CREAM Disraeli Gears UK Reaction Stereo N/M. STUNNING

	£		102
	$		135

Hi, I am Mike, I am 46 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 33 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and ellusive items now. 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 - on average ONEADAY, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirity, not just bits to guess a grade (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - 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 reader – 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 its 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. What you see is what you get. The only thing I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. Variation can sometimes occur too in colour of the label scans and labels taken next to the sleeve with a digital camera, the scanned full label pictures should be the most accurate. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert. 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 or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please if you have quality items for sale).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of their intended payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions. NOTE: I WILL NOT ACCEPT BIDS FROM UNREGISTERED USERS, I will cancel them immediately, and sorry, I cannot give valuations on people’s personal items just for their own curiosity, no item can be accurately valued blindly.

Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert - Thankyou.

Artist or Band: CREAM

Album Title: Disraeli Gears.

Track Listing: Strange Brew; Sunshine of Your Love; World of Pain; Dance the Night Away; Blue Condition; Tales of Brave Ulysses; SWLABR; We’re Going Wrong; Outside Woman Blues; Take it Easy; Mother’s Lament.

Label/Format: Reaction (Classic deep mauve format).

Label Condition: Wow these are truly special, stunners with the deepest of deep colour and super clean too. Around 36 years old - you must be joking - no its true - this pair, apart from a small finger mark on side two and a couple of light spindle traces could almost pass for new. What an amazing sight to see a pair of Reactions looking like this. Not even a trace of wear around the centre holes and they still fit quite tightly on my Rega spindle. You will be hard pushed to find this classic album with labels looking better than these (unless you find an unplayed copy) (Please see label scans for all information needed - see what I mean).

Cat Number: 594003.

Mono or Stereo: Stereo (this of course was issued in mono as well).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: Scarce but it has to be rare in this condition.

Original Year of Release: 1967, this one has the front only laminated and I consider this version to be far harder to find in near mint condition, the cover that is - the lack of back laminate makes this version near impossible to be found looking like new. For any serious collector both cover versions are essential of course.

Matrix Nos: 184105 crossed out. then 594 003 A2 1 3 and 594 003 B3 12 111. Side one has P 1967 also.

Album Information: The world’s most famous blues/rock power trio’s greatest album - a massive issue which still sounds wonderfully fresh, even today. Clapton, Bruce and Baker’s most consistently perfect studio album. Early Reaction copies are something to treasure, with its superb psychedelic cover artwork (by Martin Sharpe) and wonderful stereo mix that images perfectly. The cover on this copy on offer is laminated front only, and is hard to find with a near mint unprotected back, this is as close as you will ever find. The record looks and plays beautifully - a really stunning item package that should please all serious collectors.

Cover Condition and Details: Mint(-) and pretty close to full mint because I have never seen better for this version - its stunning beyond belief! Its a single format, laminated front only, Stereo printed on cover back and printed and made by Ernest J. Day & Co Ltd, London. A cover that will leave even experienced and connoisseur collectors aghast. To say this looks like new is no understatement, the front is jaw-dropping good and that fragile back is as close to perfect as any will get.

Cover Lamination: To see laminate looking like this just makes you want the rest of your 60s covers to look like this. This is so clean and fresh and virtually blemish-free it must have been kept in cotton wool for all its existence. This is clean and shiny and virtually undulled it resembles a gloss painted mirror, the incredible artwork is so bright you almost need sunglasses to protect the eyes. There is no peeling or dry areas and virtually zero creasing, a couple of faint light hairlines can just about be seen at the very top if scrutinised. This has no indentations or even surface marks - incredible but true - this is almost like having a lawn that resembles a billiard table. I suppose you can just about see a faint pressmark from the mega thick record if you really want to look that close under angled light but you will rarely, if ever find 60s laminate anything like this good - I almost thought about wearing gloves just to pick this one up - its beautiful beyond belief.

Cover Front: Without doubt one of the greatest ever 60s psych covers with stunning artwork and use of colour - so bright and fresh you would never settle for less if you saw this one. Very clean and lustrous, just one microscopic chip on the bottom right corner but that represents the only damage I can find on this amazing item.

Cover Back: One of the most fragile 60s backs that was not laminated shortly after the initial first run. The mind-blowing artwork suffered with rubbing and fading, even ringwear (ahhh) - like the front this is pretty close to perfect and for this slightly later variation it will so rarely be found looking so fresh and clean and unworn as this. There is not even a hint of ringwear, the only very minor sign of age is a end of laminate line, very common indeed, but even this shows up not too much as its lost in the complex dark artwork. If a much better back can be found for this one, well good luck.

Top Edge:Totally unworn.

Bottom Edge: Totally unworn.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with no wear. Record entered on right outside edge.

Spine and Text: Solid and square with no wear, text is perfect and unworn under the uncracked laminate This incredible spine has perfect shape and can be considered as near perfect as any 60s spines get.

Corners: All four show almost zero wear. Just the tiny (and I mean tiny) chip on the bottom right. All still perfectly shaped at sharp right angles.

Cover Summary: One of the very best covers I have ever seen let alone offered. And for an album of this importance its a pleasure to offer. You could go a lifetime before finding this better, especially the front - its a miniature work of art.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-) and possibly undergraded at that even. A superb visual copy . Super clean, shiny, jet black and very heavily pressed. Barely a mark to be seen, this looks really lovely. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence. Visually a super record that should please all collectors again.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This super record plays up to its high visual grading with little to fault. Strong, undistorted sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a massive dynamic range and very full sound, the stereo mix and imagery is very different to the slightly more dynamic mono version - both of course are essential for any serious collector. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed, there are a couple of single groove light ticks about twice on the whole album - that's how good this one is and few 60s albums will get near to beating this one. Both channels are clean and sharp, I feel very sure this record has been played very lightly and has been very caringly and lovingly looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Little, if anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this classic. This copy could prove near impossible to find significantly better. The record comes in its original lined inner that like all else in this copy is close to new also. Unyellowed, split or torn. It has its British patent numbers and is almost devoid of creasing or ruffling. The window is in the same as when bought and the liner is pristine perfect and fully attached (so many simply fall out this great age). Its the flipbacked type and even these are solid and unlifted.

Mono vs Stereo, an overview: Always a matter of opinion which is better or more important. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure they are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records. As a general guide to rarity, mono was the far more common format from 61–65; Around 66–67 the balance was roughly equal, then from 68-69 the balance swung more to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: Disraeli Gears peaked at 5 and 4 respectively in the UK and US, very commendable in a year that saw the issue of so many truely wonderful records - still for me the greatest ever year in music. The stunning dayglo cover matched the feel for the times perfectly for a psychedelic London. The blues feel of the band was slowly slipping away and the brilliantly strange lyrics by Pete Brown suited Jack Bruce’s finest vocals. The words ‘classic’ and ‘essential’ are definitely not overused on this album. This album, when found is often trashed, simply played to destruction, with unlistenable distortion and groove wear and scratches, the labels a mass of spindle marks that resembles a spider’s web. What a joy to find and offer a copy that truly plays superbly, not quite 100 per cent, but 99.9, as close as I dare suggest your likely to find. And, oh yes, that cover - its worth any price alone, just looking at that stunning front gives pleasure and that’s before the record goes on the deck! – Mike.

Having the Powerseller Logo: This is recognition from Ebay for the highest possible customer services, satisfaction and quality, it should reassure any potential bidder that all items are described, graded and shipped to the highest standards possible. Customer care of the highest order is a standard feature here and I am proud to have achieved this recognised standard of excellence from Ebay with help from collectors and buyers from all over the World - I thank you all.

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3.00; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £5.50 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £7.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Doubles add extra £1, triples add extra £2. Box sets add extra £3 (£4 overseas and Europe)

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do NOTprofit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more and I often actually lose money on this part of service - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken OUT of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be worthwhile.

I can accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders OWN risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other interesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear if any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.