FRANK ZAPPA / MOTHERS OF INVENTION Freak Out RARE ORIG UK 1966 Nr EX MONO LP.

	£		211
	$		280

ONEADAYRECORDS – Serving-up a Christmas & New Year Feast of Entertainment

I would like to wish all my customers, regulars and newcomers, a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Over the Holiday Period, I am offering some interesting Christmas ‘Crackers’ – lovely albums – some rare – ENJOY!

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.

Artist or Band: THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION

Album Title: Freak Out!

Producer(s): Tom Wilson

TRACK LIST:

Original UK issues omitted three songs and has a shorter version of ‘Trouble Every Day’. It was edited down to a single album until reissue in the early 1970s.

Side 1: Hungry Freaks Daddy; I Ain’t Got No Heart; Who Are the Brain Police?; Motherly Love; Wowie Zowie; You Didn’t Try to Call Me; I’m Not Satisfied; You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here.

Side 2: Trouble Every Day (Original UK edited version); Help, I’m a Rock; The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet.

Label/Format: Verve – matt intense black surfaces with a gentle hint of texturing. Side one has an embossed ‘K T’ tax codes, the ‘T’ is lightly rubbed only.

Label Condition: Both clean, still quite fresh and attractive with at least moderate spindle marks in number – certainly played a number of times, but are relatively fine. This hardly reflects in the sound quality of the mono record which is still very impressive with little unwanted bar the odd sporadic click here-and-there.

Catalogue Number: VLP 9154

Mode / Speed: Mono / 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 Record: 153 grams.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Very scarce as a first UK pressing in monoo, few would have shelled out for a new ‘out-there’ American underground band that would have received practically no radio play. Most that did sell here were in mono with few stereo copies even pressed (I have one on offer as well). An album that has largely dried up in the last few years, and those that do surface are invariably trashed and unlistenable. Now over 53-years-old, few will look or sound a great deal better than this. As stated, the spindle alignment marks in no way reflect on the visual and audio quality of this record. It includes a very clean and impressive cover as well.

Original Year of Release: 1966

Matrix Nos: V 5005 A-1 / V 5005 B-1

Mothers / Stampers: 1 G / 1 G [an ultimate first pressing with first mothers and G stampers, the very first in the pressing sequence]

Musicians: Frank Zappa – guitar, vocals; Ray Collins – lead vocalist, harmonica, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin and tweezers; Jim Black – drums, vocals; Roy Estrada – bass, guitarron, soprano vocals; Elliot Ingber – alternate lead and rhythm guitars.

Other Musicians: Gene Estes – percussion; Eugene Di Novi – piano; Neil Le Vang – guitar; John Rotella – clarinet, sax; Carol Kaye – 12-string guitar; Kurt Reher – cello; Raymond Kelley – cello; Paul Bergstrom – cello; Emmet Sargeant – cello; Joseph Saxon – cello; Edwin V. Beach – cello; Arthur Maebe – French horn, tuba; Motorhead Sherwood – noises; Kim Fowley - megaphone; Mac Rebennack – piano; Paul Butterfield – vocals; Les McCann – piano; Jeannie Vassoir – (the voice of Cheese).

Artist & Album Info: Led by the brilliant mind of Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention were outsiders, even on this their debut album. Older than most of their contemporaries, they brought a cynicism to their work that celebrated joys without resorting to nostalgia. Telling parodies of pop forms that were engaging, while experimental pieces, drawn from avant garde compositions by Varese and Stravinsky, took the idea of ‘rock’ into unchartered territory. Banded by many as rock’s first concept album, it gave birth to the underground psychedelic rock scene, even pre-dating The Velvet Underground’s debut classic. Zappa’s skills as a musician and engineer ensuring the innovative nature of this creation. Even today, it’s great fun to listen too. This original issue did not chart in the UK and only made a lowly appearance in the United States. Made with a budget of $25,000, some $6,000 more than average at this time, its producer was Tom Wilson, he laid his job on the line to make it and stayed with the Zappa for four albums. This copy on offer is a very fine mono version, which was edited down to a single album, almost certainly to save money, as double sets would have proved far more expensive, and the commercial potential was already low. It remains one of Zappa’s most treasured works and one of the most groundbreaking in this history of rock. Even from the opening bars of ‘Hungry Freaks Daddy’ with its distorted riff similar to the Rolling Stones ‘Satisfaction’, the stage is set. It has a leering savagery and points the finger at Mr America and suggests a wave of non-conformism. The powerful ‘Trouble Every Day’ (here the edited version due to duration time of vinyl) about the Watts race riots in America proved controversial – as was the whole album. The bizarre ‘Help, I’m a Rock’ must be the ultimate ‘Freak Out’ track – this sent shock-waves out to listeners on first issue, nothing had been heard like this before. The final track is even more challenging: ‘The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet’ a modernist sound-composition, has to be heard several times to be fully appreciated and is a masterclassic in sound, sonics and engineering. This track alone saw Zappa trashing 1960s chart pop music – this was loud, crude and mind-shattering – one subtitle, ‘Ritual Dance of the Child Killer’, referred to the plot of Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring. But in this scandalous context, with ‘Suzy Creamcheese’ (a high-school virgin, who tells us this band is crazy and that they all smell bad (on the reissue cover), played by Jeannie Vassoir. She sounds as if she’s simultaneously losing her virginity and having an orgasm, but this was the 1960s and no one really noticed. Zappa’s ability to outrage was apparent right from the very beginning. A stunning conclusion to a remarkable work – nothing had ever been heard like it before (or since). Zappa with his famous moustache, put the snarl and sneer into music, he did not conform, and this album, like the man himself, was a true original. Too weird and unconventional for most at the time, Freak Out remains one of the most important albums ever, breaking so much new ground, its influence and importance cannot be overstated. It almost single-handedly reinvented ‘rock’, and little remained the same thereafter. If this form of entertainment was not for you back when it all happened, try it now.

Cover Condition and Format: EXCELLENT: a single format with the front laminated. This covers all the folds and ends on the back on three external flipbacks. The main rear panel is matt and smooth. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse with ‘Patents Pending’ text, this, as seen, with the VLP mono original catalogue prefix and mono on the top right. Includes the plain ‘PATENTS APPLIED FOR’ white inner sleeve.

Cover Front & Lamination: Here on the spooky psych band artwork, Frank Zappa tells the listener to ‘Freak Out!’ This artwork always looks in a different class when laminated, and UK originals were – the double repressing was matt as a gatefold like the American version. Although the cover is clearly different from the Select reissues, the front remains the same. The laminate retains very fine shine, nice freshness and clarity with any dulling quite light. There is barely a trace of lifting and most of any creasing on the edges mostly only fine. The famous graphic looks impressive retaining deep vivid colour and impact, and little detracts from it. Overall, just enough to politely remind of age but finding this 1966 first print mono cover better will prove very difficult.

Cover Back: This has also fared well, most seen are horribly worn, grubby and creased. This matt surface has little to fault bar gentle light discolouration mainly around the edges. The lack of rubbing, writing, creasing and minimal overall ageing are all major positives on this vintage cover. And remember, few who did buy were hi-fi buffs or connoisseurs, so most were less than carefully stored, often loaned out and trashed. All three flipbacks are solid and neat with mainly crisp ends and avoiding the usual grime lines or major burring on the laminate ends. A few light creases to their laminate is near impossible to avoid as barest minimum.

Top Edge: Thin, but reasonably straight, smooth and virtually unworn up to the very ends that has tiny tip rubs.

Bottom Edge: Very similar with barely any wear.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Mildly thickened only, but still quite neat overall. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: Solid, reasonably straight with minimal compression, the ends are lightly pinched in manufacture and just one minute hairline chip to the surface which has just missed the text. So that is all virtually perfect as seen under the clear solid laminate.

Corners: Any tip rubs or creases motly very small and light, very fine shape or better retained with no knocks.

Cover Summary: A impressive all-round example of this scarce and elusive original mono 1960’s cover, one that will prove difficult to find much better. With only gentle light clues of age, this attractive item should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: NEAR EXCELLENT: a plain solid white unlined inner including the ‘PATENTS APPLIED FOR’ text. Any discolouration relatively mild, but a little aged. Minimal creasing with all edges naturally intact.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NEAR EXCELLENT: a very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and quite heavily pressed. Certainly played a number of times, but mainly with due care to avoid deep penetrating stylus scratches. This has only very fine, mostly wispy surface marks which are only light as seen under bright light. In average room light, little even regisers and this record plays very impressively with little unwanted.

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: Firstly a note about this UK copy, that was somewhat squeezed on to one disc, even with the editing from the double album version. It can be argued it has a slightly more compressed sound with finer grooves than the expanded version. That simply due to the constraits of vinyl duration at the time, and is fairly neglible being played on a very revealing system. But this quality single album original plays even above it’s high visual grading with very little to fault. Offering strong clear mono sound – sound quality is high with a full dynamic range and detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and this is a very clean pressing with no tracking issues* or inherent pressing noises. Any clicks mild, very few and brief, this one of the cleanest and best mono originals I have had to offer. It took me years to find a slightly better one myself. Few available first issue copies will outperform this I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp when played on a standard stereo system and nothing of any major note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this elusive record. Even though this is not the full version, this UK first issue is still the one most Zappa fans want to own – I consider this, and the stereo version (also on offer) essential along with the first early 1970s double album repress. It will prove difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended. Put simply: this copy plays virtually the same as my own Excellent(++) copy.

* 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 2.2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

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 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 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 it’s 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 the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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. 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/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 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 D5000 SLR Digital 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.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new Nessie Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. 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. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are 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 at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is minuscule in over 17­ years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

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 withdrawals. 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 can 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 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. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

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, 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’.