THE GRATEFUL DEAD Anthem of the Sun RARE FINAL 'WS" 1st MIX PRESS. LOVELY SOUND.

	£		28
	$		37

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World in Quality, Safe Packing.

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all – in fact I think these things should be banned as records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS. Full details nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business. I will always keep my P&P prices as low as possible, and even after yet another Royal Mail price hike from April this year, I have NOT raised my prices and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably heavier than most you will get. My P&P offers probably the best value-for-money for vinyl records available, and I even will pay for full insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: THE GRATEFUL DEAD

Album Title: Anthem of the Sun

Producer(s): The Grateful Dead

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: That’s It for the Other One; Cryptical Envelopment; Quodlibet for Tenderfeet; The Faster We Go, The Rounder We Get; We Leave the Castle; New Potato Caboose; Born Cross-Eyed.

Side 2: Alligator; Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks).

Label/Format: Warner Bros – second ‘press’ green format, still with the WS 1749 number. These have matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with only a very small few light, fine and faint spindle marks. These showing little on revealing surfaces, this record plays beautifully as well.

Cat Number: WS 1749.

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: 120 grams. Below average for a WS Warner record, but pressed on top quality pure vinyl with sound to match.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Rare: few people in the UK shelled out to buy a first issue of this album. It ranks as one of the most elusive in their catalogue. This first issues includes the original sound mix, this was changed in 1972 when repressed again making this the copy for the connoisseur ‘Deadhead’. Later Kinney repressings have an extended matrix number with the letters ‘RE’ added. Green label copies with the original mix sound are very elusive and only available for a very brief time, the green label WS copies were only pressed in tiny numbers and this one being rarer still, it actually includes dual matrixes for the original format and the forthcoming full Kinney repressing. It also has a rare Kinney sticker on the back showing the new (or forthcoming) Kinney number, but also the original number in brackets. So this was the final WS pressing ever made in the UK, indeed this is the first one of these I have seen before.

Original Year of Release: 1968 (this one from 1971).

Matrix Nos: WS 1749 A-1 *G STEREO [K 46021 A] / WS 1749 B-1 *G STEREO [K 46021 B]

Musicians: Jerry Garcia - lead guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, vibraslap, vocals; Bob Weir - rhythm guitar, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, kazoo, vocals; Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan - organ, celesta, claves, vocals; Phil Lesh - bass, trumpet, harpsichord, guiro, kazoo, piano, timpani, vocals; Bill Kreutzmann - drums, orchestra bells, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals; Mickey Hart - drums, orchestra bells, gong, chimes, crotales, prepared piano, finger cymbals; Tom Constanten - prepared piano, piano, electronic tape.

Brief Info: A more complex, less commercial and innovative album compared to the debut, the band wanted to change their sound and give this studio album more a feeling of what they sounded like live. The history of the production and mix of this album has always been complex and even Garcia admitted it sounded too far out with an intricate mixture of multi-instruments and crazed psychedelia that uses live edits and studio sound all intermixed together. It was remixed in 1972 with a different sound and feel, this even rarer than the orange label copy has the first sound mix – there is NO ‘RE’ on the matrixes which are identical to the 1968 orange press, but unusually also include the new Kinney A/B matrixes as well on a WS label copy. It is fare more unusual to find new matrixes along with originals that include the original catalogue number on the labels. Alsos included is a rare Kinney sticker on the back cover to hide the WS 1749 number, but as can be seen, the sticker also includes the original WS number as well. It almost seems the company were covering themselves in all areas not really knowing which side of the fence this particular pressing and copy actually laid. Regarded as a classic of it’s type and a ‘Deadheads’ favourite, this had little commercial potential, especially outside the US and finding this album has always proved difficult. The cover is a work of art and here looks fantastic. The top edge has a very neat repair from a movement split but has been done very well. All other areas of the sleeve look great and the first mix record looks fine and offers very clean sound. A rarer transition press and very few of these would have been pressed.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): due to the neat top edge repair, this cover actually looks better than my grading. A single format with front laminate. This wraps around the closed edges and ends on three external rear flipbacks. The main back panel is matt and smooth finished. It has the original WS 1749 on the back, front and spine with a Kinney sticker on the back to cover the rear original number reference – I hardly see the point being honest, but probably done for legal reasons? Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse and includes the original plain white inner sleeve.

Cover Front: Stunning artwork that looks really impressive. The richness of the beautiful artwork colour has to be seen for real to be fully appreciated and this retains a lovely shine, freshness and clarity with no lifting. A few mainly fine edge creases and only a couple of quite gentle half moons that show little, being lost in the complex deep coloured artwork. A little dulling seen under light, as per usual mostly near the top and bottom edges. The laminate end on the right is neat and clean, the exposed strip being hardly rubbing or grubbied. A classic piece of 1960s psych-art, this front will take a lot of beating.

Cover Back: The back is fantastic, on it’s own a Mint(–) could apply. The main unprotected panel is clean, fresh with minimal hints of grubbiness or marks. Unrubbed and fresh, the Kinney cover-up sticker is immaculate, now a little transparent to show the original number beneath. Three fantastic undamaged flipbacks with very clean edges and shiny laminate, any hairline creases on it being very few and faint. The lack of grubbiness or discolouration to flipbacks and their ends is unusual, any end burring tiny, little and light. A tiny ink run is seen in the very top edge near the top fold central split, but look quite hard.

Top Edge: Even though the central area has been neatly repaired from a movement split, the top edge still looks impressive. Thin but straight, the split was repaired by myself and can be argued it not even that obvious, but I will mention anything flaws like this. The area here now without laminate and a little paler than the rest that does retain the full laminate protection. So a flaw for sure, but not showing to any major degree, and situated where it is, it should not concern many collectors, but not for purists of course.

Bottom Edge: This edge is little short of perfect.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly sharp with minimal wear and guaranteed, untrimmed or enhanced. Slight thickening seen viewed end-on on the front , but few natural ones will show less. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: An exceptional spine in fantastic condition, this practically as made. Solid, straight, with barely any compression, this has neatly pinched ends in manufacture. All text is perfect and unworn under solid, clear, unpeeled and cracked laminate that also retains a very smooth feel to the fingertip.

Corners: All the corner tips are crisp and neat with mostly excellent (or better) shape retained. Hardly any tip rubbing with no knocks, just the odd tiny tip crease.

Cover Summary: Even with a neat top edge split repair that has only very modest visibility seen end-on, this is still a very impressive and attractive rare cover. Still one to hold, admire and enjoy, it will take a lot of beating with the main areas age-defying and close to exceptional.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: a plain white unlined inner with minimal creasing and and all edges unsplit, the window circles pristine.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: arguably better. A very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed. A copy only modestly played on all the evidence – one visible surface mark on side two has no sound – others are very fine and faint indeed as seen under bright angled light. There are NO penetrating marks and this record plays superbly throughout. So this final WS pressing remains impressive and will please many 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 this rare, dual matrix final WS pressing with the original mix offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a full dynamic range and unique original sound – I remind, this was remixed in 1972 making the original mix scarce especially on the green label as this did not sell in any great numbers – and I would suggest not too many even pressed on this new green label prior to the remix. Any surface sound hardly even registered and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*. Unruined or degraded by heavy usage or old mono needles like some earlier copies often were. Few will better this significantly for looks and sound. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played only modstly and appears mainly carefully handled. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record that should be a ‘Deadheads’ delight. The cover clearly has had a small mishap, but looks superb, record could also prove difficult to find much better and all-round merits strong recommendation.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams.

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 as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – 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 it’s 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. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Tellurium Black 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, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 minuscule in over 14 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. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. 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). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. 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] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £2 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 [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced 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’.