DEEP PURPLE Shades Of Deep Purple (Incredibly rare 1968 UK Parlophone test pressing for the 8-track MONO vinyl LP [PMC7055] with plain white labels, stamped on the first side, housed in a matt white card flipback sleeve with a pasted-on 7" x 5" image of the band, including a 2-page foolscap press release. From the vast personal archive of a former journalist, this pressing has been carefully stored away for more than 30 years. The matrix numbers of XEX689-1 and XEX690-1 are machine stamped into the 'dead wax' areas on the disc, the '-1' suffix confirming that it was part of the very first batch to be pressed. The vinyl on this advance review copy looks barely played, retaining a beautiful lustre four decades on; the press release is clean and free from discolouration. A truly fascinating piece of Purple history!)