PINK FLOYD Meddle RARER ORIG UK 1971 HARVEST EX+ LP with SUPER SOUND & COVER.

	£		161
	$		213

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World in Quality, Safe Packing.

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 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all – in fact I think these things should be banned as records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS. Full details nearer the end of the listing.

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: PINK FLOYD

Album Title: Meddle

Producer(s): Pink Floyd

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: One of These Days; A Pillow of Winds; Fearless; San Tropez; Seamus.

Side 2: Echoes.

Label/Format: Harvest – matt, smooth surfaces. This a first issue copy with ‘The Gramophone Co Ltd’ text on the rims. Second issue copies changed this to EMI Records text.

Label Conditions: A gentle smudge or handling mark on side two apart, both in lovely clean and fresh conditions. Spindle marks are light, mostly fine and quite faint. This record is considerably heavier pressed than subsequent pressings and offers probably the best overall sound I have heard to date – never take that for granted.

Country of Manufacture: England

Cat Number: SHVL 795

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 142 grams. Way above average, and superbly pressed.

Rarity : UK copies are not hard to find per se, this proved a popular album. But the main factor has always been condition and pressing quality. Variable would be to simplistic: a well-known factor for most collectors, especially one of a similar age to myself who remember trying to get a decent pressing from new back in the day. Originally issued in the middle of the great oil shortage of 1971, thus many records were pressed using recycled (label and all) or ‘mixed’ new and old vinyl. Thus sound quality suffered alarmingly with pressing noises and constant unwanted crackle. I remember clearly to this day, the first copy I ever bought had persistent moderate surface noise throughout the entire album, this was returned to the retailer and changed. The same result, this happened twice more – all were similar. I simply gave-up, the shop told me all were going to be the same from the batch available at the time. I have heard the same story from other buyers of the time. This is not heresay or rumour, it is a stone-cold fact – this album is incredibly difficult to find that will offer clean sound throughout, the type more discerning and audiophile listeners want. So it is always with caution and trepidation I play-grade any copy of this album no matter what pressing or how it looks. This one did NOT disappoint, and these days my analogue equipment is massively more revealing than back in the early 1970s when I was a prog-rock loving teenager. A first issue copy as the labels and matrixes confirm, this one has NO pressing problems or issues. The lack of crackle, pops and clicks made for a tremendous experience. It was the copy I craved all those years ago. Most of the cleaner ‘Meddle’s’ I have offered over the years have been later copies that were very thinnly pressed. But a first issue format copy this clean is just so difficult to find like this. For collectors wanting a ‘Gramophone’ rim pressing with weight and superb sound, look no further. Indeed this record could prove a major upgrade.

Original Year of Release: 1971

Matrix Nos: SHVL 795 A-1U / SHVL 795 B-1U

Mothers / Stampers: 2 RA / 1 RH

Musicians: David Gilmour – guitar, bass, lead vocals, harmonica; Roger Waters – bass, lead vocals and guitar; Richard Wright – Hammond organ, piano, vocals; Nick Mason – drums, percussion, vocal.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Most interested Floyd, Harvest and prog collectors will know all about this classic album already, suffice to say, it’s a delicately beautiful record in all departments. Very quiet intros to both sides, equally quiet passages in the sublime ‘Echoes’, this record takes no prisoners in hiding blemishes and defects, so a clean pressed album is one to treasure. As stated above, these are something of a lottery, and the majority will disappoint, thus a full-play becomes even more essential. This has very fine clean sound and detail, and being totally honest, I was amazed. The fact both the record’s playing surfaces are so clean with any visual blemishes bordering on minuscule. Clearly that was a great start, but nothing is guaranteed until it’s played. Everything confirms this is pressed on high-quality vinyl and was a pure joy to listen to. Gone is the crackle, pops and clicks I had to ensure from my copy purchased when I was still at school back in the early 1970s. Pressed considerably above average weight, this is a lovely record – and has a cover to match – again that is equally difficult. First covers were textured inside and out, and had a wider spine making all the more fragile. Soft, thin, textured card, a sure-fire recipe for all forms of wear and damage, this has only quite gentle rubbing on the bottom storage edges. and gentle traces on the spine. Early copies also included the Harvest promotional inner sleeve, included as seen. For me, this is one of the greatest albums they ever made – still experimental and ‘progressive’, before they became all a little too commercial towards the end of the 1970s. This is a copy that sets the standard very high, and for those who crave, like I did back near issue time, a copy without irritating inherent surface noise and pressing issues, this one delivers.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): an unlaminated gatefold format and textured on ALL surfaces. The card is thin and soft, thus highly prone to all forms of wear. Printed and made in by Garrod & Lofthouse and includes the Harvest promotional inner sleeve.

Cover Front: In terms of rubbing, hardly any at all, almost the same for creasing, just a gentle one near the top edge right that hardly shows. Under light, a couple of ultra gentle faint scuff traces are just seen, but totally invisible when viewed normally full on. Clean, fresh with deep colour, so almost as attractive as when made. A little corner tip rubbing is near impossible to avoid totally. The textured surface has suffered no speckle, rim impression or damage. This famous prog-rock cover front sets a high standard and will not be beaten easily.

Cover Back: Largely the same with any rub traces tiny and very light indeed mainly near the very edges and tips. Viewing under light reveals no scuffs or surface abrasions. The lack of ringwear and rim impression is a massive plus on unforgiving surfaces and textured thin card.

Cover Inner Gatefold: This inside is textured like the outsides and looks superb. This one of the most famous band shots ever made by the Hipgnosis studio. Little to fault again, a gentle semi-crease towards the top right, any surface blemishes seen under light again, minor and faint. No set-off or toning, minimal discolouration, this black and white spread is still clean and fresh. I have taken a close-up of the imprint line that also shows the texturing pattern well.

Top Edges: Quite thin, but still straight, flat and flush. Small right tip rubs, but little else.

Bottom Edges: Light, fairly patchy rubbing, then as above. Thin unprotected card like this as storage edges will seldom escape without some surface rubbing at best.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The front edge is sharp and crisp with minimal hint of wear, this slightly tilted to left and naturally protected by the back. The back edges have also fared well, especially given the thin card. Minimal thickening or burring, still largely crisp and sharp with no curl or bowing. Record enters on the back, all are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way.

Spine and Text: A wider spine than later versions, hence even more perilous. More often seen badly rubbed, flattened, even threadbare or split. This has a little minor wear, but still quite impressive. Any compression slight and certainly not flat, it has a gentle hint of a left tilt with a mild natural crease that has gently rubbed to the right side of the text. Any other rubbing or wear, little and light. The best news is, ALL text is present and unworn as seen. Still solid and straight with the vast majority of graphic ink intact without scuffs or splits. Finding a perfect thicker spine is an immense task, so put into true context, this spine has fared well.

Corners: Light tip rubbing with very fine to excellent shape largely retained. No bashes and minimal hint of any dinks – their fragility cannot be overstated.

Cover Summary: A very fine example of one of classic and prog-rock’s most uncompromising covers. With so many seen grubby, torn, threadbare and tatty, this one on the other side of the cover spectrum, one to hold and enjoy – and the fully textured ones always carry that extra bit of class in terms of good viewing. This one will please many, if not most collectors, but a little shy for perfectionists who want ‘as-new’ at any cost.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): also in very pleasing condition with far less ageing than most seen these days. Yes this Harvest promotional inner sleeve has a little darkening of the seam adhesive but not a great deal else. The polylining still intact, minimal creasing and no edge splits or repairs. These were only quite briefly included with the early copies of this album, most seen have the plain white unlined inners.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+): and probably worth of the extra (+). A very clean original with fine shine appearing lightly and careful played. Pressed on very pure, and much thicker vinyl, this has no dulling or tell-tale mottle markings on the playing surfaces that often indicate the presence of recycled vinyl. The audio difference testifies to that, this copy was a joy to hear. Any surface traces very few, fine and faint as seen under bright angled light, there are no penetrating stylus scratches, one most collectors will enjoy. This early, more elusive ‘Gramophone’ text rim record could prove a huge upgrade for some 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: At last! – a very early example that does this monumental work near maximum justice. This prog classic even exceeds it’s high visual grading with very little, if indeed anything of any note to fault. Silence for all is a near impossibility, especially with some ultra quiet passages, none more so than the intro and outro to ‘Echoes’ that all fans will know, but the start of side one is equally challenging. Even these crucial areas plays superbly with hardly any unwanted crackle or inherent contact noise. No pressing or tracking issues at all*, that I consider a major rarity. For those who want the vinyl experience without the usual crackle or pressing issues so many invariably had, this quality copy delivers. I can hardly emphasise enough, how incredibly difficult it is to find a clean pressing and little-used copy of this one. A lovely all-round example – cover, inner, record and sound – this sets the bar very high. If anyone has a ‘perfect’ UK standard issue, well treasure it, because they truly are the exception rather than the rule. This a copy I can strongly recommend and will prove the benchmark for any other future originals I may get.

* 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 programmes. 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’.