FAIRPORT CONVENTION Unhalfbricking V. RARE ORIG UK 1969 1st PRESS ISLAND EX++ LP

	£		220
	$		263

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Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received if possible. PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT send any item, no matter what its value without a Royal Mail or courier tracking number. ALL my items must be signed and trackable to comply with Ebay delivery rules. Please do NOT ask me to make any exceptions to this rule as no country offers 100% reliable service without it.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take longer from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion, as will any bidder who cancels a bid. Please only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: FAIRPORT CONVENTION

Album Title: Unhalfbricking

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

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, first issue format on the black ‘block’ pink label, these have matt, gently textured surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both in truly beautiful condition, very clean, fresh and highly attractive with only a tiny few ultra faint spindle traces. Another from the collection purchased from new by one owner and appearing hardly played.

Cat Number: ILPS 9102

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Few vintage records are ever perfectly ‘flat’, so some slight or very gentle arm movement is normal. If any record I offer has more than that, I will mention it, and it can be assumed all I offer should track without issues, even on budget turntables.

Weight of this Record: 140 grams.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Rare, and one of the very few new original albums issued on this particular Island pink format. This black block format was only available for a few weeks with very limited runs of mostly albums issued already on Island. But Unhalfbricking first pressings were only on this label before the format was again changed to the more familiar full pink ‘i’ format, then the pink rim. Along with Nick Drakes debut ‘Five Leaves Left’, this was pressed in very small numbers prior to being repressed and few will survive in this hardly played condition. I have never seen or heard a genuine UK first pressing like this before.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9102 A-1 1 1 1 & ILPS 9102 B-1 1 1 [a top quality pressing by Philips]

Musicians: Sandy Denny – vocals, Harpsichord; Richard Thompson – electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, piano accordion, organ, backing vocals; Ashley Hutchings – bass, backing vocals; Simon Nicol – electric and acoustic guitars, electric dulcimer, backing vocals; Martin Lamble – drums. Guest:Iain Matthews – backing vocals; Dave Swarbrick – fiddle, Mandolin; Trevor Lucas – triangle; Marc Ellington – vocals.

Brief Artist & Album Info: **Relisted due to non-payment**. The second of three classics that featured Fairport Convention with the wonderful, and sadly missed Sandy Denny. Unhalfbricking – a strange title was 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 with a lovely haunting quality, 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 legendary Fairport titles are also included: the traditional ‘A Sailor’s Life’ which is embolded as one of the greatest folk-rock songs of all time. It features 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 folk history as one of the true greats. Also featured are three of Bob Dylan’s lesser known songs, and again are beautifully performed. This a first issue pressing and the first I have had for some considerable. Most that surface ruined by heavy, and often careless playing and now unlistenable. This beauty very much the opposite, hardly played, and looking fantastic with wonderful clean, detailed sound. One for the connoisseur collector, few survive like this. The fragile and uncompromising matt cover is almost the same, just a tiny text rub on the spine, but still one of the finest originals I have also seen in years. A rare opportunity and one not be lost lightly, I doubt if I will see or hear a better one.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): a single unlaminated format with matt smooth surfaces. Printed and made in England by Ernest J Daym this in the correct large type size on the back, includes the Philips style polylined inner sleeve, date-coded 069 (June 1969).

Cover Front: Another very wear-prone, thin card matt cover, few wear well, and I consider this near exceptional with a thick heavy record inside for over 49 years – and there is no disputing that because this record was only briefly pressed on this label in 1969. It rarely escapes often heavy rubbing, creasing and ugly ring wear. This front has probably the least rubbing I have seen on a pink label copy, the picture hardly rubbed or creased and retaining superb deep colour with no sticker issues that blight so many. A couple of faint marks near the top seen under light, and the spine has compressed, but in terms of wear, this front has hardly traces at all.

Cover Back: Stating the obvious, this very dark back is massively prone to ring wear, and this has only the most minimal patchy traces around the rim, few originals will show less. A little fine rubbing to the right fold near the centre, but little else. This is again superb with deep unfaded colour, any creasing little and light, a tiny rub on the bottom left corner tip. Note the large type ‘ERNEST J DAY & CO LTD’ text which is correct for first printing of this cover.

Top Edge: The fold is very thin, but still straight but barely any hint of wear. Just a little thickening on the card end panel trim on the right, this is minimal indeed.

Bottom Edge: A little patchy mainly quite light rubbing, few thin storage edges will escape a little wear.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly very sharp with any thickening little and very light. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: Again very thin and like most, this has compressed. Still solid and straight with most of the perilous text strongly intact with jut a little rubbing to the lower part of the ‘ALF’ in ‘UNHALF…’, the rest almost perfect, and makes a change as many of these are threadbare and devoid of any text at all. I consider this a very fine spine given the facts.

Corners: One small tip crease on the back bottom left with rubbing small and light. Mostly excellent or close to shape retained with no heavy knocks.

Cover Summary: A very strong all-round example of this unforgiving and wear-prone cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better as a genuine first print. This beautiful item should please many, and possibly even most collectors given to how difficult it is to find in finer conditions.

The Inner Sleeve: NEAR EXCELLENT: a polylined Philips-style inner that has only lightly aged with mostly mild paper discolouration, this as usual near the seam adhesive edge areas. One bottom corner has creased, but little else. Two neat undamaged window circles and the lining quite clear, all edges unsplit with no repairs. Importantly, this original inner includes the 069 (June 1969) date-code.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): a very impressive visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and quite heavily pressed on quality vinyl manufactured by Philips. A copy appearing hardly played on all the evidence with any surface traces ultra light, very wispy and faint as seen critically under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room light, barely anything even registers. Visually a super record that should please many, if not most collectors.

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 snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing equipment, all listed further down.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This magnificent, and true classic folk-rock album plays up to, and mostly even above it’s high visual grading with hardly anything to fault. Offering strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues* or inherent pressing sounds. The odd sporadic tick is so difficult to avoid totally on folk albums which invariably have some quieter songs, but hardly anything with this beauty. Few available copies, especially genuine first pressings, will outperform this I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environment. Nothing of any note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended. A rare opportunity, do not lose this one.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

I am one of the most established sellers on Ebay, trading since 2001 and offering the finest 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 all elements of the items I offer for sale. You may notice I only submit records quite sparingly on Ebay as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – not just bits to guess a grade – visuals alone do not always tell a true story. I will try to 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 it’s good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. I hope the item below is to your liking – any questions can be emailed and I will do my best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, major warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Nessie vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D7500 DSLR Camera.

PACKING – THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site as will any suspicious bids or bid bid retractions. Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

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

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I only accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 2 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive – if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund if the item is returned in the same condition is was sent e.g. as per the listing pictures.

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 necessarily 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, 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.