VAN MORRISON Astral Weeks UK Orig 68 Orange VERY RARE

	£		116
	$		154

Hi, I am Mike, I have been a music collector for over 30 years now. I always still try to offer 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 interested collector. You may notice I only submit one or two items a day for Ebay; time rarely allows more as I Play-Grade every record I offer (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 collector. 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. A ten pounds record that plays close to new is as important to the collector as a 250 pound record that plays less well. 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. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Good luck.

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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.

Artist or Band: VAN MORRISON

Album Title: Astral Weeks

Cat Number: WS 1768 Stereo.

Track Listing: “In the Beginning’’: - Astral Weeks; Beside You; Sweet Thing; Cyprus Avenue. “Afterwards’’: - Young Lovers Do; Madame George; Ballerina; Slim Slow Slider

Label and Condition: Warner Bros, original dark orange format. Super attractive examples that show around light+ spindle traces on side one but moderate+ on side two - a curious difference. This copy has been played a fair number of times on this evidence, but vitally there is no real wear around the centre holes which is a sure sign this has not been overplayed. This is near impossible to find as a first pressing with these labels, most are found on the later green versions or even later types. This incredible masterpiece never even charted, which is almost beyond belief, original copies on this ellusive label are very rare and no guide gives any clues to its real rarity. Although numerous spindle traces, they only show under angled light, they are not heavy as such, just numerous. (Please see label scans for all information needed - view them closely because for sure they will not appear that often).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: First pressings of this wonderous record are rare make no mistake about it. Even green label copies are not so easy either - but an orange ‘Astral’ is a very special record. This copy is below my normal selling grade of EX(-) to be quite honest but I consider this album as one of the greatest non-selling classics ever and I make no excuse for offering a copy that is a little below what I consider my threshold for selling. Some dealer friends have told me they have not seen this for years and quite frankly this is so special I would even sell a copy a grade below this one too.

Genre Type: Impossible to categorise: just file under Sublime/Genius

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: WS 1768 A1 *T STEREO and WS 1768 B2 *T STEREO. The tiny stampers are C1 and B1

Brief Artist & Album Info: After the disbandment of Them and a hurried issued Blowin Your Mind Van Morrison took a short time out and then issued one of the greatest albums ever made - I say this unreservedly and with full conviction - it remains, and always will in my personal top five albums ever. Quoted, recommended and worshipped by the critics for well over 30 years, this underground masterpiece has now become part of the establishment. It cries to be listened to without interruption, which may explain why it failed to reach either the UK or US charts. It wanders and weaves, repeating themes and lyrics as if one song, yet we never tire of ‘gardens wet with rain’, ‘champagne eyes’ or the wonder of how Morrison can make a place like Ladbroke Grove seem so hauntingly evocative. The record is also a great educator in opening your eyes beyond pop, to soul and jazz, and although Morrison continues to return to its themes again and again, this is his core. A true timeless classic of immense beauty and sung with such power and emotion it takes you through highs and lows of joy and sadness. For me also the greatest lyrical album ever made, even surpassing the greats like Dylan and Cohen - no-one can fail to be moved by this record. I swear when I was play-grading this copy the shiver and tingle factor rush down my spine came like no other album can make happen - and that’s from a copy that is less than perfect. This is a deep mystical experience, at times almost too intense (‘Beside You’), Morrison puts his entire soul into this song. Divided by the two sides, called ‘In the Beginning’ and ‘Afterwards’ this album has eight songs, and not even a second of time is wasted, every track is sublime, few songs can move like ‘Madame George’ or ‘Cyprus Avenue’ and the beauty in ‘Sweet Thing’ and ‘Ballerina” is beyond my words. Delicate strings, interweave with guitar and occasional reeds. The acoustic bass, played by Richard Davis, formerly with Miles Davis band gently pulsates from the speakers from this amazingly perfect production. The whole album has an interstellar musical feel and the musicianship throughout is quite magnificent. This record is so very special, to offer a copy as an original is almost an honour - a totally perfect copy will come one day - but I wont hold my breath. I did sell a lovely copy just before Christmas last year, but even that had a light scratch. This is a reasonable copy, it plays right through without any skips or jumps (guaranteed) and audio quality is still quite high. Even with a few (relativley minor) blemishes, I just hope the winning bidder enjoys this monumentous album even half as much as I did. – Mike.

Further Info: Can I briefly state how this copy was found - I saw this album at a local fayre, I noticed the very attractive cover with the number K 46024, so thinking it was hopefully a nice WB Green label copy, can you imagine my surprise to find an Orange label original? Well it simply does not happen once in a blue moon anything like this. The visual condition was a slight concern but there is no way I was going to leave this one behind even with some marks and the later cover (its almost the same anyway, and its real nice). This record was very carefully cleaned and the appearance was considerably better, finger-marks and dust now gone this actually looks quite nice, but still with some marks, they cannot be removed of course. Playing the item was a nervous time, but to be perfectly honest I was amazed how well this record played - a good full grade above the visual and a high percentage plays near perfect, most marks are non-sounding due to the very deep grooves on the thick pressed record. I found myself enjoying this record immensely and it far exceeded my highest expectations. More details below on visual and playing conditions.

Cover Condition and Details: I will say again: This is NOT the original cover, but almost certainly the second press cover, differences are minimal. EX+, single format, laminated front, this one has NO flipbacks, the original did, printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd (the same printer).

Cover Lamination: Very shiny and clean with only some relatively light creases, most near the edges, most detract little. No peeling or dry areas and minimal dulling, no indentations either. Fine strong early laminate.

Cover Front: Oooh this cover is just as great as the album inside and this looks real attractive. Deep rich colour under that fine laminate and clean and undamaged too. This does near full justice to this classic. The actual boxed area with the actual picture is near perfect.

Cover Back: Mainly white and no laminate but still very clean and attractive. Only the mildest of mild discolouring, light years short of yellowing, this is almost as clean as you could reasonably expect. The whole back shows little rubbing or dreaded real ringwear, there is a lightish pressmark from the heavy record inside, but again this detracts little. When all is considered a very strong back cover which is way above average.

Cover Edges/Corners: Top: Virtually unworn. Bottom: unworn. Record entry edge (right): unworn, clean and sharp, no feathering. Spine: Solid and square and unworn, all text is pristine under the uncracked laminate. Corners: All four show little wear at all and are still nicely shaped. Summary: A fine all round example of this non-original early 70s cover, one that could prove hard to find much better. This super item should still please many collectors.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Side One: EX(-) - pretty close to EX really Side Two: VG (a grade I rarely have to use). This is a very heavily pressed record (it took my deck a few seconds to get up to speed in fact), its now very clean and retains a fine shine too. Side one looks really nice, with only mainly light surface marks/hairlines, odd light surface paper scuff. Side two has far more marks, mostly hairlines or light surface scratches, there is a scuff on the run out grooves which does not encroach on to the music playing area, its non-sounding anyway. Now I would say the vast majority of these marks are superficial, most do not sound at all, but the odd slightly deeper mark does with a few light ticks. But I was amazed how my stylus ignored most and again I reiterate this plays through very easily with no jumps or sticks. This is one tough piece of vinyl and I still offer this very respectable copy with some pride.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: You can hardly imagine how much I had to get this onto the deck fast - I was nervous for sure. This is only my second time of hearing this album as an original on the orange label - and this did not disappoint - considering. As soon as the stylus make contact and I heard that gorgeous bassline and strings the tingles began - only the most stunning records and recordings give me this tingle factor - sounds daft?, well I simply tell it the way it is. This record surpassed my expectations, especially on side two that has the vast majority of the marks, The details and clarity are all still present and surface sounds were far lower than I expected. The emotion from Morrison’s vocals simply flow from the speakers, and this has great dynamic quality too and the power from vocals and instruments is a joy. Side one plays really well and any unwanted sounds are quite minimal really. Side two does have some occasional, but not that many, faint ticks or odd single rev sound. But this album is almost completely devoid of any dreaded distortion caused by groove wear and that is vitally important for the real pleasure of hearing Astral Weeks on vinyl. I can easily tolerate a few light ticks rather than sound break up and high frequency echo caused by abuse or overuse from a thick vintage needle. This album is way ahead of some classics I have seen (and ignored), this can be seriously enjoyed, my revealing Rega deck takes no prisoners with details - good and bad - and there was not too much bad to put me off wanting to hear this classic again. I am not going to say this copy is for everyone, the connoisseur collectors will want a better one, but to get an EX copy or better, will cost, almost for certain highly. If you want a very decent copy, that plays generally well, with mainly clean and strong sound, this might just be the very copy you have been waiting for.

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 heavily to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: This is a slightly ‘alien’ item for me to try and grade and explain, but I have tried to be as clear, concise and honest as I can be - the importance and brilliance of this album demands this copy is offered. If this truly essential album is wanted as an original pressing this is definitely worthy of strong consideration. It will not be found of offered often and believe me there will be far worse copies around than this one. I simply hope I am not degrading this copy too much anyway, I am very fussy myself, but I would be happy to own and listen to this copy (I simply dont tolerate rubbish easily). Just seeing that orange label turning and hearing the wonderful music embedded in these vintage grooves is priceless - no other pressings or CD versions come close. If silence and clinical perfection is demanded, then get the CD, but the true feel and sound of Van’s finest work will not be quite the same. I still strongly recommend this copy with only some reservations for the ultra fussy collector and connoisseur or specialist - this one may not be the copy for them. I start my bidding low, I will let any interested collector make their own mind up to value - but remember: this record is seriously scarce now and one of the greatest albums ever made – Mike.

Album Played For Grading: Yes, I came very close to keeping this one.

Payment Details please read carefully:

UK First Class: = £2.50; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £4.00 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

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.

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 not profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more. 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 given.

I 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.