The Ruts The Crack V 2132 First Pressing Variant 1 EXCELLENT Condition

	£		21
	$		28

The Vinyl I am selling will be Play Tested and I will give an honest account of any issues or defects with the item, this will be subjective as everyone has their own opinions as to the grading of a record but I will be as accurate as I can and should you require any clarification as to the quality or any other aspect, I will be happy to answer your query. I will also give a description of the quality of the cover and any picture sleeve poster or booklet that comes with the record as I know this is very important to record collectors. I will show as many pictures as I can in order you can make an informed decision as to the quality of the record and cover. If the item is damaged, faulty or does not match my listing description I will give a full refund and as per eBay policy I will pay the return postage providing this is within 14 days, but if you wish to return the item for any other reason e.g., changed your mind then please be aware you will need to pay the return postage. The Records will be carefully packaged in a correct custom LP cardboard mailer with sufficient protection in order the item will not be damaged. All the pictures are from the item I am selling and not generic pictures taken of the Internet. Thanks for looking at my products and do not hesitate to contact me regarding any issues or queries.

Description

The Ruts – The Crack on the Virgin Record Label – V 2132 from 1979 is the debut album by English punk rock band The Ruts, released in 1979.

The album contains the UK hit singles "Babylon's Burning" (number seven on the UK chart in June 1979) and "Something That I Said" (number 29 in September 1979). The white-reggae "Jah War", which was written in the aftermath of the Southall unrest and the over-use of force by the Metropolitan Police Service's Special Patrol Group in 1979, was also released as a single but did not make the UK chart.

The cover picture by artist John H. Howard shows the members of the group (from left to right: Malcolm Owen, Paul Fox, Dave Ruffy and Segs – who is perusing a copy of Exchange and Mart) seated on a large sofa, around them are some of their contemporaries such as Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible of The Damned (top right corner), Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 (bottom right), while Peter Cook and Dudley Moore are standing behind Malcolm, John Peel appears to be doing something to a schoolgirl (in uniform) with a bar of chocolate on the left hand side, Jimi Hendrix looks on from the right, the wives and girlfriends of the band members appear in various poses, as does the band's roadie Mannah (seen from the back) who assisted in writing the song "S.U.S." which deals with the vagrancy act, widely used by London's Metropolitan Police Service in the late 1970s. The astronomer Patrick Moore looks on somewhat disapprovingly from the left.

The album sleeve contains a dedication to Jimmy O'Neal, one of the organizers of the Deeply Vale Free Festival, where the band had their beginnings.

The original painting is now in the possession of punk icon (and fan and friend of the Ruts), Henry Rollins, who had gone on a search for the painting with the band's blessing. Rollins proudly displayed the painting in a video promoting the 2019 remastered vinyl edition of The Crack.

Track List

Babylon's Burning 

Dope For Guns       

S U S  

Something That I Said      

You're Just A           

It Was Cold  

Savage Circle          

Jah War        

Criminal Mind        

Back Biter    

Out Of Order          

Human Punk

Vinyl Matrix Numbers

Side One:  V-2132-A6 STRAWBERRY GRIN AND BARE IT FOR (US scratched out) YOU ∴

Side Two:  V-2132-B4 IF YOULL GRIN AND BEAR IT FOR US STRAWBERRY ∴

Cover has the Ruts logo "V2132 3.99 DON'T PAY MORE" hype sticker. This did not come on all copies.

This Record is a First Pressing Variant 1

Condition

The Vinyl is in Excellent condition, Side One has just a couple of very minor marks but plays through with no issues. Side Two Track Two has three Marks that follow the line of the grooves suspect this was due to an incorrect weighted Stylus, this causes just a couple of low-level crackles the rest of Side Two plays through with no issues. The Cover has some edge wear, creasing and the Spine has a couple of Marks but otherwise in Very Good Condition. The original card Inner Sleeve looks fairly worn with a slight tear on one edge, and some discoloration. All this can be seen in the photographs I have downloaded.

Although I have graded the Vinyl as EXCELLENT this is due to the issues, I have detailed Above on Track 2 Side 2, the other tracks I would grade as Excellent +.

Vinyl Grading: EXCELLENT

Cover Grading: VERY GOOD +

Inner Sleeve Grading: VERY GOOD

Please see my separate Vinyl and Cover/Extras Grading Guide at the end of my notes for full explanation of the rating of this Vinyl and Cover.

Album supplied with new Protective Polythene Sleeve.

If you require any further information, please contact me as I am happy to help.

GRADING GUIDE

This is a guide as to how I grade the Records that I sell, everyone has their own opinions as to the condition of a Record but this should give a good indication of the quality of the record so you can make an informed decision.

GRADING GUIDE (Vinyl)

Mint (M): Never been played or item still sealed. As new.

Mint Minus (M-): In brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. Labels should be clean and legible.

Excellent Plus (E+):  The Vinyl is better than EX but not quite near mint, possibly the odd super feint sleeve removal marks or very light surface marks, possibly the odd tick or some very minor background noise but does not affect the quality of the audio. Labels could have very minor issues.

 Excellent (E): Shows some signs of being played, light surface marks (non feelable) or sleave removal wisps, possibly some light clicks but there is very little lessening in sound quality. Labels should only have minor issues.

Very Good + (VG+): Better than Very Good: Has been well played but no significant deterioration in sound quality despite some surface marks and light scratches. Labels may be worn or have marks but nothing major.

Very Good (VG): Has been played many times, noticeable surface marks and light scratches that can have an effect on the audio. Labels could have marks and wear.

Good Plus (G+): Better than Good: Sound quality has deteriorated. Some scratches and occasional more noticeable feelable scratches which cause clicks and pops. Labels could have noticeable marks and wear.

Good (GD): Sound quality has noticeably deteriorated due to feelable an non feelable scratches, possibly other marks. Labels could have serious marks and wear.

F (Fair): Still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise clicks and pops etc., it may even jump. These errors would be pointed out in my notes under condition.

Poor (P): Will not play properly due to scratches and marks, bad surface noise, clicks and pops and jumps which will be pointed out in my notes under condition.

GRADING GUIDE (Album Cover and Extras)

MINT (M): No damage or flaws, As New. Perfect.

NEAR MINT or MINT MINUS (M-): The cover looks close to perfect with only minor signs of wear and or age. Minor impressions to the cover (due to the outer edge of the vinyl resting inside), no damage to spine, artwork and extras such as posters as close to perfect as can be.

EXCELLENT + (E+): Minor wear with a few minor creases, very slight discoloration, no major damage to spine or corners, no foxing, any extras or posters should be in good condition.

EXCELLENT (E): Some impression to the cover (minor outer ring wear), Some slight creases to the corners, but not wrinkled and obtrusive to the eye. The corners can show white with slight wear. No seam splits or writing, but could have very minor foxing and a few creases. Extras should be in good condition.

VERY GOOD + (VG+): Cover may have minor foxing; artwork can show signs of aging. Some minor wear to the seams or spine, but no tears or holes popping through. The corners could be slightly dog eared but no major damage to cover or extras.

VERY GOOD (VG): Cover can look worn and used. There may be some seam splitting. There could be some ring wear where the ink has begun to wear off, giving a faded look.  There may be a degree of foxing and some creasing but no tape repairs or major damage. Extras could have issues but will be detailed in my notes under condition.

GOOD (G): The cover is complete with no tears but may have seam splits, could have some writing and can look very worn with possible foxing. Wear to corners and spine. Possibly a number of creases. Any extras could have damage but will be described in my notes under condition.

POOR (P): Generally, the condition of a poor cover and extras can have any number of faults, tears, tape repairs, creases, damaged corners, writing on the cover, foxing, water stains etc., but will be pointed out in my notes under condition.