FLEETWOOD MAC, Rumours NEAR MINT UK 1st pressing A1 stamper LP

	£		25
	$		33

UK FIRST PRESSING VINYL LP IN TEXTURED SLEEVE WITH LYRIC INSERT AND ORIGINAL WHITE INNER SLEEVE.

Released on 4 February, 1977, with sales of over 40 million copies worldwide to date, little remains to be said about the actual music on this 1970s classic album. So, why pay top dollar for a record that sold so many copies, and is currently available on a remastered CD, heavy-weight vinyl issues and used copies of various vintage are to be found in most record stores? Well, first off, let's be absolutely clear about this, if you are a serious music listener then you know, despite endless debate, that quality vinyl pressings on a top end hi fi sound far more alive, vibrant, enjoyable and exciting than any CD ever does. Secondly, you might not be one of the lucky ones (age, finances, weren't around at the time...) to buy certain LPs the week they were released and have a chance of owning early/first pressings - every subequent issue of this LP since the first UK and USA pressings DO NOT SOUND AS GOOD as the first issues do, we've heard lots of them, we know this to be true, the USA has marginally louder mastering in our view, the UK as a slightly more rounded and refined overall tonality, both are great, it's a matter of taste really, but the UK definately is pressed on higher quality vinyl, that much is certain - on every subsequent pressing the vinyl gets crappier, the sound gets muffled, the mastering becomes third rate; the current CD is 'remastered' from original tapes, but these were worn as hell by the time they had finished overdubbing the album so lots of compression and compensation has gone into making the CD sound 'pristine'. but alas this is not exactly how the original vinyl sounded, one could say the CD is how Ruours would sound if it were recently recorded and just released today, which is not the same as how it sounded back in 1977, in short, the current CD and LPs (all cut from CD eq'd masters) does not relate exactly to the original LP anymore than the new Beatles remastered CDs do, they are different in many ways, some prefer this new sound, but those of us that want the original sound are not to be fooled so easily - so if you want 'perfect' remastered sound for today's asthetic and ears, then go buy the CD for a few bucks, you also get extra tracks, one of which, 'Silver Springs', is really quite excellent - you'll have a decent playing copy, no one can deny that. On the other hand, if you want THE ORIGINAL ARTIFACT sounding today just as it did in February, 1977, and you have the kind of hi fi set-up that will allow you to hear the difference, then you simply have to obtain decent/clean 1st pressings...and here's the rub, these are not easy to find 35 years later because nearly everyone who bought this album when it was released played the thing to death on not-that-good-hi fi set-ups, they ENJOYED the album again and again as was right and proper - very few people thought to preserve these early pressings for future audiophiles, why would they? So, where do you find a copy as near to the original experience in 2012? That's what we at Raisedonrecords are here for - we've tossed dozens of decent looking A1 pressings in the bin, they usually don't play as well as they look, sadly, but sometimes, we come across barely played original pressings that ARE THE BUSINESS - and we have played this copy on a top end system and it is one of the best we have heard to date. Pure and simply, not perfect, no record really ever is, the odd pop or crackle might occur fro a dust particle or static, but if you keep this copy clean and only play it on decent turntables, you may well have a copy for life that does not need upgrading. If you want, need (you do need it, right?) a superb playing copy with only the slightest of 35 years wear, then here is one for your delectation - grab it while you can, we honestly do not come across these often and we never really expect to anymore.

MATRIX NUMBERS IN RUN-OFF GROOVES: SIDE A: ALLEN K56344 A-1 WEA / SIDE B: ALLEN K56344 B-1

MOTHER No. SIDE A: W / SIDE B: W

STAMPER No. SIDE A: A2P / SIDE B: B1A

SLEEVE: EXCELLENT MINUS, JUST THE LIGHTEST OF SHELF AND EDGE WEAR, CLEAN, A COUPLE OF VERY SMALL MARKS, CORNER BUMP TOP LEFT FRONT. INSERT IS CLEAN WITH SOME MINOR EDGE SMUDGES FROM FINGERS HOLDING IT.

DISC: EXCELLENT. CLEAN VINYL WITH NO MARKS OR SCRATCHES AND ABSOLUTELY MINOR SPINDLE WEAR, THE DISC LOOKS PLAYED PERHAPS TWO OR THREE TIMES, AND THERE ARE NO VISIBLE HAIRLINES UNLESS YOU EXAMINE UNDER A SUPER-TROOPER LIGHT, AND THESE HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE SOUND. THE AUDIO FROM THIS ALBUM IS EXCELLENT, FULL-STOP. WE THINK IT WILL BE HARD TO FIND A FIRST PRESSING COPY MUCH BETTER THAN THIS NOWADAYS, THERE'S BOUND TO BE SOME OUT THERE, BUT THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

Paypal and eBay Buyer/Seller protection policies require us to ship all packages with signature proof of delivery. This protects both you and us in the event of damage or non-receipt. In order to comply with these policies we can only ship inside the UK by Signed-For Delivery (3-5 days average delivery time), and outside the UK by Royal Mail Small Packet Air Mail (with Tracked and Signed-For Delivery) (10-15 days average delivery time). We will enter the tracking number in your eBay purchases section shortly after your package has shipped, from which you can track it by clicking to the Royal Mail website. The shipping and handling rates quoted are non-negotiable. Please ensure that you make payment for your purchases within 5 days of the auction ending. Thanks for your interest in this listing, and good luck with your bid.