THE ZOMBIES Odessey & Oracle - VERY RARE ORIG UK 1968 MONO LP - BEAUTIFUL SOUND.

	£		957
	$		1,268

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 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: THE ZOMBIES

Album Title: Odessey and Oracle.

Producer(s): The Zombies.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Care of Cell 44; A Rose for Emily; Maybe After He’s Gone; Beechwood Park; Brief Candles; Hung Up on a Dream.

Side 2: Changes; I Want Her, She Wants Me; This Will Be Our Year; Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914); Friends of Mine; Time of the Season.

Label/Format: CBS – original intense orange format with matt, textured surfaces. The very outer rim is smooth.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with only a tiny few very light, fine and faint spindle marks and no wear around the hole area. This record was bought by a local man to myself from new and only played a couple of times.

Cat Number: 63280.

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: 128 grams. Around average for this label.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Overview: Very Rare: although most serious music fans and collectors will know all about this legendary pop-psych album, when issued, it did not sell well. Hence original mono examples have always been rare and elusive, they seldom surface to be made available, especially in such fine condition as this. This copy bought from a local man basically on instinct – he told me he ‘liked the cover’ – also he played it no more than two or three times at most. Both cover and record are lovely – not pristine perfect, and how many 47-year-old mono records ever will be, let’s be honest. The record has a few very gentle and light surface trace marks mostly as seen right up close under angled light. Just one microscopic mark emits two faint ticks on the very end of ‘I Want Her, She Wants Me’ and three on the joining groove, there is little else at all apart, the music is simply superb with breathtaking real mono sound that for most vinyl connoisseurs, is vastly superior to the stereo version. NO distortion, crackle or sound degrading whatsoever, this is a British psych masterpiece that will rarely be experienced better or cleaner on a genuine first press mono record. The cover has hardly aged, and apart from a very little mainly light laminate creasing that barely even shows when viewed normally full-on, this has little else to fault. With stunning artwork, this is seen to nigh-on maximum advantage. Even the inner sleeve is immaculate as seen in the pictures. Since trading on Ebay in the Spring of 2001, this is one of the finest albums I have yet had to offer – and even that is proving difficult enough to do in its own right – I know it is a near certainty I will never find another like it. Even holding and viewing this legendary album gives a certain pleasure that is difficult to put into words. Not all rare records are good records – but in this case, this is a very rare record and a MASTERPIECE.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: 63280 A1 / 63280 B1 [both machine punched and very clear]

Musicians: Colin Blunstone – lead vocals; Rod Argent – organ, piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, vocals, lead vocals; Paul Atkinson – guitar, vocals; Chris White – bass guitar, vocals, lead vocals; Hugh Grundy – drums, vocals.

Brief Info: ‘Odessey and Oracle’ was the second and final Zombies original album (until the early 1990s). When issued in 1968, it received only lukewarm reviews and sold in meagre numbers. But such is the status of this album nowadays, there are simply not enough originals around to meet demand from specialist collectors who only want to own the real thing – not modern-day repressings that simply look and sound artificial – and basically are. A truly beautiful work of pop-psych art with absolutely fabulous songs. It can be argued, not instantly accessible, but only a small few plays will get this into the subconscious forever – that is probably why this failed initially to get the full acclaim it deserved. The very best albums always take that little bit of extra time and perseverance to be fully appreciated, and this is a case-in-point. With bigger name acts dominating the music scene at this time – the public still very much ‘Sgt Peppered’ – these lesser lauded bands regularly missed-out. Diamonds like this were overlooked and few bothered or even noticed them, but ‘Odessey and Oracle’ is a remarkable work that really merits the elevated status it has achieved. Indeed it appears highly in most-all ‘All-Time Great Albums’ lists, whether compiled by critics or the record-buying public. Much of the album was recorded at the Abbey Road studios on a tight budget and quick turnround, this amongst member disagreements. It led to the band folding even before it was issued, so lack of enough promotion was possibly another reason for failure. An unlikely and almost uncanny classic – rather like Love’s ‘Forever Changes’, this is a beautiful and complex work. Strangely, it only with the recommendation of Al Kooper it was issued in the United States at all, that too after the success of the single ‘She’s Not There’. Now regarded by many as one the greatest British pop-psych albums ever made with absolute justification. This hardly played copy does it excellent justice and sounds fantastic. With just the odd gentle reminder of what you are playing – that is a 100% true mono original, bought almost the day of issue back in 1968, this record gives that ultimate sound and warmth to a magnificent, but sadly overlooked masterpiece. This copy will take a huge amount of beating, and with so few even around or surviving the mono era, that could be a long long wait. With most vinyl fans wanting the mono version, this hugely impressive ‘Odessey and Oracle’ should please most-all collectors

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): and I think this really merits the extra (+) as well being honest, this being very critical, finding a better one will prove immensely difficult. A single format with front laminate, this covers all the folds and ends on the back via the spine edge. The back is matt and smooth finished being unprotected. Printed and made in England by Ernest J. Day & Co Ltd and includes the original CBS orange promotional inner sleeve.

Lamination & Front: The laminate retains a lovely shine, freshness and clarity with barely even a trace of dulling and no lifting. A small few, mainly quite light laminate creases hardly even show with normal full-on viewing and have no cracking or blistering near them. A mere trace of darkening on the extreme right opening edge where the laminate ends just short of full width, this just a mild natural trace of ageing and almost nit-picking for the same of it. The stunning artwork retains supreme depth of colour and hue and will rarely be seen better under hardly blemishes smooth and unfogged laminate. A wonderful piece of 1960s art in its own right. This front sets a very high standard indeed and will take an amazing example to match or better it.

Cover Back: A superb back to more than complement the beautiful front. This has hardly any creasing at all with any hints of ageing or grubbiness bordering on minuscule. Just the faintest-of-faint traces of rim darkening at the 11 o’clock position, but look very hard, and gentle darkening of the laminate end on the spine. This has survived 47 years without hardly a blemish and how many unprotected back covers like this ever will? Both front and back are superb and only the utmost critical of collectors will not be pleased with this one.

Top Edge: Thin, smooth and unworn with just a very gentle hint of bowing to the thin card as laminate invariably tries to contract over time.

Bottom Edge: As above, any thickening to the end panel card tiny and ultra light. Highly commendable for a thin storage edge.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly very sharp with hardly any hint of wear. Any thickening or burring minuscule as seen viewed end-on. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: A near perfect spine: solid, mainly straight with barely any compression, the ends are tapered in manufacture. All text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate, just a tiny laminate chip near the very top corner, again look hard. For extra good measure, the text is very well centred on quite a narrow depth, the laminate shiny and very clear.

Corners: Any tip rubs or creases are tiny and faint, all retain excellent or better shape with no dinks or knocks.

Cover Summary: A very strong all-round example of this fragile, elusive and rare mono 1960’s cover, one that will prove immensely difficult to find better. This beautiful item should please many, if not most collectors and it will take a near remarkable one to better it. Indeed, this could prove a substantial upgrade for some who own one.

The Inner Sleeve: MINT(–): a superb CBS promotional inner, and guaranteed the one that came with this album. As stated already, this was bought by a local man at the time of issue, hardly played and largely left stored with other record. I am certain this record has not seen light of day for decades, few inner sleeves survive in better condition than this. These were never lined, both window circles are pristine and there is no creasing or edge splits (or repairs). The only tiny hint of age is mild, natural darkening of the seam adhesive and little else at all. A superb historic inner sleeve that adds even more to this legendary set.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: MINT(–) / EXCELLENT(+): a very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed. As I know this copy and source well, I know with absolute certainty this record has had only a tiny few plays, that including my play-grade. There is guess-work or speculation needed, it is a fact. Side one is little short of immaculate with just the off ultra fine hairline. Side two has a few gentle surface marks or traces mostly as seen under bright angled light. Put into ‘mono’ context, these are as faint and minimal as they get, just a tiny one emits two very faint ticks on side two, track two at the very end of the fade-out, then three on the joining groove – very little else that apart. To find any mono record that will offer much less is a rare find indeed as we all know the perils these single-channel records faced from piledriver tracking basic record players of the era. Visually a super record that should please many, if not most collectors again.

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 magnificent album, one of the most elusive and sort-after classics on a major label, plays even above it’s high visual grading with barely anything to fault bar the aforementioned brief ticks that largely bypass the actual music. Any other blemishes are minuscule and this offers strong, totally distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any actual surface sound in the form of crackle barely even registered and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*. The lack of crackle, pressing sounds or fidelity loss is magnificent news for the more discerning audio purist. This is a true audio delight in the most prized mono format. I remind I play all my records on a stereo Linn LP12 Sondek through a powerful Naim amp – these mono records were never really designed for such critical analysis, but when they sound this clean, they are a thing of genuine beauty. That rich warm and detail from unworn mono grooves really hits the audio mark and little else really compares. Few available copies will match or outperform this ultimate first pressing I feel sure. So just the odd tiny and brief reminder of what you are listening to, a 47-year-old mono record, this will not be found much better anywhere. Both channels are clean and sharp with no single-channel ‘mono’ noises, I know for certain this record has been hardly played and has been generally well stored, within a non-smoking environment. Nothing of any real note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record – I am realistic to know the odd sporadic click or blemish is nigh-on impossible to avoid on such records – a pure fact – the rarer the record, the more unlikely it is to be found perfect as there are so few around. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended – like the cover, this elusive rare original could prove a major upgrade for some.

* 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’.