THE HOLLIES Evolution SCARCE Orig UK 1967 Mono N/M LP

	£		60
	$		80

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Artist or Band: THE HOLLIES

Album Title: Evolution.

Producer(s): Ron Richards.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Then the Heartaches Begin; Stop Right There; Water on the Brain; Lullaby to Tim; Have You Ever Loved Somebody; You Need Love.

Side 2: Rain on the Window; Heading for a Fall; Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe; When Your Light’s Turned On; Leave Me; The Games We Play.

Label/Format: Parlophone – original black and yellow format with the embossed ‘K T’ tax codes on side one. These are as made with no wear whatsoever and retain all ink. (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both look fantastic, ultra clean and highly attractive and with only very light (a couple or three) and light spindle marks. This supreme copy has all the hallmarks of a record barely even played, always the best news possible for this group as Hollies albums are somewhat intolerant of heavy use on old mono record players.

Cat Number: PMC 7022.

Mode / Speed: Mono / 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: 146 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Scarce and rare in such fantastic condition. What I consider important to mention is so many original copies of this and other Hollies titles are highly sensitive to overplaying on less than sympathetic records players or general needle abuse. So many play with crackle and some with moderate or even severe distortion. Groovewear damage that makes the complex vocal harmonies clip and breakup, even the cleanest looking copies can have this hidden sound problems. This early original mono pressing has avoided such abuse and sounds absolutely stunning with pristine sharp sound and that is a massive plus for audiophile collectors, many who just want perfect or very close too sound quality. This beautiful record offers just that and the cover is also in very fine condition. Never dismiss superb, still early copies of the classics when found like this.

Original Year of Release: 1967.

Matrix Nos: XEX 635-1 / XEX 636-1

Stamper Codes: 1 P / 1 GG

Brief Info: A brilliant pop-psych album and arguably their very best ever, one of two albums The Hollies issued in the summer of love, 1967, the greatest year in music. Charting at No. 13, this was a popular album containing many catchy pop gems. Like The Kinks, The Hollies were better known for producing high quality pop singles that sold in big numbers. But this title saw them evolve into a superb albums band too. Popular enough for so many originals to be played into submission and now unlistenable with high frequency clipping, noise and distortion. What a pure joy to hear this in crystal clarity and with totally unblemished sound. This record looks hardly played and could almost pass for new with pristine playing surfaces and super clean labels. The colourful psychedelic artwork of the cover will rarely be seen better either and all round this is a beautiful set that will prove immensely difficult to find better – a very rare opportunity.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Quite High.

Cover Grade and Format: EX++ a single format with front lamination that wraps around to three flipbacks on the back. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd with the ‘patents pending’ text.

Lamination & Front: The front is truly beautiful and the colourful psych artwork will rarely be seen better. The laminate is very shiny and ultra clear with minimal traces of any friction rubs or dulling. Two noteworthy points: there is barely any creasing and all the laminate is fully adhered with no blistering or lifts which is great news for maximum good looks on any cover, the darker ones especially. The odd light surface mark if viewed critically but no peeling or cracking and even the fine exposed strip on the right edge where the laminate ends a fraction short of full width is unfaded, chipped or worn. This classic psych front cover sets the standard for others to match, it will rarely be beaten.

Cover Back: The back is also in very fine condition: the main back panel is practically flawless with rich vivid colour, no creasing or ringwear. Any marks or wear barely even registers to the eye. The flipbacks are neat with little wear, but the top one has a laminate crease but the ends have minimal trace of burring which is important with such intense colour. The ends have slightly darkened but only mildly so. Bar the minor flipback blemishing, this cover would have easily made the Mint(-) grading. Still a very fine and attractive back.

Top Edge: One tiny chip only.

Bottom Edge: Unworn.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with no wear or feathering. Record entered on this right edge.

Spine and Text: Little short of ‘as made’: Solid, straight, uncompressed with the ends lightly tapered in manufacture. All text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate.

Corners: All four very neat and retaining a lovely pointed shape with little tip rubbing.

Cover Summary: A beautiful all round example of this very colourful cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This beautiful item should please most collectors.

The Inner: EX (at least), the EMI promotional inner is unlined and advertises albums of a similar vintage including ‘Sgt Pepper’ and ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’, also from 1967. Little wear and only lighty aged with some seam glue darkening on the bottom corner areas (probably visible on my picture). It has the ‘patents applied for’ text and the edges are unsplit and has minimal traces of any creasing.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX++ / Mint(-), This is a stunning visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and heavily pressed. A copy clearly little played with just one small surface mark on side one and little else bar ultra fine surface traces under light. The small surface mark has no sound. Visually a super record that should please most-all 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 snippetts 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 miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This jaw-dropping clean record plays up to its high visual grading with nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound (never take this for granted on this or any other Hollies record), all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. An incredibly dynamic and loud mix on this album with wonderful vocal harmonies that remain focused and pin-sharp. Rarely will Hollies mono records sound this sharp, the vast majority will have some surface sounds and sound degrading. Barely any surface sounds and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing for difficult album that takes no prisoners in its intolerance of any needle abuse. Few copies will even match this early pressing I feel certain – I have heard so many many poor Hollies albums and often they look lovely – appearances can sometimes be deceiving. Groove wear and damage is invisible but immediately apparent on listening – this record has absolutely none. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful Hollies classic, possibly the very best I have ever heard. This copy 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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: I now offer the fastest possible posting, mostly the very next day after payment is received or within 48 hours maximum. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with the record(s) 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 TWO thick stiffners for even extra protection. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. Printed address labels are used for clarity and well as sender label. 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. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but NOT surface mail abroad. I never make profit on posting and offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends, with the total costs including ‘standard’ or ‘optional extra insurance’ P&P – ALL UK and Russian packets go out non-negotiable Recorded Delivery. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 4,000+ items sold in over 7 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional.

PLEASE NOTE: I will now only send packets to Russia with Recorded Delivery at a cost of £7 per single LP. If this is unacceptable to Russian collectors, please do not bid. I only want my records to arrive safely and this gives packets a better chance to do so. Also ALL UK packets will be sent with either Recorded or Special Delivery as standard (both have to be signed for). All shipping costs and rules can be found after my description. If they are not acceptable, please do not bid.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

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 unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. 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 – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & OPTIONS:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (First Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4 (OPTIONAL).

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: ALL EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA (NOT RUSSIA, see below) (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £5.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £9 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: RUSSIA (Recorded Only, if this is unacceptable, please do not bid):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ only £7) = £9 (OPTIONAL extra insurance as above).

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (any part); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £8.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £13 (OPTIONAL).

* If Rules allow for that country.

PLEASE NOTE: I always get a Royal Mail ‘Proof-of-Posting’ receipt for ALL packets that are sent out and I am happy to prove this to any customer who wishes to see it via email.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

The customer can choose their method of shipping with the exception of second class or surface mail overseas – these I will NOT use. 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 (£35).

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. 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 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. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

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 neccessarily 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’.