KRAFTWERK Very Rare UK 72 Orig Vertigo Spiral EX++ LPs

	£		251
	$		333

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Album Title: Kraftwerk.

Producer(s): Conny Plank; Ralf Hütter; Florian Schneider.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Ruckzuck; Stratovarius.

Side 2: Megaherz; Vim Himmel Hoch.

Side 3: Klingklang; Atem.

Side 4: Strom; Spule; Wellenlange; Harmonika.

Label/Format: Vertigo – original UK full Spiral format. (Please see my label scans, the matching other pair are of equally stunning quality).

Label Conditions: Both immaculate: ultra clean, fresh and attractive with spindle marks ranging from light+ (record one) to very light (record two). Both full size side one labels show no blemishes to the famous swirl design from rim to hole, the minor spindle traces apart. Same goes for other sides with incredible whiteness retained and no grubbiness. This is a supreme example of this very rare Spiral album.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Cat Number: 6641077.

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 these Record: 124 / 118 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Rarity: Rare on the original UK Spiral label, this was one of the last issued on this most famous of progressive labels and like so many, it almost went unnoticed and sold poorly. This initial and very small run on Swirl included a laminated cover, the spaceship repressings, which are fairly scarce, but far more abundant than this original, had the same cover but matt finished, although a tiny few included the laminated cover to use them up (I know this to be fact, because I have a spaceship copy in stock with the same cover as this, but they are rare, the original owner buying it from new). This album does not show up at all often on Spiral and is fast becoming one of the harder ones to locate. Outside Germany, this pioneering and highly influential band were little known at this time and this immensely scarce double Vertigo set has always been elusive.

Original Year of Release: 1970 in Germany but this was not issued in the UK until late in 1972, initially on the Spiral label in tiny numbers, then subsequently repressed on the more familiar spaceship label, mostly with a matt cover.

Matrix Nos: 6499268 1Y // 1 420 1 1 3 / 6499268 2Y // 1 420 1 1 1 / 6499268 1Y // 1 420 1 1 3 / 6499268 2Y // 1 420 1 1 1

So What is Krautrock and its Rarity?: ‘Krautrock’ was an affectionate term given to a new wave of young German bands in the late 1960s and early 70s. Before the emergence of these pioneering experimental rock and electronic artists, the German music scene was a real mess of sugary pop music. Out of this fog of a musical mire, a very new sound emerged as radical and as daring as anything ever heard. Whereas in the UK, rock music was very much blues or psych-based, but these young long-haired, pioneering German musicians played music that was very different. They opened new musical horizons and boundaries into the use of sound as entertainment. Several were classically trained musicians (Can) – some could barely play an instrument at all (Kluster). Far too weird and experimental for most, many were into avant garde territory, but this German underground scene was admired by many and loved by a small number of record buyers of the time. The sounds they created were often challenging and difficult, but unique and were highly influential for the development of music. Some used conventional instruments, some delved into electronics and some used unconventional devices to form sound (Faust). A few became successful even outside Germany with the odd hit single or two (Kraftwerk and Can), but some did not compromise and never sort commercial success (Faust, Neu). Although there were others, the best-known of the early experimental Krautrock bands were: Kraftwerk, Can, Faust, Amon Duul I and II, Neu, Popul Vuh, Guru Guru, Kluster and Tangerine Dream. All are worth checking out – they made some of the most groundbreaking music in rock and their importance is beyond any dispute. In terms of rarity, these early albums are never easy to find especially in top conditions, they sold in relatively small numbers and are seldom seen or offered, especially in high grading conditions.

Musicians: Ralf Hütter – organ, tubon; Florian Schneider – flute, violin, electric percussion; Andreas Hohmann – drums; Klaus Dinger – drums.

Brief Info: One of the most groundbreaking double albums ever issued within the underground rock scene and what a pleasure to at be able to offer the very rare UK Vertigo Spiral original. These two records were initially issued in their native Germany as single albums, these being their first and second proper releases. Not issued until late 1972 in the UK as a double combined album as probably deemed too uncommercial. It very briefly appeared on the very ‘progressive’ Vertigo Spiral label as a double album set with a different cover and then repressed on the spaceship format. Initial Swirl copies included a laminated cover as did a handful of the spaceships. Without doubt, Kraftwerk are one of the most pioneering bands in this history of ‘progressive’ music. After making one album with The Organisation, Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider formed Kraftwerk and their early music was little short of remarkable. Very experimental, compelling with the emphasis on supreme sound and orginality, no-one else really sounded quite like them. Largely ignored until the surprise success of their ‘Autobahn’ album, their early works sold in small numbers. Purchased by the curious and musically more adventurous, these pioneering works are still very elusive and seldom found. With few tracks, these early longer works still sound as fresh and daring as they did when first issued. This is connoisseur quality Krautrock before their sound developed and commercialised into more ‘techno’ music that become very popular. Their influence was vast and their music development and sound is still highly respected today – David Bowie is a big name admirer and his ‘Berlin’ trilogy albums of the 1970s was based around the ‘Krautrock’ sound. For the connoisseurs, it’s their early pioneering works that are the most appreciated. Many will know the tracks ‘Ruckzuck’ and ‘Klingklang’ but for me the best here is the very intense ‘Vom Himmel Hoch’. This sounds like an electronic air-raid with eerie bombers buzzing across the speakers and then delivering their cargo with massive explosions that rock the foundations. I can strongly recommend the DVD ‘History of Kraftwerk’ that shows a video of this song to maximum effect. This DVD covers all the early pioneering Krautrock bands from their very beginning and how they developed the modern sound of electronic music - it’s truly essential. For fans of this captivating style of music, few compare to ‘Kraftwerk’, this rare German original goes beyond essential – and not just to the Vertigo collector. Conditionwise, this is a beauty and it looks hardly played with two near immaculate records and the cover little distance behind. Both original swirl inners are included and guaranteed original – they are mirror-image the same and include identical number and date codes as can be seen in close up. For those putting together a Vertigo collection, this will prove immensely difficult to ever find better.

Cover Grade and Format: EX++ and that hardly does this one full justice. This is original and much rarer UK original that has a laminated front and back, the inside is matt finished. All the closed edges are laminate protected but only the top edges sees the laminate go inside the gatefold. This was printed and made in England and has totally different artwork to the German single album versions.

Lamination – Front & Back: Rarely seen laminated or on this label of course, practically all spaceship repressings (although still early), are matt finished and highly wear-prone. The laminate on this copy is very fresh, clear and shiny with any friction rubs or dulling only light, any present visible under angled light. Adhesion is very high indeed with just one small blister on the front (top left corner) and an even small one on the back on the same corner, all corners are undinked. Creasing isi a major factor on such a dark cover, so glad to state the back has avoided any at all and the front has just one small half moon and a tiny few on the edges as hairlines, most on spine, just four. Even under light, the surfaces have avoided marks, impressions or scuffing, just the mild friction rubs lightly around the shape mostly on the back. Two exceptional and attractive looking faces made all the nicer by the freshness of the laminate of which there were few even made.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Both faces practically as new, any blemishes are minuscule.

Top Edges: Unworn, exactly as made and even these retain super shine.

Bottom Edges: As above.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, both very sharp with no wear, feathering or trimming. Records entered on each edge, both are open.

Spine and Text: Practically as made: very solid, straight, just one tiny compression trace only. Folded slightly off-square with a 3 millimetre drop on the right edges, e.g. the front being slightly lower than the back at the extreme right. This clearly a minor manufacture blemish, but this is how it was made and nothing I can do about that of course. All text is unworn under the perfectly solid and unpeeled laminate that has not cracked.

Corners: All corners in very neat condition with minimal traces of any wear. As the right corners do not align perfectly, this is good news and few like this remain undamaged.

Cover Summary: A fantastic all round example of this very rare original format Spiral cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. With so little traces of any wear, it will prove incredibly hard to find better and it should please most collectors. If the minor folding issue is a concern, and it is pretty minor, do not bid.

The Swirl Inners: Both in superb EX++ condition, only the glue browning on the edges stops a Mint(-) grading for these. This is not wear of course, most consider it natural ageing and few escape it to some degree. These are the originals that came with this set and they are mirror-image the same as can be seen by the close-up picture of the codes and detail data. Both have their linings fully intact with very neat and undamaged windows. No edge splits or tears and any creasing light and faint. Like the rest of this set, both will prove hard to find much better and being unswapped, original and a mirror-image matching pair makes them even more desirable of course.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: All four sides EX++ and as close to Mint(-) as they will ever be seen on this label, finding any noteworthy marks or blemishes on these is proving hard. I am still reluctant to grade any played record as mint even if visual gradings (arguably) merit it. An amazing visual pair that are super clean, shiny, intense black and solidly pressed. Visually I can never imagine a better example of these elusive and prized Swirl originals.

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 snippetts 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 miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: These records mostly play up to their high visual grading with very little to fault at all. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. A genuine high fidelity recording that will make any system excel. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed, but such is the quietness of the some passages, the odd minor crackle trace or sporadic click is impossible to avoid. Overall both are exceptional clean pressings for a very difficult album. For utmost enjoyment of this complex double set, pressing quality has to be up to classical standard and for most-all, it is. This album has some lengthy quiet segments, some almost silent at times, the odd minor unwanted sound is near unavoidable from the vinyl format – it will take something extraordinary just to match let alone better this. Given the year of issue, around the oil crisis time where many record pressing quality suffered, this has not been affected and little, indeed if anything really spoiled my pleasure play-grading this groundbreaking set. This is the definitive genuine article and the earliest out of the factory within the United Kingdom. This without any doubt, has hardly been played and clearly well stored and carefully handled. A pioneering classic of the German underground scene, it’s importance in the history of ‘progressive’ and electronic music cannot be overstated. Play this at volume with confidence and hear the full impact of this audio delight. This is not commercial Kraftwerk, this is experimental underground music from two masters of the art. They set standards in sound technology and audio quality that still astonishing today. This very rare debut album on the famous Swirl label will prove incredibly difficult to find better and can be strongly recommended to all. Pre-Autobahn experimental Kraftwerk at their absolute 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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon 2M moving magnet cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET - PLEASE SEE MY TYPICAL PACKING BOX PICTURE.

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 heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth 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 thick boxes (NOT Mailers or Cruciforms, these do not offer maximum protection). The record(s) 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 THREE or EVEN FOUR 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. 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. Please see my picture of a typical finished box packet that will now be used on ALL transactions as from now. 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. These boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffners 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 6,000+ items sold in over 8 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 stiffners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

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.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (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 [£40 maximum]) = £9. (insurance optional extra £3). Add £2.50 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); 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 [£39 maximum]) = £13. Add £4 per extra LP. (insurance 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: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. 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 neccessarily 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’.