THE BAND Music From the Big Pink RARE ORIG UK 1968 MONO STUNNING N/M LP & SOUND.

	£		202
	$		268

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 arrived damaged in them at some time. More details on my packing 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 to keep things moving – cash-flow is important to 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.

Artist or Band: THE BAND

Album Title: Music From the Big Pink.

Producer(s): John Simon.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Tears of Rage; To Kingdom Come; In a Station; Caledonia Mission; The Weight.

Side 2: We Can Talk; Long Black Veil; Chest Fever; Lonesome Suzie; This Wheel’s on Fire; I Shall Be Released.

Label/Format: Capitol – original rainbow format with matt, very gently textured surfaces. Side one has the embossed ‘K T’ tax codes, which are both immaculate.

Label Conditions: Both in truly stunning conditions: mono classics are rarely seen this fine. Ultra clean, fresh and hugely attractive with just a mere two or three very light, fine and faint spindle traces on side one, and barely even a trace at all on two. This archive quality and almost the earliest ever pressed classic album will rarely be matched or found better.

Cat Number: T 2955.

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: 145 grams. A very solid record.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Very scarce: and in this quite magnificent, barely played condition, rare. As I have stated many times, most mono records were heavily played and ruined by heavy-tracking, often blunt or chipped mono stylus. The music destroyed by even one play on such and few survive that can still offer ultimate as made sound, especially when played on critically revealing stereo record players. It sold reasonably well in the UK, but finding another mono copy like this will prove beyond difficult. This copy of archive quality and will never need upgrading.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: T1 2955-1 / T2 2955-1

Mothers / Stampers: 1 G / 1 A (‘G’ being the ultimate first stamper and ‘A’ the third. They hardly get a great deal earlier than this.

Musicians: Rick Danko – bass guitar, fiddle, vocals; Levon Helm – drums, tambourine, vocals; Garth Hudson – electronic organ, piano, clavinet, soprano and tenor saxophone; Richard Manuel – piano, organ, drums, vocals; Robbie Robertson – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals. With: John Simon: baritone horn, tenor saxophone, piano.

Brief Info: The first album by The Band, it is regarded by many as a mini-masterpiece and features very highly in most all-time greats lists whether compiled by critics or music fans. Major names have stated great influence by this quality album including Eric Clapton, Roger Waters and George Harrison. It has a lovely laid-back gentle quality that combines country, rock, folk, R&B, and soul. They famously appeared at the 1969 Woodstock festival which gained them instant attention and ‘Big Pink’ – named after a pink house in New York shared by band members – includes three songs credited, or joint-credited by Bob Dylan who they later worked with. The beautiful front cover painting graphic was also done by Dylan. I have never seen a copy that even approaches the standards of this one. One of the earliest pressed UK copies with a gorgeous barely aged cover and a record hardly even run-in in vinyl terms. It offers ultra clean, nigh-on flawless sound throughout. An ultimate upgrade copy that will never need replacing again, this one for serious collectors, being quite a late mono record as well, most who still chose that mode did so to play on mono record players – and most will know what usually meant. Well for whatever reason, the original owner simply stored this away and did not play it, indeed, my play-grade could have conceivably been only it’s second ever. If you want the true classics that come very close to reminding of new – look no further – ‘Music From the Big Pink’ is here.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): and as close to my full Mint(-) grading a 46-year-old cover could almost get. A single format with front laminate, this covers all close edges and ends on the back atop three flipbacks. The main back panel is matt, smooth and unprotected. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse and includes the ‘Patents pending’ text as seen in close-up. This also the correct T 2955 mono prefix cover and includes the original ‘PATENTS APPLIED FOR’ EMI promotional black and white inner sleeve.

Lamination & Front: What a gorgeous looking cover, only marked down from Mint(-) by a few fine spine edge hairline laminate creases, there is little else to really fault. The painting by Bob Dylan and it will rarely be seen better through ultra clean, clear, ultra fresh and shiny laminate. A front hardly aged at all with no dulling or friction rubs, even angled viewed against light. No lifting and hardly a crease to be seen away from the edges that few will ever avoid totally. The lack of rim impression or dulling around it very rarely avoided with a thick first-issue record inside all these years, but here just that. Even the right edge where the laminate ends naturally short of full width is clean, unrubbed with not even a trace of grubbiness. This legendary front is almost too beautiful for words, just hold, view and enjoy it.

Cover Back: A back to match the beauty of the front, it has also aged little with just the merest hint of natural darkening. This gives that lovely vintage that many collectors actually prefer over pure white. Clean and unworn with no rubbing, creasing or ringwear. All three flipbacks are equally impressive with no damage, lifting, burring or laminate end grubbiness. Just a small few very fine laminate hairlines, again how many can really avoid them as a bare minimum? This back, like the front, is exceptional as I hope my pictures show.

Top Edge: Straight, thin and little short of as-made, it remains incredibly smooth to the fingertip with no scuffs or chips worthy of mention.

Bottom Edge: Practically the same.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, and as sharp as when made with that more ‘rustic’ trim in manufacture, this has barely any wear. Any thickening or burring minuscule even viewed end-on. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way, the natural manufactured cut on this cover cannot be faked.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with minimal compression, just a couple of ultra fine hairline creases, one falls on the ‘B’ in ‘Band’, so a tiny clip to that letter being critical. That tiny ‘blemish’ apart, all text is perfect and unworn under the solid and unpeeled laminate.

Corners: Any tip rubs are tiny and all retain superb, better than excellent shape. Any tip creasing equally minute.

Cover Summary: A superb and highly attractive all-round example of this famous Bob Dylan graphic 1960’s cover, one that will prove immensely difficult to match or find better. This beautiful item should please most-all collectors. Like the record, this could prove the ultimate upgrade.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): a black and white EMI promotional inner, these were not lined. Any traces of ageing minimal with just a hint of seam adhesive darkening and a little gentle crinkle near one top corner. All edges unsplit with no repairs, these are seldom seen much better either, and when found this clean, it simply reitterates how little the record has been removed or used.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: MINT(-): a superb visual copy that is very clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed. A copy hardly even played on all the evidence with any surface trace bordering on minuscule and faint as seen critically under bright angled light. Anything finer than hairlines and will a better copy even exist in mono as a genuine first issue? – Possibly not. A record as stated above, not even run-in in vinyl terms, and this being a mono being exceptional. Visually a super record that should please all collectors, they hardly get a great deal better than this.

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 hugely regarded album plays even above it’s high visual grading with 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. Surface sounds?, what surface sounds?, I heard nothing worthy of mention, and this being played on very sensitive equipment for which these vintage mono records were not really designed. But when heard like this, they are thing of immense beauty and no wonder the vinyl purists want them in such amazing condition. Few copies will match, let outperform this ultimate 1G first pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, all frequencies precise, clean and focused with no ‘mono’ crackle coming from either channel when played on stereo equipment. I am certain this record has barely been played and has been expertly and very carefully stored and handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, one I am almost reluctant to offer being honest. This copy will prove near impossible to find better and merits my highest possible recommendation.

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’.