JUDAS PRIEST Rocka Rolla RARE UK 1974 1st press LP Gull heavy metal NWOBHM £200

Rocka Rolla is the debut album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 6 September 1974 by Gull Records (GULP.1005) produced by Rodger Bain (Black Sabbath’s first three albums) the album was released to very little reception selling “only a few thousand copies”. As a result the band found themselves in dire financial straits they even talked of not knowing when they were going to get their next meal. They tried to enter into an agreement with Gull Records to pay them 50 pounds a week, but Gull, which was also suffering economic woes, refused. So although the band went onto much greater things this 1st UK Issue on Gull records is now quite hard to find with a Mint copy selling for £200 in 2017. Please note the very 1st pressing had a Decca catalogue number on the label XZAL 13291 with `Decca Co` Rim Text and also had `Robert Stace` printing credit on the sleeve, this was soon followed by a second Gull label omitting Decca numbers/references and printers credit. Both are collectible with the Decca version being the more desirable.
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Side 1
1. One for the Road
2. Rocka Rolla
3. Winter
4. Deep Freeze
5. Winter Retreat
6. Cheater
Side 2
1. Never Satisfied
2. Run of the Mill
3. Dying to Meet You
4. Caviar & Meths