Soap Opera - Original 1975 US Pressed RCA label 12-track LP - Orange labels, Hollywood pressing

1975 US Pressed RCA label 12-track LP - the 3rd concept album in great British rock bands theatrical period - following the 'Preservation Act' albums - originally developed as a Granada TV live teleplay in 1974, broadcasted under the title Star Maker, and starring Ray Davies and June Ritchie as the leads, with the Kinks providing live accompaniment - featuring the singles "Holiday Romance" (UK), "Everybody's a Star (Starmaker)" (US), "Ducks on the Wall" (UK) and "You Can't Stop the Music" (UK).

Vinyl has the orange company labels with vertical white outline RCA logo to the far left of centre hole and solid, white, horizontal Victor logo to the right of centre hole - all other print is black.

Vinyl has machine stamped (ms) and hand etched (he) matrix information:
Side 1: LPL1-5081-A-33 (he) STERLING (ms) RL (he) H (ms)
Side 2: LPL1-5081-B-33 (he) STERLING (ms) RL (he) H (ms)
suggesting this copy to be manufactured from a master supplied by the New York based Sterling Sound, mastered by Robert Ludwig and subsequently pressed by RCA Records Pressing Plant, Hollywood. No mother/stamper info seems to be availiable.

Vinyl is housed in a sturdy gatefold picture cover.

Condition: VG++ (Vinyl and Labels/ VG+(+) (Cover):
Vinyl is nice - bright and shiny... hardly any signs of play or handling.
Side 1 label has a couple of straight, simple and superficial spindletraces - stretching from certer hole to center ring... but not beyond. Side 2 label is without any spindletraces - labels are overall graded near mint.

Cover has nice front and back cover centers - a couple of top spots of glue residue/discolouration of which the left front circular one is the most significant - otherwise just a just a touch of wear along vinyl outline.

Cover has very little wrinkling from edges - solid seams which are slightly rubbed towards corners - spine has a single lower crease and lower spine has a little rubbing. Back opening edges has a couple of very minor edge-dents.
Cover is overall a very nice upper VG+.

Tracklisting:

Side 1:
1. Everybody's a Star (Starmaker) 2:57
2. Ordinary People 3:49
3. Rush Hour Blues 4:27
4. Nine to Five 1:48
5. When Work Is Over 2:06
6. Have Another Drink 2:41

Side 2
1. Underneath the Neon Sign 3:53
2. Holiday Romance 3:10
3. You Make It All Worthwhile 3:49
4. Ducks on the Wall 3:20
5. (A) Face in the Crowd 2:17
6. You Can't Stop the Music 3:12

All songs written and composed by Ray Davies

Recorded at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London, UK
Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York, NY 10011, USA
Pressed at RCA Records Pressing Plant, 7900 Rockville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46224, USA

Credits:

The Kinks:
Ray Davies - vocals, guitar
Dave Davies - guitar, vocals
John Dalton - bass
John Gosling - keyboards
Mick Avory - drums
Alan Holmes
John Beecham
Laurie Brown

Additional Musicians:
June Ritchie - vocals of "Andrea" ("Norman"'s wife)
Lyndsey Moore, Pamela Travis, Shirley Roden - Vocalists

Technical Credits:
Ray Davies - Production, Arrangements
Roger Beale - Recording Engineer
Robert Ludwig - Mastering

Artwork:
Joe Petagno - illustration
Pat Doyle - art direction