John Lennon / Roots – Rare Original US Pressing Vinyl Transfer Edition

The US LP *ROOTS*—one of the rarest items in John Lennon’s catalog—returns in a “2026 Edition” transferred using a top-of-the-line laser turntable! *ROOTS* remains a legendary rarity among John Lennon releases. Originally born out of a copyright dispute in the US, the album was released in January 1975 exclusively via TV mail-order on the Adam VIII label—bypassing Capitol and EMI—only to be pulled from sale just three days later. Of the 3,000 copies pressed, only 1,270 were sold, making it an ultra-rare LP; furthermore, because it included “Angel Baby” and “Be My Baby”—tracks omitted from the later *Rock ‘n’ Roll* album—it has spawned countless bootleg copies over the years. This situation persists today, with CD versions of *ROOTS* still being produced. While 8-track cartridges and CD versions based on them once existed, the original LP remains the definitive source for the freshest, best sound quality. However, original copies are extremely hard to find, and with so many sophisticated fakes in circulation, even counterfeit copies now trade at significant prices. Naturally, one might expect this release to simply be a CD transfer of that rare US original—but while many such transfers have been attempted before, the issue has always been quality. Simply ripping the audio from the LP meant being unable to escape the inherent flaws of vinyl transfers: surface noise and the sonic degradation typical of tracks located on the inner grooves. This release, however, utilizes a Japanese-made laser turntable to achieve an incredibly clear CD transfer of the original LP. Its greatest appeal lies not merely in noise reduction, but in a sound that is remarkably pure and natural—free from the unnatural equalization often used to mask surface noise. The recording preserves the audio exactly as it is, without silencing the gaps between tracks; the result is an experience that truly captures the authentic sound of the original LP transferred directly to CD. “Be My Baby”—one of the album’s standout tracks—sounds astonishingly clear right from the opening notes. Listeners can also clearly appreciate the differences in the mix and editing of “Angel Baby,” a song that had previously seen an official release on *Menlove Ave.* Of course, the album’s appeal extends beyond just these two tracks. *Roots* is known for featuring several songs with longer endings than their counterparts on the *Rock ‘n’ Roll* album; “You Can’t Catch Me,” “Slippin’ and Slidin’,” and “Ain’t That a Shame,” in particular, feature noticeably extended fade-outs. The *Rock ‘n’ Roll* recording sessions actually began partly to resolve a legal dispute alleging that “Come Together” had plagiarized “You Can’t Catch Me.” The tapes submitted to the copyright holders to demonstrate the project’s progress served as the source material for *Roots*. Because those tapes captured the songs just before final completion, *Roots* preserved the endings that were later shortened for the official *Rock ‘n’ Roll* release. While those extended endings were often prone to surface noise, the use of a laser turntable for this recording eliminates such issues, allowing for a seamless, stress-free listening experience from start to finish. *Roots* has long been a “mega-rare” record that spawned countless bootlegs while simultaneously suffering from the inherent surface noise associated with the LP format. Now, in 2026, that long-standing dilemma has finally been resolved with this incredibly clear CD release. Naturally, the jacket art has been faithfully reproduced—front and back—using high-resolution scans of the original LP used for the transfer. This is the definitive edition that allows you to enjoy this legendary, elusive LP in pristine condition, complete with its iconic yellow cover. Taken from an extremely rare original US pressing vinyl. A new transfer from the Laser Turntable 2026. (47:48) 01. Be-Bop-A-Lula 02. Ain’t That a Shame 03. Stand By Me 04. Sweet Little Sixteen 05. Medley: Rip It Up/Ready Teddy 06. Angel Baby 07. Do You Wanna Dance 08. You Can’t Catch Me 09. Bony Moronie 10. Peggy Sue 11. Medley: Bring It On Home to Me/Send Me Some Lovin’ 12. Slippin’ and Slidin’ 13. Be My Baby 14. Ya Ya 15. Just Because