BADFINGER (Beatles) Straight Up First Press UK APPLE 1972 EX+ LP, PLAYS SUPERB

	£		52
	$		69

I am selling off some of my collection and over the next few months and will be listing some very nice and very rare albums and singles from the 50's through to the 90's!! I will be listing The Beatles, Cream, Purple, Zeppplin, The Stones, Small Faces, Floyd, Creedence Clearwater, Beach Boys and many, many more so please add me to your watch list as I may have something you need to help complete you collection!!!!

Artist or Band: BADFINGER

Album Title: Straight Up

Producer(s): Todd Rundgren and George Harrison

Cat Number: SAPCOR 19

Label/Format: Apple – Original dark format with Matt surface.

Country of Manufacture: UK

Track list: Side 1: Take it All; Baby Blue; Name of the Game; Day After Day; Sometimes; It’s Over.

Side 2: Money; Flying; Suitcase; Sweet Tuesday Morning; Perfection; I’d Die, Babe.

Matrix Nos: SAPCOR 19 A-1U / SAPCOR 19 B-1U

Stamper Codes: 1 0 / 1 P

Other Etchings: ‘PORKY’ / ‘PECKO’

Musicians: Pete Ham – Guitar, Piano, Vocals; Tom Evans – Bass, Vocals; Joey Molland – Guitar, Vocals; Mike Gibbins – Drums. Guests: George Harrison – Slide Guitar; Leon Russell – Piano, Guitar; Klaus Voorman – Electric Piano.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Straight Up is the third album by British rock band Badfinger, released in December 1971 in the United States and February 1972 in the UK. This was released on the Apple record label and includes the hit singles "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue", and the similarly popular "Name Of The Game", all of which were written by singer and guitarist Pete Ham.The album marked a departure from the more rock-oriented sound of Badfinger's previous releases, partly as a result of intervention by Apple Records regarding the band's musical direction. Although Straight Up received a mixed response from critics on release, many reviewers now regard it as the band's best album. Rolling Stone critic David Fricke has referred to it as "Badfinger's power-pop apex"!!!!

Production on what became Straight Up lasted nine months, at the start of which the group made an album's worth of recordings with producer Geoff Emerick, in between their touring commitments. Once Apple had decided to shelve these recordings, George Harrison took over production, only for him to become indisposed with events associated with the concert for Bangladesh at which Badfinger also performed. Harrison then handed the project to American producer Todd Rungren who oversaw recording for most of the album. Sadly they did not go on to flourish after internal disagreements led to the suicide of founding member Peter Ham in 1975, they then folded. Clearly upset by his friend’s death, Tom Evans who witnessed Ham’s hanging body, also killed himself in 1983

CONDITION

LABELS:

The Dark Green Apple Labels are Both in SUPERB condition with NO spindle wear or spider marks to be seen anywhere I would easily grade these as Ex++!!!!

VINYL:

Plays throughout absolutely brilliant with no Pops, Clicks or Jumps. The record still contains that glossy sheen though there are several surface marks and thumbnails to be seen, these in NO way interfere with the superb sound quality. This Album plays up to and  beyond its high visual grading with hardly anything of note to fault. It offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. A typical polished production from Rungdren (and to a lesser degree, Harrison). Minimal surface sound and no tracking issues. This play-grade proved a real pleasure when playing this fast disappearing Apple album, this being the first example I have had for some time, and possibly the best all-round one for me yet. It will prove quite difficult to find a significantly better copy and merits a very strong recommendation. I would grade both sides as Very Good++/Excellent!!!!

COVER:

This is a single fully laminated format. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.

Cover Lamination: What a fantastic front picture of the Band. The laminate retains a fine shine and clarity without any dulling. However there are several very slight laminate creases (Not Splits) to both the front and rear of the cover.The pinched back spine is in brilliant order, with all writing readable.The opening edges are slightly frayed. This cover is incredibly difficult to find in Ex+ condition simply because of the design and age. However I would be happy enough to grade it as Very Good++!!!!

COVER SUMMARY: Not seen often, this one is in lovely condition with only gentle clues of age, any blemishes mostly light – a few laminate creases are incredibly hard to avoid at the barest minimum. This classic cover should please many collectors.

INNER SLEEVE: There is hardly any creasing and all edges are unsplit with no repairs. This unlined inner has the Apple copyright text on both sides. graded as EX+!!!!

Album Played For Grading: I play/grade ALL records I offer before submitting, I also play them in their 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. I use a Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge and Linn Lingo, with my Linn system and Forest Totem Speakers. This system is guaranteed  to pick up any distortion or interference within the sound.

Grading: In my opinion I REFUSE to believe that there is ANY record that can be truly graded as Mint, the BEST that could be offered is Mint- (minus)!!!! Especially so from the 50's, 60's, 70's or even up to the present date!!!! Even copies bought new today would have some form of imperfection on the Record or Cover!!!! Under that assumption I will NEVER use the word Mint in any of my descriptions and Mint- is the HIGHEST grade I would ever offer. So I will only from Excellent, Good or Poor with a -(minus), +(plus) or ++(plus,plus)!!!!

Bid With Confidence: I take great care and pride with what I sell and offer a FULL money back guarantee, in the unlikely event of the buyer not agreeing with my description. As long as the item is repacked and returned to me in the same condition it was sent.

Postage: All of my records will be professionally packaged. I use Dependapack Vinyl Record Mailers that have locking tab closures with strong locking tab record wraps. I also use corrugated record stiffeners and extra strong tape marked with Handle With Care. This is to ensure your Valuable Record/s are protected whilst in transit. I will add a nominal fee of .40p to my postage and packaging for this service. Any Record valued at £100 or more I would prefer to send by Special Deliver/International Signed For.