CAPTAIN BEEFHEART Mirror Man SCARCE ORIG UK 1971 BUDDAH EX LP. VG++ NEAT COVER.

	£		31
	$		41

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Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received if possible. PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT send any item, no matter what its value without a Royal Mail or courier tracking number. ALL my items must be signed and trackable to comply with Ebay delivery rules. Please do NOT ask me to make any exceptions to this rule as no country offers 100% reliable service without it.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take longer 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 ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business.

ANY ITEM or ITEMS TO BE PAID WITHIN A MAXIMUM OF 6 DAYS or they will be cancelled – NO EXCEPTIONS.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion, as will any bidder who cancels a bid. Please only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: CAPAIN BEEFHEART & HIS MAGIC BAND

Album Title: Mirror Man

Producer(s): Bob Krasnow

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Tarotplane; Kandy Korn.

Side 2: 25th Century Quaker; Mirror Man.

Label/Format: Buddah with matt, very gently textured surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with only a relative few, fine and light spindle marks and no wear around the hole area.

Catalogue Number: 2365002

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Up and Down Movement: A gentle trace. Few vintage records will ever be perfectly flat, any issues with significant movement or tracking will be mentioned in detail if applicable.

Lateral Movement (Side-to-Side): A gentle trace.

Weight of this Record: 117 grams.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Scarce, a cult artist who was miles away from mainstream.

Original Year of Release: 1971

Matrix Nos: 2365002 A//2 420 05 1 1 & 2365002 B//1 420 1 1 7 06

Musicians: Captain Beefheart – vocals, harmonica, shehnai; Alex St. Clair Snouffer – guitar; Jerry Handley – bass; John French – drums; Jeff Cotton – guitar.

Brief Info: An album with a fairly complex history: the material is thought to have been recorded in 1967 – the cover states 1965, which is very unlikely. The four songs, plus others were originally intended to be used for his second album as a double set that never happened. Some of the other songs were put together and issued as ‘Strictly Personal’. ‘Mirror Man’ eventually was issued in 1971 on yet another record label, Buddah Records. It features four lengthy tracks which takes the playing time to over 52 minutes, way longer than most single albums of the time (or since). Musically this is blues-based psychedelia with far less vocals from van Vliet than usual. An album I rate highly, very edgy and strange with an unusual vibe to the sound – that a typical Beefheart and Magic Band trait of course. Three were recorded live and ‘Kandy Korn’ was re-recorded. It had a brief UK chart entry but was largely ignored in the United States. The cover is as complex as the music – the single thickness front is die-cut into was is supposed to be a shattered window. Lots of jagged spiked card, hence very damage and wear prone, this one far from perfect, but at least intact and still relatively neat. So many get torn and heavily creased, rife with damage and rubbing. Few will ever be found anything above excellent at very best, and even these are rare. Overall a fine original, the record appearing little use and plays with little unwanted.

Cover Grade and Format: VERY GOOD(++): a complex gatefold matt cover with a single thickness front that is die-cut to resemble a broken mirror. The storage area is from the inside into the back. Printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group, includes the 1971 date-coded inner sleeve.

Cover Front: This has to be up there with one of the most wear and especially damage-prone covers ever made. The open area is a multitude of complex shapes and spikes to mimic broken glass. Rarely seen even intact, often with the spike details torn off or very badly creased. This one is largely intact, the odd tiny split only but all card is fully present with some predictable creasing of some spikes. But way less than average I would suggest – I have placed dark card each side for better viewing of this hugely complex design. In terms of other wear to the broken mirror’s border, well not a great deal. A little seen near the very edges. This mainly on the front spine fold that actually could never really stand up straight as the inner card virtually covers it up, so hardly even possible from day one. Given the sheer complexity and fragility of this front, I consider this a highly respectable and still quite attractive example.

Cover Back: Light rubbing only with minimal creasing, a little on the top left corner. The lack of ugly ring wear always a plus on a dark surface like this.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The graphic right side has only gentle patchy rub traces and again looking fine. Some light grubbiness or set-off on the white broken mirror side. The shaped areas actually quite impressive with no damage per se and the spiked areas mainly quite neat and intact.

Top Edges: Flush and flat, the thin card a little rubbed and thickened, but no tearing.

Bottom Edges: The single thickness front is still very neat and crisp, it being naturally protected by the deeper folded back which as moderate rubbing.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Again, the front is crisp and sharp, it being pulled to left from a spine that could never be upright even from new. The folded edge is straight with patchy light rubbing only.

Spine and Text: The spine surface itself has hardly any rubbing and all text is little short of perfect as-seen. A wide spine that is flat because the lower fold lies under the internal card, so this could never have been erect even when manufactured. Maybe a good thing, as the surface itself has suffered no wear as such, just the top fold has whitened under the pressure, but still strong and unsplit.

Corners: Fairly light to moderate tip wear with fine to very fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: Complex and massively challenging to maintain over a long number of years. Often damaged by catching on protective covers or when removing the record from it’s centre. So given all the facts, this is a strong all-round example. Still intact and reasonably neat with any overall wear quite modest. Arguaby my grading is harsh for a cover more often seen in tatters. I think this should please many collectors, but perfectionists will have to continue the search for the near impossible.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(–): a Philips inner that is date-coded 1271 (December 1971). Two crisp unworn window circles and the polylining still quite fresh and clear. Some mild paper discolouration to politely remind of age, and some corner creasing, all edges naturally intact.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: or close to. A fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed. A copy with modest plays on all the evidence with any surface marks very light, mostly very wispy and faint as seen critically under bright light. Viewed in average room light, hardly anything even registers. These super-fine wispy surface marks usually caused by ‘cleaning’ with vintage cloths that were recommended at the time and totally harmless. Visually still a super record that should please many collectors.

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 equipment, all listed further down.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This quality album plays even above it’s high visual grading with littleg to fault. Offering strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear. Being an exceptionally long album, the grooves are more compact, so dynamic range is less full and open compared to an average length record. The production is unusual with a somewhat psychedelic effect to the music. Hard to describe, it has to be experienced, from the very outset, Beefheart’s harmonica sounds unusual, but intentionally so. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and this is a very clean pressing with no tracking issues* or inherent pressing noises. Few available copies will outperform this early first pressing I feel sure. It appears little used and remains an impressive copy. Nothing of any real note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this often overlooked Beefheart classic. It could prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

I am one of the most established sellers on Ebay, trading since 2001 and offering the finest 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 all elements of the items I offer for sale. You may notice I only submit records quite sparingly on Ebay as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – not just bits to guess a grade – visuals alone do not always tell a true story. I will try to 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 it’s good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. I hope the item below is to your liking – any questions can be emailed and I will do my best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, major 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Nessie 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 D7500 DSLR 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.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid bid retractions. 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] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 per extra LP.

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

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £2 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]) = £16.50 (£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 only 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 2 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive – if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund if the item is returned in the same condition is was sent e.g. as per the listing pictures.

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, 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.