FREE, SELF TITLED 2nd ALBUM, RARE 1969 UK PINK ISLAND 1st PRESS

	£		52
	$		69

betsy50 Store

Hi, my name is Nick (aka cornerstonevinyl). I have been an avid record collector for many years, building up an extensive collection of mostly blues/rock, psych, progressive and classic rock 1st issue albums from the mid sixties to early seventies period. I have decided to sell off a few choice albums in either the Fixed Price or Auction formats. These offerings represent the crème de la crème of my 35 years of record collecting and are of the highest quality. My grading is strict and any significant defects will be mentioned. You can rest assured that a record that I grade as MINT- will be both visually and aurally as fine a copy as you are ever likely to find (hopefully my feedback and 4.9/5.0 "item as described" rating will bear this out). My descriptions are concise and in accordance with the GRADINGS detailed below. I will not bore you with the unnecessary duplication of song lyrics, and self-respect will not allow the use of ridiculous words like "awesome, mega, hyper", etc., or endless exclamation marks. Customer satisfaction is of the highest importance to me. In the unlikely event that you are not entirely happy with an LP bought from me for any reason, I will refund you in full upon return without any hassle.

From my own personal collection I am pleased to offer a lovely example of the brilliant self-titled second studio album by FREE, Catalogue Number ILPS 9104. This is an ORIGINAL 1969 UK STEREO 1st PRESSING on the PINK ISLAND RECORD LABEL, with a superb 1st ISSUE E. J. DAY MATT-FINISH GATEFOLD SLEEVE. [The Pink Island labels have a rough-textured finish. The matrix numbers are the earliest 1A/1B and “Bell Sound sf” is etched in the run-outs of both sides].

The sleeve is in EX condition with only very light wear and a few minor creases. The front cover is unmarked and the back cover is very well preserved with only minor age discoloration. The opening gatefold spread is pristine and the spine is square and solid with all text clearly legible. It’s a beautiful example and one of the best that I have seen in ages.    

The record is in EX condition with the exception of a couple of small surface marks on Track 2 of Side Two. It’s a solid 145g pressing which retains a deep mirror-like shine and rotates evenly on the turntable. The textured Pink Island labels are unmarked with only a modest number of spindle traces each side. The audio quality of the “Bell Sound” 1st pressings is something very special. Playback is very powerful and vibrant with the bass very much at the forefront of the mix. Later pressings simply do not compare. Both sides play excellently throughout with no discernable deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The surface marks mentioned above each cause half a dozen lightish pops which are the only minor detractions to the otherwise faultless playback. It really is a superb playing copy.

The white poly-lined inner sleeve has some age discoloration and a tiny split to one side edge.

Overall this is a beautiful copy of arguably Free’s most accomplished and rarest album.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Rega P5 turntable fitted with an Elys 2 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example, with just a few very light surface marks which do not sound, and barely any discernable deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe - £9.95

Worldwide - £13.30