FREE, TONS OF SOBS, 1969 UK PINK ISLAND 3rd PRESS, EARLIEST A2/B2, V NICE COPY!

FREE, TONS OF SOBS, 1969 UK PINK ISLAND 3rd PRESS, EARLIEST A2/B2, V NICE COPY!

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Description

It's my pleasure to offer for sale a lovely copy of  Free's brilliant debut studio album titled "Tons Of Sobs", Catalogue Number ILP 9089. It's a 1969 UK stereo third pressing on the Pink Island Record label, with a first issue E. J. Day & Co. Ltd. matt finish gatefold sleeve. [The Pink Island record labels have a rough-textured finish. The record matrix numbers are the earliest stamped ILPS+9089+A2 and ILPS+9089+B2. Island changed their record label design three times in 1969. In effect this third pressing is identical to the Eye logo labelled first pressings other than the revised label design].

The sleeve is in VG+ condition with just lightish edgewear and a few tiny creases near the edges. The front and back covers are free of any unwanted marks or writing. The opening gatefold spread is pristine. The spine is solid with perfect text. Overall it's a very presentable example with no major defects. Please study the supersize photos carefully as they form an important part of the item description.

The solidly-pressed record is visually in VG+ condition (strictly graded) with only a few faint sleeve-removal / rub type surface marks evident under bright light. These are purely superficial and do not have any effect on the audio playback. The textured Pink Island labels are unmarked with only a modest number of faint spindle traces each side. There is minimal wear to the spindle hole. Both sides play excellently with barely any discernible deterioration in sound quality and minimal unwanted noise. Playback is very powerful and vibrant with lots of wonderful guitar effects. It's a very nice copy.

The record is housed in a Tonar anti-static sleeve and a plain white inner sleeve (which is not the original).

Overall this is a lovely copy of  Free's iconic debut studio album which is arguably one of the best blues rock albums of all time and an essential for any serious collectors of this music genre.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Pioneer PL-L1000 tangential tracking turntable fitted with a Nagaoka MP-300 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My grading is strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example with just a few very light surface marks and virtually no discernible deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing.

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

     All records can be expected to rotate sufficiently evenly on the turntable for there to be no effect whatsoever on the audio playback. Minor warps or dishing will not be mentioned as virtually all records display these features to some degree and no record is perfectly flat.

    Vinyl is not a perfect medium and even the finest quality pressings will play with a degree of residual surface sound, however minimal. Where, in my opinion, unwanted noise interferes with the listening enjoyment of the record, it will be mentioned in the item description. It is unrealistic to expect a 40+ year old record to play with a background of complete silence. Please bear this in mind when bidding.

PACKAGING         

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following cost:   

Europe - £8.50

Worldwide - £11.50