MR FOX The Gipsy & 1st. SCARCE UK Transatlantic N/M LPs

	£		30
	$		39

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Artist or Band: Mr Fox

Album Title: The Complete Mr Fox.

Producer(s): Bill Leader.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Join Us in Our Game; The Hanged Man; The Gay Goshawk; Rip Van Winkle; Mr Trill’s Song.

Side 2: Little Woman; Salisbury Plain; The Ballad of Neddy Dick; Leaving the Dales; Mr Fox.

Side 3: Mendle; The Gipsy.

Side 4: Aunt Lucy Broadwood; House Carpenter; Elvira Madigan; Dancing Song; All the Good Times.

Label/Format: Transatlantic – Coloured globe and white format.

Label Conditions: Both immaculate: ultra clean and highly attractive, as new. Struggling to find even a single spindle trace at all and actually wondering if this double set has even been played.

Cat Number: TRA 303.

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 Records: 135, 130 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]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Scarce. This is a 1975 reissue of the two original albums, the only two this fantastic folk-rock band ever made. Both originals are scarce and hard to find, this double set is slightly easier.

Original Year of Release: 1970 and 1971 – this reissue was issued in 1975.

Matrix Nos: TRA 303 A 1 M 1 1 / TRA 303 B 1 M 1 1 1 0 / TRA 303 C 1 M 1 2 7 / TRA 303 D 1 M 1 1 7

Run-Out Groove Etchings: ‘MASTER ROOM’ on side 3.

Musicians: (Mr Fox) – Bob Pegg - Vocals, organ, melodeon, tin whistle, terrapin; Carole Pegg - vocals, fiddle; Alun Eden - drums; Barry Lyons - electric bass; Andrew Massey - cello; John Myatt - flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon.

Musicians: (Gipsy) – Bob Pegg - vocals, organ, melodeon, tin whistle, acoustic guitar, piano, electric bass, bass drum; Carole Pegg - vocals, acoustic and electric fiddle, tom-tom; Alun Eden - vocals, percussion; Barry Lyons - vocals, electric bass, American dulcimer, sopranino recorder, tambourine. Chorus: Gridley Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra.

Brief Info: Brilliant and totally essential double set that brings together the only two albums this brilliant folk-rock band ever issued. This has a unique cover with the original front cover artwork on the back. The inside has a comprehensive history of the band. With both the originals highly elusive, and actually quite rare, this is a great opportunity to get both in one package – and both in lovely condition. What makes this set even more appealing is the fact The Gypsy album was originally issued in the gimmick cover which included a built-in plastic type inner sleeve with a foam padding. So why appealing then? – well this plastic inner practically always left a residue mark on the edge of the record and often severe. I have seen this title at least three or four times and every copy has residue that often encroaches well on to the music parts and makes them almost unlistenable. If the mark is present, you be assured it WILL sound. This poorly designed cover-inner always fell apart and ruined what was once a nice sleeve and the resulting flaw to the vinyl is well known. A small few other albums included this ill-fated and badly conceived type sleeve: Pentangle’s ‘Basket of Light’ (very briefly), ‘Coloseum Live’ and the Island sampler ‘El Pea’ – practically all the record suffered the same fate. Copies of The Gipsy do exist with a ‘normal’ standard type cover but are ultra rare and very difficult to find. This double set has a standard double entrance cover so the problem of course does not occur. The first album is more traditional type folk and is a fine album. The second is sublime, and one of the greatest folk-rock albums I have heard. The opening song – yes the one that gets ruined so often via the original cover – is an absolute tour de force and owes more the sound of the early Velvet Underground than folk-rock. ‘Mendle’ is simply breathtaking and worth any price alone. Starting with fuzz electric organ and eerie female vocal this builds into a maze of electric strings and feedback type distortion with the organ getting more intense as the song progresses. A track somewhat out-of-character and absolutely brilliant – ‘Mendle’ would not have been out-of-place on the Velvet’s debut album classic. With justice, Mr Fox should have been superstars within the folk circuit but just the two albums were ever made which would not have sold in great quantities. This double set is in fantastic condition with of course no reaction marks or residues on the record’s edges and both play beautifully. A wonderful opportunity to hear all this band’s output in one package – do not dismiss this set as just a ‘reissue’, it’s still a scarce album and for those yet to discover them – a great treat is in store. ‘Mendle’ stands out as one of greatest electric-folk tracks I have ever heard and on such an album is very unusual.

Cover’s Potential for Wear: Moderate, but double sets always fair less well.

Cover Grade and Format: Probably undergraded at EX++ and little short of Mint(-). A gatefold format with laminate on front and back. Printed and made in England by Howards.

Cover Laminate – Front & Back: This cover is in fantastic condition, by some distance the freshest and cleanest example I have ever seen. Most suffer edge grubbiness and dulling. So fresh and clean, it could almost pass for new. Both sides, the laminate retains immense shine and clarity with barely any traces of friction rubs or dulling. The front has a mildish half moon surface crease and a small few fine types on the edges. Minus the half moon, I would have had no hesitation in grading Mint(-). This has no grubbiness or darkening of the artwork and few others will even get close to this.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Superb again with just a couple of tiny tone spots. Quite how this has avoided set-off on the white left side I don’t know. Again this vintage cover is in tremendous condition.

Top & Bottom Edges:All four thick and uncrushed or worn.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Both undarkened or grubbied (and that is unusual). Sharp with barely any wear and no feathering. Records entered on these right outside edges.

Spine and Text: Very solid and thick, straight, uncompressed and square, both right edges meet up perfectly together and parallel. All text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate.

Corners: One very faint semi-crease – that apart, all superb and retaining near immaculate shape with no rubbing or scuffs.

Cover Summary: A very strong all round example of this scarce mid-70’s cover, one that will definitely prove very difficult to find much better. This attractive item should please most-all collectors.

The Inners: This set included two unlined black inner sleeves and both here are in superb condition and grade EX++ to Mint(-). Just one edge has slightly weakened and almost split on the very centre. All others intact and solid. Both windows are sharp and unburred or torn. Minimal creasing and super-fresh again, always a good indication the records have barely made the trip out.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX++ / Mint(-), A fantastic visual pair that are super clean, shiny, jet black and very solidly pressed - indeed the heaviest pressing of this set I have yet had. The second song on side one has a small mark with a few very light ticks – the only small blemish on the entire double set. Record two, The Gipsy has the most amazing groove patterns in places, the type you see on the most complex classical albums. Zig-zag patterns that indicate the most intense sound and fidelity, some right at the very end of the record. This has immense power, volume and high quality sound that will test out any system. Fiddle and whistles battle each other and just tracking this record is a challenge. Both records look barely even played and that is essential on this set. Any abuse or overplaying on less than sympathetic equipment could write-off a record like this and even with the utmost critical listening I could hear nothing unwanted bar the brief faint clicks as mentioned previously. This too on a highly critical on a revealing system. What a delight to hear ‘The Gipsy’ with no residue marks, this will almost be unique to this double set. Both records track perfectly with no problems and just watch the stylus sway tracking those complex grooves. Practically nothing spoilt my pleasure hearing this amazing pair via vinyl. The CD version I had which includes both albums on one disc, omits ‘Mendle’ for reasons of length I guess. I have no words to describe the fooliness of leaving off the very best song the band ever made. The sheer power and details on these records is unbeatable anyway. Visually super records that should please most-all collectors again.

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: Both records play up too their beautiful visual grading with almost nothing to fault. Strong, totally distortion-free sound with all frequencies being sharp and clear – and on these critical records, that is particularly noteworthy. Sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. A hugely impressive production that is loud and powerful with dynamic percussion and intense stringwork. Devoid of surface sounds with just the faint and brief ticks from the small mark as mentioned a couple of times already. Exceptional clean pressings for a fairly difficult set. Few copies will outperform this original re-pressing significantly I feel sure. I feel certain both records have been played very lightly – if indeed at all, and have been clearly well stored and carefully handled. Nothing really spoilt my pleasure when play-grading these lovely records – a set that just has to be heard. I emphasise again the brilliance of the track ‘Mendle’, a track no prog-rock fan could fail to like and the rest of The Gipsy has a distinct folk-prog-rock atmosphere. Both vocalists are superb and this band should have gone on to ever greater things, but alas this was not to be. This set will prove very difficult to find significantly better and it’s not even easy to find at all. Very strong recommendation is mandatory.

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 Samba Moving Coil 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.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets out ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is no bad thing. Also: any item with a value over £40 will have to be insured as well, but for any item that sells for over £150, I will pay the extra insurance (then the lower shipping price applies).

I now offer the fastest possible posting, mostly the very next day after payment is received or within three days maximum (unless on holiday). All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with 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 TWO VERY THICK stiffners for even extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will be Double Boxed. The 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. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. 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. 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 offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 4,000+ items sold in over 8 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. I discount of course of multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per packet. I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included in the advert.

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. (Only for items under £40)

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (Compulsory for items over £40).

Posting & Packing: ALL EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA including RUSSIA and nearby countries. (Airmail Only):

1 LP, value less than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £8.

1 LP, value greater than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, [£500 Maximum]) = £11.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (any part); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP, value less than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £12.

1 LP, value greater than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500 Maximum) = £15.

For items that sell over £150, I will pay the insurance, so the lower shipping price will apply.

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 minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

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’.