PINK FLOYD - The Wall - Orig UK 1979 EX++ Records with TOP QUALITY SOUND.

	£		117
	$		155

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 arrived damaged in them at some time. More details on my packing 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 ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important to 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.

Artist or Band: PINK FLOYD

Album Title: The Wall.

Producer(s): Bob Ezrin, David Gilmour, James Guthrie, Roger Waters.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: In the Flesh?; The Thin Ice; Another Brick in the Wall Part 1; The Happiest Days of Our Lives; Another Brick in the Wall Part 2; Mother.

Side 2: Goodbye Blue Sky; Empty Spaces; Young Lust; One of My Turns; Don’t Leave Me Now; Another Brick in the Wall Part 3; Goodbye Cruel World.

Side 3: Hey You; Is There Anybody Out There?; Nobody Home; Vera; Bring the Boys Back Home; Comfortably Numb.

Side 4: The Show Must Go On; In the Flesh; Run Like Hell; Waiting for the Worms; Stop; The Trial; Outside the Wall.

Label/Format: Harvest – customised design with matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: All four are immaculate: very clean, fresh and attractive with barely a spindle trace to be seen on either. This from the superb collection of hardly played records, owned from new that I have been offering in the recent few weeks. Sparingly and very carefully played albums on a very impressive hi-fi system.

Cat Number: SHSP 4111/12.

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 these Records: 130 / 127 grams. These average, or even above for the time.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Special Note: The album itself is common, let’s not pretend otherwise, even first issues – where there are records, there will a copy of ‘The Wall’. It sold in vast numbers in the UK, Europe and especially America. That possibly surprising due to being issued right at the peak of punk rock and the ‘New Wave’ era at the end of the 1970s, this album did not get the greatest of reviews in some quarters. As a younger man, I bought the three ‘rock’ music weeklies of the time – ‘Sounds’, ‘NME’ and ‘Melody Maker’, the reviews were somewhat negative that I was somewhat put-off even buying a copy, especially as I was never keen on the previous album ‘Animals’, which for me, is still the most disappointing album Pink Floyd ever made. With the youth of the day swayed by the new raw and energetic sounds of the punk bands, it appeared the age of conceptual progressive rock albums had had their day – but the more discerning record-buying public had other ideas. A friend on the day of issue came round to my house (well my parents house to be accurate in 1979) with a copy and said “fancy listening to this”? I did, and was immediately hooked – I thought it a magnificent return to form and sent my system into overdrive.

‘The Wall’ is superbly recorded with immense hi-fi sound, but as per usual, it was quickly mass-produced to meet demand – and there lies the problem. Predictably, pressing quality suffered. Indeed, this is the first example I have had for some considerable time I deem good enough to offer. I have four other copies in stock, all look clean, but have inherent crackle, sporadic pops and clicks, and even pressing pits and bumps that of course emit loud clunks when they meet the stylus – I will NOT offer them. The aforementioned, then unplayed copy my friend bought round (of course a very first pressing on day of issue) also was not silent – not terrible – but still with some unwanted sounds, it was even marked, presumably from being rammed inside the hard card inner from the distribution warehouse. Over time, I have found this one of the most difficult albums to find that will play well throughout, and I deem a ‘silent’ copy over four sides near impossible to find.

Well – at last – I have a first issue copy here that comes quite close, and is easily good enough to offer. It has very little to fault in terms of sound issues, the odd tick or crackle trace apart, this was a super-listen and I enjoyed it immensely. Play-graded, as per all my albums on a Linn Sondek LP12, still one of the world’s most revealing turntables, it takes no prisoners in revealing all what is good on a record (as well any the bad) – a copy easily making the grade, and for me, so few ever will. In fact knowing the issues this record so often has, I will no longer purchase any copy I cannot hear all the way through first – actually a policy I have for most-all albums these days. There is so much rubbish out there and who needs it? If I cannot offer a copy that plays like this, I probably would never offer this album ever again. Some labels are known to be inconsistent, and heavily mass-produced, huge-selling albums on big labels were often the same. So in terms of ‘rarity’, I consider a clean-playing ‘Wall’ to be scarce (even rare), even with many examples in circulation. Buying them ‘blind’ is massively risky if sound quality is of prime consideration. I feel the majority of fans will enjoy this one – if silence is mandatory – well the digital alternatives are the only real option, but the sheer drama, soundscale, dynamic range and warmth the analogue format offers will never be bettered for the sound purists.

Original Year of Release: November, 1979

Matrix Nos: SHSP 4111 A-2U / SHSP 4111 B-2U / SHSP 4112 A-3U / SHSP 4112 B-3U

Run-Out Groove Etchings: TML-X / TML-M / TML-X / TML-X [some quite light and unclear]

Credited Musicians & Vocalists: David Gilmour – guitars, vocals, bass guitars, synthesisers, clavinet, sound effects; Nick Mason – drums, percussion; Roger Waters – vocals, bass guitars, guitars, synthesiser, sound effects; Richard Wright – organ, piano, Rhodes electric piano, synthesisers, bass pedals. With: Bruce Johnston, Toni Tennille, Joe Chemay, John Joyce, Stan Farber, Jim Haas – backing vocals; Islington Green School – children’s choir, Michael Kamen – orchestral arrangement, Bob Ezrin – orchestral arrangement.

Additional musicians (uncredited): Bob Ezrin – organ, piano, synthesiser, backing vocals; James Guthrie – percussion, synthesiser, sound effects; Jeff Porcaro – drums; Joe Porcaro, Blue Ocean & 5 others – snare drums; Lee Ritenour – guitars; Joe (Ron) di Blasi – classical guitar; Fred Mandel – Hammond organ; Bobbye Hall – congas, bongos; Frank Marrocco – concertina; Larry Williams – clarinet; Trevor Veitch – mandolin; New York Orchestra – orchestra; New York Opera – choral vocals; Unnamed children’s choir from New York – children’s choral vocals; Vicki & Clare – backing vocals; Harry Waters – child’s voice, ‘Goodbye Blue Sky’; Chris Fitzmorris – male telephone voice; Trudy Young – voice of the groupie; Phil Taylor – sound effects.

Brief Info: Most rock fans will know all about this album, it’s fame and popularity is worldwide. Even with very mixed reviews of the time, and no longer deemed ‘fashionable’, it sold in vast numbers. The conditions for me the most important factor as I know from experience (with several less than wonderful copies bought ‘blind’ in the past) many, if not most, will not offer the sound the more discerning fans and collectors really want. This not unusual from super-mass-produced albums and many earlier Pink Floyd albums suffer the same issues. If any album deserved the Nimbus Super-Cut treatment, this is one of them, alas it never happened.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): this being somewhat critical. An unlaminated gatefold format with matt, smooth surfaces. It has no outer text, even on the spine and has the darker off-white finish. It includes the PVC transparent ‘static adhesive’ band and title panel. The inside has the correct for a first printed cover as seen in close-up. Printed and made in England. Includes the two different card unlined lyric inner sleeves which were printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse. These have the correct round corners and wide, recessed areas on the top openings.

The PVC Title Sheet: MINT(–): this ‘adheres’ with static, but this ability can diminish with age. It remains practically as made: very clear, uncreased and fresh looking with no noteworthy marks or scratches, all the text is pristine. No curl or thumb creasing, this still adheres perfect flat and attractively to the cover’s surface.

Cover Front: One or two very fine and faint surface marks mostly seen under light. Barely aged at all and no creasing. Very basic and looking impressive, this has the correct off-white finish, later ones were more pure white (and have different inside credits).

Cover Back: Even better if anything, the lack of rim impression or dulling always great news.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Practically as made with the first credits as seen in close-up.

Top Edges: Thick, unworn and very straight. No splits or rubbing and for good measure, they lie flat and meet up flush and parallel – always the best news for the neatest of looking covers.

Bottom Edges: Practically the same as above.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Again in superb condition: clean, very sharp with no wear, burring or thickening, even viewed end-on. Both are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way. Records entered on these edges.

Spine and Text: Solid, thick, straight with barely any compression and folded square as mentioned above, so the edges meet up perfectly together and parallel. This factor always makes covers look that extra bit neater and attractive. No text printed on this spine or any outer part of this cover. Just a hint of darkening which is seldom avoided on paler spines over time – here only very gentle.

Corners: All corners in equally impressive condition with any tip rubs less than minuscule. Superb undinked or creased tips with near perfect, as-made shape retained.

Cover Summary: A very strong all-round example of this famous late 1970’s cover, one that could prove very difficult to find much better. This attractive, little-aged example should please many, if not most collectors.

The Inner Sleeves: BOTH PRACTICALLY MINT: Any rim impression to the matt surfaces very fine and faint and rarely avoided totally. These have the correct rounded corners and wide recessed top openings. Barely a crease to be seen and all edges UNSPLIT with NO repairs. Not even a hint of stressing or thinning to these vulnerable areas. Again, as you would expect, they have the first details and credits and have rarely seen better examples.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++) / MINT(–): a super visual pair that are very clean, fresh looking with very fhine shine, also quite solidly pressed. Both discs looked hardly played, a fact I know for certain is the case – barely run-in in vinyl terms. One very fine surface marks on side three has no sound, any surface traces beyond that, ultra fine and faint, even finer than hairlines as seen with utmost scrutiny under bright angled light. Hard card inners are never surface friendly, but these four sides are as close to unblemished as I have seen on this difficult album. Visually super records that should please most-all collectors again.

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: The sound quality on this album has been a long-term hi-fi favourite and demonstration- piece to really put any system through it’s paces. With thunderous dynamics and range, this is a masterclass in engineering and production. So sadly let-down though by mass-production manufacturing – getting units in the retailers was the order-of-the-day and quality control it seemed less important. As already stated further up, I have rarely had any copy of this album I deem worthy of offering – if they fail to please me (yes, I am admittedly fussy), why should I expect them to please any potential buyer? Often loud crackle, pops, repetitive clicks and pressing noises are all too common on this album. One copy I have in stock, bought in a small collection a year-or-so ago, is covered in pressing pits and tiny blisters which sound, ruining the whole experience, I will not offer such copies and it will probably end-up in the recycling bin. Simply, I will not purchase any copy now without hearing it first, I simply do not need any more ‘rejects’ or inferior noisy copies.

So, it is always with trepidation I play even the cleanest, most unplayed looking copy of ‘The Wall’. Sure, fewer plays the better, but even brand new copies – as I heard back in 1979 – still can and do disappoint. This one failed to do so: an ultimate brief and faint trace of surface sound at the very beginning of side one – in context, very minor and brief indeed – but very little heard thereafter. The odd sporadic tick or crackle trace (being ultra critical) are nigh-on impossible to avoid over the duration of four very challenging sides. Of which there are some immensely quiet passages as well as loud – a typical prog-rock album in that respect. Sides 3 and 4 I have found the most difficult over time, the second record here especially plays superbly with very little to fault at all – that really is some task. Record one, overall plays very impressively as well. I will never state ‘perfect’, because that term should mean exactly what is says, with NOTHING unwanted. Truly, I think that is close to impossible on such material on a mass-produced record. That is why audiophile listeners crave those specialist limited edition super-fi pressings like the Nimbus Super-cut ‘Wish You Were Here’ I am currently offering. Such purity of sound can hardly be expected on standard issues – fact. That said, this copy offers the best sound I have heard for a long time. The sound embedded in these hardly run-in grooves is phenomenal. Played at volume on my LP12, that diving Stuka with the wailing sirens made my skin erupt in goosebumps, and the famed helicopter sounded directly over my house. The incredible slam of the drums and bass and the equally famous smashing up of the room was breathtaking. Most of the quiet passages were just that, with very little unwanted. No pops or significant clicks noted either, for a mass-produced double set, this will one will take some beating, and the one-and-only original owner hardly even played it. No distortion, pressing sounds, all the ultimate details fully intact with no loss of focus and clarity. Clearly well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environmen, this will take some beating. Nothing of any real note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this prog-rock classic. Knowing what this is like to find, it will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended.

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 - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, 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 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 and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. 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 Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium 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 and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap 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 less than one in two thousand+ based on over 8,000+ items sold in over 10 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. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. 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 as me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, 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 and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). 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] = £4.25

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 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 (£17 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’.