Velvet Underground/Nico Lou Reed Warhol Banana Orig US Mono Torso Vinyl LP Nice

$

1,500

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO – “THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO”

THIS IS AN ORIGINAL 1967 VERVE U.S. MONO TORSO COPY OF THE DEBUT RECORD BY THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, “THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO” COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL PRINTED INNER SLEEVE AND THE ORIGINAL BANANA STICKER, WHICH IS UNPEELED!

THIS IS A FIRST PRESSING WITH THE BANNED “TORSO” BACK COVER.  THIS IS NOT A STICKERED OR AIRBRUSHED COPY!

THE ALBUM WAS ORIGINALLY RELEASED WITH AN IMAGE OF ACTOR ERIC EMERSON’S FACE ON THE BACK COVER (see photos).  HOWEVER, DUE TO THE BAND AND LABEL NOT HAVING PERMISSION TO USE EMERSON’S FACE, ORIGINAL COPIES WERE RECALLED.  SOME WERE LATER RELEASED WITH A BLACK STICKER COVERING EMERSON’S FACE, WHILE OTHERS WERE RELEASED WITH EMERSON’S FACE COMPLETELY AIRBRUSHED AND REMOVED FROM THE ARTWORK.  NON-STICKERED COPIES WITH THE IMAGE OF EMERSON (like this one) ARE BY FAR THE MOST LIMITED AND VERY HARD TO FIND IN GOOD CONDITION!

PRODUCED BY ANDY WARHOL, THIS ALBUM WAS RELEASED IN 1967 AND FEATURED SEVERAL VOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GERMAN SINGER NICO.  IT INCLUDES THE SONGS “SUNDAY MORNING,” “I’M WAITING FOR THE MAN,” “VENUS IN FURS,” “HEROIN,” AND MANY MORE! DUE TO THE ALBUM’S CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT MATTER, MANY RETAILERS REFUSED TO SELL IT UPON ITS RELEASE.  ONLY ABOUT 30,000 COPIES WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD!

THE ALBUM IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC DUE TO ITS ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL ROCK, ART ROCK, AND AVANT-GARDE MUSIC, AS WELL AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROTO-PUNK ALBUMS.

THE ALBUM OVERALL IS IN VERY GOOD TO VERY GOOD PLUS CONDITION.

RECORD: VG

THE VINYL IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.  THERE ARE SEVERAL HAIRLINE SCRATCHES BUT NOTHING DEEP.  IT IS SUPER CLEAN AND SHINY.

THE RECORD PLAYS VERY WELL ON MY SYSTEM WITH SOME LIGHT CRACKLING IN QUIET SECTIONS THAT DOES NOT OVERPOWER THE MUSIC.  SOUNDS AWESOME!

SLEEVE: VG

THE SLEEVE IS IN VERY GOOD TO VERY GOOD PLUS CONDITION.  THE MAIN REASON IT IS GRADED AS VERY GOOD IS BECAUSE THE TOP SEAM IS SPLIT ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY ACROSS THE SEAM (see photos). OTHER THAN THAT, THERE IS SOME VERY MINOR DISCOLORATION AND SHELF WEAR DUE TO AGE (this record is nearly 50 years old).    THE BANANA STICKER IS COMPLETELY INTACT AND APPEARS TO BE UNPEELED.  THE TIP OF THE BANANA HAS BEEN CUT ACROSS BUT NOT REMOVED OR MISPLACED.

THE SPINE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND COMPLETELY LEGIBLE.  SOME MINOR WEAR, BUT NO SPLITS.

THE LABELS ARE IN NICE CONDITION WITH SOME MARKS AROUND THE SPINDLE HOLES.  TEXT IS CLEAR AND LEGIBLE. 

INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL PRINTED PAPER VERVE SLEEVE AS WELL AS A POLY-LINED PAPER INNER SLEEVE.

INCLUDES A THICK PROTECTIVE PLASTIC OUTER SLEEVE.

ALL RECORDS AND SLEEVES ARE GRADED ACCORDING TO THE GOLDMINE RECORD GRADING SYSTEM (see below)

MINT (M)
These are absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees that the record or sleeve truly is in this condition. There is no set percentage of the Near Mint value these can bring; it is best negotiated between buyer and seller.

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-)
A good description of a NM record is “it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.” In other words, it’s nearly perfect. Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect.

NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks” from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects also must be absent; a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. (NM records don’t have to be “never played”; a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.)

NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+)
or EXCELLENT (E)
A good description of a VG+ record is “except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.” Most collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it toward the high end of the grade (sometimes called VG++ or E+).

VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.

VG+ covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. Covers with cut-out markings can never be considered Near Mint.

Very Good (VG)
Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record. That said, VG records — which usually sell for no more than 25 percent of a NM record — 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.

VG records have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better shape. They lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise will not overpower the music otherwise.

Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. 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.

VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides, though it won’t be obvious upon looking. Someone might have written or it or stamped a price tag on it, too.

Good (G),
Good Plus (G+)
or Very Good Minus (VG–)
These records go for 10 to 15 percent of the Near Mint value, if you are lucky.

Good does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. A Good to VG– cover has ring wear to the point of distraction, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing, such as, for example, huge radio station letters written across the front to deter theft.

If the item is common, it’s probably better to pass it up. But if you’ve been seeking it for a long time, get it cheap and look to upgrade.

POOR (P)
and Fair (F)
Poor (P) and Fair (F) records go for 0 to 5 percent of the Near Mint value, if they go at all. More likely, they end up going in the trash. Records are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them. Covers are 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 — again, if they sell at all.

THIS RECORD IS EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND, ESPECIALLY ORIGINAL MONO TORSO COPIES COMPLETE WITH THE BANANA STICKER AND ORIGINAL INNER SLEEVE IN NICE CONDITION.

ALL RECORDS ARE PROFESSIONALLY PACKED!

STORED IN A SMOKE-FREE HOME

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PRICES VARY BASED ON BUYER’S LOCATION AND IS TO BE PAID BY BUYER

I WILL SHIP TO ANY LOCATION AND WILL CHARGE USPS PRICE

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

MORE PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

THANKS FOR LOOKING!  BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER RECORDS FOR SALE

RETURNS ACCEPTED IF ITEM IS NOT AS DESCRIBED.  IF YOU WANT TO RETURN YOUR ITEM, YOU MUST LET ME KNOW WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING IT.  RETURN SHIPPING IS TO BE PAID BY BUYER.  ITEM MUST BE PACKED AS WELL AS WHEN IT WAS RECEIVED. ITEM MUST BE RETURNED IN THE SAME CONDITION AS WHEN IT WAS RECEIVED.  INTERNATIONAL RETURNS NOT ACCEPTED.