PINK FLOYD / BAKERLOO / QUATERMASS - Picnic on Harvest

	£		34
	$		45

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Please see my Detailed Packing Description Further Down & All Shipping Costs and Options – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment.

Artist or Band: VARIOUS ARTISTS on HARVEST

Album Title: Picnic (A Breath of Fresh Air)

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: 1. Into the Fire (Deep Purple); 2. Mother Dear (Barclay James Harvest); 3. Embryo (Pink Floyd); 4. Twisted Track (The Battered Ornaments); 5. Glenlogie (Shirley & Dolly Collins).

Side 2: 6. The Good Mr Square (The Pretty Things); 7. Song of the Ages (Roy Harper); 8. The Worried Feeling (Bakerloo); 9. Eleanor’s Cake Which Ate Her (Kevin Ayers); 10. Again and Again (The Greatest Show on Earth).

Side 3: 11. Water (The Third Ear Band); 12. Terrapin (Syd Barrett); 13. A Glade Somewhere (Forest); 14. Golden Country Kingdom (Pete Brown and Piblokto); 15. Round and Round (Panama Limited Jug Band).

Side 4: 16. Black Sheep of the Family (Quatermass); 17. Postcards of Scarborough (Michael Chapman); 18. Maybe My Mind (Tea & Symphony); 19 Old Gopher (Edgar Broughton Band).

Cat Number: SHSS 1/2.

Label/Format: Harvest – Orig Pre-EMI format with ‘The Gramophone Co Ltd’ text on rims.

Label Conditions: All four are in lovely clean and mostly fresh condition. A tiny few faint dull spot traces if viewed critically under angled light. Spindle marks are on all four are only very light and few and without any doubt, both discs have hardly been played to offer a very fine Picnic indeed.

Cat Number: SHSS 1/2.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of these Records: 135 / 135 grams. a good average weight for this pair.

Rarity: Quite scarce, I would think this was only available a fairly short time and never (as far as I know anyway) issued on CD. This classic Harvest sampler with it’s bizarre artwork is almost certainly unique to the vinyl format and the mother and stamper codes below reitterate how early this copy was pressed. Although this copy has mild cover creasing, it does at least include the fairly elusive original factory price sticker and all evidence suggests the records are little played. The set is totally complete with the inclusion of both the Harvest promotional inners – these either removed or missing.

Original Year of Release: 1970

Matrix Nos: SHSS 1 A-2 / SHSS 1 B-1 / SHSS 2 A-1 / SHSS 2 B-1

Stampers: 1 H / 1 A / 1 M / 1 H

Brief Artist & Album Info: No, not just another sampler, far from it, this picnic serves up a feast of entertainment from beginning to end. Every collector will know those interesting black and white Harvest advertising inner sleeves with those rather more obscure (and magnificent) early Harvest band’s album covers printed on them. All the super rare ones that sold modestly (or less) between 1969-1970. This double sampler set has a track by them all and many actually feature the best track too from the representative album. It has a wonderfully unique Hipgnosis designed gatefold cover too, and like the early and elusive albums, this one shows up all too seldom these days. Not only great bands here, there are some mighty fine producers too including: Norman Smith, Andrew King, Peter Jenner, Gus Dudgeon and Johnathan Peel. Apart from some superb progressive music by all the band’s, serious prog collectors want this set because it includes a rare Pink Floyd track - ‘Embryo’ that was unique to this double set. Never a single (or B-side), and not issued on any other official album. It’s a lovely song too, written by Roger Waters, this would have been perfect on the More or Ummagumma album, it was produced by Norman Smith. Delicate and atmospheric, this is a quiet song and very delicate. Here it plays beautifully with nothing unwanted and the double set plays well throughout with little unwanted. Devoid of distortion that is so often rife on some of the more prone tracks like Kevin Ayers, Third Ear Band and Syd Barrett. The artists featured on this superb and highly collectable early Harvest sampler are listed above with their respective track. Impressive eh? – I wish I had this lot to offer, but they show all too infrequently and usually trashed when they do. - I am a huge fan of this classic progressive label and I search for any item that is available if the conditions are right. Don’t take this as an ordinary sampler, this is a very collectable set and should be included in any serious Harvest collection. This one is a very fine one with two impressively clean records, both little played and always nice to the original manufacturer’s 29/11 pre-decimal price sticker on the cover front. I am certain this has never been issued on CD making the vinyl original unique, it gives more than an insight into the early Harvest catalogue, but beware, this could prove addictive.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(-): a gatefold format, laminated front and back, designed by Hipnosis. It was printed and made in England and includes the original pre-decimal price sticker and both the promotional inners.

Lamination – Front & Back: The main issue on this cover is some creasing, mainly to the corner areas and tips, there are few other issues. Always nice to see it include the original pre-decimal (LSD) manufacturer’s price sticker. Costing twenty-nine shillings and eleven pence – that is a fraction under £1.50 in modern currency. This sticker has clearly never been removed or even picked at with any grubbiness light and faint, but some mild smudging to the blue ink towards the right. The laminate both sides is still clear, quite fresh and shiny with minimal traces of friction rubs and dulling. Mild rim impression is very difficult to avoid on double sets over time, but this is only modest. Regarding the creasing, most are seen on the back and are never more than moderate or less. It has been suggested the mysterious gas-masked foursome on the front are Pink Floyd, unless anyone knows for certain, I guess it cannot be ruled out, but personally, I doubt it.

Cover Gatefold Inner: Apart from fairly mild evidence of some creasing, there is not a great deal else to fault.

Top Edges: Rubs towards the corners, little else, clearly the corners have been dinked in the past, so the ends are not quite straight.

Bottom Edges: Very similar again.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Both these entrace edges are in clean and sharp conditions. The laminate ends have avoided the grubbiness they usually attract and both are guaranteed untrimmed. Any thickening or burr traces are tiny, few and faint.

Spine and Text: Solid and mainly straight with minimal compression and sfolded quare with the edges meeting up very close together and parallel. The word ‘PICNIC’ is fully intact and unworn under the solid spine laminate that is FULLY intact with no peeling, again that is common on this cover. The top end is very slightly unstraightened.

Corners: In terms of wear or rubbing, the corners have modestly little, but some creasing as clearly stated already. Even with clear dinks, reasonably fine shape is retained or better.

Cover Summary: You cannot fail to offer a cover for some creasing near the corners – that apart, it still looks nice, and the contents inside more than compensate. So clearly not for the cover connoisseur but many collectors will still be pleased to own it.

The Inner Sleeves: EXCELLENT(+): and this being somewhat critical. Only some darkening of the seam adhesive stops a Mint(-) grading for these classic Harvest inners. Early examples of this set included them, but so often they are removed to put with other Harvest albums instead – I only believe in offering what was included, if indeed still available – and this set had both in super condition. Barely a crease to be seen on either and all edges unsplit with no repairs. Both still fully lined and this being secure in both. I have seldom seen these look a great deal better than this and this always is a great indicator the records have rarely made the trip out.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT to EXCELLENT(+): these are very clean and shiny, pressed on very solid vinyl and remain a lovely intense black. Under light, very fine and faint whispy surface traces only which are modestly few and faint. An impressive pair of Harvest records that have received scant usage.

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 miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: All 19 songs on this great set play very impressively with little to fault. The prized and delicate ‘Embro’ by Pink Floyd, then unavailable elsewhere plays very cleanly with practically nothing unwanted. The same goes for practically the whole album and this is no easy task as there are some very difficult songs included. None more so than Kevin Ayers and Third Ear Band tracks often suffer distortion and are highly prone to this – here there is none and any surface trace sound is very gentle, little and minimal. The quieter folky songs also play supremely well too. For those who have just seen the inners and never the albums, Picnic gives a great insight into these lesser known, early and highly collectable Harvest artists. It still remains a mystery to me why the rare Floyd cut was never included on a full album. It’s very much in the ‘Cirrus Minor’ and ‘Cymbaline’ mould from More and is a hauntingly beautiful track - can your system, reveal the fine details of sound near the song’s end? I think it was a band to exclude it, but justifiably it was issued here. Most collectors will appreciate this set, a gateway to the early Harvest world, and it really is not that common to find with records so under-used and including those inners in such fantastic condition. I regard this as possibly the greatest rock sampler album ever made.

End Piece: A great introduction to some rare bands and tracks. A stunning array of early talent, some classic songs and with the hugely important, unique Pink Floyd song, ‘Embryo’ it should appeal to the Floyd officianados too. Only rarely do samplers include ‘unique’ tracks and they seldom get better or more significant than this. Some of these originals are largely ‘lost’ now - how often will Pete Brown, Battered Ornaments, Bakerloo, Greatest Show on Earth, Forest, Panama Limited, Quatermass and Tea & Symphony items appear on vinyl these days? It’s just great to hear them again on the format they originally were released on. I state again, “this is NO ordinary sampler”, it’s an important, even vital album in it’s own right, do not miss this one, unreservedly recommended, [but not for the original 29/11 asking price – sorry]. The only real issue is the cover creasing.

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 QED Silver 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 7,000+ items sold in nearly 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 3 or 4 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). 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: 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.

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 [£46 maximum]) = £10. (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 [£46 maximum]) = £14. Add £4 per extra LP. (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’.