QUINTESSENCE (2nd Album) RARER ORIG UK 1970 PINK ISLAND EX++ LP, RARER EJD COVER

	£		36
	$		48

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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, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for 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 if possible. PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT send any item, no matter what its value without a Royal Mail or courier tracking number. ALL my items must be signed and trackable to comply with Ebay delivery rules. Please do NOT ask me to make any exceptions to this rule as no country offers 100% reliable service without it.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take longer 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.

ANY ITEM or ITEMS TO BE PAID WITHIN A MAXIMUM OF 6 DAYS or they will be cancelled – NO EXCEPTIONS.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion, as will any bidder who cancels a bid. Please only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: QUINTESSENCE

Album Title: Quintessence

Producer(s): John Barham

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Gauranga; Sea of Immortality; High on Mt. Kailash; Burning Bush; Shiva’s Chant.

Side 2: Prisms; Twilight Zones; Maha Mantra; Only Love; St Pancras; Infinitum.

Label/Format: Island – original pink format with matt rough textured surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both in beautiful condition, fresh, clean with a lovely deep pastel-pink colour – side one slightly more intense than side two. I am struggling to find a single spindle mark at all, both look gorgeous as seen on my pictures.

Cat Number: ILPS 9128

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 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: 162 grams. An impressive heavyweight first issue.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity / Info: Quite rare are a first issue, especially on that appears hardly played. This one of the last new albums issued on the full pink Island label, and not one of Island’s bigger known acts and still underrated and unvalued in my opinion. Most are seen on the pink rim format. One of the more elusive Island records on this beautiful label and so hard to find with anything like a decent cover. This one is also superb as seen. Even more challenging is finding this album without pressing or sound issues. At times the sound is complex and difficult, and finding one that will play anything like ‘perfect’ is beyond difficult. This is a Pye pressing, these often proved variable as contract pressings. Overall, this copy offers very impressive clean sound, the only blemish of note are four clicks towards the beginning of side two – that apart, it’s a fantastic example of one of Islands most challenging albums.

Original Year of Release: 1970. This a very late album on this label, pressed in very small numbers just prior to the change to the pink rim format which most examples are found on. This was no major seller, even within the quite new progressive rock genre.

Matrix Nos: ILPS + 9128 + A2 / ILPS + 9128 + B2 (machine punched and very clear)

Musicians: Raja Ram – flute; Jake Milton – drums; Maha Dev – rhythm guitar; Shiva Shankar Jones – vocals; Allan Mostert – lead guitar; Shambhu Baba – bass guitar.

Brief Info: One of the earliest ‘progressive’ acts signed to Island records, they blended rock and jazz elements with a mystical Eastern influence. With a strong interest in Indian music, Quintessence were one of the most spiritual progressive acts of their era. Superb guitar improvisations with flute and vocals, this band’s music is simply superb and still probably not receiving the attention and credit it deserves. This second album includes one of the most beautiful covers within the Island catalogue. Fully laminated with stunning artwork with twin opening front flaps (doors) to reveal the magnificent inside graphic. This was so often damaged by creasing or laminate issues which ruins its beauty – this one has no such issues. Difficult to find on the original pink label, and even more so in high quality condition. I have always found this a very difficult album to find that plays anything like perfectly, especially originals. At times, this has intense and difficult to track sound, this complex information often destroyed by heavy-tracking basic record players of the time. And pressing quality is always a major factor. Overall, this is possibly the cleanest example I have had to date with the music playing superbly without distortion. The very intense sound near the album’s end will test the tracking ability of any turntable, arm and cartridge. Not so much for keep in contact with the grooves, but more for keeping the sound in focus. Any stressing to the complex sound and frequency range heard on my system was minimal to none. But as stated above, there are four clicks a little into side two. Quite why?, I have no idea, I have even scrutinised the exact area of contact under a magnifier, and cannot see the culprit or any mark. It could be a tiny fragment embedded in the groove, but if so, I cannot see it, it may be just a minute pressing blemish? But given to complexity and challenging nature of this recording, four clicks is hardly the end of the world, and few will better this beautiful copy I feel sure. With two beautiful labels, clean playing surfaces, and the cover exceptional, it should please many collectors needing this scarce Island gem.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a fully laminated double opening fronted cover. First issues were printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group, these are much rarer. The second printed version was by Robor. Includes its white polylined inner sleeve.

Lamination & Front: E. J. Day Group covers are significantly more elusive, the imprint apart, they look virtually the same, so be careful of subsitutions. This is a splendid example, only a small mild top right corner dink stops a Mint minus grading. Apart from the lack of wear to either half-size flap, the other important factor is them being folded square. This one is quite close to that, with just the right door being a fraction high on the left. Few are ever dead parallel and this only a mere fraction out. The laminate retains deep fresh shine and clarity with minimal dulling or creasing. A gentle fine one on the right edge and the small corner dink as mentioned on the top right. The lack of lifting on all surfaces is a massive plus as well. Also there is minimal grubbiness to the laminate ends. Ones that were not cover-protected often get very grubby on these areas which this has avoided.

Cover Back: The small corner crease apart, this deeply colour back looks impresisve again. Any fine edge creases very few and light and again mostly shiny. Any rim impression light as seen under light. Not also, the E.J. Day imprint on the bottom right – these are much rarer than the Robor reprint.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Wow!! – open the two front doors to reveal a stunning near Mint graphic. Both folds retain FULL uncracked laminate that remains tight and rigid with fine ‘spring’ and crackle on opening. These usually crack badly making the flaps floppy, but these are solid and lay perfectly flat to the back cover when closed. They refuse to open fully with the hinge laminate resistence, doing so would crack the hinges, so treat with care on opening as I did when taking the pictures. Only a couple of gentle laminate surface creases on the right, the small dink on the inside corner only very mild inside. A stunning piece of spiritual artwork that is an absolute delight to hold and view.

Top & Bottom Edges: All six edges are little short of immaculate and fully laminated with no chipping, scuffs or rubbing. All straight and flat with no bowing at all. I can hardly emphasise enough how hard these are to find like this. Cover protection over many years have ensured this classic cover has remained in this near outstanding condition.

Edges – Left & Right: Both act as spine edges and include the same text. Both are solid, very straight with all text intact and easily read. Any loosening or shedding of the laminate minimal and light, these on two working edge hinges where it makes adhesion all the more difficult. Again, finding these areas better will prove very difficult.

Corners: The small dink apart, little else to fault, the main cover corners are neat and mostly sharp, the flap coners are simply fantastic.

Cover Summary: A real piece of classic rock art. Made at a time of quality and imagination, seeing this classic cover makes you wonder why Island did not laminate more of their covers – clearly cost was a factor, but they spared no expense on this artistic gem. This in age-defying condition and looking very impressive. It should please many, if not most collectors, especially given the scarcity of the E.J. Day originals, and few will have fewer blemishes than this.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): arguably better, only marked down for moderate darkening of the paper that few will avoid as a minimum. Two crisp window circles, the polylining still clear and quite fresh. Hardly creased, only natural light crinkle with no edge splits.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): A superb visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and heavily pressed on what appears very pure unmottled vinyl. A copy appearing hardly played on all the evidence with any surface traces very few, equally light and faint as seen critically under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room light, barely anything even registers. With the gorgeous pink labels and surfaces this clean, visually a super record that should please many, if not most 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 equipment, all listed further down.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This elusive first press Island album mostly plays up to, even above it’s high visual grading with little else to fault bar those four clicks just into the beginning of side two. Offering 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 other contact sounds are minimal indeed and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*. I state again, this is a challenging album for vinyl with some quite intense sounds and complex groove patterns. Some quite passages utilising flute and vocals, few available copies will outperform this early first pressing significantly I feel sure. With many damaged and ruined by vintage heavy tracking record players of the time, this appearing hardly used. The four clicks are a blemish, and I state again, I really do not know why they even register as I cannot find the culprit. For sure, I have never seen a better example of a first press copy and taken in its entirety, I doubt if many will be found to better if overall. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and carefully handled. I doubt if the record had been removed from its cover in decades and the brief blemish apart, little, if indeed anything else spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended if those four moderate clicks are acceptable.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

I am one of the most established sellers on Ebay, trading since 2001 and offering the finest 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 all elements of the items I offer for sale. You may notice I only submit records quite 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 story. I will try to 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 near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. I hope the item below is to your liking – any questions can be emailed and I will do my best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, major 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 Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Nessie 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 D7500 DSLR 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.

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 bid retractions. 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 only 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 2 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive – if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund if the item is returned in the same condition is was sent e.g. as per the listing pictures.

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, 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.