TANGERINE DREAM KALEIDOSCOPE 1967 FONTANA LP Ist PRESSING (textured label)

	£		300
	$		398

TL 5448 ORIGINAL 1967 MONO 1st PRESSING TEXTURED FONTANA LABEL (see pictures)

RELISTED

One of the 'earliest' & rarest Tangerine Dream Kaleidoscope LP’s ever released - and seldom available for sale!

INFORMATION
In the 1960s (around 1963-67) all Fontana LP’s had distinctive labels & vinyl.  They had a 'double ridged' centre hole, thick quality vinyl, and 'textured look' labels. (SEE MY PICTURES).

Just before this LP was released in September 1967 the decision was taken by Fontana to ‘upgrade’ its pressing machines.  The 'heads' were replaced, and all the 'fully textured' labels changed to the 'smooth' Fontana labels in October 1967- this fact alone makes this LP very special!  As you may see from similar Fontana LP’s listed online occasionally, the half moon Fontana section of the label normally has a smooth blank silver/white finish. THIS LP has a fine texture!

It is very rare to find this particular LP available because only the first batch of around 300 copies came with the textured label. Fontana then dropped this label style (all later 'standard' 1st pressings having the common smooth labels instead).

This is not only one of the RAREST ever early UK psychedelic LP’s, but ALSO one of the few first ever KALEIDOSCOPE pressings made as indicated by the rare 'textured look' label.  Back in 1967 when this LP was FIRST released, it only sold tiny amounts and was almost immediately deleted. Consequently this particular release is very rarely found for sale. As far as I know the only other fully comparable LP actually came up for sale on eBay in March  – it sold for £546;  A later ‘67 copy, BUT WITHOUT the textured label sold earlier in 2013 on ebay for £500.

I think this vinyl LP itself is in Excellent to VERY GOOD condition – it may well be better.

I’m not an expert grader, or a dealer, but as I have owned this record since new I know this LP hasn’t been played much. I never lent my LP’s out or used them at party’s. I made tape compilations years before people burnt CD’s or laid down MP3 selections. It’s been in the sleeve since 1994.

This is the condition as best and as honestly as I can describe it:

Neither side has any scratches or marks whatsoever that might be felt, and NONE that are obvious to see. The record retains its bright shiny just pressed look. Apart from the fine scuffs mentioned below the LP looks, and I honestly think is, in unusual pristine condition. All I have done is given the record a token light dust with an antistatic cloth to remove a paper sleeve fragment or two before I took the photos. It has no finger or dirt marks. There are no spindle marks or obvious scratches – not even on the centre run outs.

Side 1: there is JUST ONE – one very very faint and very fine hair-line or paper scuff mark only just visible in very good light, across the last track and into the run out section (and the record has to be rotated and searched under good spot light to find that mark). Not photographed - couldn't do it!

Side 2: similar, but with a small patch of 4-5 similar faint hairlines in a similar place – towards and partly on the centre run out, and all parallel in line as paper scuff marks often are. If you turn the record or pick it up afresh, they have to be searched for by rotating the record under a good light. See 2 photo's.

To check matters I played just those sections that with the scuffs including the last track side 2: all sounded perfectly fine - the usual identifiable light crackle sound of vinyl but NOTHING UNTOWARD. No distortion, jumps, or clicks or sticks and the lines gave NO interrupt noise or any other interference or sound I could detect using different volume or amp settings. Given the comparatively fresh condition that’s all I played.  I reckon this record is easily VG++

It is not easy to photograph an LP. I did most of the pictures in front of a window in good daylight. For side 2 full picture I used the flash.

The record labels are in outstanding condition (see pictures) with NO wear, NO writing and NO spindle marks.

Comparison with the different available guidelines suggests the condition of this LP is VERY GOOD to EXCELLENT

This record is NOT ONLY rare and sought after, it is a really nice copy.

SLEEVE

The ORIGINAL Cover is in Sound to GOOD condition. There is no writing, stickers, or a price mark label. It has some storage wear along the outer edges, but this does not intrude onto the cover.

The front cover has some minor wear and a little creasing along the open edge from being thumbed open. There is some impression of the record shape that shows as a matte mark on the sleeve if you hold it angled to a light source. The rear of the sleeve is un-plasticised and is a bit grubby especially to the L/H side as the photo shows – and I have not attempted to clean it. The inner sleeve is plain.

This is the story:
Back in the 1960-early 70’s I bought albums, but only very selectively as I was then rather young, poor and living away from home. I bought this new when it was released (I was 17). I can’t remember where, but I lived in London at the time (not yet a student but at work). Also as a proto hippy-biker my musical taste had not yet gelled (Hard Rock won). I knew this was a rare LP but that it was so cherished until around '94 when my son's guitar tutor took a look at my collection of LP’s. I researched it earlier this year when I figured I'd have to sell it.

From 1969 and throughout the 70’s I had a big Wharfdale linked to a Grundig TK141 x 4 track reel to reel recorder. On that I put my music and anybody's I could borrow and made compilation tapes. My personal album collection never amounted to more than 60-70 records in all.

Mostly my vinyl was then not played afterwards, or for years – in fact we (me and wife by then) did not have a record player from about mid 1970 until Xmas 1990 – when she treated me to a music tower (always before only the Grundig), and for years work/house building/kids got in the way of music. Consequently all my LPs are in fine condition with original covers etc. Some records were only ever very occasionally played – this is one such.

NOW… retired and rather cash poor we will be moving to a smaller house next year. I have decided it is time to let my collection go – already sold other records on eBay and as I get around to them.

This is a genuine sale. I have owned the record since new and have given it the best informative and honest description I can.

I’ve been selling off unwanted stuff from our house on eBay over the past year or so ahead of an anticipated move. I tender this for auction on the same condition: NO RETURNS, No guarantees, and to date nothing has gone wrong with me, or for me.

I will send it signed for and pack it well with a plywood stiffener and protective material inside a cardboard box. Much better but a touch heavier than a record mailer!! If you read my feedback you will see a lot of good comment on the quality of my packing. E bay works a lot on trust – and I try to honour that, although I know not everyone always does.

Best wishes for looking. Thanks!