THIRD EAR BAND Alchemy original UK Harvest

$

40

Welcome! Here is a first UK press of Third Ear Band Alchemy (Harvest SHVL 756). On this, the first Third Ear Band album, the line-up was Glen Sweeney, Richard Coff, Paul Minns, and Mel Davis. John Peel and Dave Tomlin appear as guests. As noted below, this has a very early and rare Harvest label format.

Matrix numbers and mother/stamper codes are:

Side 1: SHVL 756 A-1; the mother/stamper is 1 R.


Side 2: SHVL 756 B-1; the mother/stamper is 1 G.

Using the Record Collector grading system, what do we have here?

Sleeve: The laminated gatefold sleeve grades Excellent+. Both front and back look very nice, with just scattered, minor laminate wrinkles. There is VERY minor wear at the spine corners and almost none to the other corners. The edge where the record is inserted is strong, with no wear at all. There is just a trace of ringwear as seen from the back, only discernible in the white area near the top. The inside of the gatefold is VERY nice, with no marks or discoloration.

Vinyl: The vinyl grades Mint-. It has random hairline traces but otherwise looks and plays beautifully!

Labels: Ah! This is the earliest Harvest label format:

It does NOT have the EMI logo that came later.

It DOES have “The Gramophone Co. Ltd.” in the rim text.

It has a KTJ tax code embossed on the Side 1 label.

Last but not least, it has “Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions, see price lists.” Alchemy, released in 1969, must have been one of the last Harvest albums to ever have this blurb, as well as the tax code. (I tend to associate these identifiers with Beatles Parlophone albums from earlier in the 1960s). Anyway, both Side 1 and Side 2 labels are clean, with average spindle tracking; the name Dean is written in marker on the Side 2 label.

Inner Sleeve: This album has its illustrated Harvest inner sleeve. This one is fairly bright as these go, but the plastic lining has separated from the paper part of the inner. Someone has written the initials ES in small letter just above the Harvest logo on each side of the inner.

And, in the end: This is an outstanding example of this VERY strange and different-sounding British album. Play this for your friends and family, and they will surely hate it! But you, the connoisseur, will savor it as you admire its way cool sleeve, one of the best of any Harvest album.

Returns:Full return privileges (less shipping and listing fee) if dissatisfied, but I bet you won’t be! E-mail me with any questions. Please pay by PayPal. Thanks and good luck!

Shipping: I will ship to ANY country on Earth! Pursuant to my claim above that I am not a dealer, I am NOT out to gouge anyone on shipping costs. If you are in the USA, figure on $4.00 for good ‘ol Media Mail; of course, you can do Priority, Overnight, you name it. In those situation, as well as if you live outside of the USA, I will take your item(s), with the packaging, to the post office and I will obtain multiple shipping quotes for you (fast, slow, whatever).

Insurance: I will also get an insurance quote for you. I pack things very well, but if you choose to not buy insurance, I will not be responsible if something nasty happens. Historically, when given the option, I have not bought insurance myself, and I have never suffered any consequences. But this is your choice.

Namaste, everyone!