A first pressing of The Grateful Dead’s ultra-rare debut single, “Don’t Ease Me In/Stealin,'” released in 1966 on the short lived Bay Area independent label, Scorpio Records.

Though excellent bootlegs exist of this record, this is a genuine first pressing, with matte red labels (those on the bootleg are glossy) and “Commercial Recorders Inc.” etched into the run out grooves on both sides.  The song titles and catalog numbers are etched into the run out grooves on the respective sides in block letters.

The disc plays loud and clear with some light surface noise, but no other issues, and grades visually VG-.  There are many light marks and scuffs, but nothing serious.  The song titles have been circled on both labels, something we’ve seen before, which probably identifies this as a promotional copy.

Only 500 copies of this single were pressed; soon afterward, the label, Scorpio (not to be confused with the Fantasy Records subsidiary) received a cease and desist letter from the Dead’s management, and a vast majority of the singles were destroyed.  Mint copies of this rarity have sold for as much as $4500.

An extremely rare, historic–and excellent–single.  With Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity.