A 12″ one-sided acetate of the Rolling Stones song “Before They Make Me Run,” from the estate of the former president of Rolling Stones Records.

As the accompanying letter of authenticity from author Joe Hagan explains, in part, This acetate was 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.  It was initially housed in the walk-in closet in Earl’s apartment, where he kept his personal record collection, studio tapes, acetates and test printings from work on the Rolling Stones Some Girls and Emotional Rescue albums.  This acetate is a prototype of the Keith Richards single…from the Some Girls album.  It was released as a 45 rpm single in June 1978.  As the author of a biography on Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, I interviewed Earl McGrath…[and] after Earl died in 2016…I acquired his studio tapes, acetates and test printings from the Camilla and Earl McGrath Foundation.”

The 12″ disc has no label, but the center of the disc is stamped T80217.  It is in Near Mint- condition and sounds fantastic.  The generic white sleeve has “Stones” written in ink, as well as “3/30/78” and “#1”.

A rare Rolling Stones acetate with impeccable provenance.  With Joe Hagan’s letter of authenticity, an “Earl’s Closet” postcard explaining the provenance, and Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity.  [Acetate collectors are warned to beware of the many fake acetates offered online.  Any reputable dealer should be happy to order a lifetime guarantee of authenticity].