The Wailers – The Best Of The Wailers 1971 Beverley's Records – BLP-011 Jamaica Press

The Wailers – The Best Of The Wailers 1971 Beverley's Records – BLP-011 Jamaica Press
**RARE Jamaica First Press**

Visually Graded:
Cover: VG (minor stains some fading)
Inner Sleeve:
Record: Strong VG has light scuff marks - Plays well nice no issues.
Beverley's Records – BLP-011

The Wailers – The Best Of The Wailers (1971) | Jamaica First Press | Beverley’s – BLP-011 | RARE Jamaican Pressing

Collector Summary

True 1971 Jamaica First Press of The Best of the Wailers, released on the iconic Beverley’s Records – BLP-011. Often misunderstood as a compilation (it is not), this LP is an essential early Wailers studio album produced by Leslie Kong — and one of the most historically important releases in the group’s pre-Island era. Original Jamaican Beverley’s pressings are extremely scarce, low-quantity, and widely considered some of the most collectible early Wailers vinyl ever manufactured.

Key Features

• 1971 Original Jamaica First Press

• Beverley’s Records – BLP-011

• Extremely rare Kingston-manufactured pressing

• Pre-Island, pre-Blackwell Wailers studio album

• Early Wailers lineup with Peter Tosh & Bunny Wailer

• Produced by Leslie Kong, shortly before his passing

• Essential roots reggae history

• High collector demand due to rarity and cultural importance

Description

The Best of the Wailers (1971) is a cornerstone of early reggae history — not a hits package, but a fully realized studio album recorded before Bob Marley & The Wailers broke internationally. Produced by the legendary Leslie Kong, this LP captures the raw harmony-driven Wailers sound that defined the transition from ska to rocksteady to early roots.

This Jamaican first pressing on Beverley’s was produced in very small quantities, typical of local Kingston manufacturing at the time. Jamaican pressings from this era are notorious for limited runs, variable vinyl formulations, and fragile jackets — making well-preserved originals extremely hard to source today.

Collectors prize this edition for its authenticity, its direct connection to early-70s Kingston culture, and the historical significance of one of the last projects produced by Leslie Kong. This is considered a top-tier early Wailers grail.

Pressing Identifiers (Authentic 1971 Jamaica First Press – Beverley’s BLP-011)

• Catalog #: BLP-011 on labels and jacket

• Authentic Beverley’s Records layout and 1971 font styles

• Thick Jamaican vinyl typical of early 70s Kingston pressings

• No barcode (pre-UPC Jamaican issue)

• Early Kingston print stock & color saturation

• Jamaican matrix etching style / hand-etched runout patterns

• No modern distribution logos or reissue catalog numbers

These traits confirm a genuine 1971 Beverley’s Jamaica first pressing.

Great For

• Wailers / Bob Marley collectors

• Roots reggae historians

• Jamaican first-press enthusiasts

• Beverley’s Records collectors

• Anyone building a premium early-70s reggae archive

Searching for rare Wailers originals, Jamaican first presses, or Beverley’s LPs? We got you.

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We conservatively grade our records.
Record grading:

• Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way, likely never played, and still sealed.

• Near Mint (NM or M-): Nearly perfect. The record shows no obvious signs of wear and looks as if it was just opened. No visible marks or scratches.

• Very Good Plus (VG+): Shows slight signs of use, such as light scuffs or very minor scratches, but plays without any major deterioration in sound quality.

• Very Good (VG): Noticeable wear with some surface noise, light scratches, or groove wear, but still plays through without skipping.

• Good/Good Plus (G/G+): The record plays but with significant surface noise, scratches, and wear. The cover may have visible damage or splits.

• Fair/Poor (F/P): The record may be damaged and is barely playable. Typically used only for highly collectible records.

Cover grading: 

• Mint (M): The cover is flawless, with no signs of wear. Often still sealed with no corner dings, creases, or ring wear.

• Near Mint (NM or M-): The cover looks almost new, with only the slightest signs of handling. There may be very minimal wear, but no significant flaws like writing, splits, or tears.

• Very Good Plus (VG+): The cover shows light wear, such as minor scuffing, small corner creases, or slight ring wear. No major damage, but a well-cared-for album with minor imperfections.

• Very Good (VG): Moderate wear is visible, including ring wear, light edge or corner damage, small seam splits, or slight discoloration. Still presentable but clearly used.

• Good/Good Plus (G/G+): The cover shows significant wear, such as noticeable ring wear, seam splits, heavy creasing, or writing. It may still hold together but looks heavily worn.

• Fair/Poor (F/P): The cover is heavily damaged, with major seam splits, tears, extensive writing, water damage, or severe ring wear. It may barely hold together or be incomplete.