THE MONKEES Head - UNPLAYED/UNOPENED SHRINKWRAPPED COLGEMS US 1968 LP

	£		129
	$		171

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 will now be blocked 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 MONKEES

Album Title: Head.

Producer(s): The Monkees and Jerry Goffin.

Album Coordinator: Jack Nicholson (the actor).

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Opening Ceremony; Porpoise Song (Theme from Head); Ditty Diego–War Chant; Circle Sky; Supplicio; Can You Dig It; Gravy.

Side 2: Superstitious; As We Go Along; Dandruff?; Daddy’s Song; Poll; Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again; Swami–Plus Strings etc.

Label/Format: COLGEMS – not a label I have seen before, and that has not changed as this copy is totally factory sealed. Yes true, almost beyond belief, this rare American original has NEVER been opened. So both cover and record are as made.

Cat Number: COSO 5008.

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.

Country of Manufacture: U.S.

Rarity & Info: This is a rare record in it’s own right, a very poor seller from wherever it was released. But this copy is very special indeed as it is still as it was purchased back in 1968. Fully sealed in the original shinkwrapping, yes even the opening edge has never been opened and (obviously) the record never removed or played. The temptation to open, view and play this Colgems original was almost beyond temptation, but I decided not to. How many of these will still even exist in this ultimate Mint and genuine unplayed condition?, finding out outside the United States almost goes beyond rare. This was album number six for The Monkees, the film had only very limited distribution and hardly publicity, predictably, it was a total failure – the album faired little better either. I think the fact this copy remains in this pristine condition is due to the fact of it’s then unique cover. The front of Colgems originals as made in the United States featured a front cover with a surface of aluminized PET film, meant to reflect the viewer’s face back at them – thus ‘Head’. This coating is microns thick, fragile, but offered ultimate reflective properties, it was first developed in the 1950s. I would imagine this cost of creating such a cover would have been considerable and very specialised – it was NOT incorporated in the UK where the album was issued on RCA Victor. Here it had a laminated grey surface and this effect wanted by the band was lost. Micky Dolenz years after issue said many were ruined in the printing process thus even finding on at all near perfect was a lottery from day one. With the shrinkwrap almost fully intact (one tiny split on the top edge near the left corner), this stunning, highly reflective front shines like virgin alumium tinfoil and is totally devoid of any ageing or dulling. I can seen no issues to the incredible surface itself at all. Even with the shrinkwrap attached, the front still reflects just like a mirror and finding another quite like it could prove near impossible. Amazingly, the shrinkwrap surface itself has only fine surface hairlines and few will ever remain so fully intact as this. An ultimate rare album on the small, and short-lived COLGEMS label in pristine Mint unplayed condition with a cover to match. In real terms, this has to be one of the rarest albums I have ever had to offer since selling records on Ebay in April 2001 – this a likely one-off opportunity for collectors – and for my money, this is the best-ever Monkees album as well.

Original Year of Release: December 1968.

Matrix Nos: No information available.

Brief Artist & Album Info: ‘Hey, Hey, We’re The Monkees’ – But not as we know it on this one – until more ‘modern times’, the world’s most famous ‘manufactured’ pop group, which they actually freely-admit on this album. ‘Head’ was a movie, the screenplay was put together by the then B-film actor Jack Nicholson. It was The Monkees’ first full-length big screen film after the highly successful TV series – the same success did not follow for this bizarre, arty, psychedelic big screen debut. Critics were divided by it, some thought it a psych masterpiece, others thought a self-indulgent disaster. The album, for me anyway, is a real psychedelic classic with some wonderful songs (and bizarre spaced-out dialogue). This cult album includes arguably their finest ever track, ‘Porpoise Song’ the main theme from the movie, it’s an absolute joy and worth any price alone, but it’s far from the only great song on this somewhat ‘lost’ album. As relatively common as their early albums are, this album is a different matter – this sold poorly and is seldom seen or offered anywhere as an original. If the early Monkees albums were a little too poppy and ‘manufactured’ for you, this album is very different. I guess it could be compared to The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, but it was all too much for early fans who largely ignored it. Sales were already on the decline by the time of this issue anyway and quite honestly this pretty much finished them off completely. As mentioned in the ‘Rarity’ paragraph above, this is the ultimate collector’s copy. Not only a rare first COLGEMS pressing, but still fully shrinkwrapped and UNOPENED. The cover, and presumably the record in little short of Mint condition with no import or deletation punches or cuts. This amazing item simply turns back the clock to December 1968 as if it had just been purchased. Will another ever be found in this ‘virgin’ condition, especially outside the United States?

Cover Grade and Format: MINT: shrinkwrapped and unopened. This proved a very hard one to photograph due to the very shiny surface that reflects everthing. This has the rare ultra shiny PET film coated surface which shines like a mirror, even under the shrinkwrap. A single format and as clearly seen on my close-up picture, with the COLGEMS logo and original COSO 5008 catalogue number. This cover format is totally unique and was never replicated anywhere using this highly specialised super-shiny surface. Having this protected for 46 years with the original shrinkwrap means this appears unaged, dulled or scratched (as best as I can tell) at all. No corner bashes or seam splits, this is remarkably preserved and of ultimate quality and freshness. You want a unique, super-rare original cover as-made – you got it!

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: MINT: as made, what else can it be? This has never been removed, so unhandled or played, the last time it saw light-of-day was in an American factory back in 1968.

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 Terrarium 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 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 10,000+ items sold in over 12 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 2 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). 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 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] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (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 [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced 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 [£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’.