STEVIE WONDER - SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE - '76 OZ PRESS/DBL ALBUM/GATEFOLD/BOOK

	A$		36
	$		24

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE  ........  STEVIE WONDER'S MASTERPIECE  ........  AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER, AND A CLASSIC OF ITS GENRE  ........  17 CRACKING TRACKS ACROSS 4 SIDES OF VINYL  ........  ESSENTIAL! 

THIS 1976 OZ 1ST PRESSING (STMA-7006) IS ON THE (SILVER/BLUE)  MOTOWN LABEL. COMES IN ITS ORIGINAL GATEFOLD CARD  SLEEVE, TOGETHER WITH THE ORIGINAL 24-PAGE, LARGE FORMAT GLOSS ART LYRIC BOOKLET.  NO BONUS SINGLE.  

 

THIS ALBUM HAS BEEN PLAY GRADED.

VINYL:  Looks  VG to VG+     Plays/Sounds  EX (light surface run-in/run-out grooves)

SLEEVE:  EX to EX+  (small stickers front & back - see pics)

LABELS:  EX to EX+ (crisp & clean with just the odd light spindle)

BOOK: EX (only blemish is that it has some light foxing front & back. intact with no tears, folds, or writing - see pics)

TRACKS: LOVE'S IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY/HAVE A TALK WITH GOD/VILLAGE GHETTO LAND/CONTUSION/SIR DUKE/I WISH/KNOCK'S ME OFF MY FEET/PASTIME PARADISE/SUMMER SOFT/ORDINARY PAIN/ISN'T SHE LOVELY/JOY INSIDE MY TEARS/BLACK MAN/NGICULELA-ES UNAHISTORIA - I AM SINGING/IF IT'S MAGIC/AS/ANOTHER STAR.

In my listings the photographs displayed are of the actual album for sale, and therefore form an important part of the overall description. 

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GRADING GUIDELINES: 

With the obvious exception of mint/sealed items, every album I list on eBay has been play-graded - both sides - as per the standard guidelines published by UK Record Collector (not the same as the U.S. 'Goldmine' system, which doesn't have an 'EX' grading). **IMPORTANT: See below for an explanation of these gradings and any abbreviations used**. In addition to the grading itself, anything out of the ordinary or notable will also be highlighted. Play gradings here reflect how the vinyl plays and sounds on my equipment, under normal room listening conditions (i.e, no headphones, or exaggerated sound levels that can cause distortion).  Visual gradings here reflect how the vinyl looks to the naked eye under strong, direct lighting. My records are cleaned prior to grading. Sleeves and any inclusions/extras are also cleaned (if needed) and graded. Along with the grading and any necessary comments I also include multiple photos of the actual album for sale, so the buyer should know exactly what they're buying/bidding on. But just in case, I'm also always happy to answer any other questions the buyer may still have.

STILL SEALED (S/S): Buyer beware - unless we're talking about brand new vinyl, or a U.S. pressing from the past 30 years or so, it's unlikely that any intact shrink wrap is original (i.e., sealed by the original manufacturer at time of pressing). Original albums from the 50's/60's/70's were almost never shrink wrapped by the manufacturer, and let's face it - the vast majority of albums were purchased to be played and enjoyed - not stored away as collectables - so any original shrink in most likely to be long-gone. Unfortunately, unscrupulous retailers/dealers and bootleggers have been known to re-seal well-used albums, seal later pressings in original sleeves, and even seal completely different albums inside sleeves from another artist, because the deception is very lucrative. So if you're after a specific pressing, the only way to know for sure that your copy is genuine, is to open the shrink and check the record (which kinda defeats the purpose!!). Sure, there will be some legitimate 'never-opened' albums from the 60's/70's that still exist, but they'd have to be considered to be a genuine rarity. The presumption with 'still sealed' albums is, of course, that the vinyl inside is an original pressing, in mint condition. But sadly, more often than not, this simply isn't the case and caution is recommended. I won't list 'still sealed' albums unless I bought them myself at the time of their original release, or later from a collector I absolutely trust.

MINT: Only used for brand new albums, or where I know for certain that the album has never been played because I've owned it since new - it doesn't just look 'mint', it is 'mint'. Visually perfect in every way.  The sleeve and any inclusions graded 'MINT' will also be perfect.

NEAR MINT: Either an album that is visually perfect but has been played sparingly, or one that only has the faintest/tiniest scuff/mark that should have no effect of sound/playability. A superb album. Any sleeve/inclusion graded 'NEAR MINT' will be very close to 'MINT', but with the odd minor blemish only.

EXCELLENT: An album that shows some signs of having been played (light paper /needle scuffs, maybe the odd light hairline, or pressing mark), and which should display very little lessening in sound quality. More often than not there won't be any noticeable surface noise, but where there is, it should be light and occasional only (maybe between tracks/run in-run out, quiet passages, etc.). A quality used album.  Any sleeve/inclusion graded 'EX' may display slight wear and/or creasing.

VERY GOOD: An album that has obviously been played many times but which displays no major deterioration in sound quality despite obvious scuffs/marks/hairlines/mild scratches. In other words - normal and predictable wear for a well-used, vintage album. Still great to listen to even though it will probably have some light-to-moderate surface noise in places. A perfectly acceptable used album. Any sleeve/inclusion graded 'VG' will display normal wear & tear, without any major defects.

GOOD: An album that has been heavily used, displaying numerous heavier needle scuffs, hairlines, mild scratches, and groove wear. Will probably have noticeable, and possibly intrusive surface noise - but will still play through without skips or sticks. Acceptable as a collection-filler until you ind a better copy. Any sleeve/inclusion graded 'GOOD' will suffer from a possible range of defects such as folding, scuffing, small stains, spine splits, tanning, etc..  

FAIR: An album that is still playable but has not been looked after and will have lots of marks, scratches, dullness and groove wear. Will display lots of obvious/intrusive surface noise which  could include loud 'pops' and loud repetitive 'ticking'. High likelihood of skips or sticks. Valued only for its possible rarity.  Any sleeve/inclusion graded 'FAIR' will have stains, tears, splits, and/or be defaced in some obvious manner.

(+) or, (-) indicates any variation to these gradings (a little better/a little worse, etc). 

wol (wos) = writing on label (sleeve). sol (sos) = sticker on label (sleeve). tol (tos) = tear on label (sleeve). stol (stos) = stain on label (sleeve). dhl (dhs) = deletion hole through label (sleeve). dsc = deletion saw cut. ccsl = corner cut on sleeve. ss = seam split. wd = water damage. et = edge tanning. fx = foxing. ew = edge wear. cw = corner wear. rmw = rim wear. rgw = ring wear. bblg = air bubble under label or laminate. ps = superficial paper scuffs. ns = superficial needle scuffs. ms = mild scratches. hairlines = fine, superficial scratches. fs = feelable scratch/es. pm = pressing mark/s (mark/s in the vinyl from the pressing process - very common with U.S. pressings, and not a sign of wear). gw = groove wear. ewp = edge warp. blushing = misty/cloudy appearance to vinyl.  Inclusions = any combination of inner sleeves, posters, lyric sheets, postcards, loose booklets, etc., that accompany the standard vinyl & sleeve.

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POST & PACKING - GENERAL INFORMATION: 

To provide maximum protection LPs are packed with the vinyl and sleeves separated in individual plastic outers. They are then securely enclosed in bubble wrap and packed in a new carton which is sealed and protected with tape. I buy and use only quality packing materials (recycled and/or recyclable, wherever possible), and I take great care to ensure that your album reaches you in the same condition that it left me. Post & packing costs shown include AU$1.00 to partially cover the cost of packing materials (cartons, bubble wrap, plastic sleeves/tapes, etc.).  I do not charge a 'handling fee'.

I post most business days, Monday to Friday. This means that albums are usually despatched within 1 business day of payment being received (weekends/public holidays excepted - if you buy/pay on a Friday, it's most likely that your record will be posted on the following Monday). 

I doubt that any eBay seller offers a consistently quicker turnaround. However, and to state what should be obvious, after I hand over a package to Australia Post, I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER HOW LONG THEY TAKE TO DELIVER IT!  Australia Post is usually excellent, but delays can happen occasionally, and some overseas postal services can be a real problem. *Note also, that eBay's projected delivery times are estimates- only for transit between capital cities, and do not include any allowance for the time taken to deliver outside of metro areas, and/or into regional centres, or possible delays experienced in customs. 

Express Post is available (at extra cost) within Australia for anyone who requires delivery faster than Australia Post's standard parcel service. Likewise, similar fast options are available to most overseas destinations, but they are very expensive - please contact me for details/costs if you're interested. 

**Australian bidders/buyers please note:  in-transit tracking is now included in the postage cost for all domestic parcels and satchels. 

**International bidders/buyers please note: in-transit tracking is included to most destinations via Australia Post's  'Pack and Track International' service. For destinations where 'Pack and Track' isn't available, I use 'Registered Post International', which doesn't included in-transit tracking, but does require signature on delivery. 

All records will be posted - sorry, but pick ups or meetings are not offered under any circumstances.

I AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO COMBINE MULTIPLE PURCHASES WITHIN THE SAME 7 DAY PERIOD AS SIGNIFICANT SAVING CAN BE MADE ON POSTAGE COSTS FOR 3 OR MORE ALBUMS.

POST & PACKING - COSTS.

 

DOMESTIC: 

Australia Post has 16 charging zones within Australia for parcels over 500g - a complete listing of all domestic zones and their specific costs is viewable at www.auspost.com.au

Regular Parcel Post with In-Transit Tracking (including AU$1 part-cost of packing materials), for one x double LP over 500g/up to 1kg packed weight, to these domestic postal zones are: 

 NSW (ALL) = AU$11.00

VICTORIA (V1) = AU$14.95

                      (V2) = AU$15.35

QUEENSLAND (Q1) = AU$14.95

                             (Q2) = AU$15.75

                             (Q3) = AU$16.75

                             (Q4) = AU$17.10  

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (S1) = AU$15.30

                                        (S2) = AU$16.40

TASMANIA (ALL) = AU$16.35

NORFOLK ISLAND (ALL) = AU$16.55

NORTHERN TERRITORY (ALL) = AU$18.00*

WESTERN AUSTRALIA (W1) = AU$17.00

                                              (W2) = AU$18.00*

                                              (W3) = AU$18.00*

*To these 3 locations I use an Australia Post 5kg pre-paid satchel to reduce costs (albums are packed exactly the same, just inserted into the satchel).

SOD (Signature On Delivery) is available for an additional AU$2.95 per parcel - you can request SOD at time of purchase.

Extra Cover Insurance is also available for an additional AU$1.50 per AU$100 value -  you can request insurance at time of purchase.

Express Post & Packing  for parcels over 500g will vary by the actual package weight, and your location - if you require express delivery, please request a firm costing for your charging zone before you bid/buy.

INTERNATIONAL: 

Australia Post now has 8 different charging zones for it's international airmail parcel service - A complete listing of all countries and their individual zones is viewable at www.auspost.com.au     

I use Australia Post's 'Pack and Track International' service for all international shipping, other than for countries where that service is not offered by Australia Post. Where that is the case, I use Registered Post International (which doesn't include in-transit tracking, but does require a signature on delivery).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Pack and Track International (including AU$1 part-cost of packing materials) for one x double LP  over 500g/under 1kg packed weight, to these international postal zones are:

ZONE 1  (New Zealand) = AU$29.15 

ZONE 2  (Japan) = AU$33.30 

ZONE 3  (Malaysia, Singapore, India, South Korea, etc) = AU$34.50  

ZONE 4  (U.S.A., Canada) = AU$37.70

ZONE 5  (Fiji, etc) = AU$35.60

ZONE 6  (UK/France/Germany/Spain/Ireland/Norway/Sweden, etc) = AU$47.10

ZONE 7  (Austria/Belgium/Denmark/Finland, etc) = AU$51.40

ZONE 8  (Israel, etc) = AU$54.00

* For countries (such as Fiji, Austria, Denmark, Greece & Japan, for example) where the 'Pack and Track' service is not available, 'Registered Post International' will be substituted - the cost is the same.

Insurance is available to most (but not all) international destinations for an additional AU$9.60 (includes up to AU$100 cover) - you can request insurance at time of purchase.

**Excluded Postage Locations: These are countries that I do not post to due to their suspect postal services, or the prevalence of scammers operating in their regions. See my 'Exclusions' list for details.

**International buyers should note: Import duties, taxes & charges which may be imposed by your country's customs office are not included in the item price or shipping costs shown here. These charges (should they apply) are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these charges may be, prior to bidding/buying. Note that I will not deliberately under-value the sale price of an item, or mark a purchase as a 'gift' on the Australian Customs declaration attached to the parcel. 

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TERMS & CONDITIONS - PLEASE READ.

PAYMENT TERMS FOR BUY IT NOW items OVER 500g are:

Postage costs vary depending on your domestic or international charging zones - payment is therefore required on receipt of my invoice containing your correct p&p costs. 

Contact is essential if for any reason you can't pay straight away, have any difficulty completing the transaction, or wish to cancel your order. I'm easy to get along with, but I'm not a mind-reader, so please contact me through the eBay message system, and we'll work something out - it's quick and easy, avoids any misunderstandings, and saves me having to chase you (which is irritating for us both!). I'll always do my best to help, but you must talk to me!

If you are located in Australia and paying by Direct Bank Deposit, please include your eBay user id so that your payment can be identified quickly when it reaches my account (which can take up to 4 business days, depending on the banks involved, and which day of the week you make the payment). Also note that while most PayPal payments are instantaneous, PayPal e-cheque payments usually take around a week to be cleared by PayPal. And please - always complete eBay Checkout when paying.

Non-payers and time wasters will be reported to eBay, and will receive a non-payer strike against their name. IF YOU DON'T INTEND TO PAY*, THEN PLEASE DON'T BID/BUY.
*Note: anyone who makes a genuine mistake when bidding/buying should contact me immediately and I'll happily sort it out for you.

OTHER.
Item(s) posted only after payment has been received/cleared. 

Refunds are offered only if the record doesn't match my description/grading.

Returns, if required, will be accepted within 30 days from date of purchase, but only after discussing the problem with me first, and receiving my agreement for the return. If there is a genuine problem it can usually be sorted out with friendly and timely communication, but the buyer must contact me as soon as any problem is noticed, and not wait weeks before lodging a complaint. Should a return be required -  buyer pays return postage. 

I do not refund for damage, loss, or delay sustained in transit - I pack professionally, always despatch within one business day of payment being received, always keep the Australia Post receipts as proof of despatch, and always retain any/all tracking identification, but once I hand a package to Australia Post I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE DELIVERY PROCESS, OR POSSIBLE VANDALISM/THEFT IN TRANSIT. 
Within Australia, Registered Post (letters),  Extra Cover Insurance (parcels & letters), Express Post (parcels & letters), and Signature-On-Delivery (parcels) are all available for additional cost. For international destinations, Extra Cover Insurance is also available for purchase.  It's the buyer's choice to take out/pay for this additional protection, or not.  Note again, that eBay's projected delivery times are estimates-only for transit between capital cities, and do not include any allowance for the time taken to deliver outside of metro areas, and/or into regional centres, or possible delays experienced in customs (either at point of despatch, or end destination).

I do not refund if a buyer simply changes their mind after the item has been posted. 

Feedback: Buyer feedback is always welcomed, appreciated, and reciprocated. In the unlikely event that a buyer experiences any problem that has to do with my description/grading/service, please contact me before leaving feedback, because if the problem is genuine, then I'll fix it - guaranteed.

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Please read all descriptions/gradings carefully, check out the pictures provided, and ask any questions you may still have,  prior to bidding/buying. 

Please bid/buy only if you have read, and accept my terms & conditions. 

THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST.  DON'T MISS OUT ON MY OTHER GREAT VINYL COLLECTABLES, CDs, BOOKS, MUSIC MAGAZINES, VIDEO GAMES, DVDs, BLU-RAYS, AND MUSIC CASSETTES - ADD ME TO YOUR FAVOURITE SELLERS LIST, CHECK OUT MY EBAY STORE 'AMAZIN DAYZ'.