Rare Original Moody Blue LP Cover Slick - One of Three Numbered Copies (RCA AFK1-2428, 1977).... (Total: 2 Items)

Description

Rare Original Moody Blue LP Cover Slick - One of Three Numbered Copies (RCA AFK1-2428, 1977). The original cover planned for this album, the last LP released during his lifetime, is much more attractive than the common one used on the finished product! Because of a single-keystroke error, only printed slicks exist of this cover. Fabricated cardboard covers using this art were never made. On these three remarkable covers, the wrong prefix is shown. They indicate "AFK1" instead of "AFL1." The "K" was RCA's code for a cassette album and not a vinyl LP. When the order was given to destroy the entire run of misprinted covers, all but three AFK slicks were shredded into tiny strips. Those three were surreptitiously saved as souvenirs by an astute printing plant employee. Using a professional IBM Composer, each was then mechanically numbered on the back (i.e., "1 of 3," "2 of 3," and "3 of 3").
The latter two slicks sold in February 1978 in a highly-publicized auction. This copy, "1 of 3," has never before been offered for sale! The reworked cover is inexplicably different and visually very inferior. The most noticeable change is Elvis being reduced from 7.5" tall to just 3", for no apparent reason. Also, his right hand does not show on this cover. On the released edition his right hand shows but is awkwardly positioned. Not even photographer Ed Bonja, who originally snapped this shot, knows what happened, or why.
Strangely, every appearance in print of Moody Blue on an RCA inner sleeve pictures this slick and not the one actually used on the million-selling album, indicating they knew which was the better cover. Slicks are always printed on one side only.
Also included is a copy of the finished version of the album, which was released on blue vinyl. The inner sleeve indeed depicts the original cover concept for the album, rather than the finished cover version! This lot requires third party shipping.

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