PINK FLOYD A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS LP SCX 6258 YAX 3633-1 - 0 YAX 3634-1 - P

	£		216
	$		286

PINK FLOYD A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS UK BLUE COLUMBIA LP 1968 1ST PRESS SCX 6258 MATRIX NUMBERS : YAX 3633-1 - 0    YAX 3634-1 - P

BLUE & BLACK LABELS WITH SILVER LETTERING. 'COLUMBIA' LOGO AT 12 O'CLOCK.

This is my copy of  THE PINK FLOYD’S A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS released on 29 June 1968.

On the day of release I was in Hyde Park attending the first free concert promoted by Blackhill Enterprises. The line up was Jethro Tull (first major appearance) Roy Harper, Tyrannosaurus Rex and the headline act; Pink Floyd with new member David Gilmore. It was an incredible day, sunny and warm with only about 5,000 people there – virtually the whole of the London Underground/Counter Culture. If ever a day defined the phrase, “Good Vibes” this was it. The concert had the blessing of the parks department and Plod weren’t the slightest bit interested, it was just a group of extended families having a picnic while some friends and relatives played. I can’t remember much about Tull’s set, I’d never heard them before and was stunned by their appearance – Ian Anderson on one leg and Mick Abraham’s rendition of “Cat Squirrel.” Roy Harper was up next, I know he played “I Hate the White Man” and think he played “McGoohan’s Blues” but that may be memory playing tricks. He really blew our collective consciousnesses and also compeered the show. Then it was Tyrannosaurus Rex in acoustic mode which leant a lovely pastoral feel to the proceedings. Finally it was the Floyd. As John Peel later said on his radio show, “They played like Gods!” It was the first time most of us had heard material from the new album. I can’t remember it with certainty but I’m pretty sure their set was Let There Be More Light, Interstellar Overdrive, Saucerful Of Secrets and Set The Controls For The Heart Of the Sun, on which Roy Harper joined in on tympani. It was definitely a major spiritual experience, the crowds in almost total silence letting the music take them somewhere else entirely as we sat in a point of stillness isolated from the throb of the city all around and the echoes harmonising as they bounced off the surface of the Serpentine.

The next week I rushed out and bought the album from the legendary One Stop Records in Dean street; I may have been served by a young Danny baker or even a then unknown Reg Dwight!

And now, sadly, I’m selling it if you haven’t heard it on vinyl or don’t own a copy this could be for you as it certainly doesn’t sound forty-five years old. It has the first issue blue black with silver lettering Columbia labels, the gramophone company rim text and matrices YAX 3633-1 YAX 3634-1 with  the O and P marks at approximately 3 o’clock.  There are some hairline marks on both sides but nothing ugly or deep to affect the sound quality and the disc retains its deep, black vinyl sheen.

The record itself is clean and glossy and plays well apart from some of the usual vinyl hiss and crackle between tracks that unfortunately is noticeable in some of the quietest passages but vanish after a few seconds and don’t detract from the overall sound, which is still amazing. HOWEVER there are two sudden ‘pops’ in the title track, just before the start of the final organ passage. I can’t see any scratch at this point but as they come at the end of the noisy section, and before the beautiful end passage, they don’t really intrude on the enjoyment of the album. It’s possible that deep cleaning could improve or eliminate them.

The record lays flat on the turntable and plays well without the needle sticking or jumping. The labels show some minimal signs of use, have no writing and there are no visible spindle scratches.

It has the front laminated flipback sleeve with the legend, “File under POPULAR : Pop Groups,” and the “6807 Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. Etc” information . The sleeve is still bright and glossy in very good condition with no tears or splits but there is a slight creasing where the top edge of the record sits. There isn’t any writing, taping or stickers; there’s only minimal edge wear and the spine is firm and totally legible. The original EMI advertising inner sleeve is still in good condition and features promotional photos of 32 other EMI albums. I will also include the original plastic outer that I bought with it which still fits tightly and has successfully kept the dust off for all these years.

Even if you don’t have a record deck and can’t play it, this album is a lovely piece of genuine memorabilia from a bygone time that changed the world and would grace any collection. I’m not a dealer of any sort, but am just downsizing and having to clear things out. I’m starting it at a low price so a genuine fan or collector can enjoy it without paying rip off prices. Good luck with your bidding and feel free to ask any question.

Postage :  Sorry but I accept Paypal only and it will be posted as soon as payment has cleared. I use Royal Mail secure posting boxes for LPs and protect them with packing. The boxes cost £3.70, which may seem steep, but the records stand a far better chance of surviving the journey unscathed. Consequently, I have to pass this cost on as the ‘packing’ element of ‘P&P’. Postage is for Parcelforce UK standard track and trace ‘two day delivery’ In the unlikely event of this selling for more than £50 the postage will be a bit more to cover the cost of insurance - please wait for the invoice.  If you require some other form of postage/delivery or worldwide, I’m more than happy providing you meet the extra costs.