PINK FLOYD Meddle - SCARCER Orig UK 1971 Harvest EX+ LP

	£		102
	$		135

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Artist or Band: PINK FLOYD

Album Title: Meddle.

Producer(s): Pink Floyd.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: One of These Days; A Pillow of Winds; Fearless; San Tropez; Seamus.

Side 2: Echoes.

Label/Format: Harvest – original format with the ‘The Gramophone Co Ltd’ text.

Label Conditions: Both clean, fresh and attractive with only light, few and faint spindle marks. Indeed side two have barely any at all.

Cat Number: SHVL 795.

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: 137 grams. A good weight for this album.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity and Pressing Differences: A relatively common record, but let’s be clear about any copy of Meddle. I rank this album as one of the most difficult to find on vinyl that will play really well. I clearly remember my trip to my local record shop in the early 70s, I was still at school, I bought this album and had to take it back to the shop three times in a desperate bid to find a copy that did not crackle - this was a notorious ‘variable’ pressing even from the very early days and still is today. Finding a clean-playing example (from whatever era of pressing) is very difficult. Many collectors and friends tell me same story and it’s often a case of damage limitation. This album has long quiet passages including the long fade-in intro to ‘Echoes’ and ‘One of These Days’ and I am convinced few vinyl copies will ever play absolutely ‘silent’. This record gives a very fine account itself and plays mostly quiet with clean with little unwanted. No pressings sounds or irritating loud crackle that ruins those delicate passages. Any surface sound present on this one is minor, infrequent and very light, the odd minor click or two is near impossible to avoid for the full duration. A few brief ‘taps’, like a finger lightly on a table top, were noted at the very end of ‘Pillow of Winds’ and the gap from a tiny pressing blister. I emphasise quickly, this is tiny and sounds very low-level and brief, mostly on the silence between songs. No vintage unsympathetic equipment has been inflicted on this one. The earlier copies of this title have ‘The Gramophone Co Ltd’ text in the label rims, later examples had this replaced with EMI text. The covers vary immensely too, maybe not a first glance but the texturing is very different on the earlier ones with deeper roughness to the surfaces. Also the inside gatefold spread are textured as well, later issues were smooth inside. The record includes the A-1U / B-1U matrixes, most have far later ones with higher numbers. The covers wear badly and are often seen in very worn conditions. This one has a little edge rubbing but so few of the earlier ones will avoid it. For those seeking a mainly clean sounding, early, heavier pressed, little played copy of this wonderful title with a very decent original cover, well it’s here and this should please many collectors. Such copies are much harder to find and do not underestimate.

Original Year of Release: 1971

Matrix Nos: SHVL 795 A-1U and SHVL 795 B-1U

Stamper Codes: 2 P / 1 AO

Musicians: David Gilmour – guitar, bass, lead vocals, harmonica; Roger Waters – bass, lead vocals and guitar; Richard Wright – hammond organ, piano, vocals; Nick Mason – drums, percussion, vocal.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Most interested Floyd, Harvest and prog collectors will know all about this classic album already, suffice to say, its a delicately beautiful record in all departments. Very quiet intros to both sides, very quiet passages in the sublime ‘Echoes’, this record takes no prisoners in hiding blemishes and defects, so a clean pressed album is one to treasure – but they are very hard to find especially the first format examples that have avoided heavy use or played on unworthy equipment. This is a far less commercial pre-’Dark Side of the Moon’ Pink Floyd, the era I personally prefer, but this band made few unworthy albums. A haunting and mesmerising prog classic that has not dated and still sounds as captivating as it did back in the early 70s. This ‘Gramophone’ rim example plays very well with any surface sounds light and few and most plays with fantastic sound that should please most. This too on an LP12 that hides nothing. I am NOT saying it’s silent for all, that is near impossible ask, but this one compared to many I have heard is well up there for overall quality. My play-grade was a pleasure, so few will deliver the desired pressing standards wanted. The detail from an early example is unbeatable, and when a cleaner than average, unspoilt copy surfaces these days, it’s something to enjoy, they are immensely difficult to find and fewer of this quality are made available now. One of these days a totally perfect copy will come along, but don’t count on it - a full play-grade is mandatory on this album, if not, it will be a total lottery and disappointment is highly likely.

Original Year of Release: 1971.

Cover Grade and Format: NEAR EXCELLENT: An unlaminated, gatefold format and textured on all surfaces. The texturing on this one is much more pronounced and rougher to the finger tip than later ones where the depth of the texturing is shallower and much finer. Also the inside was later made totally smooth. Another very fragile and wear-prone cover and seldom seen devoid of significant wear, particularly the earlier ones. The soft card texturing makes this susceptible to all forms of wear, most seen are badly rubbed and ringworn, often with sticker damages and threadbare edges. It was printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse.

Cover Front: Firstly, can I say this cover, as the grading suggests, is not perfect, it does have some wear in places. But very little on the front: some ultra faint rub traces near the bottom but barely any speckle to the raised textured surface. A little light edge wear is just about visible with a little minor scuff traces on the righ opening edge. One tiny mark near the top edge but that’s about it with no sticker impressions or residues. The lack of creasing is good news too, with soft card, this is seldom avoided. Another factor on the earlier covers is the colour: this is much richer and darker with the brown and turquoise hue far more apparent than later ones.

Cover Back: The back is similar again with just a little more light rubbing near the edges and corners. The lack of ringwear is always bonus on this unforgiving cover, any traces on this back are minuscule and ultra faint indeed.

Cover Inner Gatefold: This inside is textured also, most are flat, the textured middle version is more elusive. This has little to fault: the odd faint surface crease trace only and a lovely rich blackness to the artwork.

Top Edges: Light+ and less than moderate patchy rubbing.

Bottom Edges: The front has largely escaped any rubbing, the back is moderately rubbed.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, squite harp with little wear and no feathering or trimming. A tiny burr trace on the back and a small scuff on the front. Record enters via the back edge, the front is closed.

Spine and Text: This early-made cover has a wider spine than later ones and by a fair degree. This one is solid and quite straight with any compression modest and folded square. The right edges meet up very closely together and parallel too. All text is present with no wear to the characters, never take this for granted on this obviously delicate spine. Thre is one smallish chip and some very light rubbing excluding the corners. These have rubbed, quite lightly at the bottom but more moderate near the top. Very slight rub traces to the folds with the odd tiny heavier patch, but all said, this is a decent spine and clearly the wider ones will be more prone to all forms of wear.

Corners: The right four are generally very neat with any tip rubs only small and these retain very fine shape. The spine pair have rubbed more as mentioned above, most on the top corner but this is way short of major.

Cover Summary: A nice looker in terms of lack of wear to the main four faces and the more pronounced texturing and richer colour to the artwork. Not for the perfectionist as the grading suggests but it will prove quite hard to find in this early format where wear seems more prevalent. Many collectors will enjoy it, but if you have doubts….

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: and in terms of wear, worthy of still higher. This one being the plain white, solid unlined type. Lightly aged with some mild darkening and low-level glue browing on the seams that all remain unsplit with no repairs. One tiny mark on the back but little else in that respect. Virtually devoid of creasing and looking almost perfect for it’s considerable near 40 year vintage.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT+: a prized early Gramophone rim example. A super visual copy that’s very clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed, later pressings were usually thin and flimsy. This looks really lovely and quite exceptional given the popularity of this title, most are heavily played. One fine surface mark on side two has no sound and with close scrutiny, a tiny few ultra fine and hairline traces. Two or three ultra small and minor pressing ‘bumps’ again seen with close viewing, these are natural issues and nothing to do with ‘wear’ of course. I mentioned above a tiny one on side one has a few dull and faint ‘taps’, again if you tap your finger on a table top VERY gently, you will ge the sound I am trying to describe – it’s pretty minor and most on the joining groove. Without doubt, not played many times and overall a very clean and fine looking copy. Visually a super record that should please many, if not most 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 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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This prog classic plays up to and most all exceeding it’s high visual grading with little to fault. Silence for all is a near impossibility with usually the pressings themself dictating the fact as well as years of playing and often less than perfect care. The format is against it and this was rarely one of the most wonderful of pressings anyway – let’s simply say it was ‘variable’. Over time, I have often found the later pressings to sometimes play better than the early ones, which were possibly more rushed – variable is the word. As stated, three new copies years ago played with crackle and significant surface noise, I just gave up and put up with it, I was told it was likely all would be the same and it seems many fans of a similar age to myself had the same issues. This copy plays mostly quiet for the most part and those near impossible intros sound nice with little extraneous surface sounds. Any traces are as light and few and I really enjoyed listening to it without having to cringe at a loud pops or clicks or annoying regular crackle – these are more the norm and they irritate. I have mentioned the minor blemish from the tiny and low-leve pressing ‘bump’ on side one – ‘bump’ being too severe a word for a minor surface blister. It would take a brave individual or a fool to say any copy of Meddle on vinyl will play with CD silence for its entirety, it’s a near impossibility unless it had been pressed on Decca or similar high quality vinyl labels – Harvest records were generally good, but never quite that good. This record is so very quiet in so many places, the odd fragment that hits the stylus has nowhere to hide with long passages of quietness or near silence. I am sure most vinyl lovers will understand what I am talking about and trying to explain. What is immensely important, this has strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a very wide dynamic range and very detailed and intense sound and bags of details hidden in these (totally) unworn grooves. For an immense change, very little spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wondeful vintage Floyd classic – certainly up there with their very best ever. I have almost come to expect some gentle minor sound from this title and this offered little more than that – if silence is demanded, well the CD version will give you that. But if the original dynamics and flawless production of the original record is to enjoyed, this early vinyl copy is the only way it will still give it to you. This much rarer early pressed example will prove difficult to find significantly better and merits high recommendation. Any issues with anything I have expressed above, do not bid.

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 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 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’.