MOBY GRAPE (1st) VERY RARE ORIG UK 1967 MONO with UNCENSORED COVER.

	£		88
	$		117

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.75. Europe (including Russia) £12.50. Rest of World £16.50. All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all. More details on this nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible even yet another Royal Mail price hike, I will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably a little heavier.

Artist or Band: MOBY GRAPE

Album Title: Moby Grape.

Track List:

Side 1:Hey Grandma; Mr Blues; Fall On You; 8:05; Come in the Morning; Omaha; Naked, If I Want To.

Side 2: Someday; Ain’t No Use; Sitting by the Window; Chances; Lazy Me; Indifference.

Label/Format: CBS - deep orange format with semi-rough finish, more on side two.

Label Condition: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with only very fine, quite few and faint spindle marks. This beautiful first issue mono record offers quite supreme sound as well. (Please see label scans for all information needed).

Cat Number: BPG 63090.

Mode / Speed: Mono / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 140 grams. A very good weight for this record.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: UK copies of this album are rare, and such a clean mono example very rare indeed. Not only that, this one has the rare uncensored ‘finger’ cover. In many cases, this offending middle digit was airbrushed off as it was deemed offensive at the time. This album did not sell at all well in the UK and is seldom seen or offered and this is a beautiful record and cover unruined by time or the very basic record players of the era that destroyed many a classic back in the day. One of true west coast psych classics and the best mono I have ever seen or heard bar none – even the inner sleeve is superb.

Original Year of Release: 1967

Matrix Nos: 63090 A1 / 63090 B1

Musicians: Peter Lewis - guitar and vocals; Jerry Miller - guitar and vocals; Alexander ‘Skip’ Spence - guitar and vocals; Bob Mosley - bass and vocals; and Don Stevenson - drums and vocals..

Brief Artist & Album Info: This legendary, albeit short lived West Coast band, formed in 1966 in San Francisco, are famed for this issue. Released in 1967, the ‘Summer of Love’, Moby Grape, the self-titled album is regarded by many critics as the greatest debut album ever made and a bona fide masterpiece. For fans of the West Coast scene with special reference to The Jefferson Airplane, this album is indispensable. Sadly, this band were ill-fated from the outset, their record company unwisely decided to issue five singles all at the same time and this grandiose overhype helped lead to their downfall - they simply could not live up to this album again. In 1968 Spence was diagnosed schizophrenic and had a breakdown and after two more mixed albums Moby Grape fizzled out. All fine musicians, Spencer had the most charisma he radiated a special quality that seemed to lie behind his brilliant, offbeat compositions as well as his later disintegration - he returned in 1969 to issue another fragmented classic Oar. This famous album features a blend of styles including blues, country, soul, rock, jazz and psychedelia - little had been heard like this before on one record - a masterwork had been created. Controversy even boiled over on the cover, after printing and issue the record company belatedly noticed Stevenson was giving ‘the finger’, and this cover was reissued with the offending digit airbrushed out - it still did not please the company even then. This copy has the original artwork and the condition of the cover is very fine and the record superb. An album for the connoisseur 60s lover and collector, UK uncensored covers with a mono record that offers the best sound almost possible are very elusive and seldom seen. If like most you missed this groundbreaking issues back in the 60s here is a superb original copy, one that should please most. An album as important from those psych days as the better-known US classics from The Doors, Love, Jefferson Airplane, Hendrix et al. There can be no higher recommendation.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): and this hardly does it justice. A single format with a laminated front that has the original uncensored ‘finger’ cover. The back is unprotected and very matt and smooth finished. This was a dedicated mono cover. Produced by the Upton Printing Group in the UK. Also includes the CBS promotional inner sleeve.

Lamination & Front: Superb: this practically as clean and fresh as when made with ultra shiny and clear laminate with barely even a hint of dulling, even under light. Fine lift slivers on the top and bottom edges only and barely any creasing worthy of special mention. Clearly Upton were given the original artwork to produce this cover in the UK and initial printings briefly has the ‘finger’ cover which was soon removed by airbrushing as it was deemed offensive at the time. On it’s own, I would grade this beautiful and rare original front little short of Mint(-), and it simply looks fantastic.

Cover Back: The very wear-prone back shows little wear with only mild handling traces on the very matt black surface. The main issue – if deemed as such – is a Harlequin Records sticker near the bottom edge. A London-based retailer that insisted on putting their advertising sticker tape on records they sold. It is nigh-on impossible to remove and clearly, it is part of this record’s history, so personally, it bothers me little. In terms of wear, barely any, The laminate end on the spine is ultra neat and clean and barely any creasing, and importantly (and unusually on such covers) NO ring wear with any rim impression super faint and minimal. Finding either side of this original cover better will prove immensely difficult.

Top Edge: Very straight and unworn.

Bottom Edge: Largely the same, any thickening to the back panel end tiny and faint.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, very sharp with with barely any wear, thickening or burring. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight and very smooth to the touch with full laminate retention. Any compression minimal and all text perfect and even well centred on quite a narrow depth.

Corners: All four little short of immaculate with beautiful crisp shape retained and barely even a hint of any rubbing – almost remarkable on such an old cover.

Cover Summary: A superb example if the Harlequin sticker is not an issue because it has hardly any real wear at all. Mono original uncensored ‘finger’ UK covers are rare, make no mistake, they are rarer still in this superbly preserved condition.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): a superb CBS promotional inner, these were not lined and this has little to fault. Two immaculate window circles, barely any grubbiness or creasing, and all edges unsplit with no repairs.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: and this hardly does it full justice. A very fine visual copy that is very clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence with any surface trace marks few, mainly very light and faint as seen critically under bright angled light. A gentle paper scuff on side two and a few hairlines but NO scratches or penetrating marks, hence, no pops or clicks were noted and the sound quality is superb. Visually a super record that should please many collectors.

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 snippets 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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This rare original mono record plays even above it’s 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 indeed and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing. No old chipped or worn mono stylus have ruined this classic disc, the sound is sharp, focused and devoid of noises or distortion, practically as made. Few available copies will match or outperform this very first issue I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp with no ‘mono’ noises from either channel when played on stereo equipment, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Such records were not really designed to be played on ultra revealing stereo equipment, but when this well preserved, they are a thing of genuine beauty and this gave of it maximum best. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. This copy will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended.

Final Summary: Without doubt one of the finest ‘alternative’ albums of the 1960’s, UK mono originals are very hard to find and will be offered very infrequently, especially this clean. Given the age and format especially, this is almost exceptional and one for the serious collector.

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/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

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, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. 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. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are 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 at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. 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 the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 10,000+ items sold in over 12 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

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 dispute to end the, 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). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

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 (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

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

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

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 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an 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: 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. 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. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

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 necessarily 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’.