ROLLING STONES The Great Years, Scarce UK Box Set MINT

	£		41
	$		54

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 ROLLING STONES

Album Title: The Great Years (Decca four album boxed set that was available via Reader’s Digest.

Track Listing: Record 1: Come On; I Wanna Be Your Man; Not Fade Away; (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66; I Need You Baby; Tell Me (You’re Coming Back); Carol; I Just Want to Make Love to You; I’m a King Bee; Can I Get a Witness; It’s All Over Now; Little Red Rooster; Time in on My Side; off the Hook; Under the Boardwalk; Everybody Needs Somebody to Love; Pain in my Heart; Down Home Girl.

Record 2: The Last Time; (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction; She Said ‘Yeah’; Heart of Stones; Mercy Mercy; Talkin’ ’bout you Baby; Get off of My Cloud; 19th Nervous Breakdown; Mother’s Little Helper; Play With Fire; Lady Jane; Out of Time; High and Dry; Under My Thumb; I am Waiting; It’s Not Easy; Paint it Black.

Record 3: Have you Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?; As Tears go By; Let’s Spend the Night Together; Ruby Tuesday; Back Street Girl; Yesterday’s Papers; Miss Amanda Jones; Something Happened to Me Yesterday; We Love you; Dandelion; Sing This all Together; 2000 Man; She’s a Rainbow; 2000 Light years From Home; On With the Show.

Record 4: Jumpin’ Jack Flash; Honky Tonk Woman; Street Fighting Man; No Expectations; Sympathy For the Devil; Factory Girl; Dear Doctor; Midnight Rambler; Gimme Shelter; Love in Vain; Let it Bleed; You Can’t Always Get What You Want.

Label/Format: Decca (Customised labels for this set, please see the two scans).

Label Conditions: All eight labels are pristine mint - this set is unplayed, even by me for the vast majority. Zero spindle traces or marks of course, these are really brand new. (Please see label scans for all information needed).

Cat Number: GROL-A-119.

Mono or Stereo: All tracks are Stereo or mixed for stereo.

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: I have no doubts at all this is a scarce Rolling Stones item, its the first time I have been offered this and boy what a copy to be offered. This is UNPLAYED, yes true, this set - including the box and all inners - are pristine mint, simply acquired at the time and put on a shelf, the only sign of any age was a fine line of dust on the top of the box edge - now rubbed away with a clean duster, this is now brand new and quite stunning.

Original Year of Release: The box states 1982

Matrix Nos: All A-1’s and B-1’s (11). I would guess this set was only pressed the once and not available too long. I would presume this was available mail order for the subscribers of the book.

Brief Artist & Album Info: No long history lessons needed here - this put as simply as possible is a four album box set issued on Decca made available via The Reader’s Digest book. It features 61 tracks of the highest quality from the legendary, and vastly superior, Decca years. This is a truly fantastic set in the most stunning, pristine mint (unplayed) condition - I did play just a snippet of each side to check the pressing quality - hardly any need really - this is Decca, arguably the very best label ever, always top pressings with near silent play quality. To actually see an important issue over 20 years old in this condition is quite remarkable - these records have never been played and possibly never even taken out of their mint, lined inners.

Box Grade and Format: Mint(-) and undergraded at that even. If a better example of this box exists I sure would like to see it - these invariably get knocked, broken or damaged somehow over time - not this one!. A very robust and high quality item that is rock solid, pristine and gorgeous. It has a glossy type finish and all edges, top and bottom are like new, this has avoided all forms of rubbing and friction marks. The lower tray, which detaches completely from the top lid, just to add an extra bit of class, has a ribbon ‘pull’ to assist in the removal of the four LPs. All the corners and seam joints are perfect and there is no creasing at all. Super clean with stunning shine and not even a hint of any dulling. The odd microscopic surface mark or tiny indent, but hardly anything even shows unless scrutinized. This incredible box is unlikely to ever be found looking like this again.

The Illustrated Sleeves: All four are Mint or as close as they are ever likely to get.

The Lined Inners: All are pristine mint too, pure white with die cut clear windows, all the linings are as new. All are made in England with a UK Patent No. - these are stunning flipbacked type, high quality inners sleeves - would you expect less from Decca? These are important to this set as they have their own unique text and numbers - they too will never be found looking quite like this.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: All four LPs are Mint. Four virgin new LPs that looks astonishing - all eights sides look unmarked to me with beautiful shine - the look and feel of brand new vinyl - a rare and pleasing thing.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: As stated, I had to play a few small sections just to satisfy myself these are as good as they look - hardly any need really. They are absolutely brilliant, so much so, I had to check I had lowered my arm fully onto the record’s surface - yes they were that quiet. Perfect pressings, sound and beautifully produced too. I was very curious to hear what some of the premier league classics sounded like - answer: amazing. Stunning clarity and detail with lovely stereo imagery. What a delight to hear such clean sound for Stones classics on vinyl. I cannot imagine anything else but the whole 61 playing to the very highest standards that vinyl can possibly offer.

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.

Records Played For Grading: Only a few tracks - I wanted to keep this ‘unplayed’ and felt confident to do so.

Final Summary: This is far scarcer than any guide will ever let on to - in this condition this copy could be unique - An UNPLAYED Stones set - pretty unlikely I feel. Yes you may have all or some of the songs already. But this set in such condition, with lovely packaging should appeal to all serious Stones collectors. If you just need one Stones vinyl compilation, you could do far worse than get this set. Just look at the track listing - how much better can it get? A tapestry of riches that look and sound pure gold. Any collector - young or old - will revel in these vintage classics - the youth of today dont know what they missed or are missing. The Decca years were pure music class and its a joy to have all the classics here in one set - I have to confess to not generally being a compilation man or fan, but with this I happily make an exception. Never has a boxed compilation ever been more perfectly titled - The Great Years sums this set up perfectly. If your Stones collection is missing this vital piece, dont even think about losing this astonishing mint copy – Mike.

Having the Powerseller Logo: This is recognition from Ebay for the highest possible customer services, satisfaction and quality, it should reassure any potential bidder that all items are described, graded and shipped to the highest standards possible. Customer care of the highest order is a standard feature here and I am proud to have achieved this recognised standard of excellence from Ebay with help from collectors and buyers from all over the World - I thank you all.

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3.00; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £4.50 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 NOTprofit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more and I often actually lose money on this part of service - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. 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 worthwhile.

I can 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.