CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (1st) MAGNIFICENT N/M ORIG UK 1969 ATLANTIC PLUM LP.

	£		91
	$		121

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 arrived damaged in them at some time. More details on my packing 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 ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important to 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.

Artist or Band: CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

Album Title: Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Producer(s): Crosby, Stills & Nash.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes; Marakesh Express; Guinnevere; You Don’t Have to Cry; Pre-Road Downs.

Side 2: Wooden Ships; Lady of the Island; Helplessly Hoping; Long Time Gone; 49 Bye-Byes.

Label/Format: Atlantic, original red and maroon (‘Plum’) format with matt finish and a hint of fine texturing.

Label Conditions: Both in supreme condition: ultra clean, fresh and highly attractive – another top quality record from the same impressive lot I have been offering lately. One-owner-from-new, hardly played, and then only a top quality system, this up there with the very best examples of this fragile album I have yet seen or heard.

Cat Number: 588189.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 130 grams. Around average weight for this album.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The album itself not too difficult to find, but with a cover that comes very close to reminding of as-made, and the record hardly played and with the best sound almost possible. Not only that, this is one of the earliest pressings you will ever see. As can be seen on the superb inner sleeve’s date-code (27 1/069), June 27th 1969, this is the actualy day, month and year this album was actually issued. Undisputable proof of issue, finding a stunning example with this historically significant information will prove immensely hard to find again. This copy could indeed prove an ultimate upgrade for many.

Original Year of Release: 1969.

Matrix Nos: 588189 A // 2 1 3 and 588189 B // 2 1 2

Musicians: David Crosby – rhythm guitar, vocals; Stephen Stills – lead guitar, bass, organ, vocals; Graham Nash – vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar; Dallas Taylor – drums, percussion.

Brief Artist & Album Info: A much loved work, often regarded in the past as inferior to the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young classic Déjà vu possibly because it’s less varied, and of course Young is not featured. But the quality of the songs and harmonies is simply breathtaking. Three youthful men singing songs about their relationships and changing partners. All songs are magnificent – Graham Nash’s ‘Lady of the Island’ (about Joni Mitchell), Stills’ opus-like ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ (about Judy Collins) and a slim Crosby singing of his sadly deceased sweetheart Christine on ‘Guinevere’. But for me the finest track is the sublime ‘Wooden Ships’ yes the same song covered by Jefferson Airplane on their masterwork Volunteers. A point worth noting about this song on the early ; ‘Plum’ pressings is the censoring of the line: ‘Say, can I have some of your purple berries?’ As this is sung, it is almost completely faded out – the obvious drug reference was clearly a worry back in 1969 and deemed unsuitable to leave uncut. Such censoring on the Jefferson Airplane version also from 1969 was deemed unneccessary, but Jefferson Airplane laid down their own rules on that album, which even included the word M****F***** expletive which RCA only let go only reluctantly. I thought this edit was highly significant of mention because it makes the record sound strange, but I assure you it’s totally CORRECT – ALL the early copies are the same with the ‘berry’ line mixed-out. Just to make matters more laughable, the unedited words are printed on the lyric insert – how ironic is that? The faded line is restored on the Kinney repressings which makes the original sound all the more mysterious. This mini-classic reached 25 in the UK and 6 in the US and includes that large folded lyric insert. The original ‘Day’ album cover has to be a contender for one of the most fragile ever made (I know I may have said this before for other sleeves and am sure to say again); but this truly is ultra difficult to find with little wear. It has textured surfaces and printed on very soft card, the type almost frays just by looking at it! It wears and fades so easily, and finding a copy that looks anything like excellent is an achievement. This one just exudes beauty with hardly any wear at all and my Mint(–) is more than justified with no exaggeration. Finding the wide spine intact with ALL the text fully present and intact is an achievement in-itself – please see my spine close-up – your are unlikely to find this better. Later copies had this soft textured card replaced by a traditional harder card cover which was often glossy. This cover is fully textured inside and out and still very firm – if overhandled or not treated carefully, this becomes very soft and almost pliable – it becomes woolly and tatty very quickly. Cover-protected from new – there lies the difference – this is close to reference standard with immense fresh deep colour. The record also is superb and plays beautifully, I have encountered so many that crackle and even with some distortion, this has none of that at all and sounds wonderful. The mix is known to be a little compressed and ‘unusual’, but that is exactly as it was made. When found like this, a truly beautiful experience, but delicate with intricate harmonies, most collectors should treasure this impressive example that in vinyl terms, is hardly even run-in.

Cover Condition and Details: MINT(–): or very close to. An unlaminated gatefold format with texturing on all surfaces and made with delicate soft card that rubs and damages so easy. Printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group and includes the large format lyric insert and it’s original date-coded Polydor inner sleeve.

Cover Front: I am going to make this easy: STUNNING! – this front looks brand new, I truly cannot find a single issue worthy of mention. Your want ‘perfect’ – you got it.

Cover Back: Same again: this is exactly as issued. The nit-picking blemish, purely in manufacture, is the trim on the left edge has a fine white strip where the guillotine has just cut wide of the graphic end. But in terms of wear, this has NONE.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Simply gorgeous, both sides again look new with incredible vivid, fresh colour.

Top Edges: Again these incredibly fragile edges are unworn, flat and straight. The tiny white tip on the back is purely the white strip on the manufacture cut.

Bottom Edges: Ultra faint rub traces, if not for these – and anything is as light as almost possible on these resting edges – I would have even considered a full Mint grading. That near unheard of for a cover like this.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Remarkably clean and sharp with barely any wear and NO feathering or softening, again this is so hard to avoid, especially if the record has made the trip out many times. So on this evidence, I am sure it hasn’t. Both these perilous edges are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way with any thickening or burring minuscule, even viewed end-on. Record enters on the back edge.

Spine and Text: This is one of those spines that will rarely, if ever be found with no wear, damage or defects. It has the slightly more rounded finish and these even more prone to wear. This one is very solid and straight. Still quite erect with minimal crush or compression and any tilt slight. Folded very close to square, so the edges meet up very closely and parallel, this great news as it makes the cover look all the more neat for the more discerning collector. The lack of rubbing on the practically the entire surface AND folds is remarkable – a mere trace or rubbing near the very ends, but how many will ever not have? ALL the text is pristine, fully present and unrubbed as seen in close-up. NO wooliness, NO tip-ins, and still VERY clean. It has to be the very best I have ever seen. A major factor that makes the difference between average and superb.

Corners: Any tip rubbing is tiny and light with no dinks or creases. Better than excellent to near mint shape is retained with no erosion or softening.

Cover Summary: For those who know this cover well, most will realise just how fragile and intolerant it is. So this wonderfully preserved example can be regarded as exceptional – almost asking myself how I can let this go – it is a nearly a full grade better than my own copy. A beautiful piece of vintage art, so few will even compare. One of the difficult covers that should please most-all collectors. Again, this could prove a major upgrade and not to be missed.

The Lyric Insert: EXCELLENT(++): clean, a fraction off-white and hardly any hint of creasing (bar the manufactured fold, of course). The odd thumb crinkle trace purely on opening, but minimal. This one is smooth finished and folds with the text inside – these can vary. All edges crisp, clearly this has not been handled many times and has aged hardly at all with no writing, toning or marks.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): and aged only lightly with the usual darkening of the seam adhesive. What makes this so important is the date code: 27 1/069 (27th June 1969) which I am pretty sure was the actual day of release in the UK. So one of the earliest copies you will ever find which matches the very early matrixes and stampers seen further up. It has two crisp undamaged window circles and a very clear lining. Barely a crease to be seen and all edges unsplit with no repairs. This Polydor-style inner sleeve gives more than strong clues the record has hardly been inserted or removed.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): a very impressive visual with only the faintest possible whispy surface traces seen ultra critically under angled light, there are few doubts this record has hardly been played, and so typical from whence it came. A point-of-note also, this record has avoided inner bag dulling, that so often not the case when records have left undisturbed for many years, and I doubt if this has seen light-of-day for decades. It remains very clean with fine shine and solidly pressed. No penetrating scratches or groovewear, this is a super record that again, should please most collectors.

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 rarer first Plum pressing plays even above it’s visual grading with practically nothing to fault. A delicate recording at times but this plays superbly with no distortion or groove wear. It has rich sound that has a slight emphasis within the bass and the mix a little strange at times, noticeable on the channel flicking on the final song. The vocal harmonies, that show no audio stresses whatsoever, are always susceptible to clipping and lack of focus if played on less than fine equipment, this simply has not happened on this copy. The bass on this album has always been forward with depth but will cause no problems for worthy systems. Any surface sounds barely even registered and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional pressing and it needs to be for maximum enjoyment. Nothing heard on play-grade spoilt my pure delight in hearing this beautiful album again. I will reitterate again: the brief loss of volume on ‘Wooden Ships’ is quite normal and was just the over sensitive censor-man editing-out the reference to ‘Purple Berries’ with it’s very obvious drug reference. The orange and green repressings from 1972 onwards, allowed this line to go unedited making the early Plum cuts unique in that respect. This impressive record will please most collectors and like the cover, could prove a significant upgrade for many.

End Piece: This trio made beautiful music with sublime harmonies, all at the peak of their powers and rarely sounding much better than here. When such a clean, complete all-round first-issue copy comes along, it’s one that can really treasured – just hold that magnificent cover will be a joy. This is a pure piece of rock history and finding it better will prove close to impossible. If this album is required, this is a quality example that merits my highest possible recommendation – do not lose this one.

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 - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, 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 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 and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. 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 Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium 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 and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap 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 less than one in two thousand+ based on over 10,000+ items sold in over 12 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. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. 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 FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, 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 and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). 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] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 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 £3 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’.