FREE Tons of Sobs RARER 1st Pink Rim Textured Label.

	£		47
	$		62

ONEADAYRECORDS – NO Reserves – LOW Starting Bids – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Please see my Detailed Packing Description Further Down & All Shipping Costs and Options – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment.

Artist or Band: FREE

Album Title: Tons of Sobs.

Producer(s): Guy Evans.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Over the Green Hills Pt I; Worry; Walk in My Shadow; Wild Indian Woman; Goin’ Down Slow.

Side 2: I’m a Mover; The Hunter; Moonshine; Sweet Tooth; Over the Green Hills Pt II.

Label / Format: Island – Pink rim format with the rough textured finish (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive. Spindle marks are very light to light and mainly fine with minimal visilibility unless searched for under angled light.

Cat Number: ILPS 9089.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 160 grams. A massive pressing that even exceeds most of the very first pressings.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity etc.: Island – Ultimate first repress on the new Pink Rim format. The very first issues on this new format were much heavier and thicker pressed and had textured labels with a deep inner ring ridge. For me, the most beautiful and prettiest Island design ever. The Island design was in constant change between 1967 to 1970 and this replaced the full pink label with the i logo that in turn replaced the previous, short-lived variants. Most-all pink rim copies had smooth labels and were much thinner. Now just about everything was superior for these very limited pressings that came and went very quickly with only a limited number of titles were pressed on it. The labels have a more de luxe finish with deeper, richer colour and the texturing is lovely. The matrixes are much bigger and deeper punched just like the first pink format with the orange eyeball logo that are seen on the early Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention and Spooky Tooth albums (to name just three). The original cover with the E. J. Day credits is included and in supreme condition – I have never seen a better one. I also consider this particular pressing to be superior for detail and clean sound too. Many pink originals suffer pressing flaws and finding one that will play without surface noise, pops and clicks is immensely difficult, especially if subjected to old heavy-tracking record players of the time. Although this has a few light surface marks, it plays very impressively, and this cut is vastly superior for clean sound and this beauty plays with very little unwanted. I consider these textured pink rims albums to be the most difficult to find as so were ever made – they are becoming sort-after and collectable and kind of bridge the old with the new. The deep punched early-style matrixes suggest these are first issues in a new style and the truth is, they are a cut above most others in terms of weight, quality and sound. Indeed some offer slightly different mixes and details and were not as ‘mass-produced’ as most other pressings – these ultimate first pink rim textured copies are somewhat unique in the Island catalogue and are not seen often.

Original Year of Release: 1969. This one pressed in 1970.

Matrix Nos: ILPS + 9089 + A2 / ILPS + 9089 + B2 [deep punched, large Roman style, nothing like the later matrixes at all].

Musicians: Paul Rodgers - vocals; Paul Kossoff - lead guitar; Andy Fraser - bass guitar; Simon Kirk - drums.

Brief Info: The debut album from one of the UK’s most respected rock bands. This is probably the only album in their catalogue that can truly be classed as ‘blues-rock’, with quite a few of the songs being slow tempo and fairly dark – even sombre. All the four members were under 20 when this classic set was recorded and although highly-rated this failed to chart in the UK and only just scraping into the top 200 in the US. With such few sales, all the pink Island pressings are elusive, even rare and few survive in decent playing conditions with even fewer with respectable covers that are massively prone to wear. Although it has a fairly raw, not particularly polished production, it still has immense power and detail and this more unusual and arguably rarest variant copy sounds very impressive and plays with little unwanted. As outlined above, this first pink rim pressing goes backwards in utilising the early matrix styles and is very heavily pressed. It also included as standard the first-style E. J. Day cover and these rare pressings are little difficult to fathom. The record does have some light surface marks, mostly hairlines and mild paper scuffs, but they have next to no audio effect and the cover is absolutely superb. This alone for many will prove a significant upgrade alone, I truly cannot remember seeing one with less wear and I hope my pictures do this justice. I am sure fewer of these unique pressings were made than even the first pressings and surface less often – these are almost the same as a first pressing but with the pink rim label. Most-all pink rims have smooth finishes with standard EMI-style ‘U’ matrixes and much lighter vinyl. Only a select few titles were pressed on this format before they disappeared completely.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High+, nigh-on impossible to find in top condition.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): a very dark unlaminated gatefold format with matt, smooth finish. Highly vulnerable to friction rubs, storage damage and most of all, ringwear. This has the prized original Ernest J. Day imprint as seen in my close-up picture.

Cover Front: An exceptional front by any standards, I have so rarely seen one this fresh and clean – any blemishes are only seen with high scrutiny. The grading has to be put in perspective – most seen will barely scrape a Very Good grading – and then often over-graded as such with the typical rubbing and ring marks this cover is known for. The lack of rubbing, fading and creasing on this one actually comes close to reminding of new and so few of the Ernest J. Day examples ever will. Not quite perfect with a faint mark seen right up close under light and a tiny faint half moon style surface crease just above the word ‘FREE’. There are light writing pressing impressions near the top, incredibly fine indeed and only seen with utmost scrutiny at point blank range under light. Minus that, a new mint grading would have been considered and few will match or better this.

Cover Back: Given all the facts I consider this intolerant back exceptional, rarely have I seen one with such little overall wear or looking better. This is as close to near mint as I have seen and barely any issues at all. The odd tiny rub trace being ultra critical, but look very hard. Any creases are minuscule and as for ringwear – well, what ringwear? – I have seldom seen a Robor later one without any, but ‘Day’ imprint ones are beyond hard. The same goes for edge rubbing that so often encroaches badly on to the main surfaces – this has barely any at all – and there are NO tip-ins on this cover which I have scrutinised very closely for. The odd corner tip rub yes, but how many will ever avoid that totally? A superb back to match a very impressive front.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Little short of pristine, one time has overlooked – please see my close-up of the rarer Ernest J. Day imprint.

Top Edges: Any rub traces are tiny, few and faint – no tip-ins either.

Bottom Edges: Very light and faint rub traces, just moderate near the back right corner for less than an inch.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with minimal hints of wear and guaranteed untrimmed. Record entered on the back edge, the front edge being totally sealed.

Spine and Text: Again the spine is exceptional bordering on stunning, and so few will ever be seen better or like this. A very solid, straight, uncompressed spine, folded squarely so all edges meet up very squarely and flush. Incredibly, this has no central crease from being opened, so I guess it hardly has been. The artwork and ALL text is nigh-pristine and unworn up the very ends that have minuscule tip rubs. Truly, I can hardly imagine finding a spine better on this most difficult of covers.

Corners: The spine tips are superb with barely any hints of wear. The right ones have small tip rubs, the bottom back more moderate. Any tip creasing ultra faint indeed and very fine to excellent shape is retained.

Cover Summary: Most serious collectors will know this cover well enough to know just how intolerant to wear and abuse it is. Ask yourself, when was the last time you saw this at a record fair or even in anyone’s collection that had this little wear? – all the early examples wear badly and is one of the most intolerant Island covers ever issued. This is certainly one to view and enjoy and not hide away waiting for a better one to come along soon. Not perfect, but setting the bar very high, the faint press marks on the front is probably the only factor for the highly discerning collector, but they hardly even show unless scrutinised point-blank. In terms of a ‘Day’ printing, it will take an extraordinary one to better it significantly and most collectors will enjoy it.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): aged little with not a lot to fault. This is the original plain white, solid unlined inner that pre-dated the blue ones that followed a few months later. A great example with barely any creasing, secure, unrepaired edges and few marks at all.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NEAR EXCELLENT. Very clean with fine shine, intense black and heavily pressed. It has some fine surface marks, hairlines and mild paper scuffs, but these have barely any audio effect on a copy that offers very impressive sound. Visually a lovely old record that should please many collectors but not the perfectionists.

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 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 and Audio Grading: This classic Free debut plays above it’s strong visual grading with very little to fault. Powerful sound, with punchy dynamics and totally distortion-free, this record gives an impressive account itself and was a real pleasure to listen to. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and no pops or significant clicks were noted and tracking was easy and effortless. A top quality ‘contract’ pressing and not the usual EMI on all the evidence with it’s early-style and unusual (rare) matrixes. Nothing of any note spoiled my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful album, the music does the business and the early qualities of this legendary band really shine through. A slightly raw production that suits the music and style perfectly. This copy will prove difficult to find on this format or sounding a great deal better, and a reminder I play-grade on an LP12, still one of the world’s most revealing turnables that many consider to be the best and most clinical ever made. I am sure this has not received many plays at all and the mild surface marks are pretty much all ignored. Worthy of high recommendation, I enjoyed this one immensely.

End Piece: Be under no illusion about the rarity of this very first, early textured pink rim copy, all the non-charting Island pinks are scarce this one is fast becoming one of THE most challenging to find. With a very attractive cover and record that plays strongly, this unusual ‘variant’ will seldom be seen or offered a great deal better. The Free legend lives on within these impressive grooves.

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/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with QED Silver terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 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 VPI-17 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 and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap 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 less than one in two thousand based on over 7,000+ items sold in nearly 10 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. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? 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). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please as me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, 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 and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). 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.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

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

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£46 maximum]) = £10. (Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 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 [£46 maximum]) = £14. Add £4 per extra LP. (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’.