KING CRIMSON Lark's Tongues… ORIG UK 73 Island EX++ LP

	£		140
	$		186

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.25. Europe £12. Rest of World £16. ALL signed for. – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P as low as possible after the very significant Royal Mail price increases.

Artist or Band: KING CRIMSON

Album Title: Larks’ Tongues in Aspic.

Producer(s): King Crimson.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part One; Book of Saturday; Exiles.

Side 2: Easy Money; The Talking Drum; Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Part Two.

Label/Format: Island – original pink rim format (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with a lovely intense colour. Any of the small few spindle marks are very light and faint. This superb example has clearly been played little and with utmost care on a quality system.

Cat Number: ILPS 9230.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 139 grams. Above average for this one.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Moderately scarce: the big issue here is the pressing quality for one of prog-rock’s most difficult and complex albums. I rarely offer this album simply because so many I have heard are too noisy and the vinyl quality not up to the job, either by over or careless usage or manufacture issues. As much as I love the Island label, pressing standards were not always as good as they could have been. This album along with almost the entire King Crimson catalogue are a complete lottery for sound. Any ‘vinyl reader’ only has to look at this record to know exactly what to expect – a mass of dark and light rings, some ultra fine and compact and some wide with the loudest passages you can imagine. A maze of intense sound at the highest and lowest volumes and complexity – this record has more complex rings than Saturn. One that looks more like a hi-fi test record rather than a regular rock album. For those who listen to classical music on vinyl will know exactly what I mean. This copy plays superbly and way over average. I detected just one click on a record that goes way beyond ‘difficult’. A rollercoaster ride in sound extremes: ultra quiet areas of almost silence with sparse sound, including the ultra fragile opening grooves, then a wall of powerhouse, full-on intensity – those full-throttle riffs on the first title song are simply stunning and will rock the building’s foundations. So, at last one worthy of offering and this really can be enjoyed. Total silence is near impossible, I could never state that especially being played on a very revealing system, but few will match or better this. The fact-of-the-matter is, I have seen other copies that look this clean and little used, but with considerable surface noise and pressing issues – it is a pure lottery and only a stringent play-grade will reveal all what is great about this legendary recording as well as the bad. There is little ‘bad’ here. Never underestimate how difficult this incredible album is to find anything like enjoyable on vinyl. Lastly – this copy includes the scarce original lyric inner sleeve – most seem to lack this know and was not included with all. Even harder to find intact as here, just a little mild toning and light ageing, little else. Just nice to see one again after some time.

Original Year of Release: 1973

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9230 A-2U / ILPS 9230 B-2U

Mothers / Stampers: 1 GA / 1 L

Run-Out Groove Etchings: ‘SARK’ [on side one]

Musicians: Robert Fripp – guitars, Mellotron, devices; John Wetton – bass, lead vocals; Bill Bruford – drums; David Cross – violin, viola, Mellotron; Jamie Muir – percussion, allsorts.

Brief Info: Studio album number five for this most cherished of progressive bands of the 1970s. This up there with the very best and including a one-off appearance of percussionist Jamie Muir. The band again has a different sound and this is one of their most difficult albums ever. With reference to my ‘Rarity’ paragraph above, this is a massively difficult album for vinyl with some of the most complex groove patterning you will ever see on a rock album. It looks more like a classical record with countless rings of varying shades of black denoting the extremes on sound levels. Ranging from near silence to jagged wide areas for the most ferocious power-riffs. This copy does it near full justice with little unwanted. One of the cleanest pressings I have had for ages and easily acceptable for this sensitive listener. Buying any copy of this album without a play-grade is a huge risk and most-all with disappoint as I have discovered on several occasions.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: High: like the record, this cover is often seen in poor condition. The lack of protection means it often ages badly with grubbiness and severe discolouration.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT: a single unlaminated format with smooth matt surfaces. Printed and made in England. This one has the deeply pinched spine ends as seen on my close-up picture. Also the elusive and quite scarce lyric inner sleeve is included. Most copies seen did not include it and this seems a fairly limited part of this set.

Cover Front: A really nice looking front and example. Any hints of ageing are very faint indeed with just a small few very light and quite faint tone spots but barely any other marks at all and the lack of grubbiness is a real bonus. A very mild vertical thumb crease on the right edge shows little as do any other edge hairlines. This front cover, now fast approaching 40, will never prove easy to find much better.

Cover Back: The back is practically the same in all respects. The ‘flats’ on the spine ends are totally correct as manufactured and this detail always adds class to any cover.

Top Edge: A very small and faint central rub, but little else and this is still very straight.

Bottom Edge: The left corner area has a rubbed with a mere trace on the right. This apart, practically unworn and again straight.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with barely any wear, barely any thickening or burring, any traces are seen critically viewed end-on. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with just a very mild central trace of compression. The ends are deeply pinched in manufacture and retain very fine shape with barely any hint of rubbing. All text is fully present and unworn. The pinched end details can be seen on my close-up pictures, these are seldom seen still so straight and devoid of wear.

Corners: Light tip rubs with one or two small, light tip creases on the right, but all retain very fine to excellent shape. Clearly the spine ends are delicate but these look very neat indeed.

Cover Summary: A very strong all-round example of this very fragile 70’s cover, one that will prove difficult to find much better. With only light and few clues to it’s age and delicate format, this still attractive item should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: this being the scarce lyric inner sleeve that only came with early examples, this has the blue ‘PATENT NO 1.125.555’ and ‘MADE IN ENGLAND’ overprint. An inner printed only on one side and unlined. Seldom seen unsplit and this does not age well. This one has a few tone spots and mild darkening of the flipback constructed seams but remains unsplit and uncreased with NO repairs. Personally, I like a little mild ageing, it simply adds that bit extra authenticity to an item fast approaching 40 and I have no issues with that. Really nice to see it included as most don’t, and finding one better will prove very difficult indeed.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): a superb visual copy that is very clean with fine shine, intense black and very solidly pressed. A copy with very light usage on all the evidence with any surface marks tiny, few, ultra light and faint as seen with scrutiny under bright angled light. With such complex and some super-fine groove width, this is a record that will mark very easily and can be totally destroyed by being played with any heavy-tracking thick stylus of which it is highly intolerant. No such worries here, I doubt if this record has seen light-of-day for decades. Visually a super record that should please most-all collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This almost impossibly demanding record plays up to and most-all beyond it’s high visual grading with very little to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are ultra gentle and very infrequent on any ultra quiet area where vinyl silence is nigh-on impossible. Vinyl records are a ‘contact’ format, and passages of near zero sound or instrumentation are the utmost test. But apart from a one revolution click on side one, I detected no others worthy of special note. This is a top quality pressing that has not been mistreated or ruined by unworthy equipment or heavy handling. The sonic delivery of the intricate sound is sublime with all the details of the mastertape. Crank up the volume on that thunderous riff on the title song on side one – it follows one of the most gentle and quietest of intros – and when the back kick in hard, this can almost take the breath away. All the instruments are sharp and fully focused and the lack of irritating crackle makes this an exceptional example thqt can be played and enjoyed. Few copies will match or outperform this early pressing significantly I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and certainly carefully handled. The one click apart (and how critical is that being?), nothing else affected my sound pleasure on this masterful prog classic. Any minor blemish is worthy because I am yet to hear any other format that will better the vinyl experience of this album. I still await the 40th anniversary remaster and until then, this is the only way to sample Larks Tongues. This copy will prove very difficult to find significantly better and merits my strongest recommendation – this is progressive rock near it’s very best.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. 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, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - 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 collector – 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 and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. 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, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 8,000+ items sold in over 10 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please as me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.25

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16 (£17 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.