FREE (DEBUT) TONS OF SOBS UK ISLAND PiNk i AwEsOm AuDiO

	£		130
	$		172

FREE ''TONS OF SOBS'' (DEBUT ALBUM) ORIGINAL UK PRESSING! CAT NO ILPS-9089 AWESOME AUDIO! EARLY ISLAND PINK 'I' ROUGH TEXTURED LABELS!! ABSOLUTELY SUPERBE 1ST ISSUE E.DAY & CO GATEFOLD LOOK EARLY A2 B2 MATRIX ENDINGS! (NO) MOTHER STAMPERS (ONLY EARLIEST PRESS)

Here from my personal collection, this early original Early 2nd issue UK pressing with the pink i Island logo earliest rough textured labels! Featureing the original thick and chunky slab of vinyl! I have decided to list this album mainly for its collectability, these early originals are becoming extreemely difficult to find, especially playable copies in my opinion!  The audio qaulity is very clear and vibrant throughout with just minimal interfearance in the form of the odd light static ticks only , not consistant throughout the audio. In my opinion absolutely stunning heavy bassey feel throughout only found on these earliest pressings!  there are no loud clicks or pops and importantly no distortion, this is complete with the original 1st issue E.Day & co gatefold in excellent condition!

Tons of Sobs is the debut album by English blues-rock band Free, recorded in November 1968. While the album was a commercial failure, failing to chart in the UK and #197 in the America, Free are still cited as one of the definitive bands of the British blues boom of the late 1960s even though this is the only album of their canon that can strictly be called blues-rock. The title of the album does not relate directly to the content of the album; it is both a colloquialism of "lots of money", reflecting the swaggering attitude with which the album was made, and an oblique reference to the darker, more sombre moments of the record!!

Free were a new band when they recorded Tons of Sobs, and they were extremely young and precocious: none of them was yet twenty and the youngest, bassist Andy Fraser, was just sixteen years old. They had achieved a following through constant touring, and their debut album consisted for the most part of their live set-list. That said, eight out of the album's ten tracks are originals which was unusual compared to the debut albums of bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones!!.

With the band signed to Chris Blackwell's Island Records, Guy Stevens was hired to produce the album (he would later become notable for producing early albums for Mott the Hoople and The Clash's legendary album London Calling (1979). He opted for an extremely minimalist attitude to production, due to the extremely low budget of about £800, creating a very raw and raucous sound - although it must be admitted that the relative inexperience of the band may have also been a contributing factor to this. As such the album, while in production terms a marked contrast from the band's later albums, holds up well for fans of modern bands such as the White Stripes who eschew overproduction for artistic rather than financial reasons. The simple nature of the recording meant that many tracks translated well into a live setting and several songs from this album were still performed even when the band had written and recorded many more for subsequent records!

1. "Over the Green Hills (Part I)" (Rodgers) 0.49
2. "Worry" (Rodgers) 3.26
3. "Walk in My Shadow" (Rodgers) 3.29
4. "Wild Indian Woman" (Fraser/Rodgers) 3.39
5. "Goin' Down Slow" (Oden) 8.20
6. "I'm a Mover" (Fraser/Rogers) 2.56
7. "The Hunter" (Jones/Wells/Dunn/Jackson/Cropper) 4.13
8. "Moonshine" (Rodgers/Kossoff) 5.04
9. "Sweet Tooth" (Rodgers) 4.54
10. "Over the Green Hills (Part II)" (Rodgers) 1.58

Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968 and best known for their popular song "All Right Now". Lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become lead singer of the rock band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums. Lead guitarist Paul Kossoff, a much revered blues-rock guitarist, died from a drug-induced heart failure at the age of 25 in 1976!!.

The band was famed for its sensational live shows and nonstop touring. However, early studio albums did not sell very well - until the release of Fire and Water which featured the massive hit "All Right Now." This album brought them to full status as one of the top rock bands of the 1960-70's. The song helped secure them a place at the huge Isle of Wight Festival 1970 where they played to 600,000 people!

Most remarkable about the birth of Free was the young age of the band members who first came together to rehearse and play their first gig, that same evening, at the Nag's Head pub in Battersea, London, on 19 April 1968. Bass player Andy Fraser, was 15 years old, lead guitarist Paul Kossoff was 17, and both lead singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke were 18. By November of that year, having been given the name Free by Alexis Korner, they had recorded their first album Tons Of Sobs for Island Records and, although it was not released until the following year, the album documents their first six months together and contains studio renditions of much of their early live set.!.

The Matrix

Side 1 ''ILPS 9089 A2''

Side 2 ''ILPS 9089 B2''

The Vinyl

This is the original thick and chunky slab of vinyl only found like this on the earliest pressings! The vinyl has retained its original sheen from new and lies perfectly flat on the turntable!. Only in strong light can very fine surface marks\scratches\scuffs be seen on the playing surface. These have very minimal effect on the awesome top audio due to the fact that these originals have deeper grooves than later press with flimsier type of vinyls!

The Audio quality

I have played this vinyl track for track at very loud volume on a top system,  prior to listing. The first thing to note is that the audio is clear and vibrant throughout and importantly, this plays through without any distortion that I could hear what so ever and (no) loud clicks or pops. Please note Please allow for the odd light static ticks here and there,and the odd light static crackle but not horrible loud clicks or pops most of these are inobtrusive in my opinion and are mainly obliterated in the awesome audio, I noticed these ticks in the background only when played at very loud volume especially on the second track 'walk in my shadow' but nothing too bad as to spoil the overall awesome overall audio experience in my opinion! Very enjoyable and playable copy indeed! There are (no) loud clicks or pops and certainly (no) skips or jumps! Static background crackle is also minimal in my opinion and i only heard this in very few quiet places only!  These original early playable copies are becoming very difficult to find and are normally found played to death. It is my opinion that this vinyl has had only minimal play only and has not been overplayed! I would class myself as highly critical when it comes down to the audio quality. Please look at my completed listings of records that I have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right! I would grade the audio as excellent in my opinion!!  

Please note! I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd light static ticks\crackle (not) consistant throughout the audio. Please remember that this is a genuine 39 year old vinyl that would have been originally played on a 39 year old system! A very enjoyable and playable copy indeed!

The Labels

These are the original pink Island Textured 'I' logo labels The earliest 2nd issue (later press have smooth type labels) Minimal spidering can be seen angled to the light only ! (There is little if no spindleware the hole is perfectly round!

The Cover

This is the original 1st issue E.Day & Co unlaminated gatefold cover in superbe condition! Normally seen in a terrible state and these 39 year old covers are extreemely difficult to find in good condition! There is no splits or tares in fact amaizingly no real creases to talk of! There is just light general storageware\marks to talk of in the form of very light rubbing only! The spine is superbe nice and square  normally see flattened with age, all writing is readable! The iside is clean and tidy with just a small stain mark only noticable if looked for! This is super strong and straight! This must grade at least excellent in my opinion!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £36.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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