XTC Skylarking Rare First Issue of Deluxe Vinyl 2 LP Version APELP044D Ape House

$

150

.
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----- Important Note -----
This is a 2-disc vinyl LP record set, it is not a CD! (Just wanted to make that clear...)

----- Description of Item -----
Photos above always show the actual item or items that you will get, because I never use "stock photos." (Excuse any reflections or focus issues!)

This is the super rare and very collectible 2010 first version of the Deluxe 2-LP edition of the XTC album "Skylarking" (produced by Todd Rundgren) that was issued on group leader Andy Partridge's own Ape House label and made in England. (This 2-LP version was reissued in 2016 with a different cover and different packaging that is nowhere near as classy as this!) This version with this cover is now out of print and no longer being manufactured.

The outer "jacket" is like an album-size very sturdy hardback book, with glossy lamination on the center photos. The front and back "pubic hair" photos were the images that Partridge originally wanted on the cover when this album was released back in the 1980s, but the record label objected (which is why a line drawing was used instead).

The jacket opens out to twice its width, with front and back pockets for both records (which come in their own separate card-stock inner sleeves with lyrics). The text pages of the inner booklet (with info about the album, notes about each song and photos) is attached "book-style" to the jacket with a sewn binding. The booklet is 16 pages, with front and back black "endpapers."

----- Condition -----
My standard disclaimer about vinyl: As with all vinyl records, there will be at least a few pops, clicks or other surface noise somewhere, so do not expect flawlessly pristine CD sound quality. I grade on the following scale: Like New, Very Good (some flaws, nothing major), Good (more noticeable flaws, but still acceptable), Fair (looking pretty bad, but not a total disaster) and Poor (extremely bad with major defects).

SPECIFIC DETAILS:

Outer Hardback-Book-Style Jacket: Very Good Plus, only kept from being "Like New" because of some very minor corner "bumps" that other sellers probably wouldn't even bother mentioning. I have taken close-ups of all four corners above. Also, there is a light diagonal impression within the front center photo that doesn't show up in the photo above, but which can be detected when the jacket is turned back and forth under a light. Definitely not a big deal, but I'm picky enough to mention it.

Records: Both records are Like New, glossy and clean, pressed on heavyweight vinyl, and they sound ABSOLUTELY GREAT! Although they are 12" LP size, they play at 45 RPM instead of 33 RPM for better sound quality. Total of 15 songs (four songs on each side except one side that has three songs). Note that this edition includes the song "Mermaid Smiled" that did not appear on initial CD copies when this album was released in the 1980s. Here is a list of all tracks:

SIDE ONE:
Summer's Cauldron
Grass
The Meeting Place
That's Really Super Supergirl

SIDE TWO:
Ballet for a Rainy Day
1000 Umbrellas
Season Cycle

SIDE THREE:
Earn Enough for Us
Big Day
Another Satellite
Mermaid Smiled

SIDE FOUR:
The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
Dear God
Dying
Sacrificial Bonfire

Inner Sleeves: Both heavy card-stock inner sleeves have short splits at the bottom and at one side (not big enough for the records to fall through, but big enough for a small amount of the vinyl to "peek out"). One side of each sleeve has lyrics, the other side has images. (See photos above.)
 
You'll love it! Any questions, just ask!

ANOTHER GREAT AUCTION, FROM A SMOKE-FREE, PET-FREE HOME!

----- Shipping -----
Flat $5.99 shipping (this record is HEAVY) in sturdy and brand-new white cardboard record mailer for Media Mail with Delivery Confirmation to any United States address. Add only 50 cents for each additional auction of mine after the one with the highest shipping that can be sent by Media Mail (which includes records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and books, but not comic books). Combined auctions will be shipped in bigger boxes, obviously.

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS: eBay adds a substantial premium to the cost of international shipping as part of their Global Shipping service. None of that extra money goes to me. I only get exactly the same shipping amount that a US bidder would pay, and all of the rest goes to eBay. So don't blame me if eBay's shipping prices to other countries are high, because I have absolutely no control over them! ALSO: eBay's Global Shipping Program is the only method that I use to ship to international bidders. So whatever price eBay's shipping calculator lists is how much shipping will cost you, there are no other alternatives.

Good luck! .