JOHN MAYALL BLUES BREAKERS WITH ERIC CLAPTON SUPERB 1966 UK DECCA MONO 1st PRESS

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Description

The records I offer for sale are from my extensive personal collection of 1960s and 1970s albums which I have built up over the last four decades. During that time I have added duplicate copies of some of my favourite albums to my collection. I've always sought out the very best copies available as I am very particular about the records that I own. Storage space limitations dictate that the time has come for me to pass on a few of these choice albums in order to downsize my collection.

On offer here is a superb copy of John Mayall's classic blues studio album titled "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton", Catalogue Number LK 4804. It's a 1966 UK mono first pressing on the Unboxed Decca Record Label, with a first issue MacNeill Press, London, front-laminated flipback sleeve. It comes complete with the correct Decca poly-lined inner sleeve. [The Unboxed Decca record labels are  grooved confirming this to be a first pressing manufactured prior to 1968. The matrix numbers are the the earliest ARL-7297-1A and ARL-7298-1A].

The sleeve is in EX condition with just very light signs of wear and a few minor creases near the edges. The laminated front cover is unmarked. The unlaminated back cover is clean and bright with only minimal age discoloration. The rear flipbacks are in great shape. The spine is solid with all text clear. It's a beautiful example of this iconic sleeve. Please study the supersize photos carefully as they form an important part of the item description.

The solidly-pressed record is in EX condition. It retains a deep mirror-like shine and rotates evenly on the turntable. Visually there are just a few faint sleeve-removal type surface marks evident under bright light. These are only superficial and do not have any impact whatsoever on the audio playback. The red Unboxed Decca labels are unmarked with only a few short spindle traces near the centres. There is virtually no wear to the spindle hole. Both sides play excellently throughout with no discernible deterioration in sound quality and barely any unwanted noise at all. The mono sound quality is particularly powerful and vibrant with lots of wonderful guitar effects. It is without doubt the best copy that I have ever owned. Audiowise it's a near flawless copy which will be almost impossible to improve upon.

The Decca inner sleeve is in excellent condition with no splits or tears.

Overall this is a superb and complete first pressing of arguably John Mayall's finest album which will make a fine addition to any record collection.

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 - £10.50

Worldwide - £14.50