I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.

J. Teal Band : Cooks 2 / 2 1st Press 1977 (USA) Mother Cleo Label (Private Pressing)

This very rare and collectable first pressing from the USA plays with sublime audio and no interference.  I cannot compliment the audio highly enough, it is quite simply stunning!  There is only a minor amount of very light static right at the end of S1 but that hardly qualifies as interference!  The clarity, depth, warmth and resonance of the audio is of the highest calibre and I have no hesitation in saying this is a FINAL UPGRADE archive pressing.  Hardly played in my opinion.  The vinyl does have a small warp / lift on one 'edge' but it does not impact on the sound quality or the stylus and is even less pronounced when you play S2.  It is not a problem, it is a private pressing after all :-)

Rare certainly applies here.  In an interview online one of the writers / guitarists Billy Hardy said only 500 were pressed and he also stated he viewed it as a private pressing.  There cannot be many around today that play with such pristine audio as this one!  I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this album but in all honesty it is a little gem!  They were based in South Carolina and it has a real southern rock feel to it.  A superb listen in the end, really enjoyed it!

The cover is still contained within the original shrink-wrap and is in fantastic condition with no wear basically.  It has been beautifully preserved and has clearly hardly ever been handled, it is visually stunning.  The original inner sleeve has a little wear but nothing major.

MCP-LP-7721 // 38681 - 2 / 38682 - 2 // RITE 10-24-7 also etched on run out grooves

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Ex+ on final 5/6 grooves)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Near Mint

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Ex-

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very glossy sheen and no scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see some very minor 'mottling' which has no affect on the superb audio, it really is very faint.  There are no obvious hairlines and as stated it is obvious this vinyl has hardly been played.  The run out grooves have some fading but this is common with private pressings and the labels are in superb order with barely any spindle wear.  There is a minor warp on one 'edge' but this has no impact on either the audio or the stylus.

Play grading  

The entire intro on 'Brainwasher' plays perfectly with no background and then the vocal sections are of the same high end standard.  The mid solo is 'as new' (just like the rest of the track!) and right through to the final note this plays with sublime quality.  Even the fade out has no static etc!  A Mint start to the album.

'Country Girl' is more than equal to that and plays with outstanding clarity, depth and power throughout.  There is nothing that intrudes on the audio and Mint is again deserved.  Incredible guitar work here.  Because this record has hardly been played the original sonic quality is still there, I can't stress enough how superb the audio is!

'Goin' To Mississippi' plays with zero intrusion and the depth and resonance of the audio is just STUNNING!  Mint

The gentle intro on 'Lost Love' plays beautifully with only 3/4 barely audible dust ticks and the opening vocal plays with perfect clarity.  The first chorus is just as strong and from then onwards the playback 'as new' about the next 3 or 4 minutes!  The long instrumental that brings this superb track to a close plays beautifully and much of it is very quiet of course.  There is just a minimal amount of light static right at the end.  This is Mint and then Ex+ for the final few grooves :-)

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The intro on 'The Cure' has no background and the opening vocal is just as clean.  Audio perfection!  So far so good.  The mid guitar section is STUNNING with not so much as a dust tick and the remainder of this 8 minute plays to the same high end standard.  This track could not play any better - the clarity, depth and warmth is so impressive and it basically sounds like it has never been played before!  Mint in every single way.

'Born In Chicago' plays with immaculate precision with no sign of any interference.  The sonic quality is again 'as new' and Mint is again deserved.

The intro on 'Ain't Gonna Cry No More' plays to perfection and this clarity is maintained through every section.  More of a southern rock influence here and the audio is again so deep and rich.  I 'picked up' a couple of minor ticks but they are so quiet - blink and you miss them!  I am doing myself a disservice by even mentioning them truth be told!  Let's say Mint- although I am sure many would say the minus should not be there!

'Burned' ends this fine album with outstanding audio once more.  The first vocal is faultless and the extended guitar solo is superb.  It's easy forget just how much the bass adds to their overall 'sound' but it is very much in evidence here and sounds great!  A sublime Mint finish to an underrated classic.

In summary this very album plays with STUNNING quality across both sides and in essence it could not play any better.  A little gem of an album that easily deserves a FINAL UPGRADE archive status.  Just a hint of mega light static right at the end of S1 that is all.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is incredible which in a way is not surprising when you see how clean the vinyl is.  A 'private pressing' that has been so well preserved since 1977 and an immaculate cover also.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in beautiful condition and is still enclosed in its original shrink-wrap apart from the opening edge of course.  I cannot see any wear - there are no 'dings' or rubs on the edges or corners and the opening edge has no handline wear either.  The opening edge is slightly wider in the centre but the cover has retained its original shape and structure extremely well, the shrink-wrap has not 'crushed' it in any way.  A stunning example.

The original plain white inner has no side splits just one tiny tear on the top edge.  It also has some creasing and some fading in a couple of corners.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

MCP-LP-7721 // 38681 - 2 / 38682 - 2 // RITE 10-24-7 also etched on run out grooves

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 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

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!