Earth Wind and Fire S/T Debut Still Sealed Near Mint Not a Cutout

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60

AllMusic Review by John Bush  [-]

The debut for the nine-member Earth, Wind & Fire was as assured as that of any rock band from the '60s and early '70s. Already fluent with the close harmonies of the classiest soul groups, the deep funk of James Brown, and the progressive social concerns and multiple vocal features of Sly & the Family Stone, the group added (courtesy of auteur Maurice White) a set of freewheeling arrangements, heavy on the horns, that made Earth Wind and Fire one of their finest albums -- the artistic equal of their later hits, if not on the same level commercially. Unlike the work of most early funk bands, the songwriting was as strong and focused as the musicianship; the record boasts a set of unerringly positive compositions, reflecting the influence of the civil rights movement with nearly every song urging love, community, and knowledge as alternatives to the increasing hopelessness plaguing American society. The stop-start opener "Help Somebody," the deep funk extravaganza "Moment of Truth," and the sweet ballad "Love Is Life" were unified in their pursuit of positivity, while even the potentially incendiary title "Fan the Fire" was revealed in a peaceful context: "The flame of love is about to die/Somebody fan the fire." And the instrumental closer, "Bad Tune," is hardly a cast-off; the furious kalimba work of Maurice White and wordless backing vocals combine to create an excellent piece of impressionist funk.

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IMPORTANT PLEASE READ                                                                              

All Lp's are original pressings unless otherwise stated. I do not attempt to misguide or deceive in any way. You will receive the actual item you see listed, graded accurately. If you should have any reason to disagree please contact me and I WILL resolve your concerns. If you purchase a still sealed record and are not happy I will accept the return if it is still unopened. I have no way of knowing the condition of the Lp will be anything other than Mint. If you open it, it becomes yours.

ALL Lp’S ARE VISUALLY GRADED UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.                                               

I use Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records grading guidelines as follows:

MINT (M)
These are absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees that the record or sleeve truly is in this condition. There is no set percentage of the Near Mint value these can bring; it is best negotiated between buyer and seller.

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-)
A good description of a NM record is “it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.” In other words, it’s nearly perfect. Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect.

NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks” from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects also must be absent; a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. (NM records don’t have to be “never played”; a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.)

NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+)
or EXCELLENT (E)
A good description of a VG+ record is “except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.” Most collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it toward the high end of the grade (sometimes called VG++ or E+).

VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.

VG+ covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. Covers with cut-out markings can never be considered Near Mint.

Very Good (VG)
Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record. That said, VG records — which usually sell for no more than 25 percent of a NM record — are among the biggest bargains in record collecting, because most of the “big money” goes for more perfect copies. For many listeners, a VG record or sleeve will be worth the money.

VG records have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better shape. They lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise will not overpower the music otherwise.

Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. Many collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape.

VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides, though it won’t be obvious upon looking. Someone might have written or it or stamped a price tag on it, too.

Good (G),
Good Plus (G+)
or Very Good Minus (VG–)
These records go for 10 to 15 percent of the Near Mint value, if you are lucky.

Good does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. A Good to VG– cover has ring wear to the point of distraction, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing, such as, for example, huge radio station letters written across the front to deter theft.

If the item is common, it’s probably better to pass it up. But if you’ve been seeking it for a long time, get it cheap and look to upgrade.

POOR (P)
and Fair (F)
Poor (P) and Fair (F) records go for 0 to 5 percent of the Near Mint value, if they go at all. More likely, they end up going in the trash. Records are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them. Covers are so heavily damaged that you almost want to cry.

Only the most outrageously rare items ever sell for more than a few cents in this condition — again, if they sell at all.

OUTSIDE THE USA, IMPORTANT PLEASE READ! 

International shipping rate is $22.00 U.S. dollars. Packages weighing more than 4 lbs exceed "First Class International" weight limits and can only be shipped "Priority International". Shipping to Canada will be $12.00 U.S. dollars.

Important note: For orders over $100 or more, Tracking is required and will cost extra at purchasers expense. This does not affect domestic US shipments as the shipping fees reflect this service. International orders ship via USPS Express Mail. This is the only service that provides tracking and insurance. USPS First Class or Priority Mail cannot be tracked. USPS Express Mail is expensive, approximately $50. Final shipping amount for this service is based on weight and destination for international orders. Understand that this is the BUYERS RESPONSIBILITY.

COMBINED SHIPPING RATES: All shipping rates are weight based, and so the more you buy and combine in one shipment the less your shipping costs per item will be. The standard media mail rate of $4.00 will cover two Lp’s within the contiguous 48 states, after that the rate is $1.00 per additional Lp in the same mailer. International rate is $5.00 each additional Lp in the same mailer. Priority mail rate will be $9.00 within the contiguous 48 states, $1.00 each additional Lp in the same mailer. Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii will be actual cost based on the mailing rate calculator provided by Ebay.

All 7" & LPs are shipped in protective custom-made corrugated cardboard mailers. Records are removed from their jackets to protect against seam damage, and shipped with a protective plastic outer sleeve.