Elvis Costello * My Aim Is True * Original 1977 First Pressing UK Vinyl A1 / B1

	£		16
	$		21

Remember, bid and you'll possibly get it
Watch and you'll probably forget it :-)

Any records I have sold have always been from my own collection, amassed during the last 46 years (I'm 58 years old now). I have sold lots of LP's and 45's on eBay, on and off over the last 10 years or so (some very recently - see my feedback) and every single buyer has been happy with their purchase. I have always taken good care of my records and I always try and describe my listings as accurately and as honestly as I can.

Up for auction here is this very early pressing (a first pressing?) of Elvis Costello's 'My Aim Is True' album on the Stiff Records label. It has the Glossy cover (later copies were matt apparently), with the Black & White photo, the Red writing on the front and the Yellow rear cover (all indicative of a very early copy - the earliest according to the research I've done). It has the black paper inner sleeve and the A1 / B1 matrix numbers, along with the Porky Prime Cut messages.

The dead wax on Side 1 has SEEZ 3  A1  EG  A Porky Prime Cut   Elvis Is King       I -7
The dead wax on Side 2 has SEEZ 3  B1  EG  On This Side Too    A Porky Prime Cut Too  I - 18

(I-7 & I-18. You wont see many earlier on eBay) 

CONDITION : VERY GOOD - EXCELLENT. I have played through both sides and it plays fine throughout, with a great sound. There are no skips or jumps, but there is one pop/click on the final track on Side 2 'Waiting For The End Of The World'. It is over with in an instant. There is also light - moderate surface noise (more light than moderate) which is really only audible on the run in and between tracks. Visually the vinyl is still nice and shiny and the labels are nice and clean with only light to moderate spindle wear (again more light than moderate). The inner, black paper sleeve has creases and has one small nick on one side on the edge of the circular window, but there are no splits to any of the three sides (left, right & bottom side). THE OUTER SLEEVE - When I bought this LP, I immediately put it inside one of the heavy plastic protective wallets/sleeves. It remained inside it until last week when I decided I was going to sell the album. The plastic wallet had sort of sweated itself in places (the edges) and was difficult to get off. I gently teased and manipulated it to remove it, but sadly, it took a small piece of the black & white check of the cover off (on the opening edge, a third of the way down, please see my photo). It also took a fine / thin / narrow bit of the yellow off at the rear, along the top edge and along the bottom edge (again please see my photos) and has left the cover feeling slightly 'tacky' at the edges. But on the whole, the protective wallet has kept the sleeve pristine, with only a slight yellowing down the opening edge, due to nearly 40 years of handling. The spine too is in great order, with only a little compression at the very top and very bottom. All the text on the spine is easily and clearly readable. The original price sticker is still on the front cover. I was reluctant to try and peel it off in case it pulled some of the laminate off as well. I'm not sure why this particular protective wallet sort of adhered itself in places, as I've had lots of my vinyl collection stored in similar wallets for the same length of time and although they do have a tendency to 'grip' with gentle persuasion they can be teased off. Not this one though. Other than the minor damage to the sleeve that I have mentioned, there are just a few very light creases to the laminate (nothing really).

In my 7th photo, I was holding the sleeve at an angle to try and give you an idea of how glossy it still is after nearly 40 years. The lighter / greyer area with the stripes is just a reflection of my window and its vertical blind (the stripes).

Although I have said the cover is lightly tacky at the edges, it is only slightly tacky to the touch and it wont adhere itself to the inside of the mailer or anything like that. Only mentioned for accuracy really.

 
CLICK ANYWHERE ON THE MAIN PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT AND THEN USE THE LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS ( < > ) TO VIEW THE OTHER PHOTOS. THERE ARE 12 IN TOTAL.

OPENING PRICE ON THIS ITEM IS £15.95

MINT:  The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

 EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.
 

VERY GOOD:  The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

GOOD:  The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

FAIR:  The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump.

The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

POOR:  The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

BAD:  The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.