HOLLIES Evolution Rare N/M UK Stereo 67 Orig.

	£		84
	$		111

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. 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 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.

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: THE HOLLIES

Album Title: Evolution

Cat Number: PCS 7022 Stereo. (This was also pressed in mono and is more common)

Label and Condition: Parlophone yellow and black original format. Stunning examples of this classic 60s label. Made in Gt Britain; The Gramophone Co Ltd etc and Sold in UK subject to resale price conditions etc. Side one has the embossed KT tax codes which are very clean and sharp, unflattened and retaining their original ink, also a good indicator to how many time an album has been played. Even modest plays and removals from non-lined inners removes the ink from the very fine and delicate letters. The K is perfect and the T has a pin-prick mark near the very top - these fine letters rarely come much better than this. Spindle traces are as light as they get for a classic 60s album, side one has close to zero, which just the single faintest trace of one and side two just a couple which again are very light indeed. There is zero wear around the centre hole which is remarkable. All the evidence points to a record that has been played no more than a couple of times. And if/when you hear the sound quality this confirms it beyond any doubt - its simply sensational. (Please see label scans for all information needed).

Country of Manufacture: Gt Britain

Rarity: Very scarce in stereo, this is the first one I have ever had to offer. In this condition it can be regarded as rare now.

Original Year of Release: 1967

Matrix Nos: YEX 635-1 and YEX 636-1. The tiny stamper codes are 1T and 1L.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Along with Butterfly, Evolution is The Hollies other psych masterpiece, issued in the greatest year in rock history, the summer of love, 1967. Never an easy album to find and when this turned up in stereo I could hardly believe it. As soon as the first few notes of ‘Then the Heartaches Begin’ flowed from the speakers the huge difference in the mix was apparent. The mono is mix is tremendous but after hearing this in stereo (for the first time via vinyl) it simply takes the breath away. Most of the big popular bands around this time made a psych album, and Evolution has to be regarded as one of the very best. It still has the classic Hollies harmonies and the band rarely sounded better. With the definite psych feel and mix added this is something really special. The cover too is pure 1967, brilliantly psych and surreal with fabulous colour - and the condition is pretty magnificent too. This classic should be included in any serious 60s collection and in stereo is priceless.

Cover Grade and Format: EX++, single format, laminated front, three huge flipbacks with File under POPULAR: Pop Groups on the top right. ‘This high Fidelity STEREO recording may also be played as mono’ on back cover as well as the New Emitex advert. Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. Patents Pending.

Cover Lamination: Super laminate that has a lovely deep shine and very little creasing, any present are small and show little. Few surface marks and no indentations, no peeling or dry areas also. A faint pressmark from the heavy record if being critical (not ringwear, this has none of that), again anything is close to invisible. Any dulling is minimal and when viewed under normal conditions this laminate is superb and will not be beaten easily.

Cover Front: Absolutely magnificent, stunning rich colours under the fine laminate with brilliant artwork. This is a definitive cover from this period and this has little wear, clean and visually supreme.

Cover Back: Again a real beauty, little wear with stunning unrubbed colour. The flipbacks are solid with little creasing, not fraying or lifting. A fine hint of an ‘end of laminate’ line but only light. A tiny chip on the bottom one also but try finding this back better - it could take ages.

Top Edge: Unworn.

Bottom Edge: Unworn.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with little wear. Record entered on right edge.

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

Corners: All four show a little minor wear, mostly on the very tips. All still nicely shaped.

Cover Summary: A wonderful all round example of this scarce stereo 60’s cover, one that could prove hard to find much better. This strong item should please most collectors.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-) and bar one mega light and small hairline which is totally superficial and does not sound whatsoever I would be tempted to call this Mint because I cannot imagine ever finding this rare stereo copy better. You can bearly see this faint mark let alone hear it. This is an astonishing record that could pass as new. Its super clean and virtually blemish free, heavily pressed and jet black. This ranks close to the astonishing unplayed Sgt Pepper LP I sold last year and the sound on this is as close to perfect as vinyl ever will be.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: My play-grade revealed a sensational record, one that will please even the most fastidious connoisseur collector anywhere. The sound is close to perfection - no let me correct myself - this is perfection, no copy of this record will outperform this one. The stereo mix is sublime, hugely detailed and clear, both channels are pristine and not even a hint of distortion - and on any Hollies album this is unusual. The intense harmony vocals more often than not seem to clip even lightly. I have heard some mono copies that break down completely and the tracks nearer the label are unlistenable. Always loudly mixed this always added to the problem. To hear this with such clarify is a revelation: my deck reveals most blemishes, but I would say even on a Linn Sondek LP12 this record will simply ‘sing’. A wonderful pressing with next to zero stylus sounds and no pops or ticks can I remember. This pop/psych masterpiece almost takes you into the recording studio and what a joy to hear these vocal sounds so sharp and clear. This has to be one of the very best 60s albums I have ever seen and heard. The record comes in its original EMI advertising inner which has been photographed for you. Like the rest of this item, its close to mint and unsplit or torn. Minor ruffles and that’s about it.

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.

Track Listing: Then the heartaches begin; Stop right there; Water on the brain; Lullaby to Tim; Have you ever Loved somebody; You need love; Rain on the window; Heading for a fall; Ye olde toffee shoppe; when your light’s turned on; Leave me; The games we play.

Album Played For Grading: Yes - Wow!!

Final Summary: A copy for the serious collector. Evolution is beautifully produced by Ron Richards. Featuring few of their well known big hit singles, but who cares? This has 12 of the very best, as a psych-pop collection this works perfectly and remains in the memory long after playing. In terms of units sold, not too sure, the competition was fierce in this most famous year. Sgt Pepper took the world by storm and classics often got missed or left behind – time has put this right with recognition now for these types now justified. Clarke, Hicks and Nash et al. rarely sounded better than on this famous record and this copy will grace any collection - dont even think about losing this one – Mike.

Payment Details please read carefully:

UK First Class: = £2.50; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £4.00 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £6.00

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. 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 given.

I 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.