THE BEATLES Sgt Pepper RARER UK 67 Mono SUPERB COMPLETE

	£		123
	$		163

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: THE BEATLES

Album Title: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Producer(s): George Martin.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band; With a Little Help From My Friends; Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds; Getting Better; Fixing a Hole; She’s Leaving Home; Being For the Benefit of Mr Kite.

Side 2: Within You Without You; When I’m Sixty-Four; Lovely Rita; Good Morning Good Morning; Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise); A Day in the Life.

Label/Format: Parlophone – Yellow and Black format. Text and detail includes: ‘Sold in UK Subject to Resale’ etc, ‘The Gramophone Co Ltd’ etc, ‘Made in Gt Britain’. Also the embossed ‘KT’ tax codes are included on side one this unbanded mono copy.

Label Conditions: Both are exceptional and really do go very close to reminding of new. Ultra clean, fresh and attractive. Spindle marks are incredibly light, fine and faint. Without doubt, one of the least-played mono copies I have seen. The ‘K T’ embossed tax codes on side one are perfect with no flattening or rubbing, there is zero ink loss on these fragile characters. These are so unworn in fact, even seeing them is not so easy. These very flat matt black labels show hardly a trace of handling at all and have no tarnishing or dulling. It remains a very snug fit on my Linn spindle with barely any ‘give’ at all. These two early Parlophone labels will incredibly difficult to find better on an early early mono copy of this landmark Beatles album. Most are seen with swathes of spindle marks, scuffs and grubbiness caused by years of less than careful handling and use. There lies the difference, this is an outstanding example of possible the world’s most famous long playing record.

Cat Number: PMC 7027.

Mode / Speed: Mono / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 160 grams. Even by this record’s standards, this is a real heavyweight.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Overview: As I always state, most Beatles standard issue albums are not rare, far from it, with a few exceptions. All their albums sold in vast numbers, pressing plants could hardly keep up with demand – some even contracted out to other manufacturers. I will not insult collector’s intelligence or embarrass myself stating otherwise – like most-all others – this sold in vast numbers. But, and a significant BUT – finding clean, lightly played copies that still play well are a significantly different matter. So many, if not most, were played into submission, trashed even, so when a very clean copy that has clearly hardly ever been played comes along it’s more of an exception. This landmark issue in the history of popular music sold in vast numbers and still does, even today. It’s popularity and importance within its genre cannot be overstated. What makes this complete mono copy harder to find is the overall condition of all the component parts. Most ‘standard’ issues included a thinner spine that creased badly when opened, most shed their laminate exposing the surface which invariably grubbies and rubs. It is no understatement to say most are seen in less than pleasing conditions. This example has the standard thin spine, but this one shows little such wear (please see my close-up picture of the text area). The cover is very clean and fresh and has offers that spine-tingling loud creak and crackle when opened, just like it did when first purchased back in 1967. How many these days will ever still do that? I could not even open this cover fully because the inside laminate is still so tight and unbroken on the fold hinge. Most crack and split so the cover simply flops open with no resistance left – this could be as close to experiencing opening a nearly new Pepper cover as you will get these days. The record itself appears little played and that is very unusual in-itself, the unbanded playing surfaces look very impressive with no penetrating scratches whatsoever and with only fine and faint, whispy surface marks seen criticall under light. Remember, this is a 44-year-old mono record, and one of the most popular titles ever issued, all will know the state most are found in after many years of use (and often abuse) on heavy tracking record players. Few mono records of this huge popularity will avoid minor surface blemishes at the very least but any here really are minor. Indeed, it could be the only Pepper mono you will ever need – yes, this record, for most fans should not need upgrading – a bold statement I do realise. Regarded by many as the greatest ever mono recording, finding a copy that will play ‘perfectly’ is a massive challenge. The song ‘She’s Leaving Home’ is always the most difficult song on the album. Few will ever play it without some crackle or clipping. A track that is massively intolerant of old mono stylus and just two or three plays will make this impossibly fragile track degrade. If anyone has a mono copy of this record that will play it to perfection, well treasure it, because few ever will. I have received emails in the past from collectors who actually think this crackle and mild distortion on this song is normal e.g. on the mastertape. Well NO, it isn’t, and this copy more than proves the fact. This copy plays the song beautifully with practically nothing unwanted at all – one of the very mono copies I have heard that do. This too, being played on a very critically revealing LP12 fitted with a clinical Rondo Red moving coil stereo cartridge. This mono record not really designed to be played on such equipment, but this copy simply excelled and almost let me aghast. A last, a mono copy that offers practically mastertape quality sound with practically nothing unwanted at all. But overall, an absolute joy to hear ‘She’s Leaving Home’ devoid of crackle and breakup on the vocals, a trait that blights this song so often, and often others too, but this song so very rarely escapes. The only slight surface noise I heard was on the final 30 seconds or so of ‘Day in the Life’ after the second loud cresendo passage as the music faded away to silence. This too being played as high volume and being critical, but some light surface sound was certainly present here. Realistically, this mono ‘Pepper’ give an outstanding performance and sets the benchmark for others to beat. Both the psych inner and insert are in equally fine conditions and I am certain all parts have not been handled or the record seen light-of-day for decades. An early mono Pepper time has largely overlooked, as did the one and only original owner. I will state again, ‘Sgt Pepper’ is not rare, it’s not even scarce, but finding a barely played copy that offers even better than excellent sound with all parts looking superb is. One most collectors will enjoy I feel sure.

Original Year of Release: 1967

Matrix Nos: XEX 637-1 / XEX 638-1

Stamper Codes: 4 ALH / ? MGM

Brief Artist & Album Info: Any music lover, collector and Beatles fan will know most all there is to know already so I will spare you any unnecessary histrionics. What I think is far more important is to make clear what is actually here on offer and the visual and playing conditions, because simply I do not offer albums of this magnitude lightly. A copy of ‘Pepper’ has to be a minimum of excellent for me to offer. I have already outlined above what this copy is all about. Sound quality is of paramount importance to be able to enjoy this album to the near maximum, and ‘near maximum’ are the correct words for this well preserved copy. Whenever I manage to get a copy of Sgt Pepper, the first ‘Test’ track I play is ‘She’s Leaving Home’, only very rarely will this song play anything like well with distortion and breakup being almost the norm. As I have stated many times before, Beatles albums always have at least one ‘critical track’ that nearly always gives problems. On Rubber Soul it’s ‘Michelle’, on Revolver it’s ‘In My Life’ and ‘Got to Get You Into My Life’, on Help! it’s ‘Yesterday’, on For Sale its ‘Mr Moonlight’ on With the Beatles it’s ‘Money’ - on this album it’s ‘She’s Leaving Home’ and sometimes the final song, ‘A Day in the Life’. I can only assume the groove patterns on these tracks were such they clipped and damaged more easily along with the fact they are nearer the centre which became more critical to the tracking angle. Let’s be honest, how many people using Dansettes or similar record players, actually took the time to check and align the stylus or replace it when needed? This copy plays the near impossible ‘She’s Leaving Home’ superbly well, practically perfectly in fact. If you doubt how hard this song is, try listening to your own copy, is it totally noise-free, distortion-free, devoid of pops or clicks and all high frequencies and vocals sharp and clear? If it is, treasure it because few ever will be, especially in mono. With many record players tracking in excess of 10 grams, and often much more, back in the 1960s, it’s no small wonder this fragile song got worn – this too with just a tiny number of plays. As a guide, just one play on a mono Dansette could be the equal of around 20 or more plays on a stereo machine with a far more lightweight cartridge. All visual and audio evidence suggests that has received very few plays and this groundbreaking album plays superbly with incredible sound and detail. Nothing clipped, practically all sound focused and precise, a trip into the studio itself. Just gentle surface sound played at volume as the record fades on the final song. The cover and contents are very impressive too and this example is audiophile standard and could be just the one the discerning collector has been looking for.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a fully laminated gatefold format that was printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse. This one has the standard ‘narrow’ more rounded spine and is complete with psych inner and card insert. The inside has two exterior flipbacks on the top edges.

Laminate – Front & Back: Both sides look impressively fresh and clean. The laminate both sides is fully adhered with no lifting at all, this makes a considerable difference to attractiveness and can never be taken for granted. Retaining a lovely shine and clarity, the front has just a mild dull near the top edge seen under light. The back has a mild rim pressmark with equally mild dulling around, this barely even visible with normal viewing, few examples will not have this as a bare minimum. Any fine surface marks are few, ultra fine and faint and barely a crease to be seen on the front. Any on the back are mostly confined to the edges are super-fine hairline traces, a small surface crease near the bottom left corner. With such hugely famous artwork, it is best seen to absolutely maximum advantage, and here can be, both sides retain rich colour, the back especially so with an intense red finish. These outside faces are impressively attractive.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The inside gatefold is simply stunning and looks little short of new. I have explained above, this retains an incredibly loud creaking crackle when opened, but be careful, not too widely as not to break that fragile laminate on the centre hinge fold. The tightness of this laminate is what makes that beautiful sound on opening, and clearly, this one has not been opened too many times as it fails to open full distance with the tight laminate restricting it (unless forced). One of the very few Pepper covers I have seen where the central laminate hinge has not cracked at all, this is a huge ask, but here is FULLY intact. The intensity of the band pictures inside is incredible and finding it better will prove near impossible. More good news, the two top flipback ends have NOT stuck together and pulled, this is a trait of these inside flipbacks. The ends a little tacky when new, they stick and pull and often grubby – this has been totally avoided.

Top & Bottom Edges: Totally unworn up to the cornertips, full laminate intact, dead smooth, totally unscuffed to the fingertip test. Both pairs very straight too. This lies dead flat when closed with no curl or bowing.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean and sharp with any burr traces or thickening very small and minor, there is no feathering and both guaranteed untrimmed. Record enters on either edge as both are open which is totally correct.

Spine and Text: Again, this has the standard ‘narrow’ more rounded spine. Some had a wide, squarer spine, these are rarer. This format is very prone to wear and especially laminate peeling. This exposes the text which when rubs and erodes becoming grubby and tatty looking. Well this one has avoided all that. Not only has the laminate remained uncracked or peeled, it is still silky smooth to the fingertips. A light central, purely natural centre crease has formed so a little of the text has sunken, but this is totally normal and has done so far less than most (as can be seen on my spine text close-up). The most important factor, is the spine is fully laminated, hence the white area has not been exposed to become potentially grubby and ALL the text is present and unworn. This not to be taken for granted or dismissed lightly. Many ‘narrow’ spine examples are very tatty indeed, this one looks very impressive, and unless an unopened cover can be found (real likely eh?), this is almost as neat and fine as they get.

Corners: A little light tip rubbing or chip with a couple of tiny tip area surface creases. All retain excellent or better shape.

Cover Summary: Not quite perfect, but a very impressive and attractive example, all the huge plusses blow away any tiny negatives of which there are very few. Only a tiny percentage these days will offer a near unworn spine and that spine-tingling crackle when opened – that lovely sound takes you right back to issue day. With such impressive looks and freshness, it will please most-all collectors.

The Inner: EXCELLENT: and possibly undegraded at that. Made with very thin and fragile paper, most of these are split on all seam edges, badly creased, torn, rubbed or missing altogether – some even have substantial ringwear. This is a fine example that is totally unsplit and has no repairs. The top entrance edge has a little mild creasing and rubbing, few will avoid this. This has the ‘Made in Great Britain’ and ‘Patents Applied For’ text, I think all did being honest. This inner was discontinued when the label format changed in 1969. In terms of real wear, this has little with hardly any creasing and no tears, it also retains a fine unfaded colour. Just enough light darkening on the edges from the seam adhesive to remind of it’s vast age with a small few, tiny tone spots but little else. When rarely seen even intact, this splendid example has withstood the test of time (and a very heavy record) extremely well.

The Insert: MINT: ultra clean, still fresh and attractive with no creasing or burring, all edges crisp and sharp – it looks as new as any ever will. Even the bare card back is totally unmarked or aged.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: a super mono record, most this clean and little used are locked away in valuable collections and do not get offered too often. Very clean with a lovely sheen, intense black with deep and wide grooves, this looks impressive. Few ‘Peppers’ will look this clean and fresh these days, looking closely at the ultra clean grooves reveals the complex jagged information that lies embedded within them – this is a breathtaking recording and this one retains immense sound. Fewer either, were pressed quite this heavy, the more serious collector always prefers a heavyweight, solid record, and this one is certainly that. Both surfaces show only very light and mainly incredibly fine surface trace marks and NONE sound. There are no penetrating scratches. Collectors will know what most copies of this, and similar aged Beatles items will look like these days. Often seen more grey and dulled with a maze of fingermarks and deep sounding scratches (or worse, often severe distortion and invisible substantial groovewear). One slip or jolt or drop from an unforgiving heavy vintage arm could have put a ‘terminal’ furrow or crater on this record – we have all seen them at sometime. As stated, this copy has avoided any abuse or accidents and looks very lightly played. Let’s be honest, how many actually bought this album and did not play it? The ultra fine surface marks probably caused by dry cloth cleaning and totally harmless. In terms of a mono ‘Sgt Pepper’ a copy hardly even run-in in vinyl terms, a view reinforced by mostly superb audio quality my play-grade revealed. Visually a super record that should please 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 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: This copy has fantastic overall sound with little to fault – a bold statement I know, but this, even when play-graded on a highly revealing system, excelled. Playing even above it’s high visual grading with strong clear , totally focused sound. Sound quality is astonishing with a massive dynamic range and very detailed sound, another George Martin masterpiece of production. With the Beatles classics often played into submission, few available mono copies will match or surpass this lightly used copy I feel sure. The mono production is dynamic and detailed, many regard it as the best mono record ever. This remains one of the most important albums ever issued and sounds very different to the stereo version – both being essential. An album of amazing depth with complex sound that still impresses. The impossibly critical ‘She’s Leaving Home’ plays superbly and devoid of that irritating crackle and clipping to the vocals as most-all do. I can hardly reitterate that point enough. I have heard this song sound so bad, often on clean looking copies, that will make most listeners cringe, only the least played or unabused copies have any chance. This, where present, so often blamed on static, or even considered normal – IT ISN’T! I will rarely touch any Beatles album that I cannot hear before I buy to offer, it’s just too risky, and I always play this song first as a benchmark for the rest. We all know what these old records were usually played on and the horrendous results and damage they inflicted. A little faint surface sound is just about acceptable – just enough to remind the listener what they are actually listening to – a 44-year-old mono record – if they don’t please me why would they please others? The only light surface sound I noted was at the very end of ‘Day in the Life’ as the music fades after the second loud cresendo, but little else and any sound degrading is minor bordering on minuscule. Little, if anything really, spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful album. A copy that will prove immensely difficult to find significantly better for visual and quality sound. A record that offers the definitive sound of the time, no modern digital enhancements are needed, how can you better perfection? Any minuscule sound blemishes (of which there are few). Any light traces largely brushed aside by the breathtaking clean sound, I noted no pops or clicks at all. For pure audio excellence, this record merits strong recommendation. If 100 per cent total silence is mandatory, wait for the near impossible, in the meantime, this should please most collectors.

End Piece: To sum up: ‘Sgt Pepper’ is not even remotely rare in mono or stereo, it sold millions. I have found both formats pretty easy to find if needed. It’s the conditions that make the difference between average to exceptional – that is why I am prepared to spend considerable time describing the popular classics in such detail. You can probably find many other ‘Peppers’ available from various sources, but what will they sound like?, what have they been played on?, it’s simply a ‘Pepper Lottery’. This copy leaves nothing to chance and for most, will be a ‘keeper-copy’. It opens the studio door – walk inside and enjoy again this evergreen masterpiece the way George Martin and The Beatles wanted it to be heard. Only an unplayed or mastertape will better this significantly and there are few of those around for sure. Now into my eleventh year on Ebay, this is quite possibly the best mono copy I have heard and offered for a long, long time. Realistically, finding one a great deal better will prove immensely difficult and likely very costly – you pays your money, you takes your choice.

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’.