DUSTER BENNETT SMILING LIKE I'M HAPPY 1st UK MiNt AuDiO

	£		157
	$		208

DUSTER BENNETT ''SMILING LIKE I'M HAPPY'' 1st UK PRESSING 1968  CAT NO. S 7-63868   ((STEREO))   ON THE BLUE HORIZON LABELS!! -1-1 MATRIX AWESOME NEAR MINT AUDIO! BARELY EVER PLAYED!

EXCEPTIONAL ORIGINAL 1ST PRESS LAMINATED COVER TOP CONDITION! UNBELEIVABLE CONDITION FOR 43 YEARS OLD LIKE THIS!!

Another from my personal collection! This is the 1st issue 1st UK pressing of this awesome blues monster Duster Bennetts, 'Smiling Like I'm Happy'! featureing -1 -1 matrix endings (only 1st press) The vinyl has always been stored seperated from the cover and sleeve for protection! This is how I have always stored my records! The vinyls playing surface is superbe , pressed from the earliest master -1 -1 matrix endings, makes all the difference for the best possible audio quiality on vinyl.  Looks and sounds like this has barely ever been played at all in my opinion, , I must emphisise that there are no needle scratches on this vinyl at all that I can see, and the audio is clear and very vibrant and absolutely no distortion at all, The audio was near perfect \mint on my systems throughout ! The original laminated front only , cover is awesome, for those who know this cover, truly exceptional!,   so hard to find these 36 year old covers in this superbe condition!  These original 1st UK pressings are impossible to find in this condition please do not underestemate the rarety like this!

See My  Video of this album for a sample of the track ''Smiling Like I'm Happy'' from this album Recorded from the vinyl in digital at 44100 hz in stereo  (Please Click Below)

Anthony "Duster" Bennett (23 September 1946 – 26 March 1976) was a British blues singer and musician. Based around London, This album featured is his first album Smiling Like I'm Happy, saw him playing as a one-man band, playing a bass drum with his foot and blowing a harmonica on a rack while struming Les Paul Goldtop guitar!!. Backed by his girlfriend Stella Sutton and the original Fleetwood Mac on three tracks, the album was well-received among blues fans. He was very popular on the local blues club scene until his death in a car crash in 1976!.

One of Britain's great-unsung guitar/harmonica players - Anthony "Duster" Bennett. The blues-mad 22 year-old from Wales was pointed in the direction of the UK's Blue Horizon label in early 1968 by none other than Fleetwood Mac's PETER GREEN!!.

Considering his status among Britain's finest blues composers, it's always seemed somewhat galling that Duster Bennett is best known for his cover of the Kinks' "Act Nice and Gentle" -- although when you hear it, you can understand why!!.

 Without deviating at all far from Ray Davies' magical prototype, Bennett imbues the song with all the emotion and joy which Davies himself buried beneath weary cynicism, while guitarist Top Topham lets rip with exactly the kind of guitar playing that ensured he remained a legend long after he left the Yardbirds!. "Act Nice and Gentle" opens side two of Bennett's third album -- perhaps deliberately, it is immediately followed by "Woman Without Love," a song which finds Bennett enacting an almost note-perfect Ray Davies impersonation, while strings and a superbly syrupy backing chorus build tear-blindingly up behind him!!.

Past Bennett albums showcased the performer. 12 Dbs showcases the artist. If 12 Dbs is Bennett's best-produced and certainly most adventurous album, although that's not to say it lacks any of the humor, spark, and verve which highlight its predecessors. "Slim's Blues" is a magnificent plod, the blues when they first wake up in the morning; "Vitamin Pills" is a 12-bar shuffle which disguises its utterly surreal lyric with an absolutely traditional soundtrack; and "That Mean Old Look" is a riotous talking blues, apologizing for a nightmarish night on the town with his girl!.

The Matrix

Side 1 ''S7 63208 A1'' (Only 1st press)

Side 2. ''S7 63208 B1'' (Only 1st press)

The Vinyl

This is the thick heavy chunky slab of vinyl only found like this on the earliest pressings (later press are much more flimsier and less robust)

On initial inspection of the playing surface This looks Awesome!   Still retaining its original deep glossy sheen from new!! LOOK SUPERBE! It is hard to even see a blemish! Any that could possibly be seen would be whispy sleeve removal marks only,, importantly there are no needle or audio sounding marks that would cause any clicks or pops! 

If you have not had the opertunity to listen to this awesome blues album, then I thouroughly recommend that you do! 

The Audio Quality

 I have carefuly played this through track for track as usual prior to listing on a top system at very loud volume! The audio is cristal clear and vibrant throughout  certainly (no) jumps or skips CRISTAL CLEAR AND VIBRANT ON ALL FREQUENCIES!   Certainly not overplayed with no signsd of grooveware at all!! Unbeleivable for an original, rarest 1st pressing that is 43 years old!!! Please note! It is important for me to point out that it is easy to be critical about these Early seventies Blue Horizon pressings! Please allow for some minor isolated static background surface noise in between some tracks and perhapes the odd static tick tick that may be evident during some of the mega quiet and almost silent places on this vinyl,  this is and how it was when purchased from new! Also I notice debrit on the playing surface after play so a good constant clean before each play would reduce this and enhance the audio!  The actual audio is clear and vibrant with, of course (no) signs of distortion or that this has been over played at all!! It is important to note that I can't see any needle audio sounding marks or scratches on the playing surface which looks near mint in my opinion!!  I would grade the audio as near mint on my systems!

Please note! I always add this disclaimer! I have given my honest opinion as usual when describing the audio quality.   Please allow for  static surface noise in between some isolated tracks only and that may possibly be  heard during almost silent places on this vinyl, importantly there are no needle marks or scratches that cause any loud clicks skips or jumps This has only been played a minimal amount perhapes a handfull of times from new and visualy reflects this in my opinion! ! Please remember that this is an original 43 year old vinyl that has been played and would have originally been played on a 43 year old system and would benefit from a clean before each play!!

Points to note! This has been stored in a case laying dormant for at least 40 years! From my experiance this vinyl would benefit from a constant clean before each play! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves over a period of laying dormant, produces static crackle\ticks and constant cleaning reduces this static and subsequently enhances the audio quality!

The labels!

These are the original 1st issue 'Blue Horizon'  records labels!   (correct for this earliest pressing) They are in SUPERBE condition!!   There are just very bare minimal spider marks these can even be counted, this vinyl has barely ever been played at all !, even when  angled to the light !! (no) spindle ware the hole is perfectly round and very tight around the spindle hiole! (SEE PHOTOS) Amaizing Condition! 

The Record sleeve

This is the original plain white paper sleeve  without splits or tares just light creasing\staining with age! Original in superbe condition!

The Cover

This is the original 1st issue laminated front only, 1st UK issue cover. Printed by E.J. Day & Co Ltd. Patent Pending! Any who know this cover would appreciate at how hard it is to find a cover in this absolutely superbe condition after 43 years! (This cover is exceptional indeed without any real creases to talk of) Just minor in the laminate only at the bottom edge and top edge but these are in the laminate only. No splits or tares lovely and clean all text is legible. This must grade at least excellent plus if not better in my opinion!

See My  Video of this album for a sample of the track ''Smiling Like I'm Happy'' from this album Recorded from the vinyl in digital at 44100 hz in stereo  (Please Click Below)

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £36.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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See My  Video of this album for a sample of the track ''Smiling Like I'm Happy'' from this album Recorded from the vinyl in digital at 44100 hz in stereo  (Please Click Below)