PRETTY THINGS SF Sorrow 1/1 1st Mono PRESS 1968 Superb AUDIO for MAJORITY
£
361
$
478
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.
The Pretty Things : S.F. Sorrow 1 / 1 1st Mono Press Columbia 1968
This classic album plays to a very high standard for the vast majority. Yes there is a little interference but that is mainly restricted to a couple of dull clicks on 'Bracelets Of Fingers' on S1 and a little static on a couple of the quieter tracks. A number of tracks play with stunning quality! S1 is an excellent listen overall and S2 is even better! The clarity, depth and power of the audio is very impressive for the majority. The vinyl itself is in excellent shape with only a handful of minor surface marks and I am sure the audio will not disappoint the winning bidder.
The laminated flip-back E.J Day cover has some light wear but there is nothing that stands out. The original inner sleeve just has the one side split and a little marking.
As you can see this is the first mono pressing. I am also selling the first stereo pressing on another listing.
SX 6306 // XAX 3738-1 2 / XAX 3739-1 3
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T2 Ex+ to VG+ / T4 Near Mint- / T5 Mint- / T6 VG+)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 first verse Ex+ / T4 VG+ to Near Mint / T5 Ex+ / T7 VG+ to Ex)
The gatefold is Ex- The original inner sleeve is VG
The Columbia labels are Near Mint-
Visual description
The vinyl is in excellent condition overall and still has a strong glossy look. There are a couple of small hairline scratches but they have very little affect on the audio if any. There are some faint hairlines also which again are superficial. There is no groove or surface wear and the textured blue / black Columbia labels are in great condition with no marking and very little spindle wear.
Play Grading
The intro on 'S.F. Sorrow Is Born' plays with sublime clarity and May's opening vocal section is just as clean and precise. The first 'chorus' has no intrusion and the instrumental has only a modicum of very light static at the start, it is hardly noticeable. The next vocal has barely any static and to the end it plays with no intrusion, the long fade out has no intrusion either. This is a Near Mint start to this classic album.
The Love intro vocal on 'Bracelets Of Fingers' plays very clearly with only a couple of minor statics. As the track 'kicks in' the playback is superb - the first two verses have no background at all. The sitar section is stunning and there is only minimal static on the psych effect at the end of it. The next vocal has no intrusion although there are two light statics during the instrumental bridge and then two dull clicks on the following vocal. The end 'chorus' has no intrusion. A game of two halves in a way so I will grade the first half has Ex+ and the second as VG+
'She Says Good Morning' plays with genuine quality from start to finish with no interference. I only heard one minor static near the beginning and another on the first vocal but nothing else. The mid instrumental has such a strong, deep rich sound, typical of mono pressings, and the final vocal is flawless as is the closing instrumental. Near Mint
The intro on 'Private Sorrow' is close to perfect with just one static prior to opening vocal which then plays with no intrusion. The following instrumental plays with great power and depth and it continues in the same way with no interference, again that full deep mono sound stands out. The reciting of the soldiers names at the end has only a little static and the end instrumental is perfect. I will grade this as Near Mint-
'Balloon Burning' plays with phenomenal audio from the very first note. The power and definition is STUNNING and there is no background anywhere. It is of course such a dynamic track and yet there is no distortion on the top end and in my opinion could not play any better. I'll say Mint- because of a hint of barely audible static at the end of the fade out!
The final track on S1 'Death' always plays with some background I find on these first pressings. In saying that there are no ticks, clicks or pops just some light static every now and then. However, it remains one of the cleanest versions I have heard and the mid instrumental plays with great clarity. The 'running feet' at the end plays superbly! VG+ overall
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The classic 'Baron Saturday' plays with impeccable quality through every vocal and instrumental section, in fact I do not think I have ever heard a more 'complete' version! Sonically it is superb, every note so clean and succinct, and Twink's percussion / and the mid instrumental is incredible! The brief quieter section has no obvious static and the closing vocal has no interference either. A dynamic Mint- version.
'The Journey' is of the same high end standard. The clarity of sound is outstanding - the vocal first half can correctly be described 'as new' and that applies to the second psychedelic second half also. I played it through twice and I cannot emphasise enough how well it plays. It's a 'busy' number and yet the audio is again so clean and precise. This is Mint
The intro on 'I See You' is faultless and the opening vocal has three light ticks, only one you deem as obvious they are not intrusive. The first chorus is fantastic! It has such a strong deep resonant sound - wow! The second verse has only a couple of very light statics and the next chorus is as good as the first! Superb work from Taylor throughout - seriously I am running out of superlatives for this side! The final vocal is perfect and the psychedelic close is immense, just a little static right at the end. The vast majority here is Near Mint at the very least with the first verse grading as Ex+ The quieter part of 'Well Of Destiny' does play with some light static here mainly at the beginning but it is by no means loud. The build up end section plays with great clarity and power so overall I will say it ranges between VG+ and Near Mint
'Trust' plays with strong, solid audio and with very little background. There are some light background statics but they hardly intrude on the listen and I think Ex+ is a fair assessment of the audio. The intro on 'Old Man Going' is 'as new' as is the first 'chorus'. That typical deep, warm mono sound is very much in evidence here. The two verses play with exceptional audio and the instrumental passages are equally as strong. A STUNNING Mint version in so many ways! The power and depth of the audio here is sensational!
'Loneliest Person' ends the album with only a little background. The intro / first vocal has a little static and then the second plays very clearly. This clarity continues into the final vocal and it's only at the end of the last line / final 3/4 seconds where there is a little interference, a little crackle. Ranging between Ex and VG+ is fair but overall a superb side of music!
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear. The edges are super clean and the spine has only the usual line running down the centre caused by the cover being opened. All corners are in excellent shape overall with only minimal wear and the opening edge has hardly any handling wear. The front cover is very clean with only a few small edge creases next to the spine as is common and a small number of laminate creases mainly on the right side. The right hand edge has some light marking only, this is the thin section that isn't covered by the laminate. The back cover is very clean also with some minor creases around the edges and a couple of small laminate creases on the surface. The inside of the gatefold is in great shape with only minimal spotting on the bottom flipbacks and a small crease in the lower left corner. Overall a strong example of this iconic cover.
The original inner sleeve has one 10cm side split and some light marking which is mainly around the split on both sides. Otherwise it's in pretty good shape with barely any creasing.
SX 6306 // XAX 3738-1 2 / XAX 3739-1 3Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT VM-95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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Postage & Packaging
I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping. This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage. The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered. Any over-payment will always be refunded.
The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD). An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known. Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing. Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask. Many thanks.
All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection. They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection. I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.
The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each. There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up! Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra
USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £22.95 then £2.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra
If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed. If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!
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