Vinyl: RAY CHARLES 1962 UK * TEST PRESSING * LONDON ATLANTIC * 1ST PRESS white vinyl lp

A test pressing is what you might expect it to be from its name: a vinyl record made to test the quality of the finished product before pressing thousands of records. Test pressings are made to ensure that the grooves themselves are clean, deep enough, and formed correctly when the master presses into the vinyl blank; that the grooves, label and center hole are not off-center; that the vinyl does not warp; things like that.

Test pressings are supposed to be destroyed, and most of them are.

However a few in perfect condition may be sent to reviewers, program directors, and industry influencers to promote the record.

Thus this record was produced prior to the first production run i.e. prior to the 1st Pressing when stampers were crisp and at their best.

Thus it is almost unique and Ultra Rare.

This is probably the one and only chance you will have to purchase a record of this quality and rarity.