Four likely unique test pressings used in the production of the Rolling Stones’ 1977 double album Love You Live, from the estate of the former president of Rolling Stones Records.  Remarkably, one has music from a Small Faces reunion album pressed onto one side, and another disc “E.McGrath” is etched into the matrix!

As the accompanying letter of authenticity from author Joe Hagan explains:

These test printings were part of a collection belonging to the late Earl McGrath, vice president of Atlantic Records, president of Rolling Stone Records, and manager of the Rolling Stones, 1977 to 1983.  They were initially housed in the walk-in closet in Earl’s apartment…where he kept his personal record collection, studio tapes, acetates and test printings…These LPs were considered work product in the production of the “Love You Live” LP (1977) and in this case, a test pressing was produced for each side of the double album,  four in all.  The blank side of each disc is the non-test side, though there is music on those sides as well.  One pressing has Side 2 and 4 together, as opposed to 1-2 and 3-4 as on the final album… As the author of a biography on Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, I interviewed Earl McGrath…after Earl died in 2016…I acquired his studio tapes, acetates and test printings from the Camilla and Earl McGrath Foundation.”

Disc 1 has Side 1 of “Love You Live” (on the side with a test pressing label) while Side 2 (with a white label) plays Side 2 of the Small Faces album Playmates.  VG+ condition. Matrix: EM ST RS 773937- B (PR) / ST – A – 773890 – G (PR)

Disc 2 has Side 2 of “Love You Live” (on the side with a test pressing label) and Side 2 (with a white label) plays Side 4 of “Love You Live”.  Side 2 grades NM-, while Side 2 has been intentionally scored, to indicate this is not for consideration, and grades VG. Matrix: ST RS 773938 – D (PR) / ST RS 773940 – D (PR)

Disc 3 plays Side 3 and Side 4 of “Love You Live” (both sides with test pressing labels). NM- condition. Matrix: St RS 773940 – E (PR) / ST RS 773939 – E ( PR)

Disc 4 has Side 4 of “Love You Live” (on the side with a test pressing label) and Side 3 of “Love You Live” (with a white label).  The Side 4 matrix has catalog numbers and the additional etching “E.McGrath”.  EX condition. Matrix: ST-RS 773940- A E. McGrath (PR) / ST – RS – 773939 – A (PR)

With Joe Hagan’s letter of authenticity, an “Earl’s Closet” postcard explaining the provenance, and Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity.