A 12″ single-sided acetate of the Rolling Stones song “Before They Make Me Run” with its original title, “Rotten Roll”, 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 for issuing the Keith Richards track from the Some Girls album, as a single. The second side is blank. The song was originally titled “Rotten Roll” and the acetate is dated March 31, 1978. The song was recorded in Paris earlier that same month, therefore this acetate was printed [cut] very near the recording date. It was eventually released in June 1978 as a 7-inch single with the title “Before They Make Me Run. 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 an Atlantic Studios label, dated 3/31/78.  It is in Near Mint- condition and sounds fantastic, having been cut directly from the master tape.  The generic white sleeve has “”Side 3 Rotten Role” written in ink on it.

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.  [A warning: there are many fake acetates being offered online.  Any reputable dealer should be happy to offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity, as we do with everything we sell].