GENESIS Nursery Cryme - Charisma Pink Scroll 1st VG++

	£		53
	$		70

GENESIS - NURSERY CRYME - PINK SCROLL CHARISMA ABSOLUTE FIRST PRESSING from Nov 1971, CAS 1052. Heavy thick cut of vinyl!

Side One matrix CAS 1052 A - 1U stamped, Hiltop written.

Side Two matrix CAS 1052 B - 2U stamped, JB written.

Ernest J. Day textured sleeve.

On offer here is the third album from Genesis, their second for Charisma, but their first with the fully formed classic line up of Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Hackett and Collins. This is the earliest pressing of this outstanding album and sounds absolutely phenomenal! It is a weighty first cut on the Charisma Pink Scroll label and sold next to nothing when it came out in the UK. Only in retrospect has it become a heavy seller, charting finally on the later 'mad hatter' design in 1974. As this is an album I love and treasure dearly, I will give it the most accurate description I can, including a play grading.

OUTER GATEFOLD: This solid Ernest J. Day textured sleeve has some creasing, nothing too severe, and some scuffing on both the top and bottom edges. The back cover is marginally better than the front, but none of this detracts from Paul Whitehead's stunning artwork for this LP. Overall in very good condition.

SPINE: Is remarkably good, with very, very minor scuffing and no fading!!! It is fully legible, and for those of you who know the colour scheme of this spine, fades in sunlight very easily. Not with this copy! A lovely spine. Excellent.

INNER GATEFOLD: Has some creasing corresponding with that of the outside. It shows some slight ringwear and pressings from where the internal solid flaps holding the sleeve together show through. Again though, none of this hinders the beauty of the artwork, earning it a Very Good grade.

INNER SLEEVE: Is the correct white inner sleeve that came with the LP. It shows some browning, but is all in one piece.

LABELS: These are the unridged absolute 1st pink scroll labels, lying totally flat. (Later pink scrolls have a ridge 0.5cm around the edge of the label). They have some spotting, show little spindlewear, but are deep in colour and look great. VG+++

VINYL VISUAL: This is a heavy, thick cut of vinyl. The other pink scroll of this that I own is thinner than the one for offer here. Although both technically first pressings, this is the ultimate in firsts! The vinyl has several very light hairlines, surface marks and tiny light scratches. Nothing at all to cause any concern though. Both sides are fairly similar, earning an overall grading of VG++/Ex--.

VINYL AUDIO: Anyone familiar with the absolute balls up that has been the most recent Genesis re-masters (loud all the way through!!) will absolutely treasure this 1st pressing. 'The Musical Box' is notoriously difficult to listen to with background noise, but here plays through with very little interference. Yes, there is some light crackle and the occasional pop, but every instrument maintains clarity, and when the loud bits kick in... Well, WOW! They are loud and sound superb. This is the same throughout most of Side One, with the loud bits sounding great, and there only being some light surface noise behind the quieter bits. VG+. Side Two plays generally just that bit better, with the only surface noise causing distraction at the beginning of 'Seven Stones'. The rest of side two plays really well, and the Mellotron on 'The Fountain Of Salmacis' just shakes the room. Pretty awe inspiring. Side Two grades as Excellent.

OVERALL SUMMARY: This is a fine example of a rare LP, and was purchased at the exact time of release. The sleeve grades  as VG and the vinyl as VG++. It is the earliest first pressing, and sounds superb. If anyone has any questions for me, then please feel free to e-mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.

THE BLURB BIT: Postage within the UK is £3.00. I accept bidders the world over, but not from any countries that other ebayers have had problems with. Postage, by Surface Mail abroad is set at £8.00, as is recorded delivery in the UK. The album will be solidly packaged and dispatched once Payment has been received. I have maintained a love of collecting records for 15 years now and feel that my judgements on conditions are HONEST and FAIR. I go by the UK RRPG standards and general eBay grading policy. If anyone disagrees with me on this then PLEASE CONTACT me before leaving feedback. There are no problems, only solutions.