THE IN SOUND FROM WAY OUT LP

$

20

BEAUTIFUL ALBUM AND RECORD.  A SMALL DENT IN THE SPINE AND NO SLEEVE IS ALL THAT IS WRONG WITH THIS SET.  IN SHRINK WRAP WHICH IS COMING APART A LITTLE AT A TIME.  THE RECORD HAS NO SCRATCHES OR SCUFFS AND PLAYS CLEAN WITH NO CLICKS, POPS, OR WHITE NOISE.  THE ALBUM IS THE IMAGINATION OF 60'S.  SOMEONE THOUGHT THEY WOULD RECORD WHAT A RECORDING WOULD SOUND LIKE IF IT WERE RECORDED IN OUTER SPACE.  SO, YOU GET A KOOKY ALBUM FILLED WITH INTERESTING SOUND EFFECTS PUNCUATED BY FARM ANIMALS AND THE CLIMAX IS WITH ZOO ANIMALS.

SIDE ONE

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
THE LITTLE MAN FROM MARS
COSMIC BALLAD
SWAN'S SPLASHDOWN
COUNTDOWN AT 6
BARNYARD IN ORBIT

SIDE TWO

SPOOKS IN SPACE
GIRL FROM VENUS
ELECTRONIC CAN-CAN
JUNGLE BLUES FROM JUPITER
COMPUTER IN LOVE
VISA TO THE STARS

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
FREE SAME DAY SHIPPING
MULTIPLE ITEMS PURCHASED TOGETHER SHIP TOGETHER

I TAKE MOST OF MY KNOWLEDGE FROM THE 'GOLDMINE RECORD ALBUM GUIDE' ANY YEAR, THOUGH THE NEWEST EDITION IS PREFERABLE UNLESS IT EXITS OUT THE RECORDS THAT I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO EVALUATE THEN I WILL REFER BACK TO AN EARLIER EDITION.  AND I QUOTE ....(AND PLEASE KEEP READING AFTER AS I HAVE ADDITIONAL STIPULATIONS TO THE GUIDE). . . .

"6. GOLDMINE RECORD ALBUM PRICE GUIDE MASTER GOLDMINE'S GRADING GUIDELINES before you can figure out what a record is worth, you need to grade its vinyl, sleeves and labels. Play grading can be a definite advantage for a record that looks much worse than it sounds. When you're visually grading records, use a direct light, such as a 100-watt desk lamp, as less direct lighting can hide defects. 

Think like the buyer as you set your grades. If you're on the fence, go with the lower conservative grade under consideration. Records and covers always seem to look better when you're grading them to sell to someone else than when you're on the other side of the table, inspecting a record for purchase. And, if you have a still sealed record, subject it to these same grading standards, short of breaking the seal.

MINT (M): Absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees the item truly is in this condition. There is no hard-and-fast percentage of the Near Mint value these can bring; it is best negotiated between buyer and seller.

Overall Appearance: Looks as if it just came off the manufacturing line.

·        Record: No scuffs or scratches.

·        Labels: No writing, stickers or spindle marks. Labels are perfectly placed.

·        Cover Sleeve: No blotches, stains, discoloration, stickers, ring wear, dinged corners, sleeve splits or writing.

NEAR MINT (NM) OR MINT MINUS (M-): It’s estimated that no more than 2 to 4 percent of all records remaining from the l950s and 1960s are truly Near Mint. Many dealers won't use a grade higher than this, implying that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect.

·         Overall Appearance: Looks as if it were opened for the first time. Includes all original pieces (inner sleeve, lyric sheets, inserts, cover, record, etc.).

·         Record: Shiny surface, free of visible defects. No surface noise at playback. Records can retain NM condition after many plays provided the record has been played on a properly equipped turntable and has been cared for properly.

·         Labels: Properly pressed and centered on the record. Free of writing, stickers, spindle marks, blemishes or other markings.

·         Cover/Sleeve: Free of creases, ring wear and seam splits. Cut-out markings are unacceptable. Picture sleeves look as if no record was ever housed inside. Hint: lf you remove a 45 from its picture sleeve and store it separately, you will reduce the potential for damage to the sleeve.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) OR EXCELLENT (E): Except for a few minor condition issues, these records would be Near Mint. Most collectors who want to play their records will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it is toward the high end of the grade, sometimes called VG++ or E+.

·         Overall Appearance: Shows slight signs of wear.

·         Record: May have light scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect the listening experience, or slight warps that don't affect the sound. Expect minor signs of handling, such as telltale marks around the center hole (but the hole is not misshapen). Light ring wear or discoloration may be present, but barely noticeable.

·         Labels: Free of writing, stickers or major blemishes.

·         Cover/Sleeve: Outer cover may show some minor seam wear or a split less than one inch long along the bottom, which is the most vulnerable location. A cut-out marking may be present. Picture sleeves may show some slight creasing where it is obvious the record once resided (or still does reside). May show minor seam wear or a split less than 1 inch long along the bottom.

VERY GOOD (VG): VG records have more obvious flaws than records in better condition. That said, VG records -which usually sell for no more than 25 percent of their NM counterparts - are among the biggest bargains in record collecting, because most of the "big money" goes for more perfect copies. For many listeners, a VG record or sleeve will be worth the money. Many collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape. 

·         Overall Appearance: Shows signs of wear and handling, including visible groove wear, audible scratches and surface noise, ring wear and seam splits.

·         Record: Lacks the original glossy finish. Groove wear is evident on sight, and light scratches are deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially during a song's intro and ending, but the noise won't overpower the music otherwise.

·         Labels: May have minor writing, tape or a sticker.

·         Cover/Sleeve: Expect obvious signs of human handling and normal wear. Ring wear is expected in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the labels or edges of a record would rest. Seam splits may appear on all three sides, but they won't be obvious. Writing or a price tag may be present. The cover may be dull or discolored, have bent corners, stains or other problems. If the record has more than two of these problems, reduce its grade.

VERY GOOD MINUS (VG-), GOOD PLUS (G+) OR GOOD(G): Good does not necessarily mean bad! A true G to VG- record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along.   If the record is common, you may want to pass it up in this condition.   If you've sought for a long time, get it cheap and upgrade later.   And sellers? Don't expect big profits for records in these grades: They bring 10 to 15 percent of the Near Mint value at most.

·         Overall Appearance:   Shows considerable signs of handling, including groove wear, ring wear, seam splits and damaged labels or covers.

·         Record: The surface sheen is almost gone, but the record plays through without skipping. Significant surface noise and groove wear.

·         Labels: Worn, possible stains, heavy writing, or obvious damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably.

·         Cover/Sleeve:   Shows ring wear to the point of distraction, has obvious seam splits and may have even heavier writing, such as huge radio station letters (or the former owners name) written across the front to deter theft. Expect dinged and dog-eared edges.

FAIR OR POOR (P): These records go for 0 to 5 percent of the Near Mint value - if they go at all. More likely, these records will end up going in the trash, or having their covers, labels or discs turned into kitschy craft items like clocks, journals, purses, jewelry, bowls or coasters.

·         Overall Appearance: Beat, trashed and dull. Records may lack sleeves or covers (or vice versa). You may want to call a CSI unit to identify "the victim."

·         Record: Expect the vinyl to be cracked, horrifically scratched and/or impossibly warped. The record will skip and repeat when you attempt to play it.

·         Labels: Stains, tears, stickers and damage are the least of your problems; the label may be missing some sections altogether.

·         Cover/Sleeve: So heavily damaged that you almost want to cry. Only the most outrageously rare items ever sell for more than a few cents in this condition."

THEN AFTER USING THIS 'ROUGH SKETCH' TO EVALUATE EVERY RECORD THAT I PICK UP, I ASK MYSELF THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION, "IS THIS A RECORD THAT I WOULD WANT TO LISTEN TO."  THE REASON BEING IS THAT EVERY RECORD THAT I SELL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SEALED RECORDS, I LISTEN TO.  SOMETIMES IT IS ONLY THE FIRST SIDE I LISTEN TO IF I FIND NO FAULT WITH THE LOOKS OF THE VINYL.  YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT, THE NICE AND SHINY VINYL, THE VINYL THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY YOU JUST CANNOT FIND ONE LITTLE, ITTY BITTY SCRATCH IN IT UNDER THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT WITH A FULL SUN SHINING ON A BLUE SKY DAY.  THERE ARE MANY RECORDS THAT I JUST CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE THAT I REALLY WANT IN MY COLLECTION AND THEY LOOK HORRIBLE!  BUT I TAKE THEM HOME AND LISTEN TO THEM AND THEY SOUND PRISTINE.  THOSE RECORDS I WILL NEVER SELL BECAUSE: A) I REALLY WANT THAT RECORD IN MY COLLECTION AND B) THE RECORD LOOKS HORRIBLE!
AFTER DETERMINING IF I WOULD WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS PARTICULAR RECORD THAT I AM CONTEMPLATING ON BUYING THEN I GET TO WORK AT HOME.
I CAREFULLY EVALUATE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE JACKET AND THE SLEEVE.
I EVALUATE, VERY CAREFULLY, THE RECORD.  I WILL THEN EITHER PLAY THE RECORD: A) DIRTY OR SMUDGED OR B) CLEANED.  WHETHER I CLEAN THE RECORD OR NOT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW DIRTY OR SMUDGED THE RECORD IS AND HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE MY NEEDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED.  I DO NOT CARE TO DAMAGE MY EQUIPMENT, BUT I DO CARE TO "STRESS" THE RECORD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO SIMULATE A HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENT.  FOR EXAMPLE:  WHAT IF SOMEONE LIVED IN A REALLY DUSTY ENVIRONMENT LIKE THE SOUTHWEST, WHAT IF THAT PERSON DID NOT LIKE TO DUST, WHAT IF THAT PERSON SMOKED, AND WHAT IF THAT PERSON HAD NEVER CHANGED THEIR RECORD NEEDLE! TO TOP IT OFF WHAT IF THAT PERSON WANTED TO PLAY THAT PARTICULAR RECORD OFTEN.  ONLY A FEW OF THE RECORDS THAT I BRING HOME UNDER GO THE "STRESS TEST" AND AFTER THE RECORD PASSES THE "STRESS TEST" THEN I METICULOUSLY CLEAN THE RECORD WITH A NON-CHEMICAL BASED CLEANER (EYE GLASS, CAMERA, FLAT SCREEN CLEANERS THAT HAVE NO CHEMICALS IN THEM) AND A CLOTH USED FOR CLEANING EYEGLASS/CAMERAS.  THEN I REPLAY THE RECORD AFTER CLEANING THE NEEDLE TO "DOUBLE CHECK" THAT THE RECORD IS STILL WITHOUT FAULT.  I DO NOT HAVE A SPINNER AND DO NOT USE A CHEMICAL BATH TO CLEAN MY RECORDS.  MY METHOD WILL ALLOW ME TO CLEAN NOT ONLY THE RECORD, BUT THE JACKET AS WELL LEAVING NO RESIDUE AND CAUSING NO LASTING DAMAGE.  IN FACT MY METHOD SOMEHOW PREVENTS DUST FROM COLLECTING ON THE RECORDS FASTER THAN OTHER SURFACES IN MY HOME. 
ANOTHER STIPULATION THAT I HAVE TO THE 'GOLDMINE RECORD ALBUM GRADING GUIDE' IS THAT I USE COMMON SENSE.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF RECORDS FROM THE 50'S AND 60'S CAME WITH NO SLEEVES INSIDE THE JACKET.  MY DAD HAS A HUGE COLLECTION OF SEALED RECORDS SOME OF WHICH I HAD TO UNSEAL TO EITHER CLEAN THE JACKET OR BECAUSE HE WANTED TO LISTEN TO THE RECORD FIRST TO SEE IF HE WANTED THAT PARTICULAR RECORD.  SURPRISE, SURPRISE, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE RECORDS THAT I OPENED HAD NO SLEEVES INSIDE.  HIS RECORDS DATE FROM THE 40'S THROUGH THE 70'S.
WHEN TRYING TO SELL MY DAD'S RECORDS I CAME ACROSS THE DILEMA:  HOW DO I GRADE A SEALED RECORD WITH MOLD ON THE JACKET UNDER THE SHRINK WRAP?  IN MY MIND IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THE RECORD IS TRASHED AND COULD NOT BE SOLD AND GIVEN A GRADE OF POOR.  MY FATHER HAD 300 OF THESE MONSTROSITIES THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH.  EVENTUALLY IT CAME TO ME, IF THE JACKET IS NOT PAPER, I WILL SIMPLY SLIT THE SHRINK WRAP NON-DISCRIPTLY IN THE CORNER AND TAKE A BUTTER KNIFE WITH THE SOFTEST PAPER TOWEL YOU CAN BUY (BOUNTY) AND SIMPLY WIPE DOWN THE JACKET.  OF WHICH I DID BUT STILL I DID NOT GRADE THESE RECORDS MINT, I GAVE THEM A GRADE OF EXCELLENT WITH THE EXPLANATION OF SOME KIND OF MOISTURE DAMAGE EVEN IF THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE.  FRAUD YOU SAY?  NO, BECAUSE SOME OF THE RECORDS THAT I OPENED WERE OF A CERTAIN TYPE OF SOME OF THE RECORDS IN A LOT.  AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE I FOUND THAT ALL OF THE RECORDS THAT I OPENED THAT REPRESENTED A CERTAIN TYPE OF A LOT WERE MOLD FREE EXCEPT ONE!  THE SLEEVE (IF THERE WAS ONE) AND THE RECORD HAD NO MOLD! IT WAS ALL ON THE OUTSIDE.  THE ONE RECORD WHERE THE MOLD DID AFFECT THE SLEEVE AND THE RECORD, THAT WHOLE LOT IS STILL SITTING UNTIL I HAVE A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND OPEN THEM AND INSPECT EVERY RECORD OF THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF LOT.  OF WHICH THEN I WILL GO ABOUT FINDING REPLACEMENT JACKETS FOR EACH AND EVERY RECORD.
THE RECORDS I SELL ARE USUALLY OLD.  WHEN I FIND A SEALED RECORD FROM THE 50'S OR 60'S IF ALL THAT RECORD HAS IS LIGHT RINGWEAR THEN I WILL OBVIOUSLY CONFIR WITH MY WIFE AND MY BEST FRIEND, WHO IS MY BUSINESS PARTNER, AND IF THE THREE OF US AGREE, THEN THAT RECORD WILL BE GRADED MINT.  WHEN YOU GET TO BE 55 OR 65 YEARS OLD YOU HAVE WRINKLES TO, SO I REALLY THINK GIVING A RECORD A BREAK ON RINGWEAR IS ONLY THE 'RIGHT THING' TO DO. 
I DO NOT SELL RECORDS THAT SKIP AS A GENERAL RULE.  THE RECORD HAS TO BE IN A CONDITION OF EX TO NM AND SOMEWHAT RARE OR HARD TO FIND FOR ME TO SELL IF ANY SONGS HAVE SKIPS AND EVEN THEN I WILL NOT SELL A RECORD WITH MORE THAN TWO SKIPS IN IT.  THE SKIPS WILL BE NOTED IN THE DESCRIPTION.  CHECK YOUR NEEDLE ON YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE CONTACTING ME ABOUT A RECORD THAT SKIPS.  I TEST A RECORD ONLY ONCE OR TWICE.  WAX BREAKS DOWN OVER TIME AND A RECORD CONTINUOUSLY PLAYED WILL EVENTUALLY SKIP.
THERE ARE 'NEW' RECORDS THAT LOOK NM FROM THE 60'S THAT ARE ORIGINALS AND NOT RE-ISSUES THAT COME WITH SKIPS BUILT IN TO THE RECORD BECAUSE, IT IS LIKE THE 'GOLDMINE ALBUM GUIDE' SAYS, THAT NO RECORD IS EVER TRULY MINT.  THAT BEING SAID, IS THE REASON WHY I ONLY GRADE MINT TO SEALED RECORDS.  I WILL ALLOW RINGWEAR ON OLDER ALBUMS, ALSO I DO ALLOW FOR 'CUT-OUT MARKINGS'.  I ALSO KNOW THAT CERTAIN RECORD STORES AND COMPANIES OF THE ERAS BETWEEN 1940 AND THE MID TO LATE 1970'S SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED RECORDS WITH 'CUT-OUT MARKINGS' OF CERTAIN TYPE SO AS TO IDENTIFY THE STORE OR RECORD COMPANY THAT THAT PARTICULAR RECORD CAME FROM, MY SOURCES ARE ON THE INTERNET, WITH ABOUT THREE TO FIVE 8 HOUR DAYS YOU WILL DISCOVER THE SAME THING.  ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ODD LITTLE PHENOMENOM MYSELF WITH MY DADS RECORDS.  I HAVE NOT RAN INTO A LOT OF THOSE RECORDS DOWN SOUTH AT MY DADS HOUSE BUT I HAVE RAN INTO MY FAIR SHARE UP HERE IN THE NORTH.  AND IT IS A SHAME, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO RATE AN OPEN ALBUM EX BECAUSE SOMEONE ENDEARED A RECORD TO A LOVED ONE AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT IN 1982 TASTEFULLY WRITTEN SMALL AND IN CURSIVE ON THE SIDE AND THE ALBUM HAS A 'CUT-OUT MARKING'.  OTHERWISE, THE RECORD WOULD GET A NM. 
THAT IS ANOTHER STIPULATION TO THE GUIDE, I AM MORE LENIENT AND NOT SO MUCH BY THE BOOK.  IF I WENT STRICTLY BY THE BOOK I COULD NOT MAKE A PROFIT.  PEOPLE WHO SHOP FOR RECORDS, I HAVE FOUND, WANT THEM AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE.  TO MAKE THIS WORK, I AM NOT GOING TO GRADE PRECISELY BY THE BOOK AND GRADE MOST OF MY PRODUCT DOWN TO VG- OR VG OR VG+.  IF I LIKE THE RECORD AND THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY, AND IF THE PERSON BUYING THE RECORD IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THE MINOR STUFF LIKE SMALL CURSIVE WRITING OFF TO THE SIDE, 'CUT-OUT MARKINGS', SMALL SPLITS IN SLEEVES THAT HAVE NO WRITING ON THEM OR RIPS OR TEARS, AND THE RECORD LOOKS LIKE IT WAS JUST MADE AFTER BEING AROUND FOR 50 OR MORE YEARS, AND THE LABEL HAS NO FLAWS OR IMPERFECTIONS, AND I DESCRIBED THIS MINOR STUFF, THEN I FEEL THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WILLING TO OVERLOOK THESE FLAWS AS WELL.
I ONLY SELL RECORDS THAT PLAY.  THAT PLAY CLEAN.  THAT HAVE LITTLE TO NO SKIPS.  NO WHITE NOISE UNLESS THE RECORD IS FROM A RADIO TRANSCRIPTION. 
I CANNOT CHECK FOR WARPS, UNLESS IT IS OBVIOUS.  I WORK ON CARS AND I CANNOT FATHOM TAKING A MICROMETER TO MY RECORDS THAT JUST SEEMS A BIT INANE.
JACKETS ARE SUBJECTIVE, WHAT IS RING WEAR AFTER 50, 60, OR EVEN 70 YEARS?  I WILL TELL YOU IF THERE IS, JUST DON’T BE HUNG UP ABOUT IT BECAUSE UNLESS YOU TAKE THE JACKET OUTSIDE ON BRIGHT BLUE SKY SUN SHINY DAY YOU MAY NOT EVEN NOTICE.
I NOTE EVERYTHING IN THE DESCRIPTION.  READ MY REVIEWS, THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.  WHAT YOU GET IS EITHER THE SAME AS WHAT I DESCRIBE OR BETTER.  I WILL ALWAYS BE HARD ON MY DESCRIPTIONS BECAUSE IT IS APART OF MY GRADING PROCESS.
LASTLY, I DO SCOTCH TAPE MY SLEEVES IF THERE ARE SPLITS ABOUT A HALF AN INCH OR LESS.  SCOTCH TAPE IS NOT VISIBLE AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT DETRACTS FROM THE VALUE OF THE ALBUM, ESPECIALLY IF THAT IS THE ONLY ITEM OF CONCERN FOR THE ALBUM.
I LISTEN TO MY RECORDS, EVEN IF IT DRIVES MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS NUTS.
I INSPECT ALL RECORDS, JACKETS, AND (IF ANY) SLEEVES.
I SOMETIMES 'STRESS TEST' THE RECORDS.
MICHAEL DICKINSON'S GRADING GUIDELINES FOR RECORDS, MOVIES, CASSETTES, BOOKS, AND MAGAZINES HAS TAKEN 2 YEARS TO COME TO FRUITION.
IF YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE ENTIRETY OF MY GUIDELINES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO READ THIS.