NEIL YOUNG Tonight's the Night RARER ORIG UK 1975 EX LP + INNER & ELUSIVE INSERT

	£		78
	$		103

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Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all – in fact I think these things should be banned as records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS. Full details nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business. I will always keep my P&P prices as low as possible, and even after yet another Royal Mail price hike from April this year, I have NOT raised my prices and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably heavier than most you will get. My P&P offers probably the best value-for-money for vinyl records available, and I even will pay for full insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: NEIL YOUNG

Album Title: Tonight’s the Night

Producer(s): David Briggs, Neil Young, Tim Mulligan Elliot Mazer

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Tonight’s the Night; Speakin’ Out; World on a String; Borrowed Tune; Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown; Mellow My Mind.

Side 2: Roll Another Number; Albuquerque; New Mama; Lookout Joe; Tired Eyes; Tonight’s the Night.

Label/Format: Reprise – original tan format with no Warner logo. These have matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with any spindle traces very few, fine and faint with no wear around the hole area.

Catalogue Number: K 54040

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: 121 grams. Quite typical for the time.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity & Overview: Scarce as an original. These were different from later pressings. Firstly, the label has no Warner logo. The covers more robust with thick spines and with a more defined gentle textured feel to the surface. Also these include a graphic inner sleeve and a small insert sheet, both manufactured in England. Later ones especially fail to include the small folded insert.

Something else I consider very important regarding this album as well is how it plays. It is one I almost expect to play badly every time I buy a copy. For me, this has to be one of the consistently worst-pressed albums I have ever heard – either that, or I am unlucky – I think the former. Quite why this has to be the case I do not know, but I have found this a near impossibility to ever find even listenable. Generally, I find Reprise records to be of a high standard and give few issues, but ‘Tonight's the Night’ rarely, if ever will play anything like quiet or devoid of pressing issues, that is even from copies that appear hardly played – as per this. I have heard some that sound like they have been pressed on sandpaper with constant moderate crackle and surface noise, often with rasping cutting noises and distortion. Often the impurities can be seen within the vinyl without even having to look too hard – I am pretty certain many of these were pressed on recycled vinyl and had little chance from the very start. It has got to a stage now I will not buy this album unless I can hear it first as I have disposed of five copies I deem unfit to offer.

This copy visually is impressive with very fine cover, inner and the quite rare insert sheet. The record appears little used and looks impressively clean. It has three or four light pressing sounds, but not loud rasping ones – I deem these acceptable – any clicks are few and light, there is minimal and mostly no real surface noise from the pressing, which is one of the better one I have heard for some time. So, I am NOT saying it’s perfect, but any unwanted sounds are few and sporadic, and very infrequent. Not for the audiophile, who only wants ‘perfect’ at any cost, but finding this album ‘perfect’ goes beyond difficult – I have only ever had one that came fairly close, but still had minor issues, that some time ago. Buying this album ‘blind’ with no play-grade is a real lottery – I know this to be a fact – when just ever example I have heard has issues, that is no coincidence or bad luck – most will be the same. If absolute silence is demanded from this album, I could put a strong case for the CD version and own the original record for it’s beauty. But here, little spoils the experience from this VERY difficult album that simply was not pressed to the highest standards audiophile listeners demand. Rasping pressing noises or cutting issues when present are there to stay of course, no cleaning will ever remove them, the three or four present on this copy are lighter than most, but still audible. Over my time selling on Ebay, I have discarded no less than five copies of this album, not all first issues, but at least a couple were, simply for unacceptable surface noise, crackle or loud pressing rasps and distortion. Indeed this could (possibly) be as good a copy as you will find – I realise I am fussy (I am often told – and I agree – but I try to set high standards), but few would have accepted the copies I refused to auction, and nice at last to find one that I found enjoyable, if not entirely perfect. So any copy that offers fine packaging and a very listenable record with not too much unwanted, I certainly consider rare – especially including that small insert sheet, which now is becoming increasingly elusive. Remember, many seen appear the same, but not all are first issues, the differences are considerable.

Original Year of Release: 1975

Matrix Nos: K-54040-A2 / K-54040-B2

Run-Out Groove Etchings: ‘MS-2221 31884-RE-1 1C EXPORT HELLO WATERFACE A’ / ‘MS-2221 31885-1B EXPORT GOODBYE WATERFACE B’

Musicians: Neil Young – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, vibes; Ben Keith – pedal steel guitar, vocal, pedal steel guitar, slide guitar, vocal; Nils Lofgren – piano, vocal, guitar; Danny Whitten – vocal, electric guitar; Jack Nitzsche – electric piano, piano; Billy Talbot – bass guitar; Tim Drummond – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal; Kenny Buttrey – drums; George Whitsell – vocal.

Brief Info: An album delayed by Young and Reprise as they thought the public were not ready for such an onslaught of bleakness and intensity, especially after the ‘Time Fades Away’ live set. Instead it was issued a year after the classic On the Beach, again another downbeat album that did not sell well. Many thought Young was a spent force, after a disastrous tour and the resulting effects of two friends deaths from drugs, for which this album is dedicated. Within the two years, this record was stored away, his career did take an upturn from the tour with Crosby, Stills and Nash, then it was deemed a better time to unleash this remarkable album to his fans. It remains one of his most moving albums of his long career, harrowing, chilling and not really commercial. It did not sell well, and remains, along with the previous album, one of the key releases of the entire decade. The work of a troubled man, but now on the road to recovery from alcohol when issued. It includes one of my favourite Young tracks ever in the wonderful ‘Albuquerque’, where his voice is still in total control even through the torment he was suffering at the time. A cornerstone set from one of the greatest songwriters of all time and this copy does it reasonably fine justice. One that so often suffers major pressing problems with very unpleasant unwanted sounds. As stated above, I have discarded more of these than I have sold – others had unacceptable levels of distortion, crackle and really horrible, loud pressing noises that ruined the music. The brilliance of this album demands it be heard with better quality, and this one, for most, does deliver. I am NOT saying it’s perfect – it isn’t – but any pressing issues are few and much more subtle. At times, quite a sparse album and few places for blemishes to ‘hide’. Without any doubt, there were issues with the manufacture of this album and it was not just a trait of this Young album, others suffered too around this time. This first issue, at last allows me to offer only my third complete copy of this classic on Ebay. This includes both the inner and the elusive double-folded insert. Later covers differ, they were smooth with a sheen, originals were very matt with a gentle rough surface. I reiterate, this is not for audiophile purists, but one many fans will enjoy, those who can tolerate the odd blink-of-any-eye blemish or click. An indispensable classic, these are far rarer than many may think. One day a perfect copy may come along (well maybe), but until then, this should please many fans and collectors.

Cover Grade and Format: NEAR EXCELLENT: with most wear on the top edges, this overall looks better still. An unlaminated gatefold format with a very dull matt finish and gently textured surfaces. Made with fairly thick card and with the original wide spine. Printed and made in England by Shorewood. The illustrated inner sleeve and insert sheet are included.

Cover Front: A little rubbing seen the the top edge and corner tips, a fine crease near the right edge central. Any marks few and faint, still clean and fresh with no fading or sticker issues – a cover intolerant of both. The long-haired and bearded Young picture will seldom be seen much better on an original cover front.

Cover Back: Largely the same, better if anything, the lack of ring wear unusual, but most welcome.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Little to fault inside, faint toning traces if viewed right up close.

Top & Bottom Edges: All are straight, quite thick and flush. The top pair have moderate rubbing, the bottom pair have very little. No splits or repairs.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly sharp with little wear and both guaranteed untrimmed. Record enters on the back edge, the front is closed, any thickening gentle and light.

Spine and Text: The top has a rub and a very tiny puncture trace, that apart, very impressive, clearly this is a vulnerable area. Solid and wider – later ones much narrower – straight, uncompressed and folded square, so the edges meet up flush and parallel. All text is perfect and unworn as is most of the surface and folds. Very well centred also, the small rub mark near top the only blemish of note.

Corners: Light to moderate tip rubbing with very fine shape retained. No bashes, any dink evidence gentle and light.

Cover Summary: Dark, unprotected and fragile – overall, this has fared quite well with far more positives than negatives. Far harder to find than later smooth versions, this should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: again, looking better in real terms, but the bottom edge had a neat split which I repaired to stop it possibly widening in the future. Unlined and also printed in the UK, the other edges fully intact. Minimal light creasing, any handling traces or marks few, light and faint. Overall, a very fine and attractive example.

The ‘Hello Waterface’ Insert: EXCELLENT(++): Again UK printed and double folded. Clean with crisp edges and solid folds, also, which is not always the case, this is almost perfectly folded with the edges near flush and parallel. One corner has a gentle crinkle trace. This is elusive and most often missing, this one looks very impressive indeed – and is guaranteed original.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: a very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and quite solidly pressed. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence with any surface marks fine and light as seen critically under bright angled light, mostly hairline types few will avoid totally. Visually a super record that should please many 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 magnificent album plays up to it’s visual grading – and largely above, but with a small few sporadic one-off pressing sounds, which are considerably lighter, and fewer than I have encountered before. It offers strong, mostly clear, focused sound – audio quality is high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any actual contact or surface sounds are minimal indeed – the odd sporadic click again present, but so hard to avoid on this album as well, this has some very quiet passages and songs. No tracking issues*, but clearly not a ‘perfect’ pressing – I am yet to find one that has been. Overall this proved an enjoyable play-grade which I deemed fine enough to offer, I enjoyed this a lot, but I reiterate, it is not quite for the purist or audiophile who only wants perfection – you do get the odd polite reminder of what is being listened to – a vintage vinyl record. It could prove difficult to find much better and it deserves solid recommendation. Most of any blemishes are purely within the pressing itself, if I cannot offer this fine example, I doubt I would ever offer this album at all – and this is a complete, considerably rarer original.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams.

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 as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – 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 it’s 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 programs. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Tellurium 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, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 minuscule in over 14 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. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. 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 ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. 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] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 per extra LP.

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

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £2 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]) = £16.50 (£17.50 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’.