JETHRO TULL This Was RARE Orig UK 1968 Pink Island MONO

	£		410
	$		543

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Artist or Band: JETHRO TULL

Album Title: This Was.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: My Sunday Feeling; Some Day the Sun Won’t Shine For you; Beggar’s Farm; Move on Alone; Serenade to a Cuckoo.

Side 2: Dharma For One; It’s Breaking Me Up; Cat’s Squirrel; A Song for Jeffrey; Round.

Label/Format: Island - Full pink original with orange and black ‘eyeball’ logo. The surfaces are very rough textured and have a very deep inner ridge. (Please see label pictures for all information).

Label Conditions: Two absolutely beautiful examples with the most gorgeous, fresh real pink colour that have an almost pastel-like finish. What an absolute pleasure to view these types on one of the rarest Island mono albums. Both ultra clean with pristine surfaces that show no fingermarks or grubbiness. Spindle marks are very light and faint and there is no wear or chipping to the hole rim.

Cat Number: ILP 985.

Mode / Speed: Mono / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 148 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Quite rare and elusive in mono: an album that was not available for very long in this mode. One of a small few rock mono albums on this label and this has a very different sound and mix to the far more common stereo version. For those who shelled-out on a mono copy of this from issue time, most all played it on mono equipment, and as I have stated so many times in my adverts, we all know the potential results of that regarding wear and abuse. This is a superb example and looks little played and the sound quality totally blew me away. It plays with so little unwanted, I feel it will take an extraordinary example to better it significantly. One of those albums that really gets the blood flowing, the mini drum solo on ‘Dharma For One’ gives that rare tingle factor that only the best recordings and music ever can. Finding that wonderful cover with the massive spine in lovely uncrushed condition is very difficult indeed and again, this looks fantastic. The only other cover I have seen with a spine this wide is Zappa’s original ‘Lumpy Gravy’ and both are worthy the price alone - neither will be hard to locate in a record storage rack. For rarity, both the number of sales and conditions are considered by this seller, both as important as each other, and this one is rare on both accounts.

Original Year of Release: 1968.

Matrix Nos: ILP + 985 + A / ILP + 985 + B

Musicians: Ian Anderson - flute, mouth organ, claghorn, piano and vocals; Mick Abrahams - guitar, nine string guitar and vocal; Clive Bunker - drums, hooter and charm bracelet; Glenn Cornick - bass guitar.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Jethro Tull’s debut masterpiece and many agree it was never bettered, it even charted at 10 in the UK. A genuine rock classic, a debut of incredible maturity that fitted in nicely between rock and blues, the band’s ‘progressive’ sound came slightly later. Mick Abrahams was the darling of the clubs, and for a brief moment offered a challenge to Clapton, especially with his showpiece ‘Cat’s Squirrel’. Shortly afterwards he left the band to form Blodwyn Pig. Anderson became the undisputed leader and live he and the band were tremendous. On record they rarely got much better than this and ‘Dharma for One’ that opens side two has probably the best ever (short) drum solo ever - this just has to be heard on the original mono format, it has breathtaking sound, as has the whole album. This one plays beautifully with very little unwanted and is an extraordinary album and super copy. Apart from the quite beautiful artwork on the front cover, special mention must be made to the sleeve's spine. Only the early pressings included the super-wide spine and this is a lovely example and devoid of the flattening and crushing most suffer. A think of real beauty from an age where quality mattered. No wonder the discerning collector only insist on the earliest pressings. I can never wait to play any copy of this album I manage to secure whether in mono or stereo – that said, the mono cuts are VERY SPECIAL and so hard to find in worthy conditions. This more than pleases on all accounts.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Moderately high.

Cover Grade and Format: EX(+) and is one of the few I have seen with a near perfect spine. A gatefold format with both front and back laminated. The inside of the gatefold has two external flipbacks on the top edges. Printed and made in England and includes the massive wide spine – one of the widest on a standard cover ever made. Also the back and spine confirms the ILP mono number - always be aware of substitutions for the stereo version (please see my spine close-up to confirm this is correct).

Lamination – Front & Back: The laminate on both sides retains a lovely shine, freshness and clarity and all is fully adhered with no lifting or blisters which is highly unusual on this one. Only under light, are some very mild friction rubs evident, barely any on the back but the front being so dark highlights these blemishes a little. Normal viewing reveals little to none. Incredibly there are hardly any noteworthy creases at all, just a tiny few edge hairline types only which is quite remarkable on this one. Marks on both surfaces are in the main ultra fine surface traces with just one more noteworthy mark on each. The front has a long but light pressmark which with normal viewing is invisible, only apparent with angled viewing. The back has a mild scuff near the top left corner, again it shows little with normal viewing. Overall a highly attractive and genuine first-made mono cover, they rarely get seen much better on available copies and I feel sure most collectors will love owning this one.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The huge flipbacks have slightly darkened but they usually do. Both are undamaged and that is unusual. The main two unlaminated faces remain attractive with just the odd mark and a fine pressmark on the left which has little visual impact. The spine and its folds are very neat indeed with no wear, damage or crushing.

Top & Bottom Edges: Both sets immaculate and very straight too. No wear and the full laminate has fantastic shine, my finger test detects no scuffs or abrasions at all.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with little wear and no feathering, odd minor burr trace when viewed end-on and guaranteed untrimmed. The laminate ends a little short on both these edges, any darkening to the exposed strips being very mild. Record entered on this right outside back edge.

Spine and Text: The spine is massively wide and measures practically 10 millimetres. It has retained its shape well and is not crushed or compressed. A very mild semi-crease is just apparent but few will ever avoid this as the very least. The spine itself has retained all its laminate as have the fold-hinges which again remain ultra smooth and ungrazed. Never take this for granted. All text is perfect and unworn including the prized mono Cat. No. (again see my spine close-ups for verification). The lack of real wear or damage to possibly the widest spine ever made (Zappa’s original ‘Lumpy Gravy’ is the only other contender I have seen), is very unusual and gives this cover added class and character. When seen like this, a thing of genuine beauty.

Corners: All in superb condition and that’s including the fragile and vulnerable spine pair. Little wear at all and all retain very neat shape and lovely definition.

Cover Summary: Lovely just to hold a mono example of the famous blues-rock cover. Viewing a highly attractive one makes it even more enjoyable. A few minor blemishes, but minor is the operative word, few will better this I am certain. That massive spine rarely lasts long before being crushed or flattened in a record rack or case and once it happens, it’s impossible to get it back into shape again. Far, far harder to find than the stereo version and I feel most collectors will treasure this one. Can I make is clear also: I will pack this cover with central reinforcing to avoid any chance of crushing in transit. I will also pack in a DOUBLE box for a bullet-proof journey.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Criticaly graded EX++ but Mint(-) would not be unreasonable especially given the mode and age, this is an outstanding original copy. Very clean with a lovely shine, intense black and quite heavily pressed on high quality Island vinyl. Just a tiny few ultra faint and faint surface marks/hairlines that have NO effect on sound whatsoever. Not even easy seeing anything of note at all really and there are NO penetrating scratches that so few mono records ever avoid. A mono rarity that has been little used and certainly not abused. Again I feel sure most collectors will treasure this. Those gorgeous labels worthy of another look.

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 snippetts 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 miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This classic debut album plays up to it’s visual grading even up to the maximum with practically nothing to fault. Stunning clean mono sound that has a powerful mix that exceeds the stereo version and is loudly recorded. This plays cleanly and is devoid of the dreaded distortions so many of the early copies now have. The innermost songs with that delicate, difficult flute sections always are a concern for any copy played too many times on heavy equipment - no worries here, the sound remains sharp with effortless tracking and fine clarity. It should now remain so for many years when played on a modern lightweight turntable. This is not an easy album and so often it disappoints even on clean visual copies. Any traces of high frequency clipping minuscule and any present is ultra brief and this while listening very critically on a highly revealing deck. Such albums were never really designed to be played on such equipment, these were designed to be played on mono record-players of the day. The mono mix in incredibly dynamic with intense sonic delivery, at times it gave me the rare tingle factor that only the best recordings ever can. The short but spectacular drum solo on ‘Dharma for One’ sounds amazing with real power, depth and believablity – the set has an in-the-room presence. I enjoyed this mono copy immensely, a very special piece when they come along, which sadly, is all to rarely. When I saw the playing surfaces on this copy, I knew with was a little bit special. We all know what these types were mostly played on and what they can be like these days. Given these facts this copy is almost remarkable and few will better it. The mono mix and sound is still unique to vinyl and its an experience not to be missed, strong recommendation is mandatory – do not lose this one.

End Piece: Again its frightening to think how old this record is, to find a mono original that plays this well is marvellous. Who would have thought nearly forty years ago Ian Anderson and his band would still be playing under this name? This record and cover were robustly made and its a good thing they were. Just holding this vintage mono pressing is a joy - it was subsequently pressed many more times but only in stereo. The mono version has long been out of print and remains unique to the analogue format. This is a scarce record and conditionwise it has stood the test of time beautifuly. Not a beaten-up, trashed unlistenable mess that are still often graded EX or better, this record and cover are things of genuine beauty and delighted to be able to offer them. Play this record loud and prepare to be thrilled - a true classic worthy of a good home – Yes I rather enjoyed this one.

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 - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, 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 its 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 programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. 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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

POSTING & PACKING: 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, mostly the very next day after payment is received or within three days maximum (unless on holiday). All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with the record(s) 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 TWO VERY THICK stiffners for even extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. 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. 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 and offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 5,000+ items sold in over 8 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per packet. I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included in the advert.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

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 (SECOND Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = FREE. This is the new Ebay rule. HOWEVER I STRONGLY URGE UK WINNERS TO PAY THE £3 FOR THE FIRST-CLASS SERVICE AS THE PACKETS WILL ARRIVE MUCH FASTER AND SAFER.

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £3.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500).

Posting & Packing: ALL EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA including RUSSIA and nearby countries. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £8. (insurance optional extra £3).

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (any part); 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 [£39 maximum]) = £12. (insurance 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: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. 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 minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

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 neccessarily 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’.