KING CRIMSON IN THE COURT OF ISLAND WHITE i RARE VINYL

	£		32
	$		43

KING CRIMSON VINYL LP  

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING ALBUM

AN OBSERVATION BY KING CRIMSON

ISLAND PINK WHITE i LABEL - MADE IN ENGLAND 1969

 CATALOGUE NO. ILPS-9111

STEREO

MATRICES:  Av2  B//3

STAMPERS: SIDE ONE - 12   1     SIDE TWO -11   3

TRACK LISTING..SIDE 1: 21st CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN including MIRRORS. I TALK TO THE WIND. EPITAPH including (a) MARCH FOR NO REASON (b) TOMORROW AND TOMORROW. / SIDE 2: MOONCHILD including (a) THE DREAM (b) THE ILLUSION. THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING including (a) THE RETURN OF THE FIRE WITCH (b) THE DANCE OF THE PUPPETS

NOTEWORTHY FEATURES OF THIS ALBUM ARE THAT IT WAS RECORDED ON THE ISLAND PINK WHITE i LABEL ON MID TO HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL WITH EARLY OR FIRST PRESS Av2 & B//3 MATRICES - AND THE STAMPERS APPEAR TO SUPPORT EARLY OR FIRST PRESS CREDENTIALS. IT HAS THE ORIGINAL E J DAY GATEFOLD COVER WITH THE ISLAND WHITE i LOGO PRINTED ABOVE THE BLACK TYPE E J DAY CREDIT. THIS IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE AND CREATIVE PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS EVER PRODUCED; AND THE FIRST ALBUM FROM AN IMPORTANT GROUP OF TALENTED MUSICIANS AND WRITERS.

 I RATE THE COMPONENTS OF THIS ALBUM AS FOLLOWS:

VINYL - SUPERIOR QUALITY ISLAND MID TO HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL IN VERY GOOD, CONDITION. A FAIR AMOUNT OF SCATTERED WISPY SURFACE SCRATCHES AND SUPERFICIAL SCUFF MARKS CAUSED BY MOVEMENT IN AND OUT OF THE INNER SLEEVE AND GENERAL HANDLING. GOOD BLACK GLOSSY SHINE AND LIES FLAT ON A MOVING TURNTABLE - MY RATING 82% (please also read my audio check / sound test in green type below)

LABELS - EXCELLENT CONDITION, A TINY AMOUNT OF LIGHT HANDLING MARKS BUT NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL, NO TEARS, NO MARKS AND NO APPARENT WEAR IN THE SPINDLE HOLE - MY RATING 9O%

OUTER COVER - GOOD QUALITY GATEFOLD COVER Printed and made by E J Day, London WITH SMALL SCUFF TOP LEFT CORNER, SMALL SCRATCHES ADJACENT TO THE SPINE AND BELOW 'LIP' AT THE BOTTOM - BOTH FRONT. LIGHT CHAFING / FEATHERING ALONG EXTREME EDGES AND CORNERS. SMALL SCRATCH ON THE BACK. TINY SHORT CREASES TOWARDS THE SPINE. MINOR BRUISING ON LEADING EDGES WHERE VINYL ENTERS THE COVER. - MY RATING 80%

SPINE - LIGHT BROWNING THROUGH HANDLING OVER TIME. CHAFING AND SCUFFS ALONG THE EDGES AND ENDS WHICH INTERFERES WITH THE TITLE - IN PARTICULAR THE WORD 'CRIMSON', BUT FOR THE MAIN PART GOOD AND READABLE - MY RATING 75%

INNER SLEEVE - STANDARD WHITE PAPER, SOME CREASING, A FEW SMALL STAINS AND A LITTLE BROWNING/DISCOLOURATION CAUSED BY AGE - MY RATING 75%

REAL AUDIO TEST / SOUND CHECK: TO ASSIST BUYERS I HAVE DECIDED TO ADD A SPECIFIC AUDIO QUALITY COMMENT BASED ON MY HEARING. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS BEFORE BECAUSE TO SOME EXTENT IT IS AN ‘INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL THING’ BUT WHEN SOMEBODY IS MAKING CLAIMS OF VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT OR MINT ABOUT A VINYL I THINK BUYERS ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT HOW IT SOUNDS. I PLAY ALL MY VINYLS ON A PRO-JECT DEBUT lll DECK WITH THE DOWNFORCE SET AT 17.5 mN (1.75 g) THROUGH AN AMPLIFIER WITH BASS & TREBLE SET TO ZERO AND UNFILTERED. I WILL RATE THEM IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, AS I DO FOR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ALBUM; WITH OF COURSE A SPECIFIC COMMENT IF THEY STICK, SKIP, JUMP, SLIDE, SLIP OR SLUR ALTHOUGH I DO NOT EXPECT TO BE SELLING ANY VINYLS WITH THOSE DEFECTS. FOR THE ALBUM IN THIS LISTING THE RESULTS FOLLOW IN GREEN PRINT (please bear in mind that the following is a statement of my personal audio experience with this recording and it does not comply with any recognised standards)

I PLAYED AND LISTENED CAREFULLY TO THIS UNIQUE ALBUM FROM START TO FINISH - A SENSATIONAL AND STIMULATING EXPERIENCE AS IT IS EVERY TIME. 21st CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN WITH ITS SOCIO-POLITICAL COMMENT AND INCREDIBLY TIGHT INSTRUMENTAL / PERCUSSION IS ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING. THIS VINYL REPRODUCES  SMOOTH, CONTINUOUS, REAL AND FULL BODIED PLAY THROUGHOUT - NO STICKS, NO SKIPS, NO JUMPS, NO POPS, NO SLURS. MY SETTINGS ARE VERY INTOLERANT OF ANY SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS IN ORDER TO EMPHASISE ANY 'INTERFERENCE' WITH THE AUDIO PERFORMANCE SO THERE IS ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF SURFACE SOUND AND THIS VINYL WAS NO EXCEPTION. AT THE START AND BETWEEN TRACKS THERE IS LIGHT CRACKLE WHICH ALSO EVIDENT ON THE 'QUIETER' TRACKS - PARTICULARLY SIDE 2 -  BUT GENERALLY ONCE THE UNDERLYING VOLUME INCREASES IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WITH SOME 'CORRECTION' AND 'FILTERING' MOST OF IT COULD BE ELIMINATED. I SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT THERE ARE NO NASTY CROSS GROOVE SCRATCHES OF AN OBVIOUS TANGIBLE NATURE CAUSING CLICKS OR POPS THE INTERFERENCE IS BACKGROUND RUSTLE AND CRACKLE ALMOST AS YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE WITH STATIC ELECTRICITY. ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEGATIVE, TO BE FAIR TO BIDDERS, PERSONALLY I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS AUDIO AND RATE IT AT 80%

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PERCENTAGE RATINGS GIVEN DO NOT COMPLY WITH ANY NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS THEY MERELY REFLECT MY OPINION BASED ON A COMPARISON WITH NEW BEING 100%. HOWEVER, IF YOU PREFER DESCRIPTIONS OF CONDITION USING A MORE WIDELY RECOGNISED INDUSTRY STANDARD MY INTERPRETATION OF THE 'RECORD COLLECTORS' GRADING SYSTEM SUGGESTS THAT ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THIS ALBUM WOULD BE CATEGORISED AS AT LEAST VERY GOOD+ AND POSSIBLY BETTER

DESCRIPTIONS are given in good faith, but they are based on my opinion and standards.  Bidders should note that they offer at their own risk and must satisfy themselves that they have sufficient information about the item before they enter the bidding process.  Please ask questions before you become involved with the auction, NOT afterwards! Where I list sizes/dimensions they are either as stated on the item/label by the supplier/manufacturer or reasonably accurately hand tape measured; however, they are not necessarily precise, should be taken as approximate and not relied upon where absolute precision is required.

INFORMATION: Whilst I take care to try and provide accurate information on the original listing it is possible that new information may become available to me afterwards. I therefore strongly recommend that all bidders read any revisions and the ongoing questions / answers section of the listing before bidding as they may contain updated information which could affect your valuation of the item(s). In the event that new information is published, after the time you have become the high bidder, which adversely affects your valuation of the item(s) and you wish to withdraw from the bidding process please email your request and we will use the cancel bid option with no ongoing liability to any of the parties involved in the auction.

PHOTOGRAPHS: All photographs contained within this listing show the actual item (s) offered – they are not catalogue, archive or library photographs.  Furthermore they are direct images and not re-touched or modified in any way. I try to make good and comprehensive use of images on the listing in order to give the prospective bidder the best opportunity to evaluate the item(s); however it is possible that in some circumstances the photographs can enhance the appearance of the item(s) due to compression so please take this into account before bidding and do not hesitate to ask for more images or information which I am happy to send by attachment to email. This is particularly recommended with overseas buyers where returns are often not a viable option.  

OVERSEAS BUYERS WELCOME – I am pleased to deal with buyers from anywhere in the world. My method of LP packaging reduces the risk to your valuable vinyls & covers in transit. Makes no sense to me to buy something important and then play the ‘high risk of damage game’ when having it shipped around the world – I hope you feel the same. Packing and Postage charges differ internationally SO I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT OVERSEAS BUYERS ASK FOR THESE COSTS BEFORE BIDDING. Unless the prospective bidder / buyer states a preference I always quote Airmail as Surface Mail does not usually cost much less and takes a long time (again more risk of damage or loss I think). Also please note that for British Pounds £3.30 extra you can have an International Signed for service which includes insurance up to £32. Insurance quotations to a value you specify in advance of shipping are available on request. PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR REASONS OF CONVENIENCE AND CURRENCY CONVERSION I CAN ONLY ACCEPT PAYMENTS BY PAYPAL FROM OVERSEAS BUYERS.

WHERE POSTAL INSURANCE IS INCLUDED IT IS SUBJECT TO ROYAL MAIL STANDARD TERMS & CONDITIONS. QUOTATIONS FOR OTHER INSURANCE OR PREMIUMS TO COVER INCREASED VALUES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

PACKING & POSTAGE:  Vinyl’s are removed from covers and placed in transit sleeves. All components are then placed side by side in a polythene inner, for extra safety and water resistance, and then secured between two corrugated card stiffeners.  I use ‘Premium Quality 600 Micron Card Mailers’ with ‘Ultra Safe’ double 3.5 cm. wide latex strips across the whole of the mailer which provides excellent adhesion and protection. Internally I use 2 of the highest grade ‘B’ flute corrugated card stiffeners to prevent bending, deformation or edge/corner creasing. Packing & postage prices are NOT negotiable on items dispatched individually or separately. However, if you are a similar time multiple buyer where all items purchased are being sent to the same address and they can be combined safely, you can ask for a discounted quotation before bidding. I will always try to be fair with buyers on p&p costs but if you do not want to pay the prices on the listings or quotations please do not bid.  I am not interested in hearing from successful bidders afterwards questioning and complaining about cost of packing and postage! I always keep proof of posting but unless you pay for Recorded Delivery, International Signed For, Special Delivery or Full Insurance I may not be able to assist you with recovery of the item or any of the costs.

PAYMENT: I accept payment by PayPal only from overseas buyers and Paypal, Personal Cheques and Postal Orders in British Pounds Sterling. Cash is an option but only by Royal Mail Special Delivery and no coinage (rounded up). Payment must be completed/cleared into my account within 7 days of the auction ending otherwise I reserve the right to void the transaction

CANCELLATION: The Seller reserves the right to cancel any bid, entirely at his discretion and without giving prior notice, in the following circumstances:

Where they have reason to believe that the bidder has not complied with the terms of their offer as set out on the listing.

The bidder’s feedback is of such limited quantity that it cannot be regarded as reliable.

The bidder’s feedback is of dubious quality and/or gives the seller any indication or reason to doubt the credibility of the bid.

RETURNS: I DO have a standard returns policy (please see details further down in this listing) AND I am always prepared to consider anything which is reasonable. If you have a problem with an item which you buy from me for a reason which was not apparent or disclosed prior to purchase as a result of my omission or fault then I will usually accept return and full refund, including postal charges. In the unlikely event that we cannot resolve our differences by direct communication I am prepared to consider arbitration.