MULLIGAN MEETS MONK LP RIVERSIDE RLP 12 247 1957 ORIGINAL PRESS NO PHOTO COVER

Vinyl is between VG and VG+.  There are some light scratches and scuffs but has great luster.  Plays with some background noise but very enjoyable listen.

Cover is VG with seam splits (a long one on top and a short one on bottom near opening, some wear and discoloration/staining on back (see pictures). 

The following information is from the discogs site regarding the original 1957 pressing:

Very first pressing of 'Mulligan Meets Monk' - does not yet have the photograph of Monk and Mulligan on the front cover. Also bears no 'Riverside' and/or logo at the bottom right front cover; it does, however, bear the 'Contemporary Series' sign with Riverside and the catalog number mentioned in it at the top right of the front cover. Unlike other 1957 U.S. pressings this one has the red-ink 'ribbon' stamp that reads 'Riverside Spectrosonic High Fidelity Engineering Reeves', placed to the right of the personnel names [see images].

The fact that this version is the first pressing is confirmed by the other titles with their catalog numbers as stated on the back cover in the bottom right corner: "Monk's other Riverside albums are" and "Other outstanding jazz on 12-inch HIGH FIDELITY Riverside LPs includes" all mention Riverside catalogue numbers between RLP 12-201 and RLP 12-246. Higher numbers had not been released yet and "Mulligan Meets Monk" itself is RLP 12-247.

Back covers of other 1957 U.S. pressings have different wording on the bottom right back cover: "Monk's other Riverside albums include" and "Other notable Riverside LPs include" and now mention catalog numbers much higher than RLP 12-247; all the way up to RLP 12-305, which is "5 by Monk by 5", which itself was released in 1959 and could not have been mentioned on a 1957 back cover; confirming that this submission is the actual 1st pressing of this release.

The above can be checked with this release and this release. Both releases have different front covers, now with the photograph of Monk and Mulligan, top left. The first one reads 'Contemporary Series' in upper right hand corner, the other release only has 'Riverside [+ logo]' in lower right hand corner. Most importantly, the catalog numbers on both back covers all show the much higher catalog numbers including "5 by Monk by 5" from 1959; in fact also confirming that both versions are reissues from 1959.

Other notable detail is a 'typo' in the matrix/runout etchings: the cat.# etched in the dead wax of the A-side starts with "RL" where it must be "RLP" [see images and matrix/runout info at identifiers]. Last but not least, both sides have Research Craft's patent numbers in the dead wax: U.S.PAT.# RE 23,946 and G.B. PAT.# 713,418 more information here. On the A-side, the numbers are unreadable, on the B-side they're obvious.

Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, NYC, on August 12 (A2, B2, B3) and 13 (A1, A3, B1) 1957 [dates of the respective tracks from jazzdisco.org; location and dates of the recording sessions from back cover].

 

Please check my other auctions and those to come.  

 

Grade Scale:

(S) SEALED = VINYL assumed mint, never open.

(NM) NEAR MINT = VINYL nearly perfect, no obvious signs of wear. COVER should have no creases, folds, seam splits, cut-out holes.

(VG++ or EX) VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS or EXCELLENT = VINYL almost NM but it might have a few more superficial signs of use and slight sleeve scuffing.  COVER may only have the slightest signs of normal wear.

(VG+/VG++) Between VERY GOOD PLUS and VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS = VINYL may have a bit more signs of use & scuffing than VG++. Surface noise will be more noticeable.  COVER may have slight ring wear or discoloration.  Very small seam split.

( VG+ ) VERY GOOD PLUS = VINYL may have scuff marks, very light scratches and signs of some wear and will have surface noise in spots, generally still has it's luster.  COVER will have slightly more ring wear or discoloration. Minor seam split. 

( VG ) VERY GOOD = VINYL has more noticeable scuffs and scratches.  Surface noise will be noticeable (may crackle, pop or make other annoying noises), especially in the quiet areas. COVER has minor writing, tape or sticker, ring wear and more seam splits.

( G ) GOOD  = VINYL may have multiple scratches or small gouge(s), may have continuous crackles, pops, significant surface noise. COVER has more than normal wear and tear.