Description SquareTrad WE CURRENTLY HAVE   MORE THAN 500   LISTED ITEMS Click here to see ALL our ROCK auctions Our PSYCH & PROGRESSIVE  auctions Our PUNK & NEW WAVE  auctions Our  JAZZ auctions Our BLUE NOTE JAZZ auctions  Our BLUES auctions Our CLASSICAL auctions Our COUNTRY auctions Our FUNK auctions Our LATIN auctions Our METAL auctionsOur REGGAE auctions Our SOUL auctions Our STILL SEALED ITEMS  Our PROMO auctions  Our AUDIOPHILE auctions · OTIS CLAY  - TRYING TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU (OTIS CLAY'S FIRST ALBUM)- ORIGINAL 1972 "HI"/LONDON STEREO LP XSHL-32075. · ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING · *** PROMOTIONAL COPY; THE RECORD HAS STOCK LABELS; HOWEVER, THE PROMOTIONAL STICKER ON THE COVER CLEARLY IDENTIFIES THE ITEM AS PROMOTIONAL *** · ORIGINAL SILVER "HI" LABEL WITH RED LOGO · 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) · THICK, HEAVY VINYL PRESSING · CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS · THE RECORD HAS 'MASTERCRAFT' HAND-ETCHED IN THE TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) AREA, WHICH IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED A PROOF OF AUTHENTICITY OF THE FIRST PRESSING. (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!) Otis Clay, returned South by way of Chicago, and cut some blistering records of pure, Southern Soul. Produced by Memphis soul genius Willie Mitchell, Clay's first album for Hi Records (also home to Al Green and Syl Johnson) is a must for fans of deep, deep Southern Soul. "Trying to Live My Life Without You" sounds quite upbeat and catcy, despite the depressing title, but the way Otis belts and wails out the anguished lyrics is proof enough of the song's inherent sadness. Things get really low-down, however, on a beautiful version of Don Bryant's "I Die a Little Each Day". The gentle, steady beat, churchy organ, gospelish backing vocals and shimmering strings make this the most delicate song on the album. "Holding on to a Dying Love" opens with the same strings, but soon makes way for a stomping groove, with Clay's gutbucket vocals beautifully augmented by the backup singing - provided by Rhodes-Chalmers-Rhodes. Clay gets brutally honest on the hard socking "I Can't Make It Alone", a ballad filled with self-doubt and despair. By the time Otis reaches the chorus, you know you've landed in the deepest of deep soul. Again, the strings are tastefully arranged and the chiming piano in the back works brilliantly. Side A ends similarly low-key with "That's How It Is", a mid-tempo ballad that nonetheless features a heavy backbeat (courtesy of drummer Howard Grimes). The soft, purring Hammond organ and subdued brass (Memphis Horns!) add to the despondent mood, while Teenie Hodges' guitar fills at the end are plain spooky. The mood remains pretty much the same on the flipside, with the minor keyed, bluesy wailer "I Love You, I Need You". Also, the Hammond isn't purring here no more, it's growling. Clay's treatment of the final verses is mindblowing, especially as the seem improvised at the spot. "You Can't Keep Running From My Love" struts along funkily, a fine mid-tempo groover, with Clay's famous raspy vocal wrapped all around the commanding lyrics, while "Precious, Precious" is all-out party down R&B-vibe; a rollicking gospel beat, incessant backup vocals and lazy (in a good way) horns. Stax-songwriter Bettye Crutcher wrote the delicious, sweltering ballad "Home Is Where the Heart Is", a fantastically arranged gem (brilliant, 'twirling' guitar parts) that has Otis Clay gettin' down philosophically with that booming, smokey voice of his. Then, out of nowhere, Otis and company hit you over the head with a finale of high powered, live-wired, greasy, delta-soaked funk; "Too Many Hands" (... in the pot, spoil the soup) is one of those great Southern metaphors set-to-music, and a great conclusion to this brooding, often beautifully sad LP  (EXCERPT FROM AN ANONYMOUS ONLINE REVIEW) The PROMOTIONAL, RADIO STATION-, AUDITION OR DEMONSTRATION COPIES AND RELEASES (such as the one we have here) were often distributed among the radio stations before the record was released to the public, sometimes as much as four months ahead. These records are generally considered to be the "first among equals", which is to say the VERY FIRST generation and the VERY FIRST pressings of the particular title; a PROTOTYPE and the earliest known official pressing of the record. For additional historical information on this album, including track listing CLICK HERE CONDITION: 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. (b) The record comes in the original stock inner sleeve. (c) 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! (d) Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!! · COVER THE COVER IS NICE --- ABOUT VERY GOOD++ (VG++). The following flaws or imperfections are noted on the cover: - Cover has a neat, round PROMO cutout hole in one of the corners - Cover has a visible "wrinkle"(crease)  in one of the corners. - Cover has a few tiny wrinkles along the spine - Minor shelf wear noted on the seams (nothing significant) - Cover has some light ring wear (nothing significant); On the scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the least, and  10 being the most severe), we assess the severity of ring wear as 3 - Cover has one corner slightly worn (nothing significant) NO OTHER IMPERFECTIONS ON THE COVER: - No split seams - No cut-out corners - No saw-marks or indents - No dirt/dust rubbing stains (friction marks caused by rubbing against other covers) - No yellowing from aging - No writing - No stamps - No tearing: no chips, dents or nicks on the seams - No peel-off marks - No stains - No mold or mildew spots - No stickers or labels   (EXCEPT for the promo sticker) - No water damage - No razor marks, scratches, pressure marks, lines, streaks, or  cuts. - No warping - No wax, glue, paint or liquid drops on the cover - No glue traces or wax residue. - No bar codes - No RIAA stamps or stickers.  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 that you pay for USPS International Priority Mail OR International Express mail when making a payment in order to obtain tracking information, which is NOT available for First Class International shipments. INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE rates vary from country to country. For SPECIFIC international and domestic postage rates click here. While you can be rest assured that our packaging is careful, sturdy and impact-proof, please note that damage, loss or theft in transit is always possible, and in the case of some countries even PROBABLE. To discuss this potential problem and ensure flawless delivery, please contact us thru eBay BEFORE placing a bid. WANT A DISCOUNT ?!?  IT’S EASY: CLICK HERE TO see HOW! (please note recent changes in our policy) FOR OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION, CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW: OUR VOLUME DISCOUNTS AND POSTAGE REBATES OUR GRADING POLICY ITEMS WE DO NOT GRADE HOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE WINNING BID OR RESOLVE A DISPUTE OUR PAYPAL “CHARGEBACK” POLICY ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT METHODS OUR REFUND POLICY POSTAGE RATES AND DISCLOSURES PAYMENT DEADLINES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) OUR REFUND POLICY : WE OFFER UNCONDITIONAL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE WITHIN 7 DAYS FROM THE RECEIPT OF THE MERCHANDISE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED (THE BUYER PAYS FOR THE RETURN POSTAGE); Still sealed items MUST be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund Some restrictions apply. Please read our complete refund policy before placing a bid. Click here  for the full text of our policy © 2001,2007 MDJ. All rights reserved. Powered by eBay Turbo Lister The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items.