NICK DRAKE Bryter Layter VERY RARE ORIG UK 1970 A-1U/B-1U (1G/1H) HARDLY PLAYED.

	£		282
	$		374

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World in Quality, Safe Packing.

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all – in fact I think these things should be banned as records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS. Full details 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 ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business. I will always keep my P&P prices as low as possible, and even after yet another Royal Mail price hike from April this year, I have NOT raised my prices and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably heavier than most you will get. My P&P offers probably the best value-for-money for vinyl records available, and I even will pay for full insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives.

FINALLY: Late payers will now be blocked at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: NICK DRAKE

Album Title: Bryter Layter.

Producer(s): Joe Boyd.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Introduction; Hazey Jane II; At the Chime of a City Clock; One of These Things First; Hazey Jane I.

Side 2: Bryter Layter; Fly; Poor Boy; Northern Sky; Sunday.

Label, Format and Rarity: Island – Original pink rim format with matt smooth surfaces. This album was NOT issued on the pink label. And, very importantly, there are two versions of this album on the pink rim format. This being the ultimate first issue with the word ‘STEREO’ at the 3 o’clock position of the labels, the second ‘first’ pressing omitted this text. Also true first pressings have the text ‘Produced by Joe Boyd for Witchseason Productions’ above the hole in one line only. Both these details are clearly seen on my label pictures, these are only TRUE FIRST PRESSINGS. This is not an album that is seen often (and no understatement), but more often than not those offered as ‘first issues’ or ‘first pressings’ are slightly later ones with the second pink rim label variant. Clearly a crucial factor for the highly discerning collector, some reading this listing thinking they own a genuine 1st November or close to issue, may now find they don’t. An album that sold in minuscule numbers in vinyl terms when first released, an artist that only slowly gained interest as time progressed. Not only is the album a major rarity on a common enough label, being Island, it is immensely difficult to find in anything like top conditions. Well this copy, that even carries the most prized 1 G mother and stamper on side one, appears hardly even played and offers superb, little short of perfect sound throughout. The cover, again it HAS to be textured with the E. J. Day imprint as seen clearly on my close-up of this area, is very prone to all forms of wear. Most that surface rife with rubbing and especially deep ringwear and heavy creases. This one has only mild wear and sets a high standard. The record itself could prove a massive upgrade for some collectors – for sure they are massively rare in such condition – certainly a wonderful opportunity for fans, either early or late ones, to own one of rarest albums ever pressed on this famous and great label.

Label Conditions: Both ultra clean, fresh and highly attractive with two or three light spindle marks on side two. I am actually struggling to find one at all on side one. Without a shadow of doubt, this record has hardly been played using this evidence as a guide, but more importantly, the two immaculate playing surfaces and sound quality. This record is a gem.

Cat Number: ILPS 9134.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 144 grams. A very solid weight for any pink rim format record.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Original Year of Release: 1970

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9134 A-1U / ILPS 9134 B-1U [both machine punched, clear and distinct in a Roman font]

Stamper Codes: 1 G / 1 H [again machine punched and very clear]. Two first mother codes and the most prized G stamper on side one, being the ultimate first in the pressing sequence. ‘H’ also early in it’s own right.

Rarity: As stated above, this is a major rarity from one of the most sort-after cult artists ever. Genuine first label copies are highly elusive and considerably rarer (using the term correctly) than the second ‘No Stereo’ pink rim format or any thereafter.

Buyer Warning: I think it is very worthy of mention about the recent reissues of the three Nick Drake Island albums. These are very similar indeed to the first-issues and beware of them being offered as ‘originals’. I will outline the most obvious differences which is easy for me here as I have a reissue of this album right here front of me. Firstly the record: they look very similar at first glance but the reissue has scripted (scratched) matrixes with A2 and B2 numbers. The original matrixes can be seen in detail above, these are also much darker and simply look ‘wrong’. Next the cover: A couple of very obvious differences, the original has finely textured surfaces (as clearly seen in my close-ups) and the card is softer, the reissue is smooth with a semi-gloss surface, the original being very matt. Also the reissue main colour is different being an almost blue shade compared to mauve. I think these points should dispell any doubts and I really think this should be made clear as the reissue carries the original E. J. Day Group imprint as the first-made.

Musicians: Nick Drake - vocals, guitar; Dave Pegg – bass; Richard Thompson - lead guitar; Dave Mattacks - drums; Mike Kowalski - drums; Paul Harris - piano; Ray Warleigh - alto saxophone; Lyn Dobson - flute; John Cale - viola, harpsichord, celeste, piano, organ; Chris McGregor - piano; Pat Arnold and Doris Troy - backing vocals.

Brief Info: Born Nicholas Rodney Drake on June 19, 1948 and died November 25, 1974. An English folk-singer-songwriter of immense talent. He made just three albums and they all failed to sell during his lifetime. Over time, his work has since grown in popularity and stature and all three are highly sort after and he is now regarded one of the most influential folk singer-songwriters of the last half decade. He signed to Island Records when only 20-years-old, and released his debut album Five Leaves Left. His first two albums are reputed to have sold less than five thousand copies as first issues and his reluctance to perform live or give interviews were major factors to his total lack of commercial success. He suffered with depression and insomnia and his song lyrics often portrayed these troubles. He died after the completion of his third album from an overdose of an anti-depressant. On this timelessly beautiful record, possibly my favourite of the three, he is backed by wonderful musicians including the nucleus of Fairport Convention and also John Cale of The Velvet Underground. His vocal lacked a great range but it remained highly expressive nonetheless and indeed it took me some time before appreciating this iconic artist myself. Like most others, his albums eluded me for many years but the wait was well worth it. A very rare album indeed as a genuine first pressing, unlike the debut it was never issued on the Pink Island label, the pink rims with the correct text ARE the original. This is a lovely copy too, hardly played and including an attractive cover. The original covers are so highly wear-prone and few available examples will be found with little to no wear, this has only a little. With so few sold or existing on the pink rim label I just wonder how many actually survive a great deal better. Bought and appreciated by only a lucky few initially, this man’s original works are amongst the most sort-after for album collectors these days. This is a very rare opportunity – how many will be seen with a 1 G mother and stamper? or with a record in this type of condition, do not lose this one lightly.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT: and it could be argued better as the majority seen are seen so worn, aged and tatty. So delicate and fragile, this will rarely be found a great deal better than this (if indeed you can find one at all). A single unlaminated format with textured surfaces (that the really crucial factor). Made with very soft card that will rub and ringwear almost by looking at it. It was printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group, London and Bedford. [Beware of reissue substitutions, please see my ‘Buyer’s Warning’ above.] This early pressed example includes its Basing Street text blue inner sleeve. A few included a plain white inner instead of this.

Cover Front: In terms of this unforgiving cover, this is very fine. Yes a little rubbing on the corner tips and very mild edge traces, that being quite critical. The merest hint of rim rubbing near the very top and bottom, with any general rubbing to the main surface area bordering on minuscule. A couple of minor and light creases but little else. This front remains fresh and still very attractive with minimal hints of any fading which again is quite unusual. Large areas of single colour are highly prone to this and few escape, especially near the edges with exposure to natural light. The oval graphic of Drake looks stunning, dark and mysterious and is practically devoid of any wear at all as seen in my close-up picture. A front that sets a high standard and will not be beaten easily.

Cover Back: The back is largely the same again with most of any rubbing on the bottom left tip. Few will be seen a great deal less rubbing and especially ringwear, which this has hardly any traces.

Top Edge: Thin, but mostly very straight with hardly any wear.

Bottom Edge: Again thin but solid, it does however have light to more moderate patchy rubbing. Being the vulnerable storage edge, few will not have some wear here.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly sharp with little wear, any thickening or burring little, gentle and light as seen more critically viewed end-on, this is also guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced. Record entered on this edge, end-on viewing also brings into view just how thin this soft card is, no wonder most seen are badly worn.

Spine and Text: Solid and straight, but thin again with some compression. Hence the spine text is seen more from the back. But the really good news is most has survived intact, a little rubbing here and there to some letter, but all is still easy to read and mostly present. That never to be dismissed lightly on soft unprotected covers, such spines are more often seen badly rubbed, sometimes devoid of any text or even ink at all. This one has a only light patchy rubbing with most at the very ends.

Corners: Light to mostly moderate tip rubbing with a couple of small tip creases. Again such fragile thin card covers will seldom escape this well, let along a great deal better. Fine to very fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: A strong all-round example of this very rare and fragile early 1970’s cover – guaranteed 100% genuine of course – this has NO enhancements or tip-ins at all, totally natural and looking excellent. One that will prove difficult to find much better, finding another at all will not prove easy anyway. This beautiful item should please many, and even most collectors but not quite for the connoisseur who only wants total perfection at any cost.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): again arguably better. The blue ‘basing street london w11’ inner has only very gently aged with the usual darkening of the seam edge adhesive. The odd fine crease or crinkle hint but little else. All edges unsplit with no repairs, the polylining still solidly intact.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): and as close to my full Mint(–) grading as they ever get – a truly superb visual copy that is very clean with excellent shine, freshness and very solidly pressed. A copy hardly played on all the evidence reitterated by nigh-on unmarked, clean playing surfaces and superb sound throughout. With utmost scrutiny under my bright grading lamp, a couple of super-fine blemishes were (just) seen, even finer than hairlines and barely even worthy of mention – this is an amazing record of utmost upgrade quality. Also very well pressed with no mottle or dulling within the vinyl itself, so this has NOT been pressed on recycled or inferior vinyl – that less certain on 1971-72 pressings when the oil crisis and shortage really kicked in. A truly wonderful and immensely rare record that should please most-all 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 miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This major Island rarity plays even above its high visual grading with practically nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is sublime with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Beautifully produced with a genuine atmosphere, this is a gateway into the recording studio with Drake’s voice and guitar having an in-the-room presence. Any surface sounds barely even registered – the odd faint tick on such fragile material near impossible to avoid – but this has hardly anything. Overall an exceptional clean pressing for a challenging album, few available ones will better this 1G/1H super-early made example. Mainly a low-volume melancholic album, this has few passages to hide the odd minor blemish but glad to state there are barely any anyway. Few copies will match or outperform this wonderfully preserved copy significantly I feel sure. In vinyl terms, this one is hardly even run-in and has no tracking issues* or pressing issues. Both channels are clean and sharp, and all those wonderful details perfectly preserved around that magnificent and unique voice. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, a true delight, it really is a shame this did not sell in greater quantities simply to satisfy the amazing rise in interest for this man’s work. With so few originals around, the reissues are an option of course (and I do have two superb, and still early copies on offer of his first and third albums now on Ebay), but the thrill of holding and listening to an original is immense – just imagine, this copy was actually in the shops when the man himself was still with us. This copy will certainly prove very difficult to find significantly better and is strongly recommended. A beautiful rare record that more than justifies the memory of the legendary, mysterious and elusive artist.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Blue moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams.

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 as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – 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 it’s 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. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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 Quintet Blue moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Tellurium 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, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 minuscule in over 14 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. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. 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 TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. 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] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 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 £2 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’.