THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO Rare US 1967 Verve STEREO

	£		137
	$		182

Hi, I am Mike, now 48 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 34 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, 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 (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - 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. The only thing I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching - 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. Variation can sometimes occur too in colour of the label scans and labels taken next to the sleeve with a digital camera, the scanned full label pictures should be the most accurate. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert. 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 or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Album Title: The Velvet Underground & Nico.

Producer(s): Andy Warhol is credited as ‘Producer’ but apparantely had minimal participation in any ‘production’ of this record. Members have since stated that this record was actually not ‘produced’ as such at all. The sound of this album was made by two engineers: Norman Dolph and John Licata assisted by the band. Tom Wilson is credited for producing ‘Sunday Morning’.

Track Listing: Side 1: Sunday Morning; I’m Waiting For the Man; Femme Fatale; Venus in Furs; Run Run Run; All Tomorrow’s Parties. Side 2: Heroin; There She Goes Again; I’ll Be Your Mirror; The Black Angel Death Song; European Son.

Label/Format: Verve – US Blue and Silver format (please see scans).

Label Conditions: Both very clean and highly attractive with only light and faint spindle marks and no wear around the hole area.

Cat Number: V6-5008.

Mode: Stereo.

Weight of this Record: 125 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 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Country of Manufacture: US.

Rarity & Introduction: Rare. This vintage US pressing was not available on Verve for very long. Predominately a jazz label that took on a couple of the more ‘difficult’, controversial and underground bands from this heady period – Zappa’s Mothers of Invention was the other infamous ‘Verve’ band. Although clearly not a perfect copy, this very early example has the ‘peelable banana’ cover and in this case the original owner decided to give it go (as many did just out sheer curiousity – let’s face it, who could resist when the cover actually puts the temptation right in front of you, and of course at the time of issue, no-one knew what was beneath). The small text at the top of the famous fruit states: ‘PEEL SLOWLY AND SEE’ (see the close up picture). This was a poor selling album when issued in March 1967, it failed to chart at all in the UK and only peaked at a lowly 171 in their native US. The few who did buy this record, many ‘peeled’ the banana and this case the top third tore off revealing the very suggestive pink phallic like banana beneath. The original owner retained the banana ‘skin’ top and I have it here and it fits perfectly back into place bar the very tip which is missing. I think this cover looks fantastic just the way it is – you get both here, two thirds with peel and the top third exposed (but any future owner can do what they wish with the torn top that almost certainly could be put back into place with care to make a neat repair). Better left as it is in my opinion. Be very wary of original ‘banana’ covers that look a little too good to be true. Some had the surface ‘skin’ removed and then a photocopy of a reissue stuck back over the exposed pink banana to make it appear as an ‘unpeeled’ original – they may look ‘nice’ but not original. This is the genuine article and whether its appearance appeals now or not, its for real. The original covers are very rare indeed, especially with a true original ‘unpeeled’ front. The back is equally controversial: the originals had a live band picture that had a torso above that resembled Christ. This was heavily frowned upon also and was quickly withdrawn but the early printed covers were censored with large stickers placed atop the offending ‘torso’ graphic. This is such a copy – the large black sticker has never been removed and I cannot say for absolutely certain what lies beneath but my hunch would be the ‘torso’ – why else would this huge sticker be placed there? – I reitterate this is only a hunch based on logic only – for certain, this is a very early example and overall in very reasonable condition. An album isssued in mono and stereo, both are of similar rarity, maybe the stereo version slightly more elusive but both rare, make no mistake. Any early US copy of this record found in the UK will be a very rare item, the UK version had a less interesting cover but is equally rare.

Original Year of Release: March 1967

Matrix Nos: V6 5008 M&S-558 / V6 5008 M&S-559

Musicians: Lou Reed – Lead guitar, Ostrich guitar, vocal; John Cale - Electric viola, piano, bass guitar; Sterling Morrison - rhythm guitar, bass guitar; Maureen Tucker - percussion; Nico - vocal. This is the only album this line-up ever recorded together. Nico wanted more vocal parts on future albums but this was rejected and she left soon afterwards. Cale made one further album with the band before leaving himself whereupon the band’s music mellowed considerably.

Album/Band Info: This album for me, along with Zappa’s Freak Out is the most important album in rock history, a true landmark recording that expanded the boundaries of taboo subjects into ‘popular’ music. Topics only hinted at previously were laid open and nothing was held back – a record that ventured deeply into unchartered territory. Revolutionary, chaotic, uncompromising, daring and totally unique – this album even today sounds radical and only its primitive sound gives away it’s great age. Nothing had been heard like it before or since and it changed the face of ‘modern rock’ music for all time. Two American guys, a female percussionist, a classical Welsh viola and keyboards player and a German female vocalist – hardly conventional from the outset – and the material this quintet put to vinyl was little short of breathtaking. Daring, unconventional and light years ahead of the time – the subjects covered in their songs was so head-on and controversial, it was little surprise no other labels wanted them and even Verve were nervous. Drugs, sex and sado-machochism are just some of the subjects featured within the songs and this groundbreaking album was reviled on issue, so-much-so, this band never had any commercial success within their ‘lifetime’ at all. No radio play and almost universally ignored at the time, for the pop-loving public, most found it unlistenable and it sold poorly. Only the brave few would have parted with hard-earned cash for such a revolutionary band and sound – few US or UK Verve copies will ever be found and for those that do show, most will be unplayable and wrecked. This legendary record is now regarded by most as a genuine classic – I consider it a masterpiece – and I openly state it’s possibly my favourite album of all time – certainly in my top five for sure along with The Doors, Zappa’s We’re Only it for the Money, Beefheart’s Trout Mask Replica and In the Court of the Crimson King – yes my preferences are still for the more challenging end of the music spectrum. The only negative (for some) was the poor sound quality, this is no hi-fi classic to say the least. Very sparse with basic sound and no digital ‘spiffing up’ will ever make this one sound good. I actually think this primitive sound enhances the music’s appeal which varies from delicate pop to ferocious feedback driven noise. Played with sufficient volume, this record can still pack a fair punch and without doubt, the early vinyl still has hidden sounds that later formats seem to lack. A backdrop of Reed’s piercing guitar – the ‘ostrich’ guitar is a big drone guitar as can be heard on the sublime Nico sung ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’ [contender for my all-time favourite song along with ‘The End’ by The Doors] – blended with Cale’s eerie electric viola with Mo Tucker’s primitive drum-beat (she did not use cymbals) and although hardly technically gifted, her unique pounding of the skins gave The Velvet Underground and even more unearthly sound. She did not play on the final proper VU album Loaded due to pregnancy and their sound became far too polished for many fans liking, and band members – even ‘Mo’ herself have stated that was a mistake. The sound is just about held together by the underrated rhythm guitar of Morrison. Cale was at the forefront of the early Velvet Underground sound, an avant garde classical trained string player, his screeching viola cut right through the listener and is predominate in the almost unthinkable content of ‘Venus in Furs’. But even that controversial track is overshadowed by ‘Heroin’ which starts very gently before Reed ‘puts a spike into his vein, and things aren’t quite the same’ – the whole trip from beginning to end is a rollercoaster ride ending with a guitar frenzy ‘as the smack begins to flow’ – no wonder Verve were nervous. Not all is chaotic though, there are moments of real beauty on this set, provided by Nico’s (real name Christa Paffgen) haunting Germanic vocal. ‘Femme Fatale’ is gorgeous and delicate as is ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ but best of all, for me anyway, is the truly stunning ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’, a track I could listen to every day just for the sheer pleasure of it. A moderately slow, hypnotic driving rhythm with piano, drum beat and tambourine opening before the beautiful vocals starts – I dont have the words to describe the beauty of this track – I will simply state ‘It’s perfect’ and anyone who is not moved by this one simly does not like music – coincidentally – this was Warhol’s favourite song too. Of course, the vinyl includes the original definitive version, most CD versions of this song actually use a different version of this tack with Nico’s voice sung solo. One this original vinyl, her voice is double-tracked and for most is superior. The cover, the content, the band – all controversial and groundbreaking – clearly Warhol influenced – are magnificent and just holding this famous old record gives pleasure, the first US example for me. A copy with flaws inasmuch the cover has been ‘used’ but take another look at it, does this not give the best of both? What use is a pink banana if you cannot see it? The option to cover up again is there as the torn top piece is here and mostly intact with the ‘shaped’ torn part fitting the other end near perfectly – my tip… is to leave it just as it is – its looks great. The record itself has marks, most on side two but most, not quite all, are ignored and this vintage stereo record generally plays very well with little really to fault. A little gentle surface sound in places with a few mild clicks (on the loud part of ‘Heroin’) so most obscured anyway. This is a very ‘basic’ recording, unpolished, even crude but its simply adds to the thrill of rawness of this album. Recorded in eight hours with a shoe-string budget, any over-production on this one would have marred it’s impact and spoilt its directness and attitude. Any mild surface sounds or blemishes pretty much go unnoticed on this one and with such stunning content playing, why worry about blemishes? – anything almost blends in the uncompromising sound and recorded distortion. This record would have never been bought by hi-fi buffs or sound connoisseurs – only the brave and adventurous – I was only ten when this was issued and I did not discover the delights of the ‘Underground’ until around 1972. My first copy of this album was a UK MGM example (wafer thin pressed and crackly hasten to add). Influential beyond belief and admired by many later bands and most all critics – how times and attitudes changed. With so few early Verve copies around and most that are found trashed, this unique album is a fine copy. The very thick and heavy cover has some surface rubbing but hardly excessive and the record I feel sure has been played little and most plays very well indeed. I always like to state distortion-free on my adverts, and this is just that, but with many tracks featuring feedback and distortion who can really tell for sure? For collectors needing this remarkable record, its a copy worthy of high consideration. A US near mint, unpeeled banana example will be like gold-dust to find and probably command a very high price tariff and few will even exist now. I have no idea what value this copies worth, I will keep my opening bid very low to let any interested collector decide. After hearing this record again via vinyl, it has simply reinforced my opinion, that this really could be the greatest album ever.

Cover’s Potential for Wear & Damage: Very high indeed, few will ever been seen with little. Thick, brittle card that marks, rubs, ringwears and splits easily. The original (or early) banana cover is near impossible to find totally untampered with. Please see my picture of the torn off part loosely put on the cover again – this could be ‘repaired’, but I feel its great the way it is.

Cover Grade and Format: NOT talking into account of the semi-peeled banana and its partial removal. I grade this delicate cover as around the VG area. US-made covers simply do not last like most UK versions when ‘exposed’, and that fact has always to be taken in consideration. It’s an unlaminated gatefold format that was made in the USA. The missing banana top is here and available. As stated, this could be repaired quite easily if any winning new owner wishes, but this looks great just the way it is – who wants to hide a pink banana?

Cover Front: Amazingly still reasonably white with some moderate rubbing in places, more are light. My front picture flatters a little as the flash has washed out the rub mark details, sorry but this happens on white covers, it’s better to be honest than disappoint. Just two mild (one very small) surface creases and some light surface marks, few show really. Two thirds of the banana peel is fully intact and never peeled at all. The top has been removed to reveal the very naughty pink fruit. One of the classic covers of all time and certainly one of the most controversial and daring. I think it looks rather spiffy.

Cover Back: Similar to the front with a lightish diagonal scratch near the bottom right edge but modest rubbing, no creasing and relatively modest ringwear. This has the huge black ‘censored’ sticker on the top area – what lies beneath?, I truthfully dont know, I have not make any attempt to remove it to find out and it clearly has never been tampered with. Logic tells me it’s hiding something and there is a high possibility this has the original banned and withdrawn ‘torso’ image beneath – that is only an opinion and I cannot say for sure.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The inside is in remarkably fine shape. A huge paste on centre piece that is very neat and stuck fast with no damage and little wear. This includes comments from reviewers as this time and many are honest and hostile – this band wanted no ‘cover-ups’.

Top Edges: Light rubbing and a few small chips.

Bottom Edges: Very modest rubs and no splits to either.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The front edge, which is proud of the bottom and more ‘exposed’, has chipped and rubbed. No too excessively but quite apparent. The back entrance edge has worn little and is very neat and sharp with no feathering. This has NOT been trimmed, simply protected by the wider front.

Spine and Text: Actually a very nice spine all considered. Solid and very thick, straight with little compression at all. Minimal wear with only modest mark or discolour. All text is near perfect with no erosion to any character. Mild rubbing to the top and bottom corners but no splits or weakening or the folds.

Corners: All have rubbed, but being white, this does has less impact of course. All in very reasonable condition given all the facts with decent shape retained.

Cover Summary: One of rock’s most (in)famous covers and unique to the US. Fast approaching forty, this is a splendid overall example. Everyone will have their own opinions of it and this example too. This is how it came, and I can do nothing about its appearance. I would never personally replace the banana surface with a fake copy and in my opinion (for what it’s worth), I think this looks fantastic just the way it is. I will stop there – you decide.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Side One is EX. Side Two is VG. Still a fine and very attractive visual copy that is super clean, shiny, jet black and very solidly pressed. The first side is exceptional with just a few light surface mark or hairlines and plays very well indeed. Side two has three fine ‘lines’, most are ignored but a few gentle clicks on the loud part of ‘Heroin’ – with the deluge of sound on that track, these register little and the rest of the side plays as the first – very well indeed. I feel sure this vintage record has only been very modestly played. Overall an exceptional copy when considering the state most of these early underground albums appear in, e.g. Beefheart, Mothers, Fugs etc, etc.

Album Played For Grading: Yes, twice in fact.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This landmark record plays up to its visual grading and mostly above with little to fault. Effortless and perfect tracking – as stated, a very basic recording but the stereo mix is quite noticeable and quite effective. No hi-fi classic for sure, but the sound is just right for what it is and I for one would not want it any other way – the content is far more important than the actual sound. There is a little surface sound in places, but in context, all is minimal and light. A few clicks, again as mentioned already on ‘Heroin’ but light and most lost within the chaos. I enjoyed every moment of this record and the sense of hearing the genuine article is highly rewarding – just think, this was actually in the shops when this band were still together and recording. For those seeking this one, its a copy worthy of high consideration, it’s not perfect, but for this one, is ‘perfect’ really necessary? Again, you decide.

End Piece: Dark, brooding and menacing – Lou Reed and John Cale are two of music’s most uncompromising figures – together they were unstoppable and although their early liason was only relatively brief, the two albums they made together with The Velvet Underground are unforgettable, timless classics. No serious record collection can ever not include include The Velvet Underground & Nico. This vintage US copy may not be perfect but I still feel priviledged to offer it – The Greatest Album ever? – well I think so. Please feel free to ask me anything I may have overlooked or if any of my information is deemed incorrect.

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’.

My Terms For Bidding

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions for payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions.

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. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I buy quality single items and collections also (I am regularly told I offer the best prices – please Email me if you have items for sale).

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3 or Special Delivery (Next day, fully insured), the best service available = £7.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured & Signed For: £8.00.

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured & Signed For (where available) = £11.00. Doubles add extra £1. Reductions for multiple items for all.

Any item that sells for over £75 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £100 get the same service Overseas. This gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

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 (£30).

Mailing Details: Please note I do NOT profit on postage, in fact I lose money on most packets (my packing standards are very high and the package weighs a little more - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken OUT of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR proper stiffners for extra protection (if space allows). More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new inner, but will include the original inner if available.

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

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.