News

White Label Auction For The Brit Trust 5/5

3 May 21

The White Label Auction in Aid of The BRIT Trust returns Wednesday, May 5th from 11:00 BST in the run up to The BRIT Awards on the 11th, with over 100 lots of rare, collectible ‘white-label’ vinyl test pressings. Included in the auction are six white label discs by Eric Clapton, four of which are autographed. Online bids are already being accepted. To see all of the lots, CLICK HERE.

The auction – first staged in October 2019 – will be hosted live onsite/online for UK and international collectors by the music memorabilia and vinyl records specialists, Omega Auctions.

The explosion in sales of vinyl in recent years has thrown up the interesting by-product of ‘white-label’ test pressings – so called because there is no sleeve/label artwork at this stage – which record labels produce ahead of the full release of a new album. With as few as 5 or 10 being produced for each release, these first-off-the-press copies are typically passed on to artists and/or go into archive, and can be highly sought after by collectors.

A number of the UK’s major and independent record labels led by Universal Music UK, Warner Records, Sony Music Entertainment UK, BMG, and others, have joined forces to pull together a broad selection of white-label items for auction to raise vital funds for the work of music industry charity, The BRIT Trust. The Trust promotes education and wellbeing through music and supports charities ranging from The BRIT School, Nordoff Robbins music therapy, Key4Life, Music Support, Mind, and East London Music and Arts (ELAM), among many more causes.

The complete list of Eric Clapton white label albums in the auction are:

• Lot 17 – CREAM / ERIC CLAPTON – WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING LPs (ERIC CLAPTON SIGNED) is bundle of 2 x LPs from Cream/Eric Clapton to include Disraeli Gears (2010s reissue, signed on one label by Eric Clapton) and 461 Ocean Boulevard (2010s reissue 811697). Sent directly from the labels with UMC and Polydor compliments slips.
• Lot 20 – DEREK & THE DOMINOS / ERIC CLAPTON – WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING LPs is a Smart bundle of 2 x LP releases from Derek & The Dominoes and Eric Clapton. Titles are Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (UMC/Polydor 727490, 4 x LP set) and 461 Ocean Boulevard (811697, 2010s reissue). Sent directly from the label and housed with compliments slips from UMC.
• Lot 22 – ERIC CLAPTON – WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING LPs INC ONE SIGNED is a set of 2 x white label test pressing LPs reissued by UMC/Polydor from the 2010s. Titles are Slowhand (5340723, 2012 release) signed to label in marker by Eric Clapton and 461 Ocean Boulevard (811697). Sent directly from the labels and housed with compliments slips from UMC and Polydor.
• Lot 80 – ERIC CLAPTON – SLOWHAND (HMV FATHER’S DAY 2017 WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING) is the 2017 HMV Father’s Day white label test pressing of Eric Clapton – Slowhand (Polydor ‎– 575 476-1). Sent directly from the label.
• Lot 95 – ERIC CLAPTON SIGNED WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING is a 4 x LP white label test pressing of Life In 12 Bars (67321344, side A/B signed to label in marker by Eric Clapton) and sent directly from the label.
• Lot 96 – ERIC CLAPTON SIGNED WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING is a bundle of five assorted white label test pressings, comprising an assortment of discs from Eric Clapton / Cream releases (not all complete) with one signed to label by Eric Clapton. The lot includes BBC Sessions (7734199, record 2 signed to label by Eric Clapton), 461 Ocean Boulevard (811697), Slowhand 35th Anniversary (5340723/NEW), Life in 12 Bars (side C+D, 6732134). All Ex+ / unplayed and sent directly from the label.

To view the lots and register to bid, CLICK HERE.