kentgirl22 is pleased to offer for sale the following rare original 1972 UK 1st pressing vinyl LP:

KING CRIMSON

"EARTHBOUND"

(Recorded Live In 1972)

RARE ORIGINAL 1972 UK ISLAND RECORDS 'PINK I' BLACK LABEL 1st PRESS VINYL LP

CAT.NO.HELP 6

Matrix Nos: HELP 6 A-1U / HELP 6 B-1U

(Signifies original EARLIEST 1ST PRESS ONLY matrices)

The Mother Stampers

side 1. "11" "MH" (VERY EARLY)

side 2. "2" "1.1 D" (VERY EARLY)

THIS SCARCE ALBUM IS VERY NEAR PRISTINE!! ONLY PLAYED BY ME A HANDFUL OF TIMES EVER!! VERY (VERY) RARE -1U -1U MATRIX (RARELY SEEN)!! THE ORIGINAL BLACK ISLAND LABEL WITH THE PINK 'I'. ORIGINAL BLACK LP SLEEVE + ORIGINAL TEXTURED BLACK INNER SLEEVE!! VERY EARLY MOTHER STAMPERS!!

This officiallyy released 'bootleg quality' King Crimson live album captures the best and worst of this 1972 incarnation of the band. The version of 21st Century Schizoid Band is my personal favourite - Boz's vocals, distorted by the EMS VCS3 synthesiser, really gets across the power and energy that other versions lack. Fripp's guitar solo is spellbinding, and then the immense sax solo from Mel Collins, preseded by a shout of 'Go on Mel' from Ian or Boz is untouchable. Finally, the band come back together for the intricate last section and third verse, before finishing off with a frenzy of notes. The raw sound quality of the recording only adds to the intense edge that this song should always have. 'Peoria' is a funky blues jam which leads into an edited version of 'The Sailors Tale'. Earthbound is another improvised track but the last track 'Groon', shows the risks that this particular version of Crimson were prepared to take. I can only imagine what the audience felt when Ian Wallace's drums were electronically distorted by Pete Sinfield's use of the EMS VCS3, but the effect is out of this world.

A much maligned and infamous live album, but certainly it should be heard by all King Crimson fans.

UK ISLAND RECORDS 'PINK I' BLACK LABEL ORIGINAL FIRST PRESSING VINYL LP FROM 1972. ORIGINAL NON-LAMINATED 'MACNEILL PRESS LTD' BLACK LP SLEEVE. ORIGINAL BLACK INNER SLEEVE.

I DOUBT IF YOU CAN FIND A MUCH BETTER ORIGINAL COPY THAN THIS ONE!

1972 ORIGINAL UK ISLAND LABEL HELP 6 - STEREO. A-1U / B-1U STAMPED 1st PRESS MATRIX - THICK VINYL

NON-LAMINATED BLACK MATT SLEEVE PRINTED BY MACNEILL PRESS LTD.

 A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS SOUGHT AFTER EARLY 70s KING CRIMSON LIVE LP.

Tracks

Side 1.

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man (11:45)
2. Peoria (7:30)
3. The Sailors Tale (4:45)

Side 2.

1. Earthbound (7:08) 
2. Groon (15:30)

Rare Original 1972 UK Island Records 'PINK I' BLACK LABEL 1st Pressing Vinyl LP Housed In 'MacNeill Press' Black Matt Sleeve

Record Label: Island Records

Catalogue No: HELP 6

Matrix Nos:  HELP 6 A-1U / HELP 6 B-1U

(Signifies original very early first pressing)

The Mother stampers

side 1. ''11'' ''MH'' (VERY EARLY)

side 2. ''2'' "1.1D'' (VERY EARLY)

Year: 1972

Made In England

CONDITION

Vinyl: EX+

The Vinyl Is In Superb Condition - Only Played A Handful Of Times From New - Most Probably One Of The Best You Can Find!!

(A beautiful gleaming vinyl with deep mirror shine and glossy lustre. This is the original THICK CHUNKY WITH DEEPER GROOVES type of vinyl only found on 1st pressings!! This has only been played by me a handful of times when I initially purchased it over 38 years ago!!  Any marks that could possibly be seen in strong light would be sleeve removal marks (non) audio sounding! This 1972 UK Island first pressing still retains its full gloss and sheen, it has that 'just pressed' look and judging by the labels and lack of spindle marks it has been looked after and cared for extremely well. A lovely original UK 1st pressing of this rare uk 1st pressing LP. I seriously doubt if you can find a significantly better condition original copy than this one!)

Labels: EX+

(These are the original black Island labels with the pink I . A beautiful set of labels with only a couple of near invisible spindle traces)

LP Sleeve: EX

(This is the original 1st press 'MacNeil press Ltd' non-laminated matt semi sheen cover and its in excellent condition. There is a little storage ringwear, a few small creases near the lower right corner and edges, with some rubbing near the lower edge on the front. The rear is very clean with a few tiny little wrinkles and very light storage wear. The spine is solid and all writing can be clearly seen. This delicate and predominantly all black sleeve is in exceptional condition for a near 40 years of age artifact! (please see photos)

Original 'Made In Great Britain' Black Textured Die-Cut Inner Sleeve: EX

(Correct original inner sleeve with only a few mild and light creaes)

NOTES

KING CRIMSON 

"EARTHBOUND"

ISLAND RECORDS

HELP 6

A-1U/B-1U

Absolute 1st Pressing Matrices

Rare Original 1972 UK Island Records 'Pink I' Black Label 1st Press LP Housed In MacNeill Press Sleeve

Line Up / Musicians:

Robert Fripp: electric guitar
Mel Collins: alto, tenor & baritone saxes, mellotron
Boz: bass guitar & vocals
Ian Wallace: drums

with:

Hunter Macdonald: VCS3

On offer here, from my own collection, is this rare original 1972 UK Island Records King Crimson 1st PRESS LP

On the original 1st pressing UK Island 'PINK I' black labels

Housed in original 'MacNeill Press' single matt sleeve

Complete with correct original 'MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN' die-cut rough textured black inner sleeve

Catalogue Number: ILPS 9141

Matrix numbers: HELP 6 A-1U & HELP 6 B-1U

These 1U/1U Matrices Signifies This To Be A Genuine Original 1st Pressing

On offer here, from my own collection, is a superb condition ORIGINAL UK 1st PRESS LP titled 'EARTHBOUND' released in 1972 by the legendary British progressive rock band KING CRIMSON, issued on the UK original 1st press ISLAND RECORDS label.

Earthbound is a live album by the band King Crimson, released in 1972 shortly after the line-up which recorded it had broken up. It has been praised for its funky grooves (unusual for the band), its version of "Groon", and a performance of "21st Century Schizoid Man", but widely criticized for its indifferent poor sound quality, due to it being recorded onto cassette by live sound engineer Hunter MacDonald. The liner notes state that it was captured live on an ampex stereo cassette fed from a Kelsey Morris custom built mixer ... in the rain from the back of a Volkswagen truck!!

First of all I must emphasise how poor the sound quality is on this recording. It is, unfortunately, of semi-bootleg quality. Secondly, let me alert you to the fact that 'Earthbound' captures King Crimson in a process of heavy mutation. By the time it was recorded (1972) the band had shrunk to a four-piece, and a strange one at that. The most striking thing about the line-up is the rhythm section, consisting of Bass player, Boz, and drummer, Ian Wallace. Together they form the funkiest rhythm section in Crimson's history. Wallace is an excellent drummer, and he's given a lot of space on this recording to groove-out, as all of the tracks, bar 'Schizoid Man', are extended improvisations. He plays a great drum solo too, if you like that kind of thing. As I said, the bass is played by the, infamous, Boz, who, as legend has it, apparently couldn't play the bass. Listening to his playing on this album, all I can say is the stories about his lack of bass playing skill must be apocryphal, for unless he's miming, he's definitely playing it on this album, and rather well at that. The sax and mellotron duties are handled by the excellent Mel Collins. Collins gets ample opportunity to express himself, too, treating us to some very soulful and frenzied soloing. Fripp is fantastic as always. The album opens with what is, in my opinion, a far superior version of 'Schizoid Man' than the one released on 'U.S.A'. In some ways the overly distorted sound actually enhances this gutsy in-yer- face rendition of Crimson's most famous song. Boz's vocals are suitably distorted and deranged. In fact, everything is suitably distorted and deranged. Fripp's guitar solo is fantastic; much more manic than the U.S.A. version. There's a wonderful tension about this performance, especially the moment when Mel Collins tentatively begins his sax solo after the all-out warfare of Fripp's guitar solo. The tricky unison passages are all played with the precision expected from Crimson. Once more I say, if Boz couldn't play the bass, then, by a sheer fluke he hit the jackpot on this song. 'Peoria' is a great, funky jam featuring Mel Collins on sax, and Boz on funky "scat" vocals.  The Sailor's Tale' from 'Islands' produces some good guitar playing from Fripp, and some mellotron playing from Collins. 'Earthbound' starts off as another funky type tune with yet more sax and "scat" vocals. However, Fripp plays a solo that is unmistakably Fripp, and suddenly the tune sounds like King Crimson again. 'Groon' is yet another extended jam featuring Mel Collins. It ends with the aforementioned drum solo. I know this isn't Crimson's best album by any means. But despite the poor sound quality, it does capture King Crimson at a very unusual and transitory phase in their development and is of significant historical value to all KC collectors.

This is real music played by four really good musicians. It's interesting to note that while Crimson studio songs were more rock based, live they tended to get into a lot of funk-jazz type jams. This is true of this version of the band, as well as the later Wetton-Bruford line-up. It is hard to appreciate how radical the VCS 3 sound sythesizer on the drum set sounded back then, but this was the very early days of electronics in rock. At the time, this was very cutting edge sound sculpture along the lines of Stockhausen and Xennakis, and was probably a real unexpected trip live. Despite the indifferent sound recording, this album shows a great band combining what was then the latest in rock meets free jazz jams, as well as new electronic sounds, and some unique prog-rock compositions. When you combine the raw sound with the stark black cover, and the very urban funk-jazz jams topped with one of the most expressive saxophonists this side of Pharoah Sanders, you get one hard slab of pure granite earthbound prog-rock.

KING CRIMSON

''EARTHBOUND''

(EARLIEST 1st UK PRESSING TO FIND )

CAT NO. HELP 6 ORIGINAL ISLAND LABELS!!

EARLIEST POSSIBLE MATRIX -1U -1U (only 1st press) ''11'' ''MH'' AND ''2'' ''1.1D'' MOTHER STAMPERS  (MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE)

Correct Original Black Die-Cut Textured Inner Sleeve 'Made In Great Britain' 

This RARE ORIGINAL UK 1ST PRESS album is a 'MUST HAVE' for any serious KING CRIMSON fans, UK prog rock and ISLAND label collectors alike.

 The record is pressed on THICK vinyl. The Cat.No. is HELP 6 on the ORIGINAL 1st PRESS ISLAND label (see picture) and is a 1972 UK Stereo 1st Pressing.

I very much doubt if you can find a significantly better condition original 1st UK pressing of this rare officialy released live LP!!

 Low Start....No Reserve....Don't Miss Out!!

Please take a look at my other ORIGINAL KING CRIMSON 1st PRESS LPs listed this week

POST & PACKING:

UK: 1st Class: £4.00 (Recorded Delivery) each additional LP will cost £1.50
EUROPE: Airmail: £5.00 or £10.00 (International Signed For Delivery) each additional LP will cost £2.50 
INTERNATIONAL / REST OF WORLD: Airmail: £8.00 or £13.00 (International Signed For Delivery) each additional LP will cost £3.00

***Any record (or combination of records) which sells for more than £20 MUST be sent by a trackable method ie INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR outside of the UK. This is compulsory. Please do not bid above £20 on this item if you are not prepared to pay for this secure shipping service. I will email you when payment has been received to let you know when the item will be posted. Please leave feedback upon receipt of the item so that I know you have received it safely. Any problems please email me. Thanks.

ALL RECORDS ARE VERY WELL PACKAGED WITH THE VINYL OUTSIDE OF THE SLEEVE TO PREVENT ANY 'KNIFING' DURING TRANSIT. A PROTECTIVE POLY SLEEVE, CRUCIFORM (NOT ENVELOPE) MAILER AND STIFFENERS ARE ALWAYS USED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RECORD ARRIVES SAFELY.

Note: The pictures provided are REAL images of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. What you see is what you'll get!

Records / CDs Are Graded In The Following Way:

MINT (M): The record / cd displays barely any signs of use, if any, with no marks or deterioration in sound quality. Extra items and cover are near perfect.

EXCELLENT (EX): Shows only minor signs of being played with very little lessening in sound quality. The Cover and extras will have some light wear and or creasing

VERY GOOD (VG): Has been played many times but has no major deterioration in sound quality, despite some noticeable surface marks and occasional light scratches. Cover and extras will have normal wear and tear but no major defects

GOOD (G): Has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and any extras may suffer from folding, scuffing, split spine, discoloration etc.

FAIR (F): The record is still just playable and has considerable surface noise and may even jump. Cover and contents will be torn stained and/or defaced.

POOR (P): The record will not play properly. Covers badly damaged or partly missing

+ or - : Indicates slightly better (+) or slightly lesser (-) condition than main grade

All records / cd's are from my personal collection and have been carefully play graded before listing. In many cases I have owned them from new and all have been looked after very well. Please check out my other similar items currently listed on eBay.

Auction Conditions - Important : Please read before bidding

UK Bidders

Acceptable methods of payment :

• Cheques
• Postal Orders
• PAYPAL

Non-UK Bidders

Acceptable methods of payment :

• PAYPAL

All payment to be made within 7 days of end of auction.

At the end of the auction I will send you an invoice confirming your winning bid(s) with the total amount payable. Do not send any payment until you have received this invoice.

Paypal To: kentgirl22@gmail.com

Packaging Notes:

All records are securely and well packed to avoid any unnecessary damage during transit. I aim to dispatch all items within 48 hours of receiving payment. I always obtain a certificate proof of posting receipt for every item sent, which will complete our transaction. Thank you for taking the time to look at my listings, I hope you will be lucky if deciding to make a bid.