FRANK ZAPPA / MOI Stage Vol 2 Very Rare 3 LP Boxed Set.

	£		79
	$		104

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. The only thing I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. Variation can sometimes occur too in colour of the label scans and labels taken next to the sleeve with a digital camera, the scanned full label pictures should be the most accurate. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert. 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).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of their intended payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions. NOTE: I WILL NOT ACCEPT BIDS FROM UNREGISTERED USERS, I will cancel them immediately, and sorry, I cannot give valuations on people’s personal items just for their own curiosity, no item can be accurately valued blindly.

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: FRANK ZAPPA and The Mothers of Invention

Album Title: You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 2 (The Helsinki Concert).

Track Listing: Tush Tush Tush (A Token of My Extreme); Stinkfoot; Inca Roads; RDNZL; Village of the Sun; Don’t You Every Wash That Thing?; Pygmy Twylyte; Idiot Bastard Son; Cheepnis; Approximate; Dupree’s Paradise (Part I); Dupree’s Paradise (Part II); Satumaa (Finnish Tango); T’Mershi Duween; Dog/Meat; Montana (Whipping Floss); Big Swifty.

Label/Format: Barking Pumpkin Records (Typically fine Zappa artwork).

Label Condition: All 6 labels are pretty much close to new, some have embossed letter codes like the 60s UK tax codes found on Parlophone albums. All have zero to faint trace spindle marks. This set has been played probably twice only and will rarely show up looking much better. (Please see label scan for all information needed - all are pretty much the same).

Cat Number: D1 74217. This is a triple album box set that includes the insert.

Mono or Stereo: Stereo.

Country of Manufacture: US, not issued in the UK on vinyl.

Rarity: I consider this one to be one of Zappa’s rarest and most important albums ever. A very tough one to find especially in Europe, anywhere in fact other than the US, even here it shows up rarely. A very limited run of these at a time when the CD format was really starting to take over. Even the Hamlyn Price Guide does not list this one (it lists most of the US recordings that are unique to that country along with other important non-UK titles and variants).

Original Year of Release: 1988, but the actual concert was recorded in Finland on 22 September 1974.

Matrix Nos: Multiple matrix numbers on these run out grooves, most ending with 1. I can imagine this set was only pressed once anyway.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Zappa and his band’s made many live albums but the Helsinki Concert must rank as one of the very best. This is only one of the Stage albums to feature a whole concert (at the request of Matt Groening - the famous ‘Simpson’s’ creator). It memorialises a band of which Zappa was especially fond, usually referred to as the ‘Roxy’ band. It features Napoleon Murphy Brock on sax and vocals, George Duke on keyboards, the magnificent Ruth Underwood on percussion, tom Fowler on bass and Chester Thompson on drums. This triple set is simply brilliant, the band had been playing this material for around a year and were a very tight and high polished combo by this time - the audiences of this time loved them. Zappa once said, they were so accomplished by now they could play this set blindfold; they had a lot of skill but miserable touring equipment. Any Zappa fan liking the Roxy album and style will simply adore this rare boxed set, found and offered rarely, its a joy to offer one in fine condition, the box, like most around, is fragile, but apart from a few very minor rub traces this is as good as might ever see. The insert is near perfect and the records look and play superbly - if this live Zappa masterpiece is missing from your collection, and I bet in most cases it will be, dont even think about losing this one. Unlike the Stage vol 1 on vinyl, this is not a sampler or abridged - its all here and sounding superb.

Box Grade and Format: A very solid and robust box with a fully removable lid. This one for a change is fully intact and unsplit, yes even the edge seams and corners. Clean, virtually devoid of creasing and serious rubbing or marks. Just very light rub traces around the edge corner folds but little else. Top and bottom have deep colour and a freshness most boxed sets this age lack, both the tray and lid are fully, and strongly intact - no clever repair jobs needed or done here.

Box Edges: Almost unbelievably the edges are all close to perfect with little wear at all.

The Insert: Near Mint. Clean, uncreased or torn. Double sided (see the pictures please), one side is a video advert for Uncle Meat and 200 Motels. The other side is more important with an errata for first Stage album plus all the info required for this set.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: These three records look fantastic: Visually they appear EX+ to Near Mint - US records always seem to have some surface marks or press marks but nothing whatsoever sounds. All have a mirror-like shine with wide spaced grooves for ultimate sound quality - Frank was very discerning about sound and this set has incredible fidelity. The records come complete with their original soft see-thru inners.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: These six sides play with astonishing sound quality and as perfect as vinyl gets. Barely any surface sounds at all and no pops or ticks. All of the surface marks are superficial and totally non-sounding - this is as quiet as a CD version. Beautiful sound, great dialogue and stunning musicianship. No sound degrading whatsoever, all frequencies sharp and clear and 100 percent distortion free. Frank and his band were inspired here and what a pleasure to here on the vinyl format. We all know sound quality from live albums around this time could be variable, well let me say with total assurance, this concert sounds breathtaking, better still than the Live at the Roxy album issued at the correct time. Blistering solos, complex jazz rock and some more light-hearted banter - all typical FZ. This rare gem is simply too good to get missed again - its not just good - its ESSENTIAL!

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 - all 6 sides - not pieces, I simply could not let this classic set go unplayed.

Final Summary: I would guess a very limited run, this was the last of the Stage albums to get a vinyl release, a shame but CDs had taken over now. This full concert includes new material (of course) and is unique to this album. Without doubt one of Zappa’s finest ever bands, these three records do full justice to their fine memory - this rare boxed set is good enough for any FZ connoisseur collector - dont lose it, I am unlikely to find another one – Mike.

Having the Powerseller Logo: This is recognition from Ebay for the highest possible customer services, satisfaction and quality, it should reassure any potential bidder that all items are described, graded and shipped to the highest standards possible. Customer care of the highest order is a standard feature here and I am proud to have achieved this recognised standard of excellence from Ebay with help from collectors and buyers from all over the World - I thank you all.

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3.00; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £5.50 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £7.00

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 NOTprofit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more and I often actually lose money on this part of service - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. 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 worthwhile.

I can accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders OWN risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

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.