Fairfield Parlour : Home To Home 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press

This first pressing from Fairfield Parlour (formerly known as Kaleidoscope of course) is a FINAL UPGRADE album as the clarity is just on another level!  The audio is so incredibly clean and fresh sounding and unless you knew the age you would not believe it was over 50 years old!  I have sold I think two of these before and this is by far the most impressive.  The vast majority has that 'as new' Mint quality, about 99% in fact and I cannot overstate just how immaculate the audio is!

The vinyl is also visually stunning and has clearly been so well preserved down the years.  There is even a little vinyl 'flecking' on the spindle hole, something you only find on lightly played records.

The textured gatefold is in fantastic condition with only very minimal wear and the original swirl inner has only light wear also.  A stunning 'package' overall.

6360001  1Y // 1   1 1 2

6360001   2Y // 1   1 1 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Mint-

The original swirl inner is Ex

Visual grading

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and retains an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no 'cloudy' areas or mottling.  There are no marks or scratches either.  No word of a lie, it looks 'as new' at first glance!  All I can see under a strong light are a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines.  There is no groove wear and in my opinion has only been played a handful of times judging by the audio, the visual quality and the minimal spindle wear.  There is even a little vinyl 'flecking' on the Side B spindle hole!  The run out grooves are super clean and the Vertigo labels are in superb condition with no marking or writing on them.

Play grading  

The super quiet intro on 'Aries' plays beautifully with no intrusion, the clarity is quite simply amazing for a record that is now over 50 years old.  A couple of insignificant dust ticks that is all.  As the vocal begins there is let up in quality and this 'high end' standard is maintained throughout.  As good a start that you could wish for and Mint- is an easy grade to give.

'In My Box' also has that 'as new' quality and the clarity and warmth of the audio cannot be faulted.  There is not a single dust to be heard not even on the fade out.  This is Mint no minus is required.

The acoustic intro on 'By Your Bedside' plays perfectly and it continues to play with stunning precision.  From start to finish there is no actual interference - the only 'background' I detected were 3/4 very light and barely audible ticks.  There is no underlying static and once again the sonic quality is outstanding.  Mint-

'Soldier Of The Flesh' again plays to a standard that just defies the age of the album!  Already it is patently obvious this record has hardly been played.  Every note is so 'clean' - every verse and chorus so precise - and the build up crescendo section is 'as new' without a doubt.  This truly is an exceptional version and the quiet ending also plays like the record was only pressed yesterday.  This is Mint in every sense of the word.

I am already running out of ways in how to describe the audio on this STUNNING record!  Needless to say 'I Will Always Feel The Same' plays with 100% accuracy with no sign of any interference.  Another Mint track to add to the list!

'Free...' ends the side with unbelievable quality once more.  There are no dust ticks or static ticks, no clicks or pops and no distortion on the top end.  The vocals are so 'clean' throughout and the 'louder' end section plays with stunning depth and resonance.  This is audio of the highest calibre and again I have no hesitation in grading as Mint as there are no negatives.  In fact I can confidently say the entire side is 'as new' I can pay it no higher compliment.

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The 'choral' intro on 'Emily' is near perfect with just one light click caused by one of those tiny white 'specks' that you find often find on vinyl and it refuses to move!  Aside from that it plays beautifully with no static at all.  There are a couple of light ticks on the first verse and from then on it plays with wonderful quality.  The melodic 'vocals' are absolutely incredible, I have never heard better.  I'm sorry to over-enthuse but I've never heard such clarity and definition on this classic album!  The super quiet 'Emily lay like silence...' verse is just Mint there is no other way to describe it.  There are a small number of very light ticks during the 'Emily's in the picture' verse but they are not intrusive and only the first one is a little audible you could say!  The 'high octane' finish plays perfectly and overall I will grade as Near Mint although as I often say the vast majority is even better than that!

'Chalk On The Wall' plays with stunning precision throughout with just one mega light tick at the end of the fade out.  Mint-

The acoustic intro on 'The Glorious House Of Arthur' could not play with any greater clarity and it continues to play with sublime audio to the very end.  Each verse and chorus has not one iota of interference and this quirky number easily grades as Mint such is the quality.

'Monkey' needs little description as from beginning to end there is no 'background' to be heard, not even a solitary dust tick sums it up nicely.  Mint

'Sunny Side Circus' plays to the same 'high end' standard with no intrusion on the audio.  Again each note is so sharp and precise and the clarity is comparable to that of a vinyl pressed only yesterday!  Mint

The quiet intro on 'Drummer Boy Of Shiloh' is 'as new' and the first verse is equally as good.  From then on it plays with a sonic quality that is so impressive for a final track.  The quiet verses play with such delicate precision and the more powerful sections play with great definition and for once there is barely any inner groove distortion.  This is a stunning Mint- finish to this incredible album.

In summary this very collectable first pressing plays with outstanding quality and surely there cannot be many left as good as this today?  It was of only pressed in limited numbers so to find one that is practically Mint all the way through is a genuine rarity.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is unbelievably good and there is no underlying static which can often mar the listening enjoyment.  Only 'Emily' has a little 'background' and even then it is kept to an absolute minimum.  This is without question a FINAL UPGRADE album and I am convinced the winning bidder will be as equally impressed with the audio (and cover!) as I am!

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The Keef textured cover is in lovely condition with only very minimal shelf wear.  It has always been very carefully handled as it has retained its shape incredibly well and is still very strong and robust.  The top edges are near perfect with barely any rubbing and the bottom are almost as good with only a little wear towards the corners.  The wide spine is in superb condition with only a couple of white 'specks' and only the bottom corner has minimal wear.  The right hand corners are in great shape with only a little wear bottom right but even this is minimal and the opening edge has hardly any handling wear.  The front cover is a thing of beauty!  It is pristine with no marking and the back cover is just as good - there are no bends or creases on either side.  The inside of the gatefold is again so clean with only minimal fading around the edges.  It truly is a fine example of its kind and rarely found in this condition.

The original swirl inner (dated 0470) is in excellent shape with only light wear.  There are no side splits and only one small tear on the central 'window'.  The actual centre has one small 'nick' also.  It is very clean with barely any marking and only minimal creasing.  The catalogue number is written top right on one side.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

6360001  1Y // 1   1 1 2

6360001   2Y // 1   1 1 2

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.

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