THE HOLLIES Butterfly SCARCE Orig UK 1967 Mono nr EX LP

	£		53
	$		70

Hi, I am Mike, now 50 – yes the big FIVE-O! Old enough to remember the golden era of original, high quality music, bands, artists.

Also records from the 1960s and 70s bought from the shops from new, I have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 37 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and elusive items now. 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 reader – 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 one hundred percent is exact colour matching for covers - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. 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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortophon 520 Mk II cartridge (tracks at 1.75 grams). Amps: Arcam 2 x 125W Pre-Power. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with the record(s) 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 TWO massively thick stiffners for even extra protection and buddle wrap if deemed necessary. These stiffners are the thickest possible and custom supplied for ‘Oneadayrecords’ – these are NOT commercially available and you will not have seen thicker protection anywhere. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. Printed address labels are used as well as ‘Fragile’ tape for that extra professional touch for the packet. 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. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but NOT surface mail abroad. I never make profit on posting and offer probably the cheapest and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends, with the total costs including ‘standard’ or ‘optional extra insurance’ P&P – ALL UK and Russian packets go out non-negotiable Recorded Delivery. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 3,500+ items sold in over 5 years of Ebay trading (I am now one of most established sellers via Ebay) and I consider that pretty exceptional.

PLEASE NOTE: I will now only send packets to Russia with Recorded Delivery at a cost of £7 per single LP. If this is unacceptable to Russian collectors, please do not bid. I only want my records to arrive safely and this gives packets a better chance to do so. Also ALL UK packets will be sent with either Recorded or Special Delivery as standard (both have to be signed for). All shipping costs and rules can be found after my description. If they are not acceptable, please do not bid.

Album Title: Butterfly.

Producer(s): Ron Richards.

Track Listing: Side 1: Track Listing: Dear Eloise; Away Away Away; Maker; Pegasus; Would You Believe; Wish You Believe; Wishyouawish.

Side 2: Postcard; Charlie and Fred; Try It; Elevated Observations?; Step Inside; Butterfly.

Label/Format: Parlophone – original yellow and black format (Please see my label scan for any information needed).

Label Conditions: Both very clean and attractive with only very light spindle marks and no wear around the hole area. Side two has the very deeply embossed and pronounced ‘K T’ tax codes which are both unworn and thicker than most I have seen. Highly visible as my label scan will show.

Cat Number: PMC 7039.

Mode / Speed: Mono / 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: 147 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 135 to 145 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, many records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 50 records from these eras.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Scarce.

Original Year of Release: 1967

Matrix Nos: XEX 659-1 / XEX 660-1

Stamper Codes: 1 A / 1 A

Brief Artist & Album Info: Along with Evolution, Butterfly is The Hollies other psych masterpiece, issued in the greatest year in rock history, the summer of love, 1967. The mono is mix is tremendous with massive power and dynamics and this case I prefer it over the stereo version. Most of the big popular bands around this time made a psych album, and Butterfly has to be regarded as one of the very best. It still has the classic Hollies harmonies and the band rarely sounded better. With the definite psych feel and mix added this is something really special. The cover too is pure 1967, brilliantly psych and surreal with fabulous artwork. This classic should be included in any serious 60s collection and even non-Hollies fans should still love this one. Every track’s a gem but ‘Pegasus’ is worthy of special mention – its magnificent. This copy has all the hallmarks of a hardly played record but, yes there is a but on this one. There is a long mark on both sides which at first glance looks fairly serious in terms of affecting play. But to my astonishment these marks are pretty much ignored with just a couple or three faint clicks towards the end of side two. I feel certain this psych-pop classic was only played once or twice by a somewhat heavyhanded or careless original owner. I would not normally offer records with marks like these but when they are 99.9 per cent superficial and have little to no effect on sound, well why not? Even better news is the lack of distortion or clipping to the vocals or music which in the case of Hollies albums in mono especially is difficult to avoid. The intensity of the vocals and loud mix makes their albums very susceptible to groove wear and damage which this copy has avoided totally. So not a copy for those who want records to look pristine but if sound over looks matters, this copy will take a lot of beating and that’s the honest truth.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: High: [Unlaminated covers are always the most vulnerable for rubbing, fading, sticker tears and ringwear, gatefolds are more prone still and the darker they are, the more this type of wear occurs and shows. Some sleeves have a textured finish or die-cut shaped edges or ‘windows’. These are even more delicate and the hardest to find in top condition. Fully laminated covers are more resistent to wear but often the laminate ages with dulling, creases and blistering. Many 60s covers have outer flipback construction, these are very vulnerable to damage]. (US covers are the most fragile of all, very rarely laminated and made with thick brittle card that rubs and ringwears badly. Seams and edges split more easily). Please see format below to access this cover’s potential for wear and damage.

Cover Grade and Format: EX++ and this hardly does it full justice. A single format with a laminated front that wraps around all closed edges on to three large rear flipbacks. This is the correct PMC mono cover that was printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd and has the early ‘Patents pending’ text. The original owner neatly included his name on the back cover (top left just below the flipback edge), my gradings do not include any downgrading for this thing, that’s for any potential customer to decide.

Lamination & Front: A lovely front with very shiny, undulled laminate that remains crystal clear and fresh. All fully adhered with no blistering, peeling or cracking. Any creasing is very light with just one that can be said to be moderate near the bottom right corner area but even this has little visibility with normal viewing. A superb front by any standards and with the original UK artwork of course, it will prove very difficult to find much better.

Cover Back: The small, neat sig apart as mentioned above, this back is near perfect and looks truly fantastic. The main area with no laminate protection has minimal traces of any ageing, marks or grubbiness and the artwork is pristine. The lack of ringwear or record impression is always a bonus. The flipbacks are in supreme condition with little short of as new looks. All fully adhered with no damage and barely any traces of burring to their ends. The end-of-laminate lines are ultra clean and devoid of grime-line build-up and will prove near impossible to find better.

Top Edge: Unworn.

Bottom Edge: Unworn.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, quite sharp with minimal wear and no feathering. Slightly thickened if viewed end-on. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: Pretty much as made and looking little short of pristine. Solid, straight, uncompressed and square with its original shape fully retained. All text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate.

Corners: All practically as made too with lovely neat shape and definition retained.

Cover Summary: A highly attractive all round example of this famous 60’s cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This beautiful item should please many collectors.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Slightly difficult to grade a record like this. Minus the two significant marks I would be grading this splendid mono record EX++ as a minimum. The two marks will reduce this but how much? well probably EX is not unreasonable but putting a definitive grade on this is really subjective. I will explain these marks: Side one is a very fine long mark that cannot be felt or heard and is quite conspicuous unless more looked for. It has no effect on sound. Side two’s mark is a again long but is more a scuff and cannot be felt either and again has no sound. A tiny mark near its end is a very fine and faint scratch that does have a very few light clicks and this being the only really audible blemish on the music of this still wonderful record. Still a very fine visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and heavily pressed. A copy hardly even played on all the evidence but clearly the once or twice it was played, the owner was somewhat careless or heavy-handed but when the marks have practically no influence on the sound, I happy to state, this record has had a lucky escape. Visually a super record that should please many collectors again but not the perfectionists of course.

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 snippetts 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 superb record plays above its visual grading with little to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear and never take this for granted on Hollies albums particularly in mono. Sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and no other pops or clicks were noted bar as mentioned alraedy and this is an exceptional clean pressing for a fairly challenging album. Few copies will outperform this early pressing significantly I feel sure and I reitterate again, the marks are largely ignored. I can guarantee, copies of this title without such marks will often play with more unwanted sounds that this one. Groovewear cannot be seen but can be clearly heard. Just one play with a blunt, chipped or misaligned mono pickup would destroy the groove walls on this title and those complex vocals would be made unlistenable. Such wear or damage has not occured on this copy which remains fully focused and sharp and devoid of high-frequency clipping and distortions. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and the cover clearly well stored and lightly handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Practically nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record and without doubt it’s one of the cleanest sounding mono examples I have yet heard. This copy will prove very difficult to find significantly better for sound and cover and can still be strongly recommended.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & OPTIONS:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (First Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4 (OPTIONAL).

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA (NOT RUSSIA, see below) (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £5.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £9 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: RUSSIA (Recorded Only, if this is unacceptable, please do not bid):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ only £7) = £9 (OPTIONAL extra insurance as above).

Posting & Packing: OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. US; Australia; Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £8.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £13 (OPTIONAL).

* If Rules allow for that country.

PLEASE NOTE: I always get a Royal Mail ‘Proof-of-Posting’ receipt for ALL packets that are sent out and I am happy to prove this to any customer who wishes to see it via email.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

The customer can choose their method of shipping with the exception of second class or surface mail overseas – these I will NOT use. The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£35).

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. 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 minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

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 neccessarily 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’.