THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO Stereo US Verve Banana 3rd state Warhol Ultrasonic

$

168

The Velvet Underground & Nico
Verve Blue Label US Stereo Pressing
3rd Cover Design
Partial Banana
East Coast press original stampers Ultrasonic & VPI Cleaned

The best pressings of this music are the early US copies.  It’s been far too long since I’ve played this music, but for something that is so infamously “lofi” there is a lot direct, beautiful presence on these. The artwork may have changed with the Emerson lawsuit, but the stampers remained the same as it sold so few copies in the few months it had been available.

Vinyl: Visually solid VG with some marks and scuffing on both sides. Ultrasonic and VPI cleaned x2.

Jacket: VG- partial banana, rear cover has a tear, some minor staining frailty to it but it’s above average for the ones I’ve seen in person.

Discogs ID: r6055558

Play Grade:

No skips. Music isn’t hashed/ ie no groove wear. Sonics are boss but ticks, pops and surface noise as described.


Sunday Morning: Entry to solid VG+, 2 loud bits of rotational sn 1st verse, otherwise pretty swell with some minor sn. Lou’s vocals are dreamy and well recorded, reverb on his voice swells, guitar tone is tremendous.

Femme Fatale: Solid VG start, grows to Entry VG+

Venus In Furs: Strongest VG+ scary dark LSD music but NOT psychedelia. Some of the most evocative and timeless music ever recorded. Some strongest VG sn in the last verse

Run Run Run: Strongest VG tics and pops peaks to entry VG+

All Tomorrows Parties: VG recurring tics and pops in intro, builds to strongest VG then entry/solid VG+

Heroin: Intro is strong to strongest VG then VG- loud repeating tics for 3rd of song, goes away with the “bodies piling up in mounds” verse Strongest VG after that.

There She Goes Again: Entry VG+ starts, builds to strongest VG+. Quite clean

I’ll be your Mirror: Strong VG with some entry VG+ peaks

The Black Death Angel Song: Entry to Solid VG+

European Son: Strongest VG++ crushes. The beginning of all “other” music. Warm overdriven tubes to 11. Pure bliss.

About the seller:
I am first and foremost a collector. I treat this entire experience as such, and enjoy sharing these pieces.  My goals is to provide the absolute best pressings with all the detail, knowledge, skill and love they deserve. I have been a serious collector, and have traveled the world to accumulate some amazing LPs. I sell regularly on private sites online, and have built a steady group of repeat, highly satisfied customers. I will occasionally sell on eBay when I have some really nice items to share. I take this very seriously, and have impeccable 100% feedback for the items I have sold. I take pride in my work, and my past auctions will show up in place like Popsike etc.
The majority of what I sell is high quality, 1st pressings.  My personal love for vinyl comes from my goal to acquire the best sounding copies of my favorite musicians. I have extensive knowledge of which LPs are indeed the “best Pressings”, true 1st pressings, and have in most cases heard many copies of these LPs which have enabled me to know which ones sound best. I am happy to pass this all on to you.
I have never had a dissatisfied customer with over a 1000 positive transactions. I can count the number of returns and exchanges over the years on one hand. I credit this to my level of detail, attention to quality, and making sure the entire transaction is positive. With that in mind here is a ton of detail about the process.
 
On VINYL Grading:
Let’s talk about grading. I know you’re thinking, jeeze, another EBay record seller with his own special take on record grading, let’s just go to the Goldmine standard, cut the crap and be done with it.  Sounds great but if you don’t understand how I grade based on the Goldmine standard, and considering how people use  these terms on this site, I think a more in depth discussion will help you understand what your record will sound like when it arrives.
I think it is also helpful to understand how your copy compares to other LPs pressed during the same production run. I have a strong working knowledge and familiarity with the vast majority of titles I sell. Why? Because I love the music and want what you want the best sound. Some titles no matter how clean of condition play with more surface noise than others based on who pressed the LPs, and what company they used to produce the copies. As a collector, I have typically heard a bunch of the same pressings, and can comment on sound and how it relates to condition. This can be helpful so you don’t spend the rest of your life trying to track down a copy that plays cleaner, when such a pressing doesn’t exist.
First and foremost, let’s just say 99.9% of all records sold on EBay are over graded at a ridiculous level. As a passionate collector of LPs, this really sucks, you typically have to build this inflation into your purchasing decisions, “If it’s sold as a VG++ record, it’s probably really VG+” even if they are good seller with 100% feedback.  I strive to avoid this; my customers are unanimous in their praise for my grading. I grade conservatively, honestly and in detail. I want to give you as much information as possible about the condition of the vinyl, so you will ultimately know how it sounds.

It is also helpful and informative to understand visual grading as well as play grading. When time permits I try to provide both. Obviously with sealed LPs, or records sold as unplayed, I don’t want to diminish their value by opening/and or playing them. As such I can’t comment or know how they will sound.
Let’s run through visual grades first. Like any of the other Real sellers on this sight, I grade under a bright light, so I can see any imperfections accurately.

NM: This Record will show no post factory blemishes what so ever. Not even a sleeve scuff. It was probably stored in some type of poly lined inner sleeve, and rarely if ever played, or owned by a total collector or someone with really good preservation instincts but limited musical taste. A lot of these records were purchased with a discount or out of curiosity but rarely if ever played.
VG++:  This LP is often the best you will find of many pressings in my experience. This LP may have some light sleeve scuffing and or inaudible light marks. Will still often have a very high gloss, and will look like new. This grade is often assumed by other sellers to be NM, because the defects may be inaudible.
VG+:  Some lighter marks: this LP has been played and enjoyed but has been well kept, and was probably at least put back in its original inner sleeve. This seems to be my average grade for someone who for the era did a pretty good job of taking care of their records. Lighter scratches/ marks etc.
VG:  This record has marks, scratches etc. this is probably the average condition LP from the 60s/70s. Not completely ruined, but definitely loved and enjoyed and played to death. May not have been stored in a sleeve, removed from the LP a bunch. Often times you can find a lot of value at this grading point. I’d rather have a VG original than some BS made from a cd reissue, and with rare collectible records often the only way to find a reasonably priced copy without spending a few hundred bucks.
 
I may on occasion sell a record in lesser shape than VG if it’s extremely rare, valuable, and or collectible.

Play grades:
As I have mentioned prior it’s important to understand that the way an LP is cut, how it was cut, and on what vinyl it was cut, as it  will have a huge impact on how it will sound.  Often as much as how it has been taken care of once it was opened and how it was played and stored by its owner(s). One of the biggest lessons you can learn as a serious collector is that even a record that left factory in pristine shape, and was well taken care of, is that it  may only play at a VG+ level and is some rare cases at a VG level. When I have a knowledge built from listening to multiple original pressings of the same copy I will provide my insight.
Not all grading is absolute either. After all this vinyl business is an art much more than a science. Every LP will have its own unique playback. I try to provide as much detail as I can. Because of the analog nature and the way that the physical condition affects the auditory playback, some tracks on an album may play differently, just as you can have variation within a track itself. Some LPs with play with properties of a few different grades, and some will exhibit a grade to a stronger or lesser amount.

Lastly some LPs were recorded, mastered or mixed poorly. In some cases all 3. There are plenty of engineers who cut things really hot in a way that causes distortion, sibilance and or other sound issues.  There are a myriad of things that affect the way the LP sounds.

NM:  a pretty rare to impossible grade, I know enough from buying vintage 60s’ and 70s  pressing s from the US and Western Europe  that have been perfectly stored , kept and  in some cases left unplayed, that this doesn’t really happen. I have bought, owned and sold thousands of LPs; I have only used this play grade less than 10 times. Some German, Japanese and audiophile pressings can get close.

VG++:  This LP will play with only very faint, occasional surface noise, the odd tick. The music is the primary focus, and is all but a fraction of what you will hear on such a pressing. Generally the best you can do with a particular pressing.

VG+: This record has a little bit more surface noise, and may have some ticks or marks that show up, some fairly regularly. Nothing nasty or so loud it that kills the musical flow.  This is the way an average record should sound that has been taken care of and seen normal play.

VG: Louder surface, noise, intermittent ticks pops, no skips, or sibilance caused by the condition of the LP  (if the producer cut the vocals/horns or guitar too hot, we don’t have options other than a different cutting) These LPs will still have a lot of love. This grading shows up with well taken care of but very quiet LPs, if you are talking jazz, classical, ambient, or just very quiet music in the dynamic range this grade may show up, even when the LP is physically in great shape.
This LP should not have hashiness (this is the sound of an LP that has been stored so poorly often rubbed abrasively) no inner sleeve, stacked on other LPs or literally played to death) what it sounds like is the way I remember hearing the Byrds Turn! Turn! Turn! On the jukebox as a kid: grainy fuzzy distortion were vocal passages, cymbals, drums etc turn to mush.
VG records can kick plenty of ass, and as a collector are your best value. Many have moments so sweet that you can get to the core of the music you are enjoying, despite some of the audible blemishes.



 
Jackets, Art, inserts etc
Jackets are a lot more straight forward.  I try to take good high res pics to capture it, but will mention any issues; here are my thoughts on grading:
NM: Often times in shrink, the shrink it pretty much fully intact, I’ll try and mention and price, hype stickers etc.  This jacket should have pristine art, as you would have found it in the store: No bends, ring wear, tears, stains, mold damage, writing, seam splits, delamination etc.
VG++: really clean, maybe some slight imperfections like tiny initials in ball point, very slight ring wear etc
VG+: Might have a name written but not typically huge, , fairly standard ring wear (not obscuring the majority of the art) might have some very minor seam splitting scuffs and marks etc.
VG: Tears, split seams, writing, ring wear that starts to dominate the art etc. stains etc
Inner sleeves tend to always separate at least an inch or so at the 6 o’clock point, they also tend to fold, and often left the factory this way. I don’t send a whole lot of time on inner sleeves, or grade them, but I will mention them and their condition. If they have mold starting I will not include them to contaminate the record. If there was custom art/inner sleeve that came with the title I will typically point this out, and mention if it is included or not.
If the record was issued in a generic sleeve, I may include it, but not always, I try to provide recycled Poly lined protective sleeves when possible in order to protect your record when possible.
As far as cool inserts, posters etc, I will include one when possible, I will make mention of this. If the listing doesn’t include mention of this don’t assume that it does include the original inserts.

SHIPPING:
I ship records properly. I will always ship 12” LPs in heavy cardboard LP specific mailers. 
I take the LP and place it an inner sleeve, OUTSIDE of the LP to prevent seam splits. I have the jacket, Record in sleeve, and any inserts all inside a protective outer sleeve.
I also ship with 2 12x12 cardboard inserts to protect your LP. 
Because of the rarity of this item, I will require it to be fully insure 
In order o protect my sales from fraud I utilize eBay’s international shipping service exclusively.
I can ship any expedited / insured method you may prefer, at an additional cost.
I will ship to most anywhere in the civilized world, my preference is the US. If I get a sketchy vibe from you I reserve the right to sell the LP to the next highest bidder.
 
In Closing:
I try to keep all the “rules” to a minimum; I treat people with respect the way they like to be treated. I have put these rules in place based on my experiences as a seller to prevent any drama. Life is way to short to deal with BS. I have a regular job for that ?. I am not selling garbage or some faceless commodity. These are historical artifacts, art of the highest order. I spend my valuable time to ensure I do things right with a collector’s perspective in mind. I am reasonable and friendly guy. Please communicate and together I will realize the market value for my LPs and you will get the best possible experience in buying used vinyl via the internet.
If you made it this far you should probably be listening to a record instead. Thanks for viewing my auction.
WCE