FRANK ZAPPA / MOI We’re Only In It For The Money RARE SVLP ORIG UK 1968 EX++ LP.

	£		165
	$		219

ONEADAYRECORDS – Serving-up a Christmas & New Year Feast of Alternative Entertainment

I would like to wish all my customers, regulars and newcomers, a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Over the Holiday Period, I am offering some interesting Christmas ‘Crackers’ – lovely albums – some rare – ENJOY!

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 (£2 per extra record). All boxes sent FIRST-CLASS & TRACKED in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS with extra 7mm side protection and bubblewrap.

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 ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business. I will always keep my P&P prices as low as possible, and even after yet another Royal Mail price hike from April this year, I have NOT raised my prices and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably heavier than most you will get. My P&P offers probably the best value-for-money for vinyl records available, and I even will pay for full 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. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives.

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. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION

Album Title: We’re Only In It For The Money

Catalogue Number: SVLP 9199

Producer: Frank Zappa

Executive Producer: Tom Wilson

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Are You Hung Up?; Who Need the Peace Corps; Concentration Moon; Mom and Dad; Telephone Conversation; Bow Tie Daddy; Harry, Your a Beast; What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body?; Absolutely Free; Flower Punk; Hot Poop.

Side 2: Nasal Retentive Calliope Music; Let’s Make the Water Turn Black; The Idiot Bastard Son; Lonely Little Girl; Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance; What’s the Ugliest Part of Your Body (reprise); Mother People; The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny.

Label/Format: Verve – intense matt black surfaces with a gentle hint of texturing, all text details seen in the pictures. Side one has the embossed ‘K J T’ tax codes, all characters are pristine, so-much-so, the ‘J’ is not even easy to see.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive. Spindle marks a little less than moderate but quite fine. The most important factor, this elusive stereo original plays superbly with little unwanted at all, this monumental Zappa album plays beautifully.

Rarity: First SVLP UK issues are quite rare and seldom found in anything like top conditions. In recent years, available original Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention albums have declined as more people are discovering this man’s work. Older fans also seeking upgrades for well worn copies of their favourites. The early originals especially did not sell well, this one fared a little better charting at 31 in the UK, probably because of the ‘Sgt Pepper’ cover similarity with would have attractive some attention. Most of the early original Verve classics, when they do surface, often trashed with grubby, creased and very shabby covers, and records hardly fit to even play. Few who bought these were hi-fi connoisseurs, many copies scratched and worn-out by vintage heavy-tracking mono record players. Finding these gems that still offer near perfect sound is incredibly difficult. This copy has a very impressive fresh, beautifully shiny laminated cover, and the very clean, hardly marked record that plays superbly. Fully play-graded on an Linn LP12 Sondek, no guess-work or presumptions, this is a lovely example and rarely found as such. It could prove a massive upgrade for those seeking a copy.

NOTE: Original copies were intended to include an insert, again a spoof of the one included in ‘Sgt Pepper’. These were forceably withdrawn and originals are near impossible to find. So, to make this copy extra special, because I deem the insert crucial and fun to own, I include a reproduction of it as seen, it is free to the winning bidder.

Original Year of Release: September 1968

Matrix Nos: V6 5045 A-1 / V6 5045 B-1

Stamper Codes: 1 G / 1 G [the ultimate first stampers, ‘G’ being the very first in the pressing sequence]

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 153 grams. A heavyweight ultimate first pressing.

Musicians: From left to right: Frank Zappa – Guitar, piano, vocals; Billy Mundi – drums, vocal; Bunk Gardner – All woodwinds, mumbled vocal; Roy Estrada – Electric bass, vocal; Don Preston – keyboards; Jimmy Carl Black (The Indian of the Group) – drums, trumpet, vocals; Ian Underwood – piano, saxophones. Motorhead Sherwood (not pictured on the front, he is seen face-on, on the red inside left) – soprano and baritone saxophones.

Guests: Eric Clapton contributes some vocals including the introduction; Suzy Creamcheese (Pamela Zarubica) – telephone voice; Dick Barber – Snorks; Gary Kellgren – creepy whispering; Spider Barbour, Dick Kunc – vocal parts; Vicki Kellgren – additional telephone vocals; Ronnie Williams – backwards voice.

”Hey Punk, where you goin’with that flower in your hand?” – “I’m going off to Frisco to join a psychedelic band”.

Brief Artist & Album Info: ‘Are you hung up’?, asks Eric Clapton on the opening line from this psychedelic masterpiece. A priceless album, for me the greatest ever made. These early Zappa albums were treasured by the few and totally misunderstood by the majority – he put the sneer into underground rock. The brilliant satire of the Sgt Pepper cover should have guaranteed extra sales, but these were modest, but it proved Zappa’s first chart success in the UK peaking at Number 31. Zappa’s scathing wit homed in on modern middle-class America and the West Coast hippies and his fears of what was to later emerge. Nineteen mind-twisting songs of avant garde rock, doo-wop, psychedelic pop and hilarious dialogue, which was so hip it has never dated. Zappa made us confront the obvious, and the results were alarming. This album reconstructs music and then turns it inside out – it was so far ahead of its time, as was the man himself, few but the brave could accept it. A surreal collage of sound, a psychedelic masterwork that blends together to form the perfect ‘alternative’ album for that heady time. Speeded up voices, strange sounds, a needle being dragged over a record, sections recorded backwards, phasing, short classical interludes, surf sounds, chamber music and finally, the band going off their heads on ‘The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny’, which was Zappa’s answer to ‘A Day in the Life’ from the more famous album. It’s almost incredible how so much entertainment and sound can be compressed on to an album that lasts less than 40 minutes. Among all the weirdness (Zappa describes this as a ‘monstrosity’ on the cover), there are stark messages. ‘Who Needs the Peace Corps’ ran through a list of Frisco cliches, Augustus Stanley Owsley III, the scene’s acid-maker; the ‘psychedelic dungeons’ that were the hippie clubs; Bill Graham’s celebrated venue, the Fillmore. Zappa’s criticism of the hippies wasn’t just grouchy; it was urgent, political and frightening. ‘Concentration Moon’ gave warnings about the internment camps Richard Nixon was readying for non-conformists, while ‘Mom and Dad’ was a chilling premonition of how establishment forces would respond to the anti-war movement (in 1971, when the National Guard University, Zappa’s lyric became a prophecy and a bloody reality). ‘Absolutely Free’ and ‘Flower Punk’ mocked Hippy ‘Flower Power’. The album concludes with ‘The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny’, an outrageous sonic-montage designed to out-do George Martin’s ‘mind blowing’ orchestration at the end of Sgt Pepper. This band were not pretty, older than most when they started, but special, very special indeed and the originality of this album and all Zappa’s early works is undeniable.

“What’s the ugliest part of your body?” – “I think it’s your mind”.

First UK pressings differ considerably from the early 1970s Select Verve repressings with much more censorship. For the repressings, most was restored and the album was more as Zappa wanted it to be. So both this the first issue, and the repressing are essential for fans, and it’s kind of fascinating to hear the differences as the censorship relaxed. This is a superb all-round copy with ultimate first issue 1G/1G stampers. The record plays beautifully and the cover is fantastic as-seen. One that can be enjoyed to the maximum. Wilson and Zappa’s production is just so perfect for this piece with the complexity of the engineering incredibly advanced. With many rife with deep penetrating scratches, severe groove wear and terrible sound in accordance, this has absolutely nothing like that. For the relative few who bought these initially, most played them heavily and so few of the 1960s issues survived unscathed. Remember what these records were played on and the likely types who originally bought them – rarely hi-fi buffs. A high percentage found are total right-offs and just to see a copy with ultra labels and playing surfaces is a thing of beauty. The famous ‘Pepper’ spoof cover has more than stood the test-of-time and looks truly gorgeous. Zappa originally wanted the band members in dresses on the inside to make the spoof total and complete, but this was objected to, and the compromise was to put this on the outside. I have included a repro of the withdrawn insert, taken from a copy of the ‘Old Masters’ boxed set. Intended for issue – this cover has both edges open for this – but forceably withdrawn, seen as a spoof too far – originals are near impossible to find. This repro looks superb and really does make the set ‘complete’. This a copy to match my own personal copy, it could prove a major upgrade for fans and collectors and is seldom seen for offer in this fantastic condition.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): arguably better. A fully laminated gatefold format. The inside has two large external flipbacks on the top edges which are unique to the first made covers. First Select repressings were briefly laminated on the outsides only and also omitted these flipbacks. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse and this has both outside edges naturally open (no glue residues on the inside front). So this earliest cover was intended to include the insert sheet. Also, it has the correct SVLP Catalogue number, the mono one had its own version. Includes the superb reproduction of the essential insert sheet and original unlined inner sleeve.

Cover Lamination – Front & Back (the band in dresses sides): The Mothers from left back to right front are: Zappa; Mundi; Gardner; Estrada; Preston; Black and Underwood.

Both sides retain supreme shine, ultimate freshness and clarity with barely even a trace of dulling and no lifting at all. Some fine creasing surface creasing and a couple of three half moons that hardly register viewed normally full on. No fading and any blemishes bordering on minuscule. The colour of the artwork is stunning, bright and vivid – the shade of this can vary, this one of the most intensely coloured I have seen to date. Put simply, this does come very close to reminding of when first issued, a truly outstanding front.

Cover Gatefold Inner: Remember, Zappa wanted these two faces to be the outer, main cover to fully replicate ‘Sgt Pepper’ and are equally important as the outer ones, possibly more so in my opinion, the ‘front’ artwork is simply stunning. This centrefold is in fantastic condition. Again, the laminate ultra shiny and clear with any creasing or blemishes, tiny and very faint. The top flipbacks are magnificent, and have avoided pulling or sticking on their ends which is rarely avoided, and sometimes damaging and severe. In fact, this one possibly the very best I have seen on these areas, actually better than my own. The reissue covers omitted the flipbacks and laminate on the inside. The original ‘front’ is immense and the graphic sublime.

…Money hailed the arrived of Cal Schenkel, Zappa’s most suggestively visual interpreter. It replicates Pepper brilliantly, but turns it all around. It was photographed by Jerrold Schatzberg in his New York studio. The blue sky of The Beatles classic now becomes a black thunderstorm with lightning flashing. The flowers for the band name now are vegetables and the band are attired in dresses. The Mothers were flanked by executive producer Tom Wilson on one side, and Jimi Hendrix on the other. A photo of manager Herb Cohen’s daughter, Lisa, was placed in Hendrix’s arms (Please see my cover close-up). The lady on the right of Frank is Gail Zappa (sadly also no longer with us) then heavily pregnant with Moon Unit (soon to be his first-born daughter). Darker images of guests appear, MGM lawyers insisted on printing bars across the eyes of anyone in the collage who was still alive (other than the musicians or those involved), their paranoia simply made it more dark and sinister. In the sleeve notes, Zappa advised listeners to read ‘In the Penal Colony’, a short story by Franz Kafka that dealt with homoerotic abuse, colonialism and military/judicial atrocity – this album and cover remain a disturbing experience to this day.

Top & Bottom Edges: Straight, flat and parallel, all four practically mint as issued with fully and ultra smooth laminate with no scuff or chips.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean and mostly very sharp with minimal thickening. The record can enter on either edge as both are open with no glue marks, so clearly manufactured this way to include the ‘Sgt Pepper’ style insert that was removed and withdrawn after objections prior to release. All edges are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced. The exposed strips where the laminate ends are all ultra clean with no grubbiness or wear, that is also unusual and makes a massive difference.

Spine and Text: Solid and straight with any compression very light. Folded square, so the edges all meet up perfectly and parallel. Against the odds, all the laminate fully intact with no peeling. This spine, like most standard ‘Sgt Pepper’ spines, have a raised inside hinge, the spine will form a natural central ridge where the text sinks. This only very gentle on this one, so the text is still easily readable and all perfect as-seen. No tilt or fading, this spine being again, one of the finest you could see on this cover.

Corners: All corners are nigh-on mint as-issued, astonishing really, this cover was cover-protected practically from purchase. The lack of tip rubbing, creasing, dinks and pristine shape retention is something rarely seen on any cover this age, let alone these rare underground albums.

Cover Summary: A stunning all-round example of this groundbreaking cover. Who, but Zappa would have dared issue a cover like this? Now fast approaching 50, this has not just survived, it comes as close to reminding as as-made as they are likely to get, that laminate shine has to be seen. These Mothers were not pretty, but were one of the greatest inventive bands of all time and their appeal to fans of the psych underground scene will never be lost.

The Insert: NOT an original, UK inserts are nigh-on impossible to find. This is a superb very high quality reproduction taken from the Old Masters box set. Can any copy of Zappa’s masterpiece truly be ‘complete’ without this as well?

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: a plain solid white unlined inner. Gently aged only with minor discolouration, but hardly creased. All edges unsplit with no repairs – slight thinning only being critical, this includes the ‘PATENT APPLIED FOR’ text.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): visually with only a tiny few ultra wispy, very fine surface traces seen under bright light. No stylus scratches or marks at all on this fantastic record, few available or any first issues will match or better this. A heavily pressed 1G/1G genuine first issue that retains lovely shine and age-defying looks. The detail on the 4-track original mix is incredible, arguably, the most psychedelic record ever made and the stereo mix is just so ‘out there’. To fully appreciate the complexities of this recording, listen to it through a pair of high quality headphones. Let the mind focus on the sound – some of the dialogue and detail is a little easier to follow listened this way. It does take a few listens to fully appreciate, but well worth it. The best albums are never instant, if they are, they invaribly become boring and this never does and never will. Few will be seen or offered better, these really are becoming very hard to find, one to please most-all collectors. Like several others I am offering, this could be a near ultimate upgrade.

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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This Zappa classic plays even above it’s high visual grading with hardly anything of note to fault. It offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds hardly registered and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*. Few original copies will outperform this first stereo pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played with due care on a high quality system, clearly very well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this immense recording. It will prove very difficult to find better and merits my highest possible recommendation. A rare opportunity – do not lose this one.

End Piece: I make no apology for the length of this listing, I adore this album, and finding a worthy copy for offering is always a challenge and pleasure. For those who think ‘Sgt Pepper’ is the Lord of all albums, well this Zappa creation is the anti-Christ. How many times I’ve heard this album I could not even estimate, but for certain I never tire listening to it. There is always something hidden away I discover on every listen. Hearing it on the vintage vinyl format makes this one extra special – no CD version really compares, how could it when the original master tapes destroyed? The cover alone is worth price – it’s unique and daring, would anyone else but Zappa dare to reconstruct the Sgt Pepper cover? This must have caused shock-waves when first issued and even to this day, I am amazed he got away with it – some apparently were not amused. The sounds embedded in these vintage grooves are a testament to Zappa’s greatness and the same can be said of this legendary band too. It delights me that more younger listeners are getting into the world and music of Frank Zappa, bored by modern mediocrity. This was a time for invention and creation, and like Captain Beefheart’s seminal ‘Trout Mask Replica’ there will never be another like it. I am always happy to help or advise all I can on the man and his music. It just remains a shame that only after the great man’s death does the world finally wake up to fully recognise his genius. ‘Money’ is weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s here, enjoy this classic forever on this beautifully preserved piece of rock history.

* 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 2.2 grams.

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 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 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 it’s 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 programs. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 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 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, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 minuscule in over 14­ 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. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. 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 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 withdrawals. 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 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’.