ANDY WARHOL'S VELVET UNDERGROUND FEATURING NICO - SUPERB

	£		99
	$		131

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.95. Europe (including Russia) £12.50. Rest of World £16.50. All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all. More details on this nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible even yet another Royal Mail price hike, I will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably a little heavier.

Artist or Band: THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

Album Title: Andy Warhol’s Velvet Underground featuring Nico.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: I’m Waiting for the Man; Candy Says; Run, Run, Run; White Light/White Heat; All Tomorrow’s Parties.

Side 2: Sunday Morning; I Heard Her Call My Name; Femme Fatale; Heroin; Here She Comes Now; There She Goes Again.

Side 3: Sister Ray; Venus in Furs.

Side 4: European Son; Pale Blue Eyes; Black Angel’s Death Song; Beginning to See the Light.

Label/Format: MGM (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: All four immaculate with hardly a spindle mark to be seen. Another album from the collection where the original owner purchased, taped and stored, these two records have probably not seen light of day since the mid-70s.

Set Number: 2683006 .

Record Numbers: 2354010 and 2354011

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 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 these Records: 112 & 115 grams. Not the heaviest pressings made, but MGM were seldom heavy and both of these are perfectly formed and sound terrific.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Scarce.

Original Year of Release: 1972

Matrix Nos: 235401 A//1 420 1 1 4 & 235401 B//1 420 1 2 & 235411 A//2 420 05 1 3 1 & 235411 B//1 420 1 4 1 [the ‘420’ matrixes confirm this these are UK Polydor pressings as nothing is stated on the labels]

Musicians: Lou Reed – vocals, lead and ostrich guitar; John Cale – electric viola, piano, celesta, backing vocals; Sterling Morrison – lead & rhythm guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals; Maureen Tucker – percussion; Nico – lead vocals.

Brief Info: A double compilation from the first three VU albums and featuring the infamous lips and Coca Cola bottle artwork – for me, it has to be one of the greatest ‘comps’ ever made. Seventeen superb tracks and some of the most groundbreaking music ever issued and what a delight to hear them on vinyl in such lovely clean condition. It can be argued, the only Velvet Underground you would ever need – all included tracks are stunning, none more so than the sublime ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’ – still one of my favourite songs of all time, no one but Nico could have sung this hypnotic song better. An set that includes the softer side of the Underground as well as the loud. The brutal ferocity of ‘Sister Ray’ with the brilliant organ frenzy and viola of John Cale in maximum overdrive – still one of rock’s most uncompromising tracks. With taboo songs about sex, drugs, dealers, sadomasochism and femme fatales, this band broke so much new ground for subject matter and style, their influence is still felt strongly today, and although their sound was largely basic and low-fi, the power and brutal delivery of their music was simply outstanding. Of the quiet songs, none better than the tender and haunting ‘Pale Blue Eyes’ from the self-titled third album. The track ‘Heroin’ is the ultimate music trip with nothing held back. “ ’Cause when the smack begins to flow, Then I really don’t care anymore ”, no wonder Verve were nervous – these were controversial times for a jazz label with Lou Reed and Zappa’s Mothers of Invention in the fold. For those yet to experience the uncompromising sound of this legendary band, well no better place to start, you will not find a much better copy of this scarce double set and the cover is fantastic.

Cover Grade and Format: Little short of Mint. I will grade MINT(-) and an absolute beauty. A fully laminated gatefold format – later ones were unlaminated. Printed and made in England by MacNeill and include the paired inner sleeves.

Cover Front, Back and Inside: Practically as new with stunning shiny, fresh and clear laminate with any surface creases, tiny, very few and faint. The famous graphic looks gorgeous and the white areas still ultra white, just like new. Even the exposed laminate end strips on the front and back are ultra clean with just one tiny tone spot hint and no darkening or grime-line formation. The inside is so fresh, I can hardly even open it. I had to take the picture with a draw holding it open just far enough to photograph as to avoid breaking the laminate on the inside hinge fold. It retains incredible spring and crackles loudly when opened more than a few inches. The inside hinge area being totally intact and making a loud creak the likes only new covers ever did. A crucial area being totally smooth, uncracked or peeled. One of the great ‘art’ album covers for one of the greatest ‘Art-Rock’ bands of all-time. No dulling, rim marks and any blemishes minuscule, you classic covers looking practically as made, it’s here.

Top & Bottom Edges: All four unworn with no scuffs, ultra smooth to the fingertip and still pristine white.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, ultra sharp with no wear at all. Records entered on these right edges that are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way.

Spine and Text: Solid and thick, very straight with barely any compression and folded square, all edges flush and parallel. All text is near perfect and unworn under the smooth, unscuffed or flaked laminate. These types usually form a deep recessed crease when used, but as this has clearly never been fully opened, there is minimal any trace of one.

Corners: All corners are as very close to as made with barely any creasing, dinks or rubbing.

Cover Summary: A supreme all-round example of this rarer FULLY laminated cover, one that will prove almost impossible to find better. This beautiful item should please all collectors.

The Inner Sleeves: Both MINT(-): a matching pair of unlined inners with one open window side, the other closed. These were made in Western Germany but this pair have all UK text and British copyright details. So purely a case of being manufactured abroad for the British market. Both are practically as made like the rest of the set.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT to EXCELLENT(++): a very impressive visual pair that are very clean, shiny, jet black and solidly pressed. A pair that appear little played with just a couple of three light surface marks on the first disc that actually plays nigh-on perfect with practically nothing to fault. Very little seen on the second record that for most, plays very well indeed. MGM records I have found to be cracklers sometimes, but these are pressed very quietly with just the odd sporadic tick here and there mainly side four. Visually super records that should please many, if not most collectors again.

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 snippets 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: Both records play up to their high visual grading with very little to fault. Sides 1, 2 and 3 play practically perfectly with barely anything unwanted. As stated above, the odd sporadic tick here and there on the final side within the pressing. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is high but vintage VU were never high fidelity recordings but these could be the best sound you will hear. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and both records are well and mostly very cleanly pressed for a fairly challenging set. Very lound sound is mixed with a few very quiet songs and few copies will better this early pressing significantly I feel sure. I know for certain both records have been played very lightly and have been clearly well stored and carefully handled within in a non-smoking environment. Little of any real note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading these very clean records. This set will prove very difficult to find better, and the famous classic cover is highly unlikely to be, this essential compilation merits my highest recommendation.

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/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. 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. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are 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 at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 8,000+ items sold in over 10 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

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

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £13.95 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £17.95 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. 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. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

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 necessarily 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’.