1. General Information Artist: Little Richard Titles: "Rip It Up" / "Ready Teddy" Label: London American Recordings (Pressed by Decca) Catalog Number: HLO 8336 / MSC 1437 / MSC 1438 Format: 2 x 7" Single-Sided Vinyl Test Pressings (Demonstration Samples) Country: UK Year: 1956 Type: Pre-production Factory Samples / Test Pressings 2. Description This is a set of two single-sided factory samples (test pressings) for the classic 1956 Little Richard single. Unlike standard demonstration copies which are double-sided, these are separate single-sided discs used by the factory (Decca, who pressed for London in the UK) to test the metal parts before the commercial run. Disc 1: Side A features "Rip It Up" on an orange "Demonstration Sample Not For Sale" label. The reverse side has a blank black label and a "45-RPM-BACK" stamp in the vinyl land. Disc 2: Side B features "Ready Teddy" on the same orange demo label. The reverse is also single-sided with the backing stamp. Labels: The orange labels are generic London/Decca "Demonstration Sample" stock labels with the release information (HLO 8336) handwritten in ink, common for test pressings of this era. 3. Condition Vinyl: The playing surfaces appear to be in Excellent Minus(EX-) to Excellent Plus (EX+) condition. Labels: The labels are bright orange with no tears. There is handwritten text (Catalog number "HLO 8336") in blue/black ink on the center of the labels. The blank black backing labels are clean. 4. Notes for Collectors Rarity: This is an investment-grade item. Standard orange-label "Demonstration Samples" of Little Richard are already rare and valuable. However, single-sided test pressings with the "45-RPM-BACK" stamp are significantly scarcer. They represent the very first stage of the UK production process. Historical Context: "Rip It Up" was released in the UK in December 1956. These discs were likely pressed in October or November 1956 at the Decca plant to ensure audio quality before mass production. The "Back" Stamp: The raised "45-RPM-BACK" stamp on the dead side is a hallmark of authentic Decca UK test pressings from the mid-1950s. 5. Matrix / Runouts The matrix numbers are machine-stamped in the deadwax, confirming the Decca UK pressing: Side A (Rip It Up): MSCF-1437-1C Side B (Ready Teddy): MSCF-1438-1C Backing Sides: Stamped with 45-RPM-BACK