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Gentle Giant : Octopus 1Y1 / 2Y1 1972 Vertigo Swirl Pressing

This very collectable album plays with stunning audio with no interference.  I have played every track in full (as usual) and I am confident in grading it as Mint- such is sonic quality on offer here, a FINAL UPGRADE as it were.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the power of the audio is second to none and it may well be the most impressive version of this classic album that I have ever listened to.  You will not be surprised to hear that the vinyl is visually stunning and you would not be disappointed if you had just purchased it 'new' from a record shop!

The gatefold is in excellent order with only the bare minimum of wear and every aspect of this album has been so well preserved over the last 50+ years.  The original inner sleeve just has some age related fading around the edges.  This one is a Plastic Bags... inner not all from this pressing included a Vertigo swirl inner.

This is known as a second press as the publisher on the S2 label is Excellency Music rather than Alucard Music.  However, it still has the first press 1Y1/ 2Y1 matrix and was clearly produced very soon after the first one.

6360080   1Y//1 ▽ 420  1 1  2    04

6360080   2Y//1 ▽ 420  1 1  4    04

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is a very strong Ex

The labels are Mint-

The original 'Plastic Bags...' inner is Ex

Visual description

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light it is very difficult to locate any hairlines, a handful of ultra faint ones only and there is nothing that stands out.  It really is a superb looking vinyl!  The Vertigo labels are also super clean with no marking and hardly any wear.  This has the wow factor!

Play grading

The run in on S1 is crystal clear and then the quiet opening vocal on 'The Advent Of Panurge' plays beautifully without any background.  The instrumental section is of the same high end standard and the 'chorus' has no intrusion either.  There is one mega light tick during the next instrumental but you could easily miss it.  The mid 'vocal' passage is 'as new' and the final verse is perfect.  I will grade as Mint- but really I'm not sure the minus is necessary.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Raconteur, Troubadour' then plays with stunning quality throughout with no interference whatsoever.  The clarity of sound and the depth of the audio is phenomenal, I cannot fault it.  From start to finish it plays 'as new' and that is no exaggeration.  Incredible sound quality!  Mint

The brief intro and then the opening vocal on 'A Cry For Everyone' play perfectly with not even a single dust tick and it continues in the same manner with zero intrusion.  Once again the sonic quality is exceptional and there is no distortion on the top end despite being a more powerful track.  The instrumental sections are STUNNING and the vocals are just as clean and 'fresh'.  This is another Mint track.

'Knots' ends the side with unbelievable clarity and warmth.  The vocal only opening could not play any better and this level is kept up as it progresses.  Honestly I cannot believe what I listening to!  This truly is audio of the highest calibre - each note is so clean and precise and there is literally nothing to detract from the sound quality.  The clarity, power and depth of the audio can only be described 'as new' and Mint is again 100% deserved.

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The 'spinning coin' on 'The Boys In The Band' has no background at all and then the instrumental passage plays to perfection also.  From then on it plays with stunning precision and the clarity and depth of the audio are the stand out features.  There is not a lot more to add really!  One minor background static that is all and Mint is again a fair assessment of the audio.

The acoustic intro on 'Dog's Life' is faultless and the opening vocal is just as as clean.  It continues to play so clearly without any interference - this vinyl has been preserved in a vault I would say as the playback is just so clean!  The clarity here is just incredible and this is why these Vertigo pressings are so collectable - you do not get depth and warmth like this on any other medium.  A relatively quiet track and... no intrusion at all.  Wow!  Mint

The classic 'Think Of Me With Kindness' plays with outstanding quality.  The gentle piano intro has no background and the opening vocal is equal to that.  It continues in the same precise way and once again the clarity of sound is on another level.  You might expect some background static but no - the clarity is incredible.  I detected just one barely audible static and each section plays with such precision.  Audio does not get any better than this and I truly believe Mint is deserved.

'River' ends the album with great quality once more.  From the very first note to the end fade out I cannot find one single negative and despite being the final track the sonic quality is just as strong as the preceding ones.  The powerful guitar solo is a prime example of that - every section plays with stunning Mint precision basically.

In summary this very early Vertigo swirl pressing plays to a standard you so rarely find today.  In essence there is no interference, a couple of mega quiet statics that is all and to only find a couple is incredible really on a 50+ year old vinyl!  This is without doubt a FINAL UPGRADE archive pressing in that it just could not play any better.  It would add to any high end collection - I cannot impress enough just how fantastic the audio is!

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in excellent condition with only very minimal wear.  The edges have barely any rubbing and the wide spine remains strong and 100% legible with just one minor 'crease' in the centre and very little wear on the corners.  The right hand corners are in excellent order also - just a bit more 'rub' bottom right corner of the front cover.  The opening edge has only minimal wear and the front cover is very clean with very little of the fading / spotting that you often see around the edges.  The back cover has just some minor ringwear and the inside of the gatefold is close to perfect with only a couple of small faint blemishes in the top right corner.  Overall this is a fine example of this cover and has retained its original shape and structure perfectly.

The original poly-lined Plastic Bags... inner has no side splits or tears and only minimal creasing.  It just has some of the usual age related fading around the edges.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

6360080   1Y//1▽ 420  1 1  2    04

6360080   2Y//1 ▽ 420  1 1  4    04

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!