Description "FUTURE LEGEND" (David Bowie, 1974) And..... in the death, As the last few corpses lay rotting on the slimy thoroughfare, The shutters lifted in inches in Temperance Building, High on Poacher's Hill, And red mutant eyes gaze down on Hunger City, No more big wheels. Fleas the size of rats, sucked on rats the size of cats, And ten thousand peoploids split into small tribes, Coveting the highest of the sterile skyscrapers, Like packs of dogs, assaulting the glass fronts of Love Me Avenue, Ripping and re-wrapping mink and shiny silver fox, now leg warmers, Family badge of sapphire and cracked emerald, Any day now.... The year of the Diamond Dogs, "This ain't Rock and Roll, this is genocide." DAVID BOWIE: "Diamond Dogs" LP. UK  VERY FIRST PRESSING, 24th APRIL, 1974. Another absolutely stunning first pressing from a collection of unplayed and perfectly stored albums, the cover was placed inside  a plastic outer sleeve in April 1974, an all round ultimate condition UK first pressing of "Diamond Dogs." TEXTURED ORANGE RCA LABEL: APL1 - 0576 A timely reminder to always check the text on the labels for verification of UK pressings for Bowie's 1970's albums, the orange   RCA labels look almost identical in a multitude of other countries, for example, as far apart as Greece and Canada.  Also be aware   the genuine UK 1970's RCA labels have text on the  bottom rims in white lettering, not black.  That section contains the country   of origin, like all authentic UK pressings, these labels have; "Manufactured By RCA Limited, England From Master Recordings Of RCA Recordings." PRESSED BY PYE, THE MAITRIX:  APL1 - 0576  A - 1 / APL1 - 0576 -  B - 1 As it worked out, my close up picture of the maitrix on Side 1 included the pertinent section of the white text unique to the UK.   The above shows both sides have the '- 1' starting point of the end matrix digit allocations, the very first pressing ever made. Directly after the maitrix is the sound engineer's logo, 'oly,' who's logo can be seen in those close up pictures, I am familiar with most logo's but have no idea of his actual name but he made an incredible job of the mastering! ORIGINAL 1974 RCA INNER SLEEVE, TYPICAL OF THIS ERA,  ALL THE CORNERS ARE SQUARE NOT CURVED, WITH  A A DIE-CUT CENTRE TO READ THE LABEL FROM.  UNUSED & UNSPLIT, JUST A GENTLE RECORD IMPRESSION AND A FEW ASSOCIATED LIGHT CREASES, BUT BARELY ANY AGEING, IN NEAR MINT CONDITION. HEAVY DUTY CARDBOARD FIRST ISSUE GATEFOLD COVER, THE PRINTER WAS UNCREDITED BUT I AM CERTAIN IT WAS   MADE BY "Howards Printers, England."   THE BACK HAD THE FIRST ISSUE 'PRICE CODE' MOVED FROM THE USUAL   POSITION ON THE BACK TOP RIGHT CORNER.   WITH A DARK RED AND BLACK PART OF THE ARTWORK THERE, THE   BLACK BOX WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO SEE LET ALONE READ, SO WOULD THE RCA LOGO AND CATALOGUE NUMBER.   ALL THOSE ITEMS WERE INSTEAD PLACED ON THE LEFT, UNDERNEATH THE TRACK LISTING AND ALBUM CREDITS.   THE PRICE CODES WERE IN THE FORMAT OF TWO LETTERS WHICH VARIED ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF YEAR AN LP   WAS RELEASED, THIS HAS AN 'HH' PRICE CODE PRINTED IN WHITE INSIDE A BLACK BOX.     OTHER FEATURES OF FIRST ISSUE GATEFOLD COVERS, ARE A WIDE, SQUARE BOOK SHAPED SPINE AND THE FRONT   FAR RIGHT SIDE WAS NOT CUT STRAIGHT,THE ARTWORK CONTINUED OVER THE EDGE AND STUCK UNDER THE FAR   LEFT PANEL'S EDGE.   I always take pictures to illustrate features like that, but always in text as well, while on the subject of first issues, a few   ultra rare covers escaped the 'Big Brother -1984' censorship of the hybrid dog and man artwork, painted by Guy Peellaert,   a Belgium artist who included the dog half's genitalia.  I do not think even ebay will object to that polite way of expressing   the airbrushed over offending part of the painting, the few that went into circulation would cost a small fortune today!   Unfortunately expectations are raised by certain text books that there are plenty available, that is Not true and I doubt if even   one has been sold on ebay.... even if if has, be wary about counterfeit's!     The cover is in unbelievable, as new condition, totally unworn, unscuffed and unaged, leaving the deeply toned colours of the   artwork looking precisely how it did when first seen in April,1974.  These wide spine very first edition gatefold covers were   made from one large sheet of cardboard and did not have the centre panel separately attached, yet another feature I forgot to   just include, better later than never. An absolutely stunning, as new, very first edition "Diamond Dogs" and very rare in such   perfect condition as well,  please scroll up to the pictures for how incredible this actually is inside and outside.  Storage was   so perfect there is only a gentle record impression and positively no ring wear or rubbing on the front or the back.  As it would   not be possible to lovingly store an album for 40 years better than this, I refuse point blank to downgrade the cover due to a   naturally formed light record impression on the back storage compartment only, a suffix 'minus' is almost meaningless anyway.   THE COVER IS IN ABSOLUTELY STAGGERING, MINT CONDITION.     THE IMMACULATE TEXTURED LABELS DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE SPINDLE ALIGNMENT TRACE, THE VINYL IS ALSO LIKE   BRAND NEW, THE RECORDS IS IN UNPLAYED / MINT CONDITION.  SIDE 1   "Future Legend" "Diamond Dogs" "Sweet Thing" "Candidate" "Sweet Thing (reprise)" "Rebel Rebel"      SIDE 2   "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" "We Are The Dead" "1984" "Big Brother" "Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family"     David Bowie - vocals, guitars, saxes, Moog synthesiser & Mellotron Earl Slick - guitar on "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" Alan Parker - guitar on "1984" Mike Garson - keyboards Herbie Flowers - bass Tony Newman - drums Aynsley Dunbar - drums Tony Visconti - strings   All Songs Written By David Bowie Except, "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" (lyrics: David Bowie - music: David Bowie / Warren Peace) Recorded October,1973 - February,1974 At Olympic Studios & Island Studios, London and Ludolf Studios, Holland. Mixing - David Bowie & Tony Visconti. Produced By David Bowie. While I remember, there are no end of re-issues of Bowie's masterpiece that bridged the end of the Ziggy Stardust era and all that followed, "Diamond Dogs" can be found on the green and black RCA labels, a budget version appeared on the 'International" RCA label.  I fell like I'm stating the patently obvious but I must include all UK pressing details, I'm certain the album itself will not require an in depth introduction!  The wonderful double live album that followed "Diamond Dogs" was released in early 1975, "David Live," the very first live David Bowie album helped to end Ziggy and the 'Thin White Duke' period was underway. Ziggy Stardust personna underwent one of those chameleon like 'changes,' the "Diamond Dogs" album tour began during July,1974, only a few weeks after this album was causing a sensation. One foot was firmly rooted in earlier material for the first half of the tour when this album's amazing set was recorded, for the second half of the tour, Bowie never stood still for long, directly after the recording sessions for the "Young Americans" album began, the tour continued with a more soulful and r&b flavour and instrumentation of what would be David Bowie's next musical direction...for a while!  Most of the above musicians who graced   "Diamond Dogs"  were on the tour, Bowie needed new musicians after dismissing the Spiders From Mars just after the "Pin Ups" album was recorded and released.  He was into George Orwell's "1984" and sensed the volatile political situation in Europe and the USA was about to re-create Orwell's depressing vision of the future, or as it was then!  The lyrics I gave were not my choice but Bowie's, "Future Legend" opens the album on Side 1 and the lyrics are the one's printed on the cover, inside on the top left corner.  I really think it will be futile to continue giving details like that, this might have all taken place 40 years ago now, but "Diamond Dogs" has always been a firm favourite in every decade since the 70's.   There is a challenge and an edge to the album that has never become dated, of course 'Glam Rock' and Ziggy were but a moment in time, that ended for Bowie in 1973, not 1974, he was just easing from one personna into the next incarnation of his astonishing career.  Besides, any album with a track as incredible as "Rebel, Rebel" was never going to just disappear over the horizon, in fact, it is the only track not part of the overall Orwell concept that inspired all the other tracks.  I suppose it equates with Pete Townshend's "My Generation," as Bowie's finest ever composition as a timeless homage to teenage rebellion, against any generation's current establishment of figures of authority.   For the UK first pressings the vinyl is heavyweight for 1974 , there are no handling signs let alone any  marks on either side, a beautiful ultra glossy record.  The immaculate labels are in keeping with the vinyl and do not have any spindle use traces, they have never been played,  a genuine unplayed, true Mint very first pressing of "Diamond Dogs" is really rare, so is a Mint- cover and not forgetting how "David Live" would have a deluxe fully laminated deluxe gatefold cover.   Well, from this amazing first pressing, you can see and hear how deluxe this was in April, 1974 before those excessive plays and handling began, the reason it has to be offered exactly as I bought it, the record is as fresh as the day it left the pressing plant all those decades ago. {Roy}   R & M RECORDS. My lifetime's love of music and records began at a very young age, the arrival of the Beatles and the 1960's decade   in general had a very profound effect. It was only natural to bring all my first hand experience of collecting vinyl   into becoming a professional record seller.  Over twenty years ago now we entered into the wonderful atmosphere of record fairs with the highest possible standards set. When the Internet became the world's new market place for   vinyl, in 2001 it was time to join ebay. Those standards were rigidly adhered to as they will always continue to be, the basics of honesty and integrity were very much part of the era the music I love originated in, so here is our friendly and very efficient service we are proud to provide; EVERY RECORD IS FULLY PLAYED AND COMES WITH A 'NO ARGUMENT' MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.   I USE GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS A GLOBALLY ACCEPTED GRADING TERMINOLOGY   FROM THE U.K. "RECORD COLLECTOR PRICE GUIDE" BOOK. THERE IT CLEARLY STATES "Sound Quality" AFFECTS EVERY GRADING LEVEL AND THAT IS THE ONE AND ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO ACCURATELY GRADE RECORDS. i.e. COMBINING A STRICT VISUAL INSPECTION WITH VERY CLOSELY LISTENING TO EVERY SECOND, UNLESS PERHAPS IN THE CASE OF GENUINELY UNPLAYED VINYL.  EVEN THEN WE STILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBITY FOR A RECORD WHEN A CUSTOMER RECEIVES EITHER A SEALED OR AN UNPLAYED RECORD.   MY DESCRIPTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE 100% HONEST AND TOTALLY ACCURATE ON ALL GRADINGS FROM 'V.G.' ( VERY GOOD), TO THE ULTIMATE 'MINT' CONDITION. ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR ITEMS ARE WELCOMED AND WILL BE PROMPTLY REPLIED TO.   WE ARE FULLY EXPERIENCED AT SHIPPING WORLDWIDE AND NO EFFORT IS SPARED TO PROTECT RECORDS AND COVERS ETC.  WE WELCOME BIDDERS FROM ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. ALL RECORDS ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR SLEEVES AND PLACED INTO NEW PROTECTIVE CARD SLEEVES AND THEN PLACED INTO NEW, HEAVYWEIGHT PLASTIC OUTER SLEEVES. THE GREATEST ATTENTION IS PAID TO MAKING THE PACKAGING EXTREMELY STRONG & SECURE. EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE A SAFE DELIVERY AND WE ONLY USE THE VERY BEST QUALITY PACKAGING MATERIALS, THE COST OF THE ITEM IS IMMATERIAL, EVERY RECORD IS TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME. WE DO NOT TREAT POSTAGE AS A MONEY MAKING PROJECT, POSTAGE IS LESS THAN COST, USING ONLY PROFESSIONALLY PACKED BOXES WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTIVE PACKAGING THAT DOES WEIGH A LITTLE EXTRA. UNDER PAYPAL & EBAY'S GUIDELINES, ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA A FULLY INSURED TRACKABLE SERVICE. We have kept all our charges at the same level for years now, but due to the Post Office's new price increases, regretfully we will have to increase the cost of LP's, however, singles will remain unchanged.  Ebay were aware of that happening and have   increased their minimum postal cost for LP's to £7.00, that figure has been enforced by the UK Post Office and it will become our UK First Class, Recorded Delivery cost for albums up to the value of £46.   For LP's valued above £46, the cost will be £9, we are unhappy about either increase but our high standard of packaging has meant in 12 years of ebay trading, there has not been one record damaged, we are determined to maintain that in the present and future. IN THE UK RECORDS UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 WILL BE SENT RECORDED DELIVERY, OVER £46 WILL BE SENT SPECIAL DELIVERY.   FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA 'INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR.' POSTAGE  COST FOR LP's UK: UP TO VALUE OF £46, FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY  £7.00 UK: OVER VALUE OF £46, FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £9.00 EUROPE: FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR  £15.00 USA,JAPAN & REST OF THE WORLD FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £20.00 POSTAGE COST FOR EP's & 7" UK: UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY £3.00 UK: OVER THE VALUE OF £46 FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £6.00 EUROPE: AIR MAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £10.00 USA, JAPAN ETC. AIRMAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £12.00 PAYMENT DETAILS. WE WILL SEND ALL WINNING BIDDERS AN INVOICE WITH THE FULL PAYMENT AND POSTAL DETAILS, AS NEAR TO THE AUCTION ENDING AS POSSIBLE. OUR AIM IS TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE SMOOTH AND TROUBLE FREE. FOR UK BUYERS; WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, CHEQUES, POSTAL ORDERS & BANK WIRES. FOR OVERSEAS BUYERS; WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS IN POUNDS STERLING ONLY. OR BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFERS. WE WILL NOT MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS ON CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS AND WILL ALWAYS CONDUCT ALL OF OUR BUSINESS WITH TOTAL HONESTY. AS MUCH AS WE SYMPATHISE WITH THE WAY SOME COUNTRIES CHARGE SUCH HEAVY IMPORT DUTIES, WE WILL NOT LIE.   Pay me with PayPal. I don't charge my buyers extra!