KATE - UK original 7" STRANGE GIRL/DON'T MAKE A SOUND - IMPOSSIBLE Near Mint

	£		151
	$		200

KATE - UK original 7" STRANGE GIRL/DON'T MAKE A SOUND - IMPOSSIBLE Near Mint!

Please see my Detailed Packing Description Further Down & All Shipping Costs and Options – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment.

Artist or Band: Kate

Record Title: Strange Girl/Don't Make A Sound

Arranged By : Cy Payne

Producer(s): Ralph Murphy.

PLEASE NOTE I HAVE THE OTHER 2 UK ORIGINAL KATE 7" RELEASES FOR SALE- BOTH IN THE SAME Near Mint (NM) CONDITION - PLEASE SEE MY OTHER ITEMS

TRACK LIST:

Side A: Strange Girl.

Side B: Don't Make A Sound.

Label/Format: CBS (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both fantastic - no writing, initials, tears or spindle marks - very tiny minor flaking on Side A of label edge around push out centre takes this to Ex++ . Side B NM Both ultra clean, deep orange matt.

Vinyl Condition : Both side NM - no scratches, no hairlines - nothing - the absolute Keeper copy of this classic late 60's UK Psyche single - now a respectable 44 years old! Deep glossy shine to both sides - silent pressing - just the music. Any marks in the photos are just reflections - the vinyl is super clean to both sides.

Cat Number: 3631.

Mode / Speed: Mono 45 rpm.

Warps: Records I offer for sale have no warping and will play flat on all turntables including ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 41 grams. Average weight - usual heavy vinyl for late 60's UK 45s.

Country of Manufacture: UK - Made in England text.

Rarity: Ultra rare in this NM condition - very rare as a stock copy and highly sought after as are the band's other 2 singles from 1968/9.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: 7612/7613

Musicians:1968 UK PSYCH BAND - KATE

• Bass – Alfred Turnstall
• Drums – Barrie Edwards
• Guitar – Chris Gilbey
• Organ – Robert Gold
• Vocals, Guitar – Hratch

CHRIS GILBEY WROTE ON HIS WEB SITE - 

Back in 1968 I was in London and was a guitarist and songwriter in a band called Kate.

We were signed to CBS Records.

Our first single was called “Strange Girl” and it was almost a hit. Got great reviews including Record of the Week in Melody Maker (thank you, Chris Welch) and got a reasonable amount of airplay.

But it wasn't a hit. So no cigar. We recorded a couple of other singles and had an abortive tour of Germany and then the band broke up. These things happen!

I am now writing a book about those times… I was totally blown away to find that the single had been on a compliation album of post psychedelic tracks from the UK from that era and to hear the song on a podcast from someone in the UK. Wonderful.  It sounds pretty good!

Brief Info: Kate was a late 1960's British group formed in London. Their 3 singles featured all original material and were produced by Ralph Murphy with orchestration and arrangements by Cy Payne. All 3 45's were released on CBS in the UK and all are now very rare to find - especially in anything close to mint or unplayed condition.

:1 - Strange Girl/I Don't Make A Sound(CBS 3631)1968  2 - Hold Me Now/Empty World(CBS 3815)1968 - 3 -Shout It/Sweet Little Thing(CBS 4123)1969 

Originally formed in London with line-up above. They split late in 1968 after achieving little success.

They were reformed in 1969 by former Pretty Things' drummer Viv Prince. Shout It (written by producer Murphy) could easily have been a hit - powerful vocals, chorus girls and some good organ work - it's now a classic collectible side from the late 60's UK Psyche scene. As is Strange Girl with its great 60's saxophone refrain that introduces the song and sets the scene.

Cover Grade and Format: Standard late 60's CBS stock 45 sleeve with the28/30 Theobalds Rd WC1 address

Cover Front: Minor creasing otherwise Excellent - opening scalloped edge is clean. No tears or rips

Cover Back: Minor creasing otherwise Excellent as front sleeve.

Label Condition : Side A :  Ex++  deep orange matt CBS labels with solid black print. No pen, writing, initials or tears. Virtually no wear and no spindle marks. The centre  hole is sharp and clean showing no wear -  shade off NM for very tiny flaking of orange to outer rim of inner push out centre. Side B : NM  nothing to note.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NM a super visual copy that is very clean, shiny, intense black and solidly pressed. A copy probably played once or twice only prior to my play-grade. No surface marks - no scratches and no hairlines to either side - amazing for a 44 year old piece of vinyl - it is clear this has been stored for decades without play.

Record Played For Grading: I play ALL records I offer for sale before submitting to Ebay. 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 a Roksan TMS turntable with Artemiz arm and the legendary Shiraz cartridge through to top of the range  Infinity Kappa floor standing speakers. If there's any noise or distortion in the grooves - this combo reveals all. 

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: Near Mint! This quality UK original 60's mono pressing plays to its high visual grading with practically nothing to fault. 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 are minimal in the intro grooves (as always) and no pops or clicks were noted. This is an exceptionally clean pressing. The trademark saxophone theme to Strange Girl is reproduced here with depth and clarity that CD cannot achieve. Being a Mono recording the bass is deep and powerful - this is a complex recording with many quiet and louder passages all of which play with wonderful balance - no hint of groove wear from the old Mono pick-ups or distortion through overplaying. The flip side is another great slice of British 60's whimsey - harpsichord driven psyche with lots of drum rolls and fantastic melody. As a debut single - both sides are up there with the best from the era - Strange Girl being their most famous song and appears on a number of recent UK Psyche compilations having been rediscovered.

This is a vault copy of a truly rare UK original 45 and will be almost impossible to improve on. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played no more than one or two times prior to my play grade and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. This record is strongly recommended.

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 

I play-grade ALL the records that are offered for sale on the following high quality audiophile equipment:

Deck: Roksan TMS1 with Artemiz arm and the legendary Shiraz MC cartridge (tracks at 1.75 grammes). Amps: Roksan L1.5 Pre-Amp driven by 2 Roksan M1.5 Mono-Blocks and connected with Black Slink solid silver cables. Speakers: Pair of Infinity Kappa 8 floor standing speakers with Van Den Hul connects. All records I offer are cleaned on a professional Nitty Gritty 1.5 Record Cleaning machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound.  Pictures taken with a Canon EOS 500D SLR Digital Camera.

You receive : An accurately described, play graded piece of vinyl, professionally packed and shipped to you. Photographs are of the actual item for sale and are to a high resolution to ensure all details are accurately conveyed.

PACKING - 

I send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions - UK, EU, USA and worldwide. 

The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve ( white paper sleeve for 7" singles) and the vinyl record will be professionally cleaned on a Nitty Gritty 1.5 Record Cleaning machine. The record’s original inner will be included if available.  Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible.  I offer a postage discount  for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box. I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here . Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me before placing bids. I reserve the right to cancel first time bidders or bidders with negative feedback. If in doubt - please email me before the listing closes.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the bid to end the dispute, 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 and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). 

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

I ship worldwide with parcel tracking. 

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS :

1 x 7"   = £4.

 Add £2 per extra 7".

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 x 7"  = £7.50. Add £3 per extra 7".

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 x 7" = £9. Add £4 per extra 7". 

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I  accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

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. Quickly completed deals get fast and positive 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 refund of the original purchase price. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so please read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.Return post is at your cost. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO RECORD CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

I follow the UK Record Collector grades plus the following as further explanations:

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.  I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure - matrix numbers and stamper marks ( and tax codes for the UK pressings where present) will be stated in the listing so that those with greater knowledge than me can decipher the first or later pressing of an album (or single). 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. 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.