grown Up Wrong and Time Is On My Side) overlap on the two albums.

Rolling Stones No. 2 offered seven songs that weren't to make it out in America until four months later on 'The Rolling Stones Now!' It also includes one of the group's best blues covers, their version of Muddy Waters' I Can't Be Satisfied, which wasn't released in America until 1973 and features some killer slide playing by Brian Jones. The UK LP was originally released in mono only.
Apart from a limited Japanese release, this has still to be released on CD in this format, which is almost impossible to believe for a band as big as The Stones.

Condition :-

The sleeve shows just a little laminate lift at the spine, with perfectly legible spine print. The back of the sleeve is a off-white with only the faintest sign of age.

The original back design carried sleeve notes that included the text:

"If you don’t have bread, see that blind man, knock him on the head, steal his wallet and low and behold you have the loot, if you put in the boot, good, another one sold!"

Not one of Mr Loog Oldham's wisest lyrical outpourings (or a shrewd marketing move!) and they naturally caused uproar in January 1965, even to the extent of being debated in the UK Parliament.

This was a bit too much for Decca and an alternate version of the back artwork was hastily prepared & the few they had left in the factories were overpasted with the new artwork.

Most first issue sleeves continued to carry the text as they were already in the shops. This was only ever a temporary solution until the text was finally removed from later printings of the album sleeve. The small amount that were overpasted to censor the lyrics are extremely rare. If you look at the back, you can clearly see that the original sleeve notes extended beyond the modified, more politically correct, version.

This sleeve is beautiful, with almost no shelfwear to speak of. There is a little bit of curl at the opening as a result of the pasted glue and the laminate shrinking in alternate directions over the last fifty years, but that's pretty much it.
The back slick is still very white with few signs of handling and the front is still bright & clean.

The labels are red with unboxed, open Decca logo and ffrr 'ear', with the deep grooves that were omitted from later pressings.

This is the fourth label variant used on the first issue of No2 as it has the longer 'Made In England The Decca Record Co. Ltd' top text.

 This puts the timing, as you would expect, just after the first batch had been distributed, so probably mid to late 1965. 

The K/T tax code is just above the catalogue number on the right side, with the copyright 'BIEM/NCB' below it.

The matrix numbers are machine stamped into the 'dead wax' areas. They are as follows:

Side One XARL - 6619 - 2A
Side Two XARL - 6620 - 1A

The vinyl is in excellent condition

Tracks :

Catalogue No : LK 4661

Run off groove markings :

Side 1 - XARL - 6619 - 2A          1.1  A      KT       3  B

Side 2 - XARL - 6620 - 1A          C G          KT       1

Country of Origin : UK

This is one of 10000 singles LP's, 12” and 7" that I HAVE COLLECTED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS; they run from the 1950's to the 2000's and cover every style of music.

I am slowly listing them one by one and they are in a verity of condition, most are good or very good, with some in shop purchased condition (i.e. Like new), I don’t have time to play every record listed, (well only the ones I want to listen to), therefore I can’t vouch for the playing condition of this item, however if you want to know how it plays please ask and I will play it and let you know if there is any excessive hissing, scratches and what condition the vinyl is in.

I have kept most of these records for 30+ years plus so my goal is to make sure they arrive with you in the same condition that I have kept them, enjoy bidding and please feel free to ask any questions and I will try to answer them

The record will be packaged in a protective plastic cover and being despatched in a custom cardboard record sleeve with a cardboard backer.

If you purchase more than one single the cost of Shipping is an additional 50p per item won.

If you purchase over 5 singles they are posted in a thick cardboard record box rather than a standard record postage sleeve at no extra cost, which means they are protected from the weather and the postal service, every item has proof of postage.

If you purchase over 5 items and you live are outside the UK, then before we confirm the final shipping costs we need to check with the post office as there may be an additional costs dependent on weight for shipping outside of the UK and as such we may ask for an higher amount than an extra 50p per extra item depending which part of the world you live in and how many items you have purchased.

Payment Details, Please contact me within 3 days of auction closing , payment must be received within 7 days of auction close & buyers outside the UK must pay via PayPal. UK buyers may pay by PayPal, personal cheque or British Postal Order, Please note that cheques will have to clear before dispatch