THE HOLLIES Greatest - STUNNING NEAR MINT UK 1968 MONO RECORD, BEAUTIFUL SOUND.

	£		35
	$		46

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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 HOLLIES

Album Title: Hollies’ Greatest

Producer(s): Ron Richards

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: I Can’t Let Go; Bus Stop; We’re Through; Carrie Anne; Here I Go Again; King Midas in Reverse; Yes I Will.

Side 2: I’m Alive; Just One Look; On a Carousel; Stay; Look Through Any Window; Stop Stop Stop; Jennifer Eccles.

Label/Format: Parlophone – Original yellow and black format with matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both superb: Parlophone’s will rarely be seen looking much better than this pair. Clean and beautifully defined with hardly any trace of wear or ageing. Any of the tiny few spindle marks are very light and faint, and we all know old steel spindles left their marks readily, especially on the darker surfaces. There is no wear around the hole rims and clearly, this beautiful record has hardly been played very little, this reiterated by beautiful clean and focused sound which is always very difficult for early Hollies, especially in mono. This totally blew me away on play-grade, so-much-so, this is now my new reference copy for enjoying anywhere after putting it to disc for my own personal use. For sound, I will never find a better one, of that, I am certain.

Cat Number: PMC 7057

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: 144 grams. A typical very solidly pressed 1960s Parlophone record.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Moderate: but try finding this mono record better. This Hollies album was justifiably popular and those who bought them usually played them heavily. The playing surfaces on this copy proves what an exceptional record this is. It has avoided any overplaying or abuse from blunt worn mono needles that wrote-off so many gems like this. The music on this copy plays nigh-on perfectly with stunning detail and sound – I have a big preference for the mono version, this was the sound of the era when these classic singles were issued, and few old scratchy singles will come anywhere close to matching the audio quality of this long-player. With a lovely clean cover and inner included, this set will prove very hard to find like this again and is one for the discerning 1960s collector.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: XEX 693-1 and XEX 694-1 Stamper Codes: 1 GR / 1 L [in terms of this album, these are very early indeed]

Brief Artist & Album Info: Along with The Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Kinks, The Hollies made some of the very best singles of the 1960s, every song barely anything unwanted, never take this for granted on any mono pressing, especially by this band. I consider Hollies albums in mono amongst the hardest to find that will play well throughout. The intense sound, complex harmony vocals and volume nearly always incur high frequency distortion and break-up. Well this very lightly played example has none of that at all, indeed, this plays like a barely run-in new copy and I simply could not resist but to put it to CD for my own personal use to hear anywhere. Only the very best and cleanest vinyl is ever up to the job for doing this. Although I own all Frank Zappa’s albums in nigh-on mint condition, I copied the entire collection to disc to play on my large living-room digital system with breathtaking results, and I wanted this prized set the same. The detail and dynamics are quite incredible and I heard fine detail and sound I feel sure I had never heard before. The pure feel-good factor this band’s singles (and albums) always give, and sounding so good in their natural mono sound, the format of the era. Hollies in the 1960s were quite brilliant and their singles collection from this period are (arguably) second to none. The mono mixes here are vastly superior and any connoisseur collector is likely to agree, what a joy to hear these gems so clear and clean, I fear most of the seven inch singles would not get close to this. Not just another compilation, this is a definitive collection of some of the finest singles ever made by one of the finest 1960s bands. This hardly played record offers these classics with the best sound possible and it could prove a near ultimate upgrade for some – do not miss this one.

Musicians: Allan Clarke – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica; Graham Nash – vocals, guitar; Tony Hicks – vocals, guitars, banjo, mandolin, bass, sitar, keyboards; Eric Haydock – bass; Bobby Elliott – drums; Bernie Calvert – bass, keyboards.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a single format with a laminated front that wraps around the closed edges on to three large rear flipbacks. A dedicated mono cover with the correct PMC 7057 number. The main back panel matt and smooth. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse and has the original ‘Patents pending’ text. The original sepia EMI promotional inner sleeve is included as well.

Lamination & Front: One of the classic 1960s compilation graphic covers of the 1960s, this was quite different for the United States version. Here seen to near maximum advantage with very fresh, clear and shiny laminate that has hardly any traces of dulling or lifting, any creasing towards the bottom being very fine and faint, only really seen under angled light. The graphic totally unaged and looking magnificent, even the exposed fine laminate end strip on the right being unworn and mainly crisp.

Cover Back: An easy match for the wonderful front. This has lost barely any of its whiteness over the years and there is no toning or grubbiness, even near the edges. The unprotected matt panel totally devoid or rubbing or creasing. All three flipbacks are little short of immaculate: very neat with no damage and totally lacking end burring or laminate end grime lines. Any creasing to the laminated flipbacks being few and fine. Quite honestly, few original covers for this classic collection will even get close to this.

Top Edge: Practically unworn, the laminated thiin surface being smooth and largely straight.

Bottom Edge: As above.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, fairly sharp, not the cleanest of cuts in manufacture (which I have always found on this cover) but with little wear and no feathering, guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced. Record entered on this edge.

Spine and Text: A superb spine that really does remind of new. Solid, mainly straight with no compression, the ends are pinched in manufactured. All text is perfect and unworn under very solid and uncracked laminate which is very clear, smooth and shiny.

Corners: Any tip rubs are small and light with no knocks or dinks. Excellent to near mint shape being retained.

Cover Summary: A highly attractive, age-defying all-round example of this scarcer late-1960’s mono cover, one that will prove immensely difficult to find better. This beautiful item should please many, if not most-all collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): a little corner crinkle apart, it again almost reminds of new. This copy included the sepia EMI promotional inner that has the ‘Patents applied for’ text. These were not lined and amazingly the edges have survived unsplit or torn and lacks the grubbiness and toning most fail to avoid. This inner promotes other EMI and Parlophone acts from the 1960s up to 1967 and includes: The Seekers, The Beatles (Sgt Pepper), Lulu, Pink Floyd (Piper) and Simon Dupree and the Big Sound (amongst others). Finding these inners like this is never easy either and always a good guide to the lack of record handling. This guaranteed original and the one that came with the record. The one previous owner caring enough to place a loose soft anti-static lining inside which I have left of course.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NEAR MINT: and immensely unusual to find these popular compilations looking hardly even used. People who bought these usually played them to near destruction on the most basic of record players – we have all seen such examples. Well this one is stunning, and on the other side of the vinyl spectrum. This is ultra clean with super shine, freshness and quite heavily pressed on top-quality vinyl. Barely a mark or blemish to be seen, both playing surfaces look stunning and this looks barely used. Truly, this could prove the ultimate upgrade for Hollies and 1960s music collectors, one in many will even get close to this. A joy to hold and observe, even before the fantastic clean sound is enjoyed, one to please most-all 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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This fantastic mono record plays up to its high visual grading with barely anything to fault and must rank as one of the very best (difficult) mono albums I have ever heard in terms of pure clean sound. As I have stated already, I have always found Hollies albums very difficult to find ‘perfect’ in mono. Just a few plays with a blunt pile-driver stylus ruined so many of their early records making the delicate vocal harmonies clip and distort, destroying the marvellous audio quality once there. This is so often the norm rather than the exception - this clean sounding record is THE exception. It offers strong, punchy sound with no tracking issues*, a trait of the mono mode, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is tremendous with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal to none and few copies will play better than this, most would be just happy to match it. Both channels are clean and sharp and devoid of that single channel mono noise. No traces of clipping to those gorgeous vocal harmonies at all, all the music sharp and fully focused. This too being played on a stereo Linn Sondek LP12, still one of the most revealing turntables ever manufactured. Put simply: this is the very best example of these 14 classic in mono I have yet heard – I simply had to keep this forever on CD for my future enjoyment – even offering this is proving hard. I am certain this record has hardly been played, clearly well stored and looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading these marvellous songs, what a joy to hear them all so clean with that mono mix that does give them that extra clout and clarity. The 1960s was the age of the mono record and still the connoisseur’s choice. The bass tones are certainly richer and deeper and the sound is just so right for its time. This copy will prove beyond difficult to find better for high quality, clear and practically noise-free sound and is highly recommended.

End Piece: This truly was a thrilling play-grade, I have always loved the Hollies early records, it bought back happy memories of my dad playing these back in the late 1960s on his Alba radiogram (a stereo unit) and this was only my third time hearing all these gems on my LP12 in superior mono, the difference really is vast with a far stronger more detailed sound. If you need this fine set for your collection I promise you will find it difficult to find a better copy for looks and audio quality, this is a treat from beginning to end – do not even think about losing this wonderful copy.

* 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’.