FAIRPORT CONVENTION Unhalfbricking RARE 1st UK Pressing

	£		84
	$		111

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Artist or Band: FAIRPORT CONVENTION

Album Title: Unhalfbricking

Producer(s): Joe Boyd, Simon & Fairport.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Genesis Hall; Si tu Dois Partir; Autopsy; A Sailor’s Life.

Side 2: Cajun Woman; Who Knows Where The Times Goes?; Percy’s Song; Million Dollar Bash.

Label/Format: Island - the genuine original first pressed example with the black block logo format. The price guides still list a first pressing with the orange eyeball logo but this is wrong, it does not exist (unless anyone wishes to prove otherwise, pictures very welcome).

Label Conditions: Two lovely examples with superb rich pink colour. Spindle marks are very light indeed but as clearly can be seen on side one, the original owner put his name and the year of purchase - 1969 - which I never have a problem with. Putting the year-of-issue on a cover or label I feel actually perfectly dates when the album was purchased and clearly this is the ultimate first pressing reitterated by those matrixes and stampers as seen further down. When done neatly I actually think it enhances the record but that is purely my opinion and everyone has their own. Side two is immaculate and both will not too easy to find much better with evidence of fewer plays. The black block pink labels are the most elusive of the three pink formats, they were not available very long before again being replaced by the full pink format with the white i logo. All pressings on this version are elusive and hard to find.

Cat Number: ILPS 9102.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 134 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 135 to 145 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, many records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 50 records from these eras.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: First pressings of this album are quite rare and make no mistake about it. Available for a brief time only before being repressed on the new pink i format and then soon again on pink rim. Ultimate first pressings are seldom seen and rarely in decent playing condition. Historically important too as this was the first new title to appear on this format.

Original Year of Release: July 1969 and this being the earliest copy I have ever seen.

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9102 A-1 1 1 ? / ILPS 9102 B-1 1 1 1 ? (? = indistinct late digit)

Brief Artist & Album Info: The second of three masterpieces that featured Fairport Convention with the wonderful, and sadly missed Sandy Denny. The line-up in full here were: Sandy Denny, Ashley Hutchings; Martin Lamble, Simon Nicol and Richard Thompson - virtually a folk supergroup. Unhalfbricking, a strange title was actually thought of by Sandy during a word game in the group van while travelling, her parents are the couple on the front cover. This a genuine folk-rock classic, the quality of the songs is astonishing from the very beginning, ‘Genesis Hall’, a catchy short song, then ‘Si su dois partir’, a surprise hit single which features Dave Swarbrick on fiddle, he actually features on half the album and his influence is highly important for this album’s quality and sound. Two more Fairport legendary titles are also included: the traditional ‘A Sailor’s Life’ which is embolded as one of the greatest folk-rock songs of all time, beautiful vocals by Sandy complemented perfectly with Thompson’s distinctive guitar and then ending with a blistering fiddle frenzy by Swarbrick and of course Sandy’s tour de force the majestic ‘Who Knows Where the Time Goes’, not just a classic within this genre, but for me, one of the greatest songs ever written - once heard, never forgotten. This wonderful song, like the lady herself is written in history as one of the true greats. Also featured are three Bob Dylan songs, lesser known gems, and again are beautifully interpreted. This is the ultimate first pressed copy, ignore the price guides that are littered with errors, this being an alarming one. The Russian Yuri Grishin’s book on Island Records confirms this is a first pressing and it’s a book I strongly recommend (if you still get one). The record is lovely, the odd brief sporadic apart, it plays to perfection with clear, crisp crackle-free sound and NO distortions or groovewear. Yes even Swarbrick’s fiddle is sharp and focused throughout and this being one of the most difficult of instruments to track. Few of the earliest copies will play much better than this. A really lovely example that most collectors will enjoy, but if the name and date on the label is an issue, please do not bid.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: High. Particularly thin and fragile and immensely difficult to fine early copies devoid or ringwear and major rubbing.

Cover Grade and Format: EX+, given the fact this delicate cover is so often seen in very poor conditions, this is a very fine example indeed. The only wear of real note is on the spine with some rubbing and text erosion. More details on that further down. It’s a single unlaminated format and was printed and made in England by Ernest J Day & Co Ltd. A famous sleeve seldom found this clean and with such little wear and the early pink copies, including the first pressed pink rims, included covers that were all very similar.

Cover Front: A lovely simplistic front that has great charm and finding a much better example will not be easy. This has hardly anything to fault and is one of the very best I have seen. Clean with fine colour and totally devoid of rubbing, creasing and ugly ringwear and no record impressions either. A tiny bottom right corner rub just encroaches into view and is pretty much the only tiny blemish on what is an outstanding front.

Cover Back: It’s been some time since I saw this delicate back looking this nice. This is still very dark with minimal traces of rubbing or wear. The lack of ringwear again is almost remarkable and both sides have avoided sticker pulls, a trait for which this cover so often suffers. Very slight edge fold rubs are just apparent but the general lack of marks, creasing and grubbiness is unusual and highly welcome.

Top Edge: Virtually unworn.

Bottom Edge: Light patchy rubbing, like all these I have seen, the edges are very thin and fine and few will escape with less wear than this.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, quite sharp with minimal wear and no feathering. Record entered on this edge.

Spine and Text: For some reason, one of the most wear-prone spines I have encountered. I can hardly remember any that have totally escaped some wear. Always fine and delicate and this has a little minor chipping to the text left and right. The central title has rubbed more and 75 per cent of the text has eroded. Slight shame I guess but as the rest of the cover is so clean and attractive, it’s something I could easily live with. I like to look at the front and back rather than the spine but again, that’s just my opinion. Still solid and quite straight with minimal compression. Most all of the small wear on this cover lies on the spine but it’s still hardly terrible (to say the least). Again, if this is an issue, please don’t bid.

Corners: All have tip rubs - light to less than moderate but actual shape remains quite neat.

Cover Summary: A very nice and attractive all round excellent example of this famous cover, one that could prove difficult to find significantly better. With the main two faces looking exceptional and way above average, it’s one that should please many collectors if not the perfectionists.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: I feel this undergraded at EX+, few originals will be seen or offered a great deal better of that I am sure. Very clean, shiny, intense black and pressed on quite heavy vinyl. A lovely looking 1969 pressing with just a very few light, small, most-all surface marks with no sound. The odd sporadic click or two but let’s be honest, how many albums this great age will not have? A copy that has suffered no blunt needle abuse and these playing surfaces are exceptional and will prove hard to find better. The genuine 60s pressings could have been played on anything and most were including mono equipment that reeked havoc on these types especially. Few Island albums were pressed in mono so those who still used Dansettes and similar record players had no choice but to play these stereo records on them. Compatible or not, the majority did few favours to the delicate stereo groove walls. This is a beautiful record and the audio quality is still of the highest quality.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippetts or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality: It is always with great anticipation I play any early Fairports album and for sure this genuine first pressing did not disappoint, this is an album I truly adore – all Fairport albums up to 1970 are truly essential and this title is simply magnificent. A record that plays up too and most all beyond its high visual grading, this is a splendid copy and does this classic album near full justice. The pink pressings and early pink rims were consistently one of the finest 60s-70s labels around. Finding one so lightly played and generally looked after is always a massive bonus. This plays very well indeed with any surface sounds barely registering and with just the odd couple of three sporadic gentle clicks, it will prove hard to find much better. Believe me, many will play a whole lot worse, of that I have no doubt whatsoever. We have all seen and heard these classics in shocking badly scratched conditions with dreadful surface crackle and even distortions that totally destroy the listening pleasure. A lovely pressing with no distortion or sound degrading at all - this could easily last another thirty years plus if played on a quality modern deck with light pickup. Sandy’s vocals are crystal clear, detailed and have an in the room quality. Thompson’s guitar chords are defined and sharp, even Swarbrick’s fiddle, always one of the most vulnerable to damage on vintage vinyl, is precise, sharp and distortion free. This without any doubt has never been subjected to piledriver vintage needles and only lightly played reitterated by only fine and faint spindle marks of which there are few of. A treat is in store for the winning bidder, cherish this wonderful recording as this elusive first pressed label format. With such wonderful music on offer, the odd minor blemish can surely be lived with?

End Piece: Classic and essential are two words often overused (often by myself when I get carried away with a real personal favourite), but I make no apology for using them for this album. The thing that amazes, is the fact that the next album, Leige and Leif was arguably even better. The standards set by the early Fairport albums was such that they probably will never will be equalled within this field - Thompson and Denny were like peaches and cream - they complimented each other perfectly. Only the brilliant acoustic folk of Pentangle and the more folk-rock sounds of The Trees and The Spriguns get even close to this for me. This actual record on offer is very nice but not pristine. The sounds embedded in these vintage grooves are testament to the greatness of this early band. Listening to this classic album via vinyl source rarely fails to move - only the truly great albums can do this. My LP12/Naim/B&W combination revelled on this one making the choice to offer it a difficult one, the lack of crackle is unusual and a real bonus. I hope the winning bidder enjoys this beautiful record as much as I did and is strongly recommend. Again if the spine rub, sig and date on label and a tiny few, very light sporadic ticks are an issue, don’t bid. If clinical silence is non-negotiable, well the CD format is an option but nothing beats the analogue sound of a first pressed record.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: I now offer the fastest possible posting, mostly the very next day after payment is received or within 48 hours maximum. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with the record(s) REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with TWO thick stiffners for even extra protection. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. Printed address labels are used for clarity and well as sender label. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but NOT surface mail abroad. I never make profit on posting and offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends, with the total costs including ‘standard’ or ‘optional extra insurance’ P&P – ALL UK and Russian packets go out non-negotiable Recorded Delivery. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 4,000+ items sold in over 7 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional.

PLEASE NOTE: I will now only send packets to Russia with Recorded Delivery at a cost of £7 per single LP. If this is unacceptable to Russian collectors, please do not bid. I only want my records to arrive safely and this gives packets a better chance to do so. Also ALL UK packets will be sent with either Recorded or Special Delivery as standard (both have to be signed for). All shipping costs and rules can be found after my description. If they are not acceptable, please do not bid.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & OPTIONS:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (First Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4 (OPTIONAL).

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: ALL EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA (NOT RUSSIA, see below) (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £5.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £9 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: RUSSIA (Recorded Only, if this is unacceptable, please do not bid):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ only £7) = £9 (OPTIONAL extra insurance as above).

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (any part); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £8.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £13 (OPTIONAL).

* If Rules allow for that country.

PLEASE NOTE: I always get a Royal Mail ‘Proof-of-Posting’ receipt for ALL packets that are sent out and I am happy to prove this to any customer who wishes to see it via email.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

The customer can choose their method of shipping with the exception of second class or surface mail overseas – these I will NOT use. The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£39).

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT neccessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.