GILES, GILES & FRIPP – King Crimson – Cheerful Insanity

	£		217
	$		287

Hi, I am Mike, I am 46 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 33 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and ellusive items now. 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, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirity, not just bits to guess a grade (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - 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 reader – 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. The only thing I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. Variation can sometimes occur too in colour of the label scans and labels taken next to the sleeve with a digital camera, the scanned full label pictures should be the most accurate. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert. 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 or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert - Thankyou.

Artist or Band: GILES, GILES AND FRIPP

Album Title: The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles & Fripps.

Track Listing: The Saga of Rodney Toady: North Meadow; Neewly-webs; one in a Million; Call Tomorrow; Digging My Lawn; Little Children; The Crukster; Thursday Morning; How Do They Know; Elephant Song; The Sun is Shining; Suite No 1; Erudite Eyes.

Label/Format: Deram – Early red and white format.

Label Condition: Both close to mint, very clean with hardly any spindle traces to be seen. This record looks hardly played. (Please see label scans for all information needed).

Cat Number: SML 1022.

Mono or Stereo: Stereo (This was also issued in mono).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: Quite rare, this is the original first pressing which was only available for quite a comparatively short time, it was reissued in stereo only in 1970 with a different catalogue number (SPA 423).

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: ZAL 8330 1W and ZAL 8331 1W

Stamper Codes: 1D / 1U

Brief Artist & Album Info: I classify this album under progressive rock because these men were most known for this type of music, this album is very difficult to pigeon-hole at all really.

Quite unlikely and unbelievable this was the band that soon after this album formed King Crimson; because this rather bizarre and very English sounding record has little resemblance of what was to follow. No-one could have ever predicted the evolution and even that Fripp would become one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, although this rare album does have more than some clues. The Cheerful Insanity of…, at times, sounds more like Ogden’s era Small Faces than the progressive giants they soon became. Between tracks dialogue, similar to the aforementioned album is uncannily similar and is really a vaguely psych concept album – the story of Rodney Toady, all rather off-beat and strange. Sales of this initially would have been small and only a little more after King Crimson became more established, hence the reissue in 1970 – this original pressed copy is very scarce indeed and very rarely seen. So a great pleasure to offer an original in lovely all round condition, this will please the curious, its a very distinctive album and who could resist this cover?. This is the very first time I have seen an original copy of this highly ellusive album.

Cover Grade and Format: EX, single format and lininated on the front with Clarifoil. It was printed in England by Cloud & Baker Ltd. No peep-holes on back and this record comes with its original, non-patented poly-lined inner which like the rest is in super shape. Clean, no splits or tears and hardly even ruffled, certainly no heavy creasing. This early made sleeve confirms this was available too in mono.

Lamination: Still strong laminate with deep shine with barely any dulling at all. No peeling, dry areas or major indentations. A couple of small, light grazes and some creasing to the corner areas, not too heavy and not too big – the main ‘picture’ areas remain devoid of any creasing. A mild pressmark from the heavy record at the top and bottom but this laminate is still fine and given its great age, it looks great still.

Cover Front: Clean with little major wear and no discolouring. A superb and rare picture of this trio which looks superb. This front remains attractive and eye-pleasing.

Cover Back: Very strong for a mainly white and unprotected back. A few small and mild creases, again near the corner areas but this remains mainly a fine white and shows no yellowing or toning that often comes from age or smoking. Grubbiness is minimal and it has no rubbing or unsightly ringwear. The fold-round front laminate is still solid and clear – only the very ends show any light discolour. A fine back to match the lovely front.

Top Edge: Virtually unworn.

Bottom Edge: Virtually unworn.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with little wear, odd small feathering trace on back but very mild indeed. Record entered on right outside edge.

Spine and Text: Solid and square with little wear, all text is perfect and unworn under the uncracked laminate.

Corners: All four show little wear, odd light crease to the tip areas. All still nicely shaped generally.

Cover Summary: A lovely all round example of this fragile and rare late-60’s cover, one that could prove hard to find much better. This strong item should please most collectors I feel.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX++ (at the very least, probably better than that really). A superb visual copy. Super clean, shiny, jet black and very heavily pressed. Just the odd faint surface mark or faint hairline can just be seen (superficial of course) and this looks really lovely. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence. Visually a super record that should please most collectors again.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This super record plays up to its high visual grading with little to fault. Strong, undistorted sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a fine detailed production. Any unwanted sounds are minimal indeed with just low level traces near the start of side one which disappear fast, few original early copies will play better than this. Both channels are clean and sharp, I feel very sure this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Little, if anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this scarce record. This copy could prove very challenging to find significantly better.

Mono vs Stereo, an overview: Always a matter of opinion which is better or more important. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure they are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records. As a general guide to rarity, mono was the far more common format from 61–65; Around 66–67 the balance was roughly equal, then from 68-69 the balance swung more to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: Thd back cover notes are interesting and profound: I quote: Giles, Giles and Fripp stand poised to grasp the pinnacle of success—yea, the acme of achievement—to bask in the sunshine of mass-adulation and thrill to the ecstasy of millions. Or else to plummet into unplumbed depths of ignominy, unloved, unheeded and poor. Giles, Giles and Fripp stand poised. The former of course was achieved, but who would have thought as pionnering progressive rock giants? – this bizarre one-off album is unique and its importance to the history of arguably the greatest progressive rock band ever cannot be denied. A rare chance to own a very fine copy of this original album, dont miss this opportunity – Mike.

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. 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. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please if you have quality items for sale).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of their intended payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions. NOTE: I WILL NOT ACCEPT BIDS FROM UNREGISTERED USERS, I will cancel them immediately, and sorry, I cannot give valuations on people’s personal items just for their own curiosity, no item can be accurately valued blindly.

Having the Powerseller Logo: This is recognition from Ebay for the highest possible customer services, satisfaction and quality, it should reassure any potential bidder that all items are described, graded and shipped to the highest standards possible. Customer care of the highest order is a standard feature here and I am proud to have achieved this recognised standard of excellence from Ebay with help from collectors and buyers from all over the World - I thank you all.

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3.00; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £5.50 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £7.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Doubles add extra £1, triples add extra £2. Box sets add extra £3 (£4 overseas and Europe)

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

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 (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do NOT profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more and I often actually lose money on this part of service - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken OUT of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be worthwhile.

I can accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders OWN risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other interesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear 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. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.