NEIL YOUNG, Harvest (1972 REPRISE COMPLETE & NEAR MINT)

	£		33
	$		44

This is a 1972 first issue of Neil Young’s classic ‘Harvest’ album in a condition fit for vinyl connoisseurs! The record is so immaculate and looks almost ‘as new’ and best of all the whole package is complete including the original insert and rarely found textured inner sleeve so don’t miss out...

Year of original release: 1972

Year of this pressings release: 1972

Label: Reprise (tan coloured label)

Catalogue No: K 54005

Matrix No’s: K 54005 A3 & K 54005 B2

Stamper codes: A7 & C7

RECORD CONDITION

Labels: NEAR MINT

Completely clean and unmarked set upon a centre with two inlayed grooves that clearly mark this out as a genuine 1972 issue. The spindle areas both have only one single clearly visible line showing one play and only the faintest possible wear that make a strong case for this record only ever having been played just two or three times at the most

Visual: NEAR MINT

These are immaculately preserved surfaces with a wonderful clean deep glossy sheen. There are absolutely no surface marks or wear under a very strong light. Even after a very long study in this circumstance I failed to find anything more that a single light paper scuff on either side; it is fair to say that a better 1972 pressing of this album will be hard to locate.

Play: NEAR MINT

This is, as you would expect, a copy of this album that plays with supreme audio clarity. My one very careful play did not reveal any problems with the sound at all. All the way it was crisp clean and a real pleasure to experience. There is no background noise or distortion and no pops, clicks or skips Between the tracks everything is quiet other than the sound of the needle running through these beautiful clean grooves. Here is an example of a record that deserves to be graded Mint being graded Near Mint on the technicality that it has been played (although as I mentioned above, probably only a couple of times!)

COVER CONDITION

Outer gatefold sleeve: NEAR MINT

An exceptionally well preserved original cover, so hard to find with its first issue textured exterior and complete insert/inner as is found here. Both the front and back covers are unmarked and free from any effects of ageing whatsoever. There are no folds, creases and there is no writing or marks. Neither is there even the slightest trace of ring-wear on the front or back. The top and bottom edges are totally un-scuffed and there are no splits or knocks. All corners are un-bumped and both opening edge is free from any tears or feathering. The spine is totally firm and rigid with clearly legible text. A collectable album cover in perfect, fully intact, order basically!

Inner sleeve & lyric insert: NEAR MINT

It is so unusual now to find this album still with its textured inner sleeve coloured to match the gatefold cover and the insert; many people are unaware that it actually had a specific inner sleeve. Best of all here again is the condition, it has not one single fold or crease and none of the edges have a seam split or even the faintest hint of one developing. The fold out lyric insert is also devoid of any wear and tear, folds or creases and completes an exceptional package that I hope attracts the attention of a serious vinyl collector. This set has come from a good home and deserves to end up in one!

ABOUT NEIL YOUNG - ‘HARVEST’

‘Harvest’ was Neil Young's most popular album, benefitting from a delay in its release (it took 18 months to complete due to Young's back injury), which whetted his audience's appetite, the disintegration of CSN&Y (Young's three erstwhile partners sang on the album, along with Linda Ronstadt & James Taylor), and most of all, a hit single. ‘Heart of Gold,’ released a month before ‘Harvest’, was already in the Top 40 when the LP hit the stores, and it soon topped the charts. It's fair to say, too, that Young simply was all-pervasive by this time: ‘Heart of Gold’ was succeeded at number one by ‘A Horse with No Name’ by America, which was a Young soundalike record. Much of the album is country-tinged, with Young backed by a new group dubbed The Stray Gators who prominently feature steel guitarist Ben Keith, though there is also an acoustic track, a couple of electric guitar-drenched rock performances, and two songs on which Young is accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra. The album does have an overall melancholic mood with songs mostly describing the longing for and fulfilment of new love. Young is perhaps most explicit about this on the controversial ‘A Man Needs a Maid,’ which is often condemned as sexist by people judging it on the basis of its title. In fact, the song contrasts the fears of committing to a relationship with simply living alone and hiring help, and it contains some of Young's most autobiographical writing. Over and over, Young sings of the need for love in such songs as ‘Out on the Weekend,’ ‘Heart of Gold,’ and ‘Old Man’ (a Top 40 hit), and the songs are unusually melodic and accessible. The rock numbers, ‘Are You Ready for the Country’ and ‘Alabama,’ are in Young's familiar style. All these and the harrowing portrait of a friend's descent into heroin addiction, ‘The Needle and the Damage Done,’ remain among Young's most affecting and memorable songs. (Allmusic guide)

POSTAGE & PACKING

UK:

Basic option – FREE / Recorded Delivery (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) £3.50

EUROPE:

Basic airmail - £4.00 / Insured delivery £8.00

REST OF WORLD:

Basic airmail - £7.00 / Insured delivery £12.00

We will always ensure that our records will be well packed in a secure manner. We do everything we can to provide a safe delivery and ensure that your records arrive in the same condition that they left us in. We use professionally packed heavy-duty mailers. We are also happy to accommodate pick up in person.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

If you are unhappy with your purchase, for any reason, we are not going to get into a long dispute with you about the items merits. We offer a no nonsense money back promise including postage upon return of the item. Obviously we do ask that you raise any issues within 7 days of delivery. Just get in touch, we can work it out.

GRADING

‘Record Collector Magazine’ have for years promoted a grading system that has been accepted as the all round standard amongst dealers and collectors. We too use that system but just in case anyone’s not sure here’s my basic interpretation:

MINT: Only ever used if a record is totally un-played and therefore can be classed as brand new. Even if a record has only had one play it can no longer be Mint.

NEAR MINT: This grading applies to a record that has no visible faults and no lessening in sound quality. Other than perhaps a little dust and in some cases the lightest of totally non-sounding paper scuffs visible under strong light, vinyl graded Nr.Mint will be extremely well cared for. Sleeves graded Nr.Mint will have no damage and only the vaguest suggestion of any handling or use.

EXCELLENT: Records graded thus will essentially be in a very well cared for condition and play without any problems. Excellent records have been used but they will have been well looked after and the worst you can expect with the audio will be the odd light pop or click and perhaps a little bit of light background noise in a couple of places, but certainly nothing that will spoil your enjoyment of the music. Covers graded Excellent have no damage or defacement to the artwork , their evidence of handling will only be in minor details like a few faint creases, tiny edge scuffs or a small amount of writing or sticker residue but certainly no serious damage.

VERY GOOD: Records graded VG will be totally satisfactory to all but those looking for total perfection. They will be used but still fully playable and only show the kind of wear you would expect to find on a second hand record that has had a few plays. The odd light scratch may be evident as well as general spindle wear and paper scuffs but nothing to cause any overall problems with your enjoyment of the record. Basically, be realistic in what you’d expect a used record to look and sound like and you won’t have any disappointments with a record that is graded Very Good. Covers graded VG may show a bit of general wear or scuffing around the edges, there could be some light ring-wear, a few creases and perhaps a little bit of writing (1960’s record owners seemed to always write their name somewhere on the sleeve) but they will still be fully intact and certainly not abused in any way.

GOOD: Vinyl graded as Good should be approached with a little more caution, as most dealers will tell you in record collecting terms ‘good’ means ‘bad’! We try and keep our items above this standard, however Good does have some saving graces and is not the lowest grading vinyl can be given. A record graded thus will still be just about playable although it will clearly have been played a lot by previous owners. You can also expect light scratches and definitely some surface noise. Covers graded as Good will be just about holding it together although you will inevitable find plenty of creases, maybe a few rips and seam splits as well as possibly chunks missing, writing or stains and indeed any other kind of defacement that it’s possible to find on record sleeves without them being totally destroyed.

FAIR: Don’t bother bidding!

NB. There may be occasions when we add a + or a – to a grading. The reason for this is fairly self explanatory but essentially, if something is VG+ that means it is a seriously strong example of that particular grading and potentially worth a higher grade. Please also remember that there are variables within all of these gradings (for example, it is not impossible for a Nr.Mint sleeve to have a tiny bit of writing present) but we’ll always endeavour to mention any especially relevant points within the bulk of the main description text