Description Description THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & Nico Label: ACETATE / TEST PRESS Format: 33 rpm 12" LP mono Country: United States Vinyl Condition: VG- Cover Condition: NONE Year Released: 1966 LP Quantity: 1 Catalog #: XTV 122402 Other Info: Acetate Pressing Original first press Record is in new clean sleeve Record is in new clean inner sleeve Test Pressing One of the Rarest Recordings in Rock & Roll History Andy Warhol, who was managing Velvet Underground at the time, had recently befriended Norman Dolph — a sales rep at Columbia Records — and went to him when the band was looking for a studio. Dolph helped the band land studio time at Scepter Studios, and, made a deal with Warhol: Warhol would paint him one original painting and Dolph would ghost-produce the project. Warhol's goal was to record the entire first Velvet Underground album before they were signed to a recording contract, leaving the recording free from label executive tampering and influence. With it's groundbreaking style and 'taboo' lyrical content, this was to be the Velvets at their purest. In April 1966, The Velvet Underground recorded the test-press acetate with Norman Dolph at Scepter in New York City. The band worked with Dolph, alongside engineer John Licata, over several days in the studio, which was currently being demolished and reconstructed, leaving the band to work in what John Cale would later describe as a "Post-Apocalyptic" environment. During those sessions, The Velvet Underground recorded some of their most famous tracks. Dolph took the master tapes from these sessions and, in secret - 'after hours', used Columbia Records pressing equipment to make an acetate that he then submitted to Columbia for consideration of release. As legend has it, it was promptly returned, accompanied by a note reading something like: "Do you think we're out of our f**king minds?" The acetate was then given to Andy Warhol or John Cale, according to Dolph. This copy is one of two rumored to exist in the world, the other belonging to Velvets drummer Moe Tucker. Six of the songs recorded during the Scepter session made it on to the "Velvet Underground & Nico" debut LP, albeit with radically different mixes. The other four songs were re-recorded in LA by Tom Wilson. As far as we know, the only listenable copy of the original versions of Heroin, Venus In Furs, I'm Waiting For The Man, and European Son exist on this acetate, and a limited Record Store Day 2012 Reissue (supposedly pressed from Moe Tucker's copy) Tracklist: 1.European Son- completely different version,. Guitar solo is much bluesier. Less noisy and experimental. Longer by 2 minutes or so. 2.Black Angel's Death Song-Same take as released version. Different mix. 3.All Tomorrow's Parties- Same take as released version. Different mix. 4.I'll Be Your Mirror-Same take as released version. Radically different mix. No echo on Nico's vocals. Background vocals on end of song are more subdued. 5.Heroin- Completely different take than released version. Guitar line is different. Vocal inflections different, and a few different lyrics. Drumming is more primitive & off kilter. There is a tambourine dragging throughout the song. 6.Femme Fatale- Same take as released version. Radically different mix. Percussion more prominent. Alternate take on background vocals. Much more "poppy". 7.Venus In Furs- Different take than released version. Vocal inflections completely different. Instrumentation more based around Cales' violin than the guitar as in the released version. 8.I'm Waiting For The Man- Different take than released version. Guitar line is completely different. Vocal inflections different, and a few different lyrics. No drums, just tambourine. Bluesy guitar solo. 9.Run Run Run- Same take as released version. Different mix Our Velvet Underground and Nico acetate auction is stirring up buzz in the music media. Check out what they're saying: Rolling Stone - Rare Velvet Underground Headed Back To Auction Pitchfork - Extremely Rare Velvet Underground Acetate Once Sold for $25,200 Is Going Back to Auction The Vinyl Factory - Super rare Velvet Underground acetate worth $25,200 going up for auction The Line of Best Fit - Extremely rare Velvet Underground acetate from 1966 going up for auction Live For Vinyl- Super rare Velvet Underground acetate going up for auction Modern Vinyl- Rare acetate from Velvet Underground being auctioned off A few notes about bidding: Due to the rarity and value of the item, there is a reserve set for the listing, and all bids after $25,000 will require pre-approval by Shuga Records. Please email or call us at 773.521.9060 to be added to the approved bidders list.Bidding will be anonymous.Due to the high value of the item, payment will only be accepted via direct Money Transfer.Winning bidder will pick up the LP in person at the bank vault it is currently stored in, unless other arrangements are agreed to. Actual item pictured, not a stock photo. Click image(s) to enlarge. How We Grade Over ten years of grading nearly a million albums, Shuga Records has developed a consistent – and conservative – method for objectively grading the condition of everything we sell. All recordings are visually inspected under high-intensity lights, using our customized grading system. Still-Sealed Mint (SS): When someone says something’s “Mint condition,” this is what they’re talking about. The album is sealed in its original packaging and has never been played. Mint (M-): This is the highest grade for records that have been played. The album is in excellent condition and shows no visible signs of wear or damage that will affect sound quality. VG+: While not flawless, the condition is very good, showing only minimal signs of use. Any visible blemishes should have minimal affect on play quality, though light surface noise maybe present at very quiet portions or between tracks. This is a record that should satisfy all but the most strict of collectors. There may be slight ring or cover wear, or minor writing on the cover. VG: Vinyl may have scratches and/or other visual blemishes, but should play through without skipping or repeating. Light to moderate surface noise and/or crackle may be present, however not overly distracting. Covers may have moderate ring and/or edge wear, cut-outs / hole punches, or a moderate seam splits. VG- and below: Let’s be honest: sound quality is low and the cover may be in very poor shape. We consider any item graded at or below VG- as a LOW GRADE item. We only sell albums rated VG- and above unless a record is so rare that its presence in the collection transcends the poor quality of the vinyl or cover. Note: Our custom grading system is not based on the Goldmine system. Customer Service Return Policy Please always email us with any problems or questions or feel free to call our help desk and info line. Operators are available 24 hours a day/7days a week. Please leave a message if no one answers. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Phone: 773-521-9060 All records are guaranteed to be in the condition stated or you may return it within 2 weeks and receive a full refund, postage excluded. The Quality Control Sticker must be intact and un-tampered with on the LP, and Still-Sealed items must be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund.