Rare 1965 German A Fistful of Dollars 7” Single - First Pressing

Rare 1965 German A Fistful of Dollars 7” Single - First Pressing

The deeper you get into collecting Eastwood related vinyl, the harder the task becomes in trying to secure something new. But as a friend recently said to me, ‘it’s all about the hunt’. 

So I was delighted to recently secure another addition to the 7” collection, this time in the shape of the first German issue of Ennio Morricone’s A Fistful of Dollars from 1965. Its German release title (Für Eine Handvoll Dollar / Vorspann-Musik) has seen a few re-releases over the years, usually on the Orange RCA Victor label. However, the first issue (Cat No RCA Victor – 47-9615) was of course on the more classic Black Victor label and came complete in a picture sleeve. 

A great deal of the appeal is naturally in these record sleeves, and to be fair, this particular picture sleeve is nothing too exciting to shout about. The design is the same to both the front and the reverse and features a b/w long shot of Joe taken during the film’s climax with Ramon. Whilst I say it’s ‘nothing too exciting’ - we have to remember of course that this is from 1965, and the fact that it was blessed with a picture sleeve at all is something to really be grateful for. 

I’ve always liked it, and always wanted it. I was very lucky to find one in such wonderful condition, although the sleeve is paper stock, it has survived without a tear or even a seam split - which is important when it comes to collecting.  

So a big thank you to Joachim in S.-Holstein, Germany for sorting me out with this beauty. 

Below: A rather crackly version of the A and B side of the single release