DEAR MR TIME : GRANDFATHER A-2G/B-1G 1st PRESS 1970 SUPERB COVER & AUDIO RARE
£
110
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146
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.
Dear Mr. Time : Grandfather A-2G / B-1G 1st Press 1970
This rare first pressing on the Square One label plays to a very high standard with only minimal intrusion and there is nothing that really stands out. It is an album that has been so well preserved and has clearly not been over-played based on the audio and the minimal spindle wear. S1 has only a minimal background and this is detailed below, the vast majority does indeed play with stunning quality. And S2 is just on another level, the playback is stunning! The clarity and depth of the audio on both sides is very impressive but yes S2 is superb apart from one very brief section. The vinyl is also visually very impressive. I tend not to use the word rare very much but it certainly applies here! A genuine prog rock classic.
The cover is visually stunning and it would be hard to find better. To be honest it's not from a Near Mint- grade but I have said Ex+ just to be on the safe side. The original inner is also in excellent condition.
It has the G1 stamper on both sides so this is obviously one of the first off the press, they used the same system as EMI. In saying that it's so rare there may only be a G1/G1 pressing anyway!
SQA 101 A - 2G / SQA 101 B - 2G // G1 / G1
The audio on S1 is Ex+ (T2 & T6 Mint- / T3 Near Mint with one brief VG section)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 & T3 Near Mint / T5 VG+ for 5/6 seconds)
The cover is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
The original inner sleeve is Ex+
Visual description
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a strong glossy sheen and no marks or scratches. There are some faint hairlines and one small fade / clouded area on the final track on each side but this is very minor and has no impact on the superb audio. The labels are unmarked and have only very minimal spindle wear.
Play grading
The intro on 'Birth - The Beginning' plays perfectly and then the acoustic section just has a minimal touch of very quiet static right at the start. The opening vocal is so clean with only a handful of minor statics ticks, the clarity is stunning. The chorus has no intrusion and the next verse has only a 2/3 ticks plus one that could be deemed as a light click. The remainder plays with superb audio with only minimal static on the fade out. I will grade as Ex+ but the majority is certainly better than that.
'Out Of Time' plays with exceptional audio from the get go. The intro and first vocal have no interference and the following instrumental is just as strong. From then on the audio is so clean and there are no ticks, clicks or pops and only a hint of mega quiet static at the end of the fade out. It could not plays any better basically and Mint- is deserved at the very least.
The intro on 'Make Your Peace' has only minimal static at the beginning and then plays beautifully. As the volume increases the playback is faultless and the opening vocal is equal to that. It continues in much the same way and what you really notice is the depth and warmth of the audio, a very strong bass sound. The quieter mid instrumental does have some light static and ticks but the next part of this section has no intrusion at all - superb sonic quality again. The next vocal is perfect and to the end it plays with genuine quality and the long fade out has no background. This is Near Mint with a brief VG section.
The 'explosive' intro on 'Your's Claudia' has only a small number of minor statics and the acoustic guitar plays very clearly also. The first verse has a small number of light ticks but they are really not that intrusive. The next verse plays with STUNNING clarity with not so much as a dust tick and the rest of this very quiet track is more or less perfect with only a couple of minor ticks towards the end. I will grade as Ex+ overall.
The piano intro on 'Prelude...' is perfect for half a minute and then has some light crackle for 4/5 seconds. The rest of this instrumental plays with outstanding quality with only a couple of light statics. Another Ex+ track.
'Your Country Needs You?' plays with sublime audio through every vocal and instrumental section. Put simply there is no interference and Mint is 100% deserved. Superb clarity and depth from start to finish.
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The staccato intro on 'A Dawning Moonshine' plays with stunning precision and from then on plays with great power and depth. You can't fault the clarity of sound either - the quiet / silent mid organ section is nigh on perfect with only a couple of insignificant statics and the end instrumental can only be described 'as new'. A Mint- start to S2.
'Years And Fortunes' again shows just how well this vinyl has been looked after. There is no interference as such, just a modicum of barely audible static which hardly warrants a mention and one light static tick. The percussive instrumental is flawless as is the final vocal. This is Near Mint at the very least.
'A Prayer For Her' then plays with superb audio with... no interference. There is perhaps just a hint of vocal distortion every now and then but it really is so so minimal and does not intrude on the sonic quality. Near Mint
The intro on 'Light Up A Light' has no background and the opening vocal is of the same high end standard. This is a track with many quiet sections and yet the clarity is stunning throughout. I only 'picked' up one minor static tick and the more powerful end section plays with great quality, another perfect fade out also. A sublime Mint- version.
The acoustic intro on 'On A Lonely Night' is phenomenal! So quiet and yet the audio is crystal clear. The first spoken vocal is on the same level - remarkable clarity for a 53 year old record. It continues in the same precise way and I just cannot emphasise enough just how beautifully it plays. This opening section is 'as new' without a doubt. As it moves into the next section there is just a little crackle for 5/6 seconds but you can still hear the organ very clearly and the louder closing instrumental does indeed play perfectly. This is Mint for the vast majority but VG+ for those few seconds.
The final track 'Grandfather' plays with imperious quality throughout. There is no interference, only a handful of very quiet dust ticks, and the sonic quality is so impressive. A Mint- conclusion and what a side of music!
In summary this rare and very collectable first pressing plays with superb audio with only minimal intrusion. I have played every track in full as always and the sonic quality is stunning. S1 is a great listen but S2 is that and more! With only that one brief section of background (kind of adds atmosphere!) the clarity could hardly be improved upon. I don't know how many were pressed but it can't have been many and there can't be many as good as this one around today! In conjunction with a lovely cover this will add to any prog collection.
The Cover & Inner Sleeve
The cover is in superb condition and has been so well preserved over the last 53 years. The edges are so clean and the thin spine is 100% legible with barely any wear, just 3/4 minor crease lines. The corners of the spine are in great order with only the bare minimum of wear and the right hand corners have no wear at all. The opening edge is as close to perfect as is possible. The laminated front cover is stunning without any marking or laminate damage and the unlaminated back cover is just as impressive with no marking either and only very minor crimping near the top edge. A touch of light ringwear also but a fantastic example overall of this rare cover.
The original plain white die-cut inner has no side splits, tears or marking just a little creasing here and there.
Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
SQA 101 A - 2G / SQA 101 B - 2G // G1 / G1
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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Postage & Packaging
I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!
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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
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