AL STEWART - Year of the Cat - VERY RARE MOBILE FIDELITY 1978 N/M AUDIOPHILE LP

	£		32
	$		42

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, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled 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: AL STEWART

Album Title: Year of the Cat

Producer(s): Alan Parsons

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Lord Grenville; On the Border; Midas Shadow; Sand in Your Shoes; If it Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It.

Side 2: Flying Sorcery; Broadway Hotel; One Stage Before; Year of the Cat.

Label/Format: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab with matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both almost as made, I can see no spindle marks at all. Another from the same source as the two Nimbus ‘Supercut’ records I am currently offering.

Cat Number: MFSL 1-009

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: 115 grams. Quite light, but totally pure vinyl (of the highest quality).

Country of Manufacture: This very specialised pressing in Japan. The packaging is American.

Rarity: The MFSL pressings are very limited and scarce, especially outside the United States. Strictly limited, many of the classic titles sold out immediately – this brilliant landmark Al Stewart album will rarely be seen or offered on this audiophile label.

Original Year of Release: 1976 [this audiophile pressing from 1978]

Matrix Nos: MFSL 1009 A [MFSL - 012 A 132] / MFSL 1009 B 16

Run-Out Etchings: SR/2

Musicians: Al Stewart - vocals, guitar, keyboards; Peter White - guitar, keyboards; John Perry - background vocals; Tim Renwick - guitar; Andrew Powell - string arrangements; Bobby Bruce - violin; Marion Driscoll - percussion; Stuart Elliott - drums, percussion; George Ford - bass; Phil Kenzie - alto saxophone; Don Lobster - keyboards; David Pack - background vocals; Tony Rivers - background vocals; Graham Smith - harmonica; Peter Wood - keyboards.

Brief Artist & Album Info: The seventh Al Stewart album that most consider his classic best. Including two superb singles – the title track and ‘On the Border’ that helped promote it, this sold well. Superbly produced by Alan Parsons, this Mobile Fidelity pressing is the ultimate way to hear it. Audiophile collectors will be more than aware of Mobile Fidelity, their pressings are pretty much second-to-none. Never mass-produced, only limited runs and pressed on the purest vinyl and mastered at half speed. The detail, dynamics and noise-free sound is what discerning collectors crave, and this barely played copy does this outstanding work ultimate justice. Indeed, it is quite likely this copy had never been played prior to my mandatory sound-check. Not putting too fine a point on it – this record leads you directly into the recording studio. Mobile Fidelity master their recordings from the original masters, there is no knob twiddling or changing the original sound. So you get the exact sound of the original, but with even extra fine details and wider dynamic range. Such records and recordings are why music lovers pay out vast sums on high-end equipment which makes my own system (listed further down) seem like peanuts. This copy complete with all the inserts including the guarantee sheet – yes, Mobile Fidelity guaranteed all their records against faults. If some other companies did that, there would have been more returns than sold. This legendary pressing in practically as-made condition is seldom seen or offered in the UK.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): an unlaminated gatefold format with quite matt and fairly smooth surfaces. A mild sheen and a trace textured trace. Printed and made in the U.S. Includes the super-soft anti-static inner sleeve, the Mobile Fidelity folded information insert, also the yellow ‘guarantee’ sheet and technical insert (three inserts in total). Ask yourself, how many other record manufacturers would even remotely consider such a guarantee of workmanship?

Cover Front: The only blemish is a trace of toning on the fold of the spine hinge, that apart, almost as made. This is made with thick heavyweight card, like all covers on this album, this is prone to rubbing, which this has avoided. In fact this front looks fantastic, being clean, fresh with no ringwear or creasing.

Cover Back: Same again, a gentle hint of darkening on the spine edge seen on the white lower part.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Nothing to fault.

Top & Bottom Edges: All straight and parallel with barely any hint of wear. No splits or thinning, The back right edge is shorter than the front in manufacture, clearly not folded dead central.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The front has a real edge which is unworn and straight. The back entrance edges are sharp and unworn. These are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: Again, practically as-made: very solid, robust, straight with barely any compression, also folded square, but not quite central, so the right edges are not flush, but all edges are parallel, so very neat. All text present and unworn, any discolouration to the main white surface gentle and light.

Corners: All neat and mostly very sharp with little to fault.

Cover Summary: To be clear: American covers are far more fragile than UK equivalents. But when looked after to this standard, they can last just as long and well. This is a heavyweight, thick card sleeve and it should please many, if not most collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): this is a super-soft anti-static inner with a little natural crinkle. No splits and very fresh, practically as-made.

The Limited Editions from The Superdiscs Insert: EXCELLENT(++): a full-size, single-fold technical sheet with barely anything to fault. A small crease bottom right front, this is folded a little off-square, so this hard to avoid. There is no print inside.

The Yellow Guarantee Certificate: MINT: nothing whatsoever to fault, unused or written on.

The Key High Fidelity Component Sheet: MINT: nothing to fault again.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: PRACTICALLY MINT: and even under angled light, hardly any blemishes or surface traces at all. Maybe played once prior to my purchase, this is a fantastic clean record that could easily pass for new. A superb visual copy that is ultra clean with excellent shine and fairly solidly pressed. The vinyl purity of the highest quality, this record is barely even run-in in vinyl terms and sounds amazing.

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 audiophile pressed record plays up to it’s high visual grading (and beyond) with nothing to fault – this is pure sound perfection. Along with the Nimbus ‘Supercut’ records and a few others, these records set the benchmark in audio excellence. Some who know me think I am fussy – good – I take it as a compliment. After hearing pressings like this, it puts many others to shame, that’s a fact. This offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing (and I mean ASTONISHING!) with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Pure, natural, dynamic analogue sound that will never be beaten. Mobile Fidelity are famed for their audio excellence and the company have excelled again. I noticed no surface sound whatsoever, no blemishes, no pops or clicks, just pure clean sound from start to finish. These specialist pressings deserve their hugely lauded reputation, that is why they are so sort-after. This made my LP12 source system excel, to say I enjoyed this record would be something of any understatement. Both channels are clean and sharp, focused and precise with ultimate fine detail – also that lovely extended bass, this has all the warmth and realism of a live performance. Clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this gem, effortless easy tracking with no issues at all*. This quality album and particular pressing will prove near impossible to find better and is strongly and unreservedly recommended. Audiophile collectors and listeners – PLEASE APPLY.

* 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 2.2 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 Black 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’.