Incredibly Rare 1977 Picture Disc Test Pressing of Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden with Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite Inner Sleeve Artwork!

 Offered is an incredibly rare 1977 picture disc test pressing of Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden. This experimental pressing uses the original inner sleeve artwork from the LP Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite. When Aloha was released in early 1973, it featured the advertisement for Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden we see here, and the other image of Elvis with the Hawaiian girls as its inner sleeve artwork. The 12 inch diameter LP is housed in a 1977 sleeve of the album (AFL1-4776), which matches the year of release for the matrix numbers on the vinyl: Side A: BPRS-5144 1S and Side B: BPRS-5145 8 A3. 

The production of these special picture disc vinyl pressings, and other colored vinyl examples, are normally attributed to Ernie Ruggeri, VP of Manufacturing for RCA. He famously had a hand in the Moody Blue LP and 45 colored vinyl pressings. These special pressings would have been done as tests or as gifts for executives and VIPs. There are reports of Indianapolis Pressing Plant employees striking a few colored vinyl records of several titles in the days that followed Elvis’ death. The vinyl presents with few if any defects, and it was played to confirm it is the Madison Square Garden album. Near Mint condition.