VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO Japan 70s N/M UNPEELED BANANA

	£		26
	$		34

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Artist or Band: THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

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 LIST:

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 – Japanese black and silver format (please see scan).

Label Conditions: Both look practically new. A couple of tiny, faint spindle traces on side two only.

Cat Number: 23MM 0191.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 106 grams. Japanese records were not the thickest made but are still the most consistent and best quality pressings available - and this is no exception.

Country of Manufacture: Japan.

Notes: Rarity & Introduction: Scarce: All records from this country that specialist in quality are hard to find. They are not mass-produced and they prefer to rely on quality rather than quantity. I know Japanese pressed records are probably the best and quietest in the world and I just had to give this album a play – this is still my second favourite album ever (it’s always been a close call with Zappa’s ‘Money’ album and The Doors debut). This record belonged to an ex-Radio One DJ from the 60s/70s and I would be very surprised if this was ever played right through. A copy pressed in 1978 and this is still like the day it was made – it plays with stunning sound with higher resolution and detail than any copy I have heard before. This has always been a somewhat ‘basic’ recording but this even opened my eyes and suffice to say, this plays pristine perfect and is a gateway into that famous underground studio all those years ago. This famous record was packaged in several different guises from first pressing to later copies. The UK original had a single format cover with the reverse side of this cover as the front and a plain white back with text. The US version had the infamous ‘banana’ cover that was peelable, when done so, it revealed the pink phallic looking piece of fruit, this cover was a gatefold also, the back was as this one but most were heavily censored at the top with huge stickers covering the ‘torso’ background that was deemed offensive at the time. The later UK covers ended up as per the US versions but were uncensored but importantly never included a peelable banana, the design was simply printed directly on to the sleeve so the pink fruit was never included, this version was issued on MGM Records, not Verve. Okay, if you are still following me, this Japanese version is a gatefold format and is constructed more like the original uncensored US version. In other words it includes the original US artwork front and back with no cover-ups AND INCLUDES that wonderful peelable banana – this is pristine as new and that is very unusual these days. To see this cover looking brand new and pristine with that famous banana looking just picked off the tree is a delight. The original green and yellow OBI is of course included and is mint as is the lyric insert. For any vinyl fan wanting to hear this record in the most stunning pristine perfect condition this is an opportunity too good to miss. This could indeed be the only copy of this version in such pristine condition. With the vast majority of the early Verve originals being subjected to harsh playing conditions and many simply unlistenable now, this is a copy that will leave vinyl collectors aghast – this record, cover and inserts are in breathtaking mint conditions and this set must rank one of the scarcest items I have yet put up for offer on Ebay. Seeing is believing, please check out that stunning cover again.

Original Year of Release: March 1967. This Japanese pressing was issued in 1978.

Matrix Nos: Dual matrixes: the first set are the same as the 1974 Japan pressing. MV-2060 A [23MM-0191A] / MV-2060 B [23MM-0191B]

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 underground 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 very poorly. Only the brave few would have parted with their hard-earned cash for such a revolutionary band and sound – few early 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 low-fi sound quality, this is no hi-fi classic to say the least but this Japanese copy does have a slightly more ‘open’ sound and this with no digital interference. Very sparse with basic sound but this actually gives this album is character. 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 this is the only way to hear this title for real. 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 album track 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 held together by the underrated rhythm guitar of Sterling 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. When you consider what most record companies censored at this time, it’s amazing this album got issued at all. With the same label heavily censoring Zappa’s ‘Money’ album for lesser references to drugs and sex, it’s all very inconsistent and confusing. Not all the content is so 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 don’t 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 simply 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 track with Nico’s voice sung solo. On the 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 record gives pleasure, albeit a 70s pressing [but one as brand new]. For collectors needing this remarkable record that looks and plays ‘perfect’, with just a couple of plays on the clock (at most), it’s a copy worthy of high consideration. Finding a US original in this type of condition could prove fruitless and nothing will beat this for sound. To see a Mint peelable banana again will thrill many who may remember seeing them all those years ago. Remember the UK version had no banana and the later copies were printed and not peelable and many of those MGM pressings were noisy too (mine certainly was). For vinyl collectors who simply want to hear a lovely copy of this legendary record on vinyl regardless of nationality, era or pressing – this is an unbeatable experience.

Cover’s Potential for Wear & Damage: Very high indeed, this is as new and will rarely be found like this again. The US originals were constructed from thick, brittle card that marks, rubs, ringwears and splits easily. The original (or early) banana cover is near impossible to find totally untampered with and most are torn or severely damaged. To see a pristine Mint unpeeled banana cover regardless of era is near impossible.

Cover Grade and Format: Mint - yes true, a word I rarely use on anything but this is exactly as made. Cover protected from new and probably not seen light-of-day since. Similar construction to the early US originals and a double format rather than single version from the 74 Japan pressing and this has no censoring to the back. With a de luxe varnished finish and no paste-on back panel, this is similar to the UK MGM version but the banana is peelable and NOT printed. I would assume the pink fruit is below (but for sure I am not going to peel this one). light traces of details can just be seen through the yellow ‘skin’. This stunning, snowy white cover is exactly as manufactured and feel there is no need to describe it any further suffice to say it has a thick wide totally uncrushed or compressed spine and all edges and corners undinked or creased. All four faces pristine. As new is as new, it’s that simple. This includes a Mint OBI strip and lyric insert - also as new. This cover has NO bar code.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Practically Mint, I will not degrade a once or twice played record. You want a VU debut as new, it’s here.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This landmark record plays with amazing sound and to my ears anyway, sounds just that bit better with a slightly more open sound with definitely more detail and stereo separation. To hear this album with no unwanted sounds or groove-wear is a revelation and the Japanese always seem to get that tiny extra nth degree of sound details that other pressings just seem to lack. One the final song you can here the crackle of electricity from the feedback frenzy better than on any other recording I have ever experienced. This is a record for the vinyl connoisseur and I feel certain nothing will beat it - this the ultimate trip into the Velvets Underground.

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, timeless classics. No serious record collection can ever not include include The Velvet Underground & Nico. This early Japanese copy does it maximum justice and with a fresh ripe peelable banana cover included, it may be the best copy you will ever get offered. The Greatest Album ever? – well it states a strong claim. As a by-the-way, I am also offering Nico’s debut ‘Chelsea Girl’, also in immaculate condition. This is consider to be part two of this album, the second Velvet Underground album that should have been. Please feel free to ask me anything I may have overlooked or if any of my information is deemed incorrect.

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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. 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: I now offer the fastest possible posting, mostly the very next day after payment is received or within 48 hours maximum. 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 thick stiffners for even extra protection. 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 for clarity and well as sender label. 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 best-value 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 4,000+ items sold in over 7 years of Ebay trading 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.

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: ALL 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: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (any part); Australia; Canada; Japan and other 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 (£39).

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’.