HARMONICA BLUES FUNK LP: MACK SIMMONS - INFLATION BLUES

$

113

HARMONICA BLUES FUNK LP: MACK SIMMONS - INFLATION BLUES

Mack Simmons: Inflation Blues, PM LP 449. Rare release in homemade paste-on cover on Simmons’ own label, from Chicago. Tracks: Inflation Blues, You’ve Got to Help Me, Skin Tight, Rainy Night in Georgia, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Jesus So Wonderful, Key to the Highway, Snap Your Finger [sic], You’re So Fine, Blue Light. Self-proclaimed “world’s greatest harmonica player” covers all the bases here, from straight-ahead Chicago blues to funk to soul ballads to gospel. VG+ to VG++. Jacket VG+.

More LPs, 45s, and 78s are listed at our eBay store. We also buy and trade for 45s, 78s, LPs, CDs, and music memorabilia.

LP & 45 RECORD GRADING (Goldmine Grading Guide © Goldmine Magazine): 

Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way -- certainly never played, possibly even still sealed.

Near Mint (NM or M-): A nearly perfect record, showing no obvious sign of wear. A 45 rpm sleeve has no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.  An LP jacket has no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable similar defect. No cut-out holes, either. The same is true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, and the like. Basically, Near Mint looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK.  The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but is should be barely noticeable. The center hole is not misshapen by repeated play.  Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turn-up corners, or a slight seam-split. An LP jacket my have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

Very Good (VG): Many of the defects found in a VG+ record are more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise is evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during the song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+): Good does not mean bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear. A jacket or sleeve has seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

Poor (P), Fair (F): The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and/or writing. The LP jacket barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, and written upon.

 [+ and – denote in-between grades. Grades with a slash in between indicate the condition of Side A/Side B.]

Other grading codes (from VJM and other sources):

LIB = Library copy. These albums have been reassembled in library binding format: the jackets have been taped around the edges, and the records are in a separate inner sleeve. Records and printed inserts are placed inside a stiff plastic Gaylord record holder. Library stamps and markings have been applied.

LIB, NOC = Library copy as above but with no original cover; only the record remains in the plastic record holder.

aud = audible

bb = bb hole in cover

boot = bootleg

cc = cut corner

co = cut-out

coh = cut-out hole punched in cover or label

cr = crack

cvr = cover

DJ = DJ or promotional copy

eb = edge bite

ec = edge chip

ef = edge flake

ep = extended play

fade = faded label

gr = groove [10g = 10 grooves]

hc/hlc = hairline crack

inaud = inaudible

lbl = label

lc = lamination crack

ld = label damage

m = mono

nap = not affecting play

non-lp = not on full-length LP or CD

oc = original cast recording

ost = original soundtrack

po = punch out

promo = promotional copy

ps = picture sleeve (45s)

re (also ri) = reissue

rf = rough

rw = ring wear

s = stereo

sc = scratched cover

scfs = scuffs

scr = scratch

sfc = surface

sl = slight

slt wrp = slight warp

sm = saw mark (cut-out mark)

sm splt = seam split

soc = sticker on cover

sol = sticker on label

sr = slight ring wear on cover

ss = still sealed

t = tear on cover

toc = tape on cover

tol = tape on label

va = various artists

wlp = white label promo

woc = writing on cover

wol = writing on label

xoc = “X” written on cover

xol = “X” written on label

MAIL ORDER shipping rates (as of January 2006):

Postage & handling (USA) for one 45, EP, LP, CD, cassette, photo, book, or magazine: $3.50; plus $0.50 for each additional record, cassette or magazine; each additional book $2.50. 78 rpm records: As above, plus $2.00 additional packing charge per order. Books, LPs, 78s, and magazines sent by media mail unless first class/priority is requested. Single copies of cassettes, CDs, photos, and 45s sent by first class mail; larger packages by media mail. Priority mail rates upon request. Double albums and albums in library folder bindings count as 2 LPs for postage calculations.

Insurance (optional): USA: $1.35 for up to $50.00 insurance; $2.30 for $100.00 insurance; $1.05 per each additional $100.00.

Air mail postage & handling for foreign buyers for one or two 78s: $15 Canada, $20 most of Europe ($28 UK, $24 to Austria, Spain, and Sweden), $27 Australia, $29 Japan. Each additional 78: $1.50 Canada; $3.00 all other countries.

Air mail postage & handling for foreign buyers for one LP or magazine: $6 Canada, $12 UK & Europe, $15 Australia & Japan. Books: $7 Canada, $16 UK & Europe, $20 Australia & Japan. Each additional LP, book or magazine: $1.50 Canada; $3.00 all other countries.

Double albums and albums in library folder bindings count as 2 LPs for postage calculations.

Air mail postage & handling for foreign buyers for one 45, cassette, photo, or CD: $6 Canada, $7 Europe, $10 Japan & Australia. Each additional 45, cassette, photo, or CD: $0.50 Canada; $0.75 all other countries.

Economy (surface) mail for overseas buyers for up to five items (economy letter post for packages weighing four pounds or less): 50% of air mail postage & handling rates stated above (75% to Canada). Not available for 78s due to the size of the boxes we use for shipping.

Economy (surface) parcel post for packages weighing over four pounds: rates upon request. Minimum postage & handling is $20 to $25 depending upon country.

Insurance (optional) for foreign buyers for all items: Postage & packing is the same as for 78s, based on international parcel post rates, plus $4.00 for up to $100.00 insurance and $1.05 per each additional $100.00 of insurance. (We can normally ship LPs, 45s, and lighter packages overseas by letter post at lower rates, but postal regulations require insured packages to be sent by parcel post.)

Delta Blues Map Kit: postage & packing same as 45/cassette/CD.

Posters and large prints (USA): $8.00 postage & packing, for shipping in mailing tubes. For posters and prints wrapped between large flat cardboard sheets: $15.00 parcel post or $18.00 priority mail, plus $1.00 per each additional poster or print.

Posters and large prints (Foreign): postage & packing same as 78s, for shipping in mailing tubes. Some posters and prints may be shipped wrapped between large flat cardboard sheets, depending on post office size limits, for an additional fee.

Payment: Checks or money orders in U.S. dollars; PayPal, Western Union, or MoneyGram; cash by registered mail. PayPal e-mail: Stackhouse232@aol.com. Credit card customers please use PayPal or Western Union.

Send orders to: W.J. O’Neal, 3516 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO 64109. Phone (816) 931-0383.

See our eBay store (Bluesoterica.com Mail Order) for more Blues, R&B, soul, funk, jazz, rock, world/ethnic, soundtrack, pop, folk, C&W, comedy, dance, spoken word & gospel records, CDs, books & magazines, concert posters, photos & musical memorabilia.

We have signed copies of "The Voice of the Blues: Classic Interviews from Living Blues Magazine" (Routledge, 2002, edited by Jim O'Neal and Amy van Singel). "The Voice of the Blues" is a collection of interviews conducted from 1967/68 to 1981, originally published in Living Blues, America's first blues magazine, with chapters expanded for this book to include introductions, postscripts, editors' notes, and previously unpublished questions and answers from several interviews. Includes interviews with Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter & Louis Myers, T-Bone Walker, Freddie King, Little Milton, Georgia Tom Dorsey, Houston Stackhouse, Eddie Boyd, Little Esther Phillips, and Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon. 427 pages, paperback, with Foreword by Peter Guralnick, 43 photos and detailed index. $27.95 plus $3.50 shipping & handling (USA). Air mail shipping & handling: $7.00 Canada, $16.00 Europe, $20.00 Australia, Japan.

Other books available on WYNONIE HARRIS, BIG JAY McNEELY, L.A. VOCAL GROUPS, ELMORE JAMES, JOSH WHITE, STAX RECORDS, BUDDY HOLLY, and more.

Back issues of Living Blues Magazine also available from our eBay store: Go to Bluesoterica.com (mail order page) for contents of each issue.

WANTED: 45s and LPs (blues, R&B, soul, funk, rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, jazz & gospel) from Kansas City, St. Louis, Arkansas, Alabama & Mississippi; also independent or obscure local releases of blues, R&B, and funk on 45 or LP from Wichita, Louisville, Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Toledo, Cleveland, Baton Rouge, Miami, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Oakland, etc. We also buy or trade for world music, especially African and Caribbean records.

Jim O'Neal, BLUESOTERICA.COM MAIL ORDER, 3516 Holmes St., Kansas City MO 64109. (816) 931-0383. e-mail Stackhouse232@aol.com.