The Chantels We Are The Chantels US Orig'58 End LP-301 Mono 1st Press Shrink

$

1,225

ORIGINAL 1st US END RECORDS LP-301 MONO PRESSING

THE CHANTELS ~ WE ARE THE CHANTELS (1958)

INCREDIBLY RARE 1st WITHDRAWN VERSION COVER WITH THE PHOTO OF THE BAND DRESSED IN A “SOUTHERN PLANTATION” OUTFIT
(OUR VERSION OF THE STORY ABOUT THE “PLANTATION” PHOTO SESSION AND WITHDRAWN COVER)

1st PRINT DEEP GROOVE END RECORDS LP-301 TWO-PART DOGGIE LOGO LABELS WITHOUT THE “ROULETTE RECORDS” CREDIT

VERY EARLY FIRST -1A / -1B MATRIX NUMBERS AND -A A / -A MOTHER STAMPERS ON BOTH SIDES

ONE OF THE BEST COPIES WE’VE EVER COME ACROSS WITH NEAR MINT MINUS COVER IN THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SHRINK WRAP

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

~ Before placing a bid, please make sure to attentively read our updated international shipping policy ~          

Original 1st US pressing of The Chantel’s debut album “We Are The Chantels” released on End Records in October, 1958. Incredibly rare 1st “Southern Plantation” cover version which was quickly withdrawn and repackaged with a cover containing a different artwork. In our opinion, the existing reason why this cover was withdrawn doesn’t fully reflect all of the circumstances. Those few online resources that describe this situation indicate the girls’ clothes as the main reason for withdrawing the cover. We also thought so until we came across the interview of Lois Harris, one of the band members, done by Eric Burden 10 years ago. One of his final questions drew our attention and was the following: “Now, I just have one ignorant question. On the picture of you girls on the album cover with the gloves…”

At this point, we thought to ourselves, what does it have to do with the gloves?! Harris didn’t answer this question and it seems we’ve found out the real reason why the 1st version cover was withdrawn. We discovered the photos from the spring 1958 photo session for The Chantels’ first EP album “I Love You So”, which is also currently listed at our auction and is an incredible rarity now. The photo shows the girls posing against the church and wearing white gloves. We’re absolutely sure that no one attributed any significance to it. It is the church and the gloves in particular which are the main aspects of racial discrimination. During slavery, the entrance to the church for slaves was prohibited if they weren’t wearing white gloves. The following circumstance is quite strange. The cover of the “I Love You So” EP which contained the photograph with the church and gloves was selling successfully in retail but the “We Are The Chantels” debut LP cover which had the background with the church removed was withdrawn and repackaged with the cover containing a new “Juke Box” artwork and the new “The Chantels” title. All of the three participants of this mystical story, currently listed at our auction, are highly collectible and are in superb condition. Original 1st version withdrawn cardboard laminated front cover remains in the original factory shrink wrap which still has a yellow retail price sticker in the upper right-hand corner. Original 1st print 2.75” deep groove pressing ring two-part doggie End Records logo “LP-301” catalog number label variation without the “Roulette Records” credit. Very early 1st pressing with the first -1A / -1B matrix numbers and -A A / -A mother stampers in the runout grooves. The full matrix numbers are as follows: Side 1: N-3001-A A A; Side 2: N-3001-B A. The album comes with the original End Records plain white inner sleeve. Insanely rare highly collectible LP in stunning condition of one of the most outstanding Doo-Wop girl bands ever.

★

It's practically impossible to find the cover of this issue in such a outstanding condition, not to mention that the currently listed copy remains in the fully intact original factory shrink wrap. I grade the cover as Near Mint Minus. It doesn't have any splits, wear, scuffs, writing, soiling or residue, only having a light stain in the lower right-hand corner. This is one of the best covers of this release we've come across with that has the beautifully preserved snow white borders and rigid spine with a fully readable text. The vinyl is graded as Strong Very Good Plus. It retains its shiny factory gloss only having some very light non-feelable surface marks as well as scuffs from the original inner sleeve, which is in Near Mint Minus condition and doesn't have any splits or tears. The labels are very clean and in Excellent condition only having a couple of very light spindle marks. The vinyl sounds amazing only having some very light occasional static which most likely will go away if the record is professionally cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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FOR INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS' CONSIDERATION

Due to the high risks involved when it comes international shipping, we’ve recently stopped sending our items with USPS First-Class Mail International and now use only USPS Priority Mail International Express. However, if your order exceeds the amount of $5000, we’ll have to ship the package with FedEx as oppose to USPS.

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