NICK DRAKE Five Leaves Left SCARCE 1970 ISLAND UK 2nd PRESS, LOVELY COVER & LP.

	£		240
	$		318

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 (£2 per extra record). All boxes sent FIRST-CLASS & TRACKED in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS with extra 7mm side protection and bubblewrap.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business. I will always keep my P&P prices as low as possible, and even after yet another Royal Mail price hike from April this year, I have NOT raised my prices and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably heavier than most you will get. My P&P offers probably the best value-for-money for vinyl records available, and I even will pay for full 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. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: NICK DRAKE

Album Title: Five Leaves Left

Producer(s): Joe Boyd

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Time Has Told Me; River Man; Three Hours; Way to Blue; Day Is Done.

Side 2: Cello Song; The Thoughts of Mary Jane; Man in a Shed; Fruit Tree; Saturday Sun.

Label/Format: Island – very early second pressing on the pink rim format with matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both immaculate: very clean, fresh and attractive with maybe one ultra fine spindle trace seen with utmost scrutiny.

Catalogue Number: ILPS 9105

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 125 grams. A very good solid average weight.

Country of Manufacture: England

Original Year of Release: 1969. This second pressing in 1970, and hardly any easier to find on this format. than the first.

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9105 A-3U / ILPS 9105 B-3U

Mothers / Stampers: 1 R / 1 A

Rarity: Very rare as a ‘first pressing’, and with a massive price guide value. The second pink rim pressing is also elusive and seldom seen either. It took the record-buying public an age to really discover this man, hence this is almost as elusive the pink first issue that is practically the same bar the label itself. This copy and the original second album ‘Bryter Layter’ I am offering were actually brought from new at the same time by a man who actually knew Drake whilst at school. Both records appear hardly even played. The cover being massively prone to all forms of wear, has very little and in terms of what it is, is in near exceptional condition as seen – it being the same cover as first used. Being a largely acoustic album, the odd minor sporadic click is so hard to avoid totally, even a record clearly hardly played. But this has few blemishes and sound quality is clean and distortion-free with barely any inherent surface noise from an overall very fine EMI pressing. Now 46-years-old, finding such an early Nick Drake album lesser used, certainly never abused or much better will prove very difficult. Sales of this record within a year of two or issue (and some time beyond) were meagre, and never underestimate how hard to find this album is.

Musicians: Nick Drake - vocals and acoustic guitar; Paul Harris – piano; Richard Thompson – electric guitar; Danny Thompson – double bass; Rocki Dzidzornu – congas; Clare Lowther – cello; Tristram Fry – drums & vibraphone.

Brief Info: Born Nicholas Rodney Drake on June 19, 1948 and died November 25, 1974. An English folk-singer-songwriter of immense talent. He made just three albums and they all failed to sell during his lifetime. As the years moved on, his work has grown massively in popularity and stature, and all three are highly sort-after, he is now regarded one of the most influential folk singer-songwriters of the last half decade. He signed to Island Records when only 20-years-old, and released this, his debut album Five Leaves Left in 1969. His first two albums are reputed to have sold less than five thousand copies as first issues and his reluctance to perform live or give interviews were major factors to his near total lack of commercial success. He suffered with depression and insomnia and his song lyrics often portrayed these troubles. He died after the completion of his third album from an overdose of an anti-depressant. On this timelessly beautiful record he is backed by Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) and Danny Thompson (Pentangle) amongst others. His vocal lacked a great range but it remained highly expressive nonetheless and indeed it took me some time before appreciating this now iconic artist myself. Like most others, his albums bypassed me for many years, but the wait was well worth it. This is such a rare album as an original and almost equally difficult on the early pink rim versions issued only around a year later, especially in better conditions. So many have very worn covers and badly scratched records when they do surface. Bought and appreciated by only a lucky few initially, this man’s original works are amongst the most sort-after for album collectors these days. The lack of sales at the time were not helped by mediocre reviews either – opinions on that have also turned around. As stated above, this and his second album were purchased together by a fellow school pupil who new him well. A copy in very fine, hardly played condition, that a fact, not guess work. The odd sporadic tick here-and-there yes, but not a great deal else to fault on a lovely largely acoustic set that is very well pressed. With an equally impressive cover that even could prove a major upgrade for someone. Not pristine for the absolute audiophile purist who is intolerant of anything, but realistically, this beautiful, timeless classic will prove very difficult to find better.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): this the barest minimum I would grade as, compared to most I have seen for real or offered, this is a superb example and arguably worthy of the extra (+). Few ‘Ernest J. Day’ originals will better this, either available or unavailable. An unlaminated gatefold cover that was printed and made in England by Ernest J. Day. This is the same as the first issue versions, simply with a slightly record put inside. This includes the plain white inner sleeve, the blue inner sleeve issued a little later.

Cover Front: Even though not pristine, this is the very best I have seen to date for real. Massively prone to rubbing, the solid deep green area rarely avoids it, and often badly. This only has a gentle fine rub against the inside flipback construction near the top and a little on the corner tips, with a trace on the bottom edge. The green ink is not only vulnerable to rubbing, but also it changes hue with any natural light exposure. The very top edge has gone a shade of blue with a hint on the spine fold. The only likely way this was avoided was to store inside a case where no light ever encroached. There is little else to fault with any other rub traces tiny and faint, any marks the same, and the lack of creasing excellent news. The actual graphic is practically pristine. A cover with deep colour and freshness, and certainly not tired or looking aged, also no sticker issues. This now famous front cover will prove difficult to find much better.

Cover Back: The odd fine surface hairline (look very hard) or minute tone spot, but realistically, this back is little short of as-made and looking fantastic. Again uncreased and no ring wear, not barely even a hint of rim impression. This almost equally wear-prone back will also prove beyond difficult to find better.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The inside is beautifully simplistic – the haunting picture of Drake seen in the shadows is quite chilling and effective as seen in close-up. The matt black surfaces appear untouched or ruined by fingermarks, any blemishes tiny and very few. This is exceptional.

Top Edges: Both straight, flat and flush, a little mild, small, very patchy rubbing on the front.

Bottom Edges: Pretty much the same, slightly more rubbing near the green ends.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The front has a real tucked and folded edge, this has barely any rubbing, but the green ink again now more a shade of blue (as explained above). The back entrance edges are crisp and sharp with barely any thickening or burring, even as seen viewed end-on. Guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: A superb spine, the surface brown and this colour not affected by light, the top fold hinge was green and now finely changed to blue as mentioned already. Better that than rubbing of which this spine has largely avoided as seen. A couple of tiny faded spots only near the bottom end. This is very solid, robust and straight with no compression or crushing, also folded square so the edges are very flush and parallel. All text is pristine and the surface clean and fresh with no scuffs or bashes.

Corners: Mainly light tip rubs where present with at least very fine shape retained with no bashes or dinks.

Cover Summary: This particular cover has to be put in context – most fans and collectors will know what these are normally found like (when they surface for offer). A very impressive example of this ruthlessly unforgiving cover. This has the least real wear I have seen to date, the only fine edge colour change is so hard to avoid. This is 100% original, beware of Robor or others being offered a firsts, these were only made by Ernest J. Day, the imprint on the lower back near the witch logo. Few will survive with less wear and this should please many, if not most collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): a basic plain solid white unlined inner as used on the first issue pink rim albums, slightly later copies and albums had the blue inner. This only very gently aged with minimal hint of discolouration. Hardly creased and all edges unsplit with no repairs.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): a very impressive visual copy that is very clean with lovely shine and solidly pressed. Also a copy hardly played, that a fact, not a guess, this copy purchased directly from the owner, not a fair or advert. Any surface traces being very few, fine and faint – most of any blemishes within the vinyl itself and for near all, this record plays superbly. Visually a lovely 1970 pressed record that should please many, if not most collectors.

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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This Island masterpiece plays up to, and most even exceeds its high visual gradings with very little to fault. It offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is wonderfully detailed with a wide dynamic range and in-the-room clarity. Beautifully produced with a genuine atmosphere, this is a gateway into the recording studio with Drake’s voice and guitar having ultimate definition with no tracking issues*. Any surface sounds minimal – as stated, the odd sporadic tick or two is so difficult to avoid on material like this, finding any copy without the odd tiny blemish or polite reminder of what is being played is beyond difficult. Mainly a low-volume melancholic acoustic album, this has few passages to hide the odd minor blemish but glad to state there are very few. Few albums like this and of such an age will play through devoid of the odd single groove tick, the format hardly allows it but this gives a high-class performance and was a delight to hear. Do not dismiss this as another reissue – it appeared only months after the pink version that sold in minuscule numbers (for a vinyl record at this time), this also pressed by EMI. Few will match or outperform this still very early issue I feel sure. Overall, well stored and carefully handled, and importantly, hardly played. Little of any real note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, a true delight, it really is a shame this did not sell in greater quantities simply to satisfy the amazing rise in interest for this man’s work. An album of immense beauty, possibly not immediately apparent, but when these songs get into the subconscious, little else will better it in this field. A work of true genius, the song arrangements are simply breathtaking and the purity of the voice and instruments are sheer high fidelity class. ‘The Cello Song’ simply sublime. With so few originals around, this can hardly be considered a compromise, these are seldom found either. A beautiful and still elusive record that more than justifies the memory of the legendary, mysterious and elusive artist. Unless total perfection is mandatory, this copy should please many, if not most collectors.

* 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.

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 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 programs. 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 - 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 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 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Tellurium Black 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, 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 14 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 – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. 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’.