THE BEATLES White Album Orig UK 1968 Stereo COMPLETE

	£		90
	$		119

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.25. Europe £11.75. Rest of World £15.75. ALL signed for. – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment – returns within 14 days only. I try to keep my P&P as low as possible after the very significant Royal Mail price increases.

Artist or Band: THE BEATLES

Album Title: The Beatles (known as ‘The White Album’).

Producer(s): George Martin.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Back in the U.S.S.R.; Dear Prudence; Glass Onion; Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da; Wild Honey Pie; The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill; While My Guitar Gently Weeps; Happiness Is a Warm Gun.

Side 2: Martha My Dear; I’m So Tired; Blackbird; Piggies; Rocky Raccoon; Don’t Pass Me By; Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?; I Will; Julia.

Side 3: Birthday; Yer Blues; Mother Nature’s Son; Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey; Sexy Sadie; Helter Skelter; Long Long Long.

Side 4: Revolution 1; Honey Pie; Savoy Truffle; Cry Baby Cry; Revolution 9; Good Night.

Label/Format: Apple – original dark format stereo labels.

Label Conditions & Overview: All four very clean, still fresh and attractive. Spindle marks are around light to moderate, but sufficiently fine enough to show little with normal viewing. This copy has been played a few times but all evidence suggests carefully and on better quality equipment. Most will know the conditions so many examples of album will be found in and overall, this is a much better than average copy that looks lovely and offers strong, mostly very clean and enjoyable sound with all detail and presentation only the early stereo copies can.

Cat Number: PCS 7067/8.

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: 155 / 142 grams. Very good weights for an album that can vary considerably in weight.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Detail: Not a rare album per se, but complete examples in very fine all-round condition are more difficult. Much is made of the number on the cover’s front as well and obviously the really low numbered examples are hugely valuable – but remember – each cover is unique in it’s own way too. This has the number 0321317 as seen on my close-up picture. The conditions of this set are a vital factor: a standard original complete ‘White’ had – two records – two black inner sleeves – a numbered top opening cover – a UK printed poster – 4 portrait pictures of the band. Every element of the set were fragile in their own way and far fewer examples survive with all the pieces in fine or very fine condition. The poster and pictures often mounted, so pin-holes or tape marks are common as well as fading and tears. The black inners are incredibly fragile, made with soft paper and only one in very many survive relatively unscathed. The cover, although protected with laminate, does age and degrade. The immense popularity of this band and album cannot be over-stated: this album was often played into submission on often very basic record players that inflicted significant wear to the grooves and sound. Thus many written-off for enjoyable sound especially when played on more modern and hugely revealing systems. This pair have been played a few times, but it appears with due care and all four sides offer quality and mostly very clean sound with only small hints of what you are actually listening to – a 44-year-old vinyl record. Of course, near mint examples can be found at huge cost, but not all collectors want to shell out a king’s ransom for one – so this copy could be just perfect for the more ‘average’ collector who want to experience the real thing at a more reasonable price – and absolutely nothing wrong with that. This is a very strong all-round copy with only relatively minor blemishes to the parts that make up this set – all details on all further down.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: YEX 709-1 / YEX 710-1 / YEX 711-1 / YEX 712-1

Mother & Stamper Codes: 4 L0 / 4 MG / 3 PR / 1 0H

Musicians: George Harrison – lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm guitars and acoustic guitars; four and six-string bass guitars; Hammond organ; drums, assorted percussion, sound effects; John Lennon – lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitars, four and six-string bass guitar; acoustic and electric piano, Hammond organ, harmonium, Mellotron; drums and assorted percussion, harmonica, saxophone, whistling; tapes, tape loops and sound effects; Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, four and six-string bass guitars; acoustic and electric piano; Hammond organ; timpani; tambourine; handclaps; vocal percussion; drums, recorder, flugelhorn; sound effects; Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine, bongos, cymbals, maracas, vocal percussion, electric piano, sleigh bell, backing vocals, lead vocals. Guests: Eric Clapton – lead guitar; Mal Evans – backing vocals, handclaps, trumpet; Jack Fallon – violin; Pattie Harrison – backing vocals; Jackie Lomax – backing vocals, handclaps; Maureen Starkey – backing vocals; Yoko Ono – backing vocals, brief lead vocals, handclaps, speech, tapes, sound effects. A host of other session players play reeds and strings.

Brief Info: Firstly, let me be clear, I do not offer this album often or lightly, such an iconic classic has to be of a certain standard for me to even contemplate listing – this gem more than measures up. Within the history of popular music, there are fewer monumental issues than this massive double set. How on earth to follow the groundbreaking ‘Sgt Pepper’ would prove a challenge almost to vast to contemplate, but The Beatles offered the world an album of quite stunning brilliance, and for this listener anyway, this is better than it’s more famous predecessor. A double set that crams in such a blend of variety and styles, it still is difficult to take in it’s brilliance even after 44 years after release. I do not wish to dwell to long on the material included as most-all fans and vinyl collectors will know this album well enough anyway, I prefer to explain what is on offer and the conditions of the pieces that make up this legendary set. That said, there is not a wasted second on this album and for me, this is the very best album The Beatles ever made. Now experimenting with various styles and sounds culminating in the psychdelic collage ‘Revolution No 9’ that many found unlistenable, but I love it. It gave clues to the avant garde direction Lennon was about to offer on his first solo works. The softer songs are simply divine and then there is McCartney’s ‘Helter Skelter’ – the most powerful song the band ever made – a breathtaking track that sends shivers down the spine and one ever-linked to the notorious killer Charles Manson. Raw, loud and uncompromising, a song of utter brilliance – the contrast in the following gentle song that closes side three, ‘Long Long Long’ is pure genius. The contast of the material is like a kaleidoscope of treasures flooding from the speakers. What a joy to hear on a clean stereo copy too. I will not offer inferior or poor sounding copies just for the sake of it. Why would anyone want to hear a very crackly, click-ridden, worn-out copy of this evergreen classic? Any surface sounds are gentle and infrequent and there is no distortion or groovewear – as stated – just a few light traces just to remind this is a record, not a digital format source – I deem this part of the vinyl experience and I make no excuses for the odd minor tick or crackle trace. I remind I play all my record’s on VERY revealing equipment also, and little spoilt the genuine experience of this monumental album.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: High: a highly deceptive cover which is fully laminated with minimal graphics and none on the front and back at all. So why does this cover not wear well? Firstly, being white it tends to yellow and darken with age, light being a major factor as well as many people in the 60s being smokers (often with a heavy habit). This era with no smoking restrictions, their relative cheap cost, fashion and far less information about how bad it is for you, meant, a high percentage of the population did it. Pale and white covers were badly tinged with brown nicotine staining – we have all seen them – I have never been a smoker myself, but have seen numerous collections from a smoker’s household, and the results can be less than pleasing. This is why so many album covers have brown spines with the rest being less affected – most collections stored within racks using the spine as identification reference – it was why it put there for let’s face it. Even though this cover is fully laminate protected, it is, in most-all cases, seen darkened, browned or yellowed. Double gatefold sets tend to weaken due to the load they hold, this results in laminate issues like creasing, peeling and lifting – many dulled from friction – the original shiny surface and freshness lost forever. A cover that just seems to attract corner dinks, weakened spines and even tears. To find one that has little of the aforementioned is hard, but this one delivers in many respects. The main blemish being the first owner’s name and address pressed inside – the ink faded and now easily removed, so now relatively inconpicuous. It has aged slightly but has little else really to fault and importantly, looks really attractive.

Cover Grade and Format: NEAR EXCELLENT: a fully laminated gatefold format with the records entering on the top edges. This has it’s unique number of No. 0321317 (not that high in White Album terms) which can be seen on my close-up picture. The title ‘The BEATLES’ is embossed on the front and the back as the word ‘Stereo’. Inside has the four band portraits with two external flipbacks on the right and left edges. The song titles and printer’s imprint which is Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd are included. Fairly basic in design but still one of the most iconic and sort-after ones ever made. The spine carries both the mono and stereo catalogue numbers.

Cover Laminate – Front & Back: Firstly, this cover has only mildly darkened with the white being more like a cream colour which I consider as being pretty much the normal these days. This has avoided that yellow or brown tinge which usually means nicotine. The laminate both sides retains a very fine shine and clarity, also freshness. There is no lifting and even around the embossed ‘The BEATLES’ on the front, any non-adhesion is minimal – there will always be traces around the raised letters. The front number is very neat and unfaded, a very tiny laminate shift is evident for the eagle-eyed, but look incredibly closely. More under light, a little dulling is seen on the rim areas of the quite thick and heavy records that few will ever avoid. In terms of this cover, these are light – indeed, very light on the front. There is a small and light stain on the spine bottom but few other marks of this sort, this shows little anyway. Creasing is always a major factor on this very prone cover, this has no significant creases at all. Any present are fine, few and faint, a mere couple or three very small and faint half moons on the back. Surface or press marks are equally few and faint and only just seen with scrutiny under light. As per many, if not most, a little burring to the top opening edges and a little rubbing to a couple of the corner areas. But for looks and wear, this is somewhat above average and importantly looks just right for it’s considerable vintage.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The inside is impressive and in terms of real wear, it has hardly any. As outlined further up, the most significant blemish was the original owner’s name and address details being written mainly above and below the portrait of Ringo on the white area. The information has all-but faded away and was easy to remove any lingering ink traces. But the pressing of this writing is evident more so with close angled viewing – so this could be a factor for the more discerning collector. The area is relatively small as can be seen on my close-up of this area, it shows little. This area apart – which is hardly a major factor – the rest is superb with shiny almost unblemished laminated surfaces. The portraits are immaculate and the two flipbacks clean and undamaged and as solid as when made. Even that delicate central fold area is ultra solid and incredibly, the laminate is not broken or even cracked – this as neat as they get. The main four surfaces on this cover are really quite impressive overall.

Top Edges: Other crucial area of this cover that are often seen badly grubbied, tatty or even torn. Both here are relatively neat with any darkening to the ends fine and small. A little burring and thickening to the card mostly on the back, but no tears and all are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way. I have seen these edges in terrible conditions before and in context, this pair are still very fine.

Bottom Edges: Both are thick, straight and practially unworn up to the corner tips. Fully laminated and smooth too with no scuffs.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Both practically as the bottom edges.

Spine and Text: The main factor here, like so many, the spine surface has shed it’s laminate. This is a trait which all too common on this cover. With usage and exposure, it simply dries out and peels off. In this case, this has happened very neatly indeed – the laminate on the front and back on this area is ultra solid and secure, only the spine edge is exposed which it has darkened a little, but far from excessively. It remains solid and straight with minimal compression. Also folded squarely so the edges meet up closely together and parallel. This makes a big difference to visual neatness of course. The fine text is a little faded but still fully present and quite easily readable.

Corners: A little rubbing on the right ones and a cover that seldom avoids often considerable corner dinking and damage. Overall, quite neat and the spine pair especially so with fine to very fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: I realise how important this cover is to serious Beatles’ collectors and so it should be. So I make no excuse for a full and detailed description of all areas. It cannot be emphasised enough how difficult this cover - a deceptively fragile cover that had to hold fairly substantial contents, so hardly surprising many are seen almost falling apart or in very poor shape. This is NOT perfect but all the positive far outweigh any relatively light negatives. Not for the perfectionist or highly discerning collector as the grade suggests, but this will please many collectors who are happy to accept a few small issues owners, handling and storage had to offer. This is a very nice example and somewhat better than average.

The Inner Sleeve 1: NEAR EXCELLENT: firstly, both these black unlined inners are the same format. They have a single window hole, the back being solid. They are made with soft, thin, fairly matt and very fragile paper and are massively prone to tearing, creasing, splits, and wooliness. Rarely seen intact and avoiding considerable damage. Arguably, these are the most fragile part of the set. The first one is in very fine shape with any creasing few and mild with a very near perfect window circle. The top opening is a little creased and burred with a couple of smallish tears that are so hard to avoid. All edges are now intact – one small edge split I very neatly repaired to stop it getting wider and it is barely even conspicous. So this fragile first inner in quite impressive all-round condition.

The Inner Sleeve 2: NEAR EXCELLENT: quite similar but even better except for a small tear on the top opening edge and a much smaller one nearby with a little burring too. Unless unused, these black inners hardly ever avoid such issues. The rest is superb and incredibly, NO edge splits or repairs on this one and barely any creasing again with an impressively neat window.

The Poster: EXCELLENT: a conservative grading for an unmounted and clean poster that also shows few traces of ageing. A large measuring 22.5 x 33.5 inches and printed both sides – lyrics on one and band graphics on the other. Three manufactured folds, two horizontal and one vertical, these are quite solid and unsplit – any tiny nicks, just on the very ends, but really, really tiny. Any creasing equally small, faint with merely traces of fine crinkle simply by handling a large item. Minimal traces of grubbiness with just a tiny few small and light tone spots. The edges and corners sharp and untorn. Importantly, this carries the same imprint as the cover – Garrod & Lofthouse International – beware of later UK, or even German printed examples being swapped.

George Harrison Portrait Card: EXCELLENT(++): all the pictures are the same format, having a semi-gloss sheen and made with reasonably thin card. Colour density can vary a little from example to example, but all should be pretty similar. Firstly, the back. Clean and still very white and unmounted. No set-off or toning, this has barely aged at all and looks fantastic. The front is very clean and fresh with barely any handling traces at all. One tiny, fine thumb semi-crease being ultra critical. This is very nice and lack of fingermarks to the very revealing surface a real bonus.

John Lennon Portrait Card: EXCELLENT(+): very similar to George with just two or three ultra fine and faint surface hairlines when scrutinised very closely under angled light. Again an exceptional example.

Paul McCartney Portrait Card: EXCELLENT(++): nigh-on identical to Harrison.

Ringo Starr Portrait Card: EXCELLENT(+): nigh-on identical to Lennon with a little very light set-off on the back.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: VERY GOOD(++) to NEAR EXCELLENT: all four sides are similar with light surface marks seen under angled light but no penetrating scratches. Fine type hairlines with the odd minor paper scuff or two. A little seen I am certain within the pressing itself, but minimal to no affect. Remember, this album, like most previous, were mass-produced in vast numbers. Clearly played a few times but generally with care and the very fine surface blemishes are purely superficial and of practically no consequence to the playing quality of the records. Possibly harshly graded for a popular album of this great age but visually correct I feel. A very fine visual pair that are very clean, intense black and quite heavily pressed. Like the cover, these will please many collectors but not the highly discerning perfectionists of course.

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: Both records play above their attractive visual grading with little to fault – in fact this set plays very impressively indeed and the majority up to the highest standard. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal, brief and gentle and mostly with little to none. No pops or significant clicks were noted and I enjoyed this set immensely. Let me make this clear, if these records failed to please me (and they very much did so), I would not offer them. Overall, a clean pressing for a challenging album that offers immense sound and a world-class production by the legendary producer, George Martin. No pile-driver stylus have wrecked this copy, the sound is fully focused, precise and sharp throughout and devoid of that annoying, loud crackle that blights so many. Even the fragile and delicate songs like ‘Blackbird’, ‘Long Long Long’ and the most challenging, ‘Dear Prudence’, play very well with little unwanted. The ferociously loud ‘Helter Skelter’ is simply awesome, here tight and punchy and fully controlled, with the alternative ending to the mono cut – ‘with blisters on my feet’. All four sides set a high standard, as stated, with just the little mild and polite reminder this is a 44-year-old vinyl record, not a clinical digital format. This too played on very revealing equipment that takes no prisoners. Overall, a very fine ‘used’ set – not pristine, few ever will be – but a very enjoyable and beautifully detailed pair that still offer so much high level entertainment. One many, if not most fans, will enjoy to a high degree, barely anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading these classic records. The stereo mix offers terrific imagery and effect, especially notable on Revolution No 9 and I simply love it. This set could prove difficult to find significantly better and merits strong recommendation. An evergreen, monumental masterpiece and this splendid copy does it very fine justice.

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]) = £11.75 (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 [£46 maximum]) = £15.75 Add £3 per extra LP. (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’.