FAIRPORT CONVENTION 1st LP. UK 68 Rare Orig stereo. N/M

	£		105
	$		139

Hi, I am Mike, I am 46 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 33 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and ellusive items now. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirity, not just bits to guess a grade (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story - I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested reader – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic , and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please if you have quality items for sale).

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Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert - Thankyou.

Artist or Band: FAIRPORT CONVENTION

Album Title: Fairport Convention

Cat Number: 583035 Stereo.

Label and Condition: Polydor, deep rich red original format. Beautiful clean examples that show only very light spindle traces and barely any traces of wear around the centre holes and red Polydors were unforgiving for this. I know for a fact this record has received minimal plays because the original and only owner is a work colleague (of a certain age), who bought this album from way back in the late 60s almost on a whim, a folk fan this took his eye and he gave it a try. This copy has been played only lightly - he estimates no more than 2 or 3 times and its visual condition and audio quality verfies this - this is a superb copy of this scarce psych-folk classic. (Please see label scans for all information needed, I hope the scans do these full justice).

Country of Manufacture: England, UK

Rarity: Very scarce indeed, again this classic did not sell in huge numbers, and rarely will a better copy show up.

Genre Type: Folk Rock with a strong hint of psych.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: 583035 A1 and B1

Brief Artist & Album Info: Still the definitive band for the genre - and this is where it all started. This is not quite the Fairport folk-rock formula we came to love on the three Denny era masterpieces that followed this incredible debut. This has strong psych elements attached to the songs and was featured a few months ago in the Record Collector monthly magazines features on the best UK psych albums of all time. This almost ‘lost’ masterpiece justifiably received rave reviews from the magazine’s writers. This album is very hard to find on vinyl and is the only album this wonderful band made on Polydor. Featuring Judy Dyble on lead vocals, electric and acoustic autoharps, recorder and piano, this lady makes this album special - only the wonderful Sandy Denny was worthy of replacing her after this sublime debut. The rest of the band were: Ian MacDonald on vocals, jews harp; Richard Thompson, vocals, lead electric and acoustic guitars and mandolin; Simon Nicol, vocals, electric 12- and 6-string and acoustic guitars, banjo and violin; Tyger Hutchings, bass and Martin Lamble, percusssion and violin. Clare Lowther played cello too. This folk/psych masterpiece should appeal to most serious music fans, not just folk collectors, its one of the most desirable albums to own within its field, but goes way beyond specialist territory. Even in these early years, Thompson’s song writing and guitar skills were way ahead of the rest. The album is beautifully produced by Joe Boyd and Tod Lloyd the sound is quite wonderful, it does exactly what is intended. Issued when folk and psych were truly in vogue and desirable this album remains one of the most important. Judy’s vocals are sublime and on the wonderful cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Chelsea Morning’ it even matches Joni’s high standards. This copy is gorgeous and sets a high standard, the cover, like the contents is a classic, the 70s reissue only featured a very basic, completely altered format. The record looks and plays close to new and is unlikely to ever be found much better. This ellusive gem has at long last been reissued on CD and nice it is too, but nothing beats this recording with all the depth and detail it includes. This is 1968 psych, and this is the real thing, and nothing comes close. One to treasure and enjoy forever. – Mike.

Cover Condition and Details: Mint(-), its a single format, laminated both sides, printed by the famous UK cover manufacturer Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd, London. One of the classic covers from this period and never easy to find.

Cover Lamination: Both sides, clean and shiny, so shiny in fact I had difficulty getting a nice pictures to show on Ebay, the reflections make it hard to do it full justice. On the front, this one has just one small ‘dry’ near the bottom left, laminate this age often tightens around the spine area, especially when the spine has no wear and great definition which sharp edges. This small ‘blister’ shows little and is probably the only minor negative to find with this cover. There is a very, very tiny one on the back corner also but again a minor flaw. There is no peeling and no significant indentations, even surface marks are minimal. When viewed under angled light there is some mildish dulling, the very dark background colour is very unsympathetic for this, but this is light and barely even shows under normal viewing conditions. Creasing is virtually zero which is remarkable and crucial on a dark cover, a few tiny hairline types mainly near the very edges is about it. This laminate is superb especially taking the great age into consideration. It has done a magnificent job over its great age in protecting the lovely artwork that lies below.

Cover Front: This has a great band picture and has magnificent colour depth under the laminate. Super clean and attractive with little real wear at all.

Cover Back: Quite superb, and even maybe surpasses the front, few marks here, a rare picture of Judy Dyble too. No ringwear whatsoever and that has to be great news.

Cover Edges/Corners: Top: unworn. Bottom: unworn. Record entry edge (right): unworn, clean and sharp. Spine: Solid and square and unworn, all text is pristine under the uncracked laminate. Corners: All four show little wear at all and are still nicely shaped. Summary: A fantastic all round example of this scarce early copy of this late-60’s cover, one that could prove near impossible to find much better. This super item should please most collectors, even the connoisseur collector should appreciate this fragile and beautiful cover.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-) a copy that appears virtually unmarked. Super clean and shiny, jet black and pressed on heavy vinyl. A copy I know for a fact has been played little and been well treated and looked after. This will not show up too often and rarely, if ever looking quite like this.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This super record plays up to its high visual grading with little to fault. Strong, undistorted sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear. No pops or ticks from memory and a fine pressing, any surface sounds are minimal indeed, if any can be heard at all. Both channels are clean and clear and Judy’s vocals are simply breathtaking with an ‘in-the-room’ quality. Fact: this record has been played little and has been well stored and looked after in a non-smoking environment. Little, if anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this gem, it was simply a pleasure to hear this from a vinyl source. This copy will prove near impossible to find significantly better.

Mono vs Stereo, an overview: Always a matter of opinion which is better or more important. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure they are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records. As a general guide to rarity, mono was the far more common format from 61–65; Around 66–67 the balance was roughly equal, then from 68-69 the balance swung more to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: Albums in this genre rarely come more important and essential and found in better shape. This is pure quality folk history and its importance cannot be overstated. Even from these early beginnings Richard Thompson’s greatness was assured. This landmark record deserves its place in any serious collection whether a folk connoisseur or not - this album should appeal to all real music lovers - dont lose this one and good luck again – Mike.

Payment Details please read carefully:

UK First Class: = £2.50; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £4.00 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £6.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Doubles add extra £1, triples add extra £2. Box sets add extra £3 (£4 overseas and Europe)

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do not profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken out of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be given.

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Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other interesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear if any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.