Camel 1st LP UK Camel First Pressing MCA MUPS 473

	£		119
	$		158

barley1970 Store


Camel 1st LP UK Camel First Pressing MCA MUPS 473

1st Pressing of their 1973 debut album, simply entitled Camel.   UK pressing MCA MUPS 473.  Importantly this is with the blue / black record labels, rather than any later second pressing on purely black labels (also MUPS 473) or any later catalogue numbers such as MCF 2665 or MCL1601

The matrix no’s are:

Side 1: 7-LNMG-275-2L   1  K  (Matrix stamper no.4)

Side 2: 7-LNMG-276-1L   1  B  (Matrix stamper no.1)

Hardly ever comes up for sale in the form of this very first blue/ black label original pressing.  Very flow mother stampers of K and B in the Decca BUCKINGHAM sequence. One of the first ever produced!!

Condition: Please read the detailed gradings below,

Detailed grading:

Outer Sleeve:  Overall the sleeve is in EX condition, one of the nicest condition sleeves of this LP I have come across in a long time and not too far off a grading of EX+.  There is the odd small crease on the front cover but no rips, tears, stains or writing or other major defects.  The rear of the sleeve is extremely clean with virtually no ring wear at all, something which this LP seems to suffer from on most copies. Overall a really nice condition sleeve.   

Record: (Visual) : Overall the record is in VG condition, although I would split this grading as Side 1: VG- and Side 2 EX-.  The record still retains its original deep gloss, these MCA pressings in my opinion were some of the highest quality records made during the 70’s, being very solid and having a general feeling of quality. 

Side 1 has a fair amount of very fine and cosmetic light hairline marks and also 2 unsightly marks which are visually more significant. One of the marks is on track 2 and the other is across tracks 2 and 3 although it is less significant on track 3.  Please see my audio grading below and note that the record does not skip or jump due to these marks and they are visually much more significant than when played back on a turntable.

Side 2 has a general amount of very fine hairline marks and would be described as EX-.  It has no significant marks and retains much of the original deep gloss of these pressings.

Record : (Audio) :

Playback is VG+.  I played this LP carefully on my Project desk with Ortofon cartridge and the results were impressive.  It plays with minimal crackle and just the very occasional light surface click. Across the two more significant marks on side 1 some light clicks can be heard through sections of track 2 the quality of the recording and instruments shines through.

Labels.  EX

The record also comes with its original inner sleeve, which is in VG+ condition – it is slightly wrinkled and has signs of ageing. The sleeve is marked 4-73 indicating manufacture in April 1973, just a few weeks after this record was first released – release date was 26/02/73

Overall - I grade fairly but conservatively.  This is a nice original example of this amazingly rare 1st press of this LP, Side 1 has a couple of visually prominent marks but plays well.  The sleeve is of a high grade and a really nice example.  Price reflects condition.

All records have been placed in a separate poly lined inner and stored flat outside the sleeve and then placed sealed in a re-sealable polythene outer prior to shipping.  Records are then placed between square cardboard sheets before packaging into cruciform mailers especially designed for LP’s

UK Bidders

For the UK please refer to the postage rates shown.  If the sale value exceeds £50 then I require the item to have the appropriate insurance and I will send an invoice totalling the amount due.  PLEASE WAIT FOR AN INVOICE BEFORE SENDING PAYMENT.  Thank you!

Oversees Bidders

Postage – Europe, USA and Rest of World.  I have indicated standard international postage in the listing, however if the value exceeds £20 then I reserve the right to request the appropriate amount of insurance and signed for delivery to be paid in line with the actual true cost of postage.  As rates vary around the world then PLEASE WAIT FOR AN INVOICE BEFORE SENDING PAYMENT. Thank you!

Please contact me if you have any questions relating to this item, I will be happy to answer them.  Thanks.

PAYMENT MUST BE MADE VIA PAYPAL WITHIN 7 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE INVOICE I SEND.