ALICE COOPER Killer - SCARCE UK 1973 Calandar Cover LP

	£		69
	$		91

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Artist or Band: ALICE COOPER

Album Title: Killer

Producer(s): Bob Ezrin.

Cat Number: K 56005.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Under My Wheels; Be My Lover; Halo of Flies; Desperado.

Side 2: You Drive Me Nervous; Yeah, Yeah, Yeah; Dead Babies; Killer.

Label/Format: Warner Bros – Original Green format. (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both clean and attractive with very light to light spindle marks that are very fine and faint.

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.

Weight of this Record: 120 grams. Around or a little below average.

Country of Manufacture: England with the 1973 calendar.

Rarity: Scarce.

Original Year of Release: 1971

Matrix Nos: K 56005 A / K 56005 B1

Musicians: Alice Cooper – vocal; Neil Smith – drums; Dennis Dunaway – bass; Glen Buxton – guitar and Mike Bruce – guitar.

Album Information: Following two fairly obscure psych albums and the brilliant ‘Love it to Death’, all originally issued on Zappa’s Straight label, this fourth album was the first to appear on Warner from day one. This is king of the macabre at his very best and along with the previous album, a real favourite. Another very dark album, this again has real menace and this issued before he became a household name and pushed his showbiz ghoulishness still further. Songs of desperados, dead babies, killers and executions are the order of the day - you must remember that slow drum beat and organ to the scaffold before our Alice is hanged for his crime on the albums title track – a truly blood-curdling finale as the trapdoor opens and the throttling begins. But for me, the finest track on this gem is ‘Halo of Flies’, his intense scream of the title still sends a shiver down by spine. This is an early copy featuring the gatefold cover with the 1973 version calendar (please see close-up of this detail). The cover is very wear and damage-prone and both front and back will rarely be seen better. A minor blemish, a few of the fragile performations that hold the calander together are pulled at the top but this fragile fold-line is still solidly intact and with care will not pull further. The record has marks on side two as fine long types, but they have NO sound and this copy plays very well indeed. So not for the visual perfectionist, but with an exceptionally clean and barely worn cover and excellent sound from the early-pressed record is acceptable, this is the copy for you.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High: seldom seen with the early calendar without any perf pulls and with the orange front looking close to as made.

Cover Condition and Details: EXCELLENT(++), this not taking into account of the around 1 inch perforation pulls to the top of the perforated fold that holds on the calandar. Clearly, this calandar was designed to be pulled and removed for use and I guess many were. The perfs are small and fragile and few will be seen fully intact these days, so I have little issue offering a superb looker with only around an inch or so separated. This is an unlaminated gatefold cover with the left side opening up again to reveal the grizzly calandar. It was printed and made in England by Shorewood.

Cover Front: This looks fantastic and has barely anything to fault. Fresh, clean and devoid of the usual rubbing, fading and creasing. A small few ultra faint and and fine surface traces seen under light but the famous snake cover will seldom be seen looking much better.

Cover Back: An exceptional back with really deep rich colour, that eerie green hue band picture looks fantastic and even more so without any ringwear. The perforation pull is evident at the top left, but is a separate issue to the actual back.

Cover Gatefold Inner: The right (band) picture, is again in superb condition with little wear at all. Again incredible intensity on the orange glowing faces this time. The left side seen in a mauve-purple colour, shows equally little wear and being a solid colour, this is exceptional. When opened (fold at top) the gruesome intensity of the hanging Alice is immediately quite shocking and this was not well received by ‘clean-up’ campaigners of the time – nor indeed was the the content of some of the songs – it even includes added ‘gore’ just extra realism. This ‘calendar’ spread is near immaculate with barely anything to fault. The odd minor burr trace or small corner rub only which is more than commendable for a single thickness card design. The year here is 1973 and I think this was the last year featured on this cover before it was dropped. I remind again, around the first of the delicate performations on the fold are detached at the top, the rest are solidly intact hence the calandar is still securely attached to the main cover overall. One of the Cooper classic covers and this UK-printed example is up there with the best I have seen. A somewhat flimsy and delicate cover and more often seen in tatters, often with the calandar missing altogether.

Top Edges: Barely any real wear at all, the orange front is faded though.

Bottom Edges: A little light patchy rubbing to the front orange, the back thin card has only minor thickening.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Little wear to the surfaces at all, the top perfs has separated as I have mentioned several times already.

Spine and Text: This remains solid and mainly straight, with minimal compression with little wear and all the text intact and present but centred low.

Corners: Any corner wear is modestly light and this never easy on such a cover. Very fine to excellent shape is retained.

Cover Summary: In terms of lack of wear, my best for simply ages. Only the few separated performations will be a factor for the more discerning, but for sheer good looks, this will take some beating and most collectors will enjoy it.

The Inner: The UK-made plain white, unlined inner is in superb condition and barely aged at all. Clean, uncreased with all edges intact with no repairs.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Very Good: this record has marks, long and fine ones that have NO sound and the record plays with super sound, it it didn’t, I simply would not offer it. Not too many, around 4 or 5 that are more seen, others are fine hairline types. All surface marks and non-penetrating, thus no pops or clicks. Clean with fine shine and still very black. Not for the visual perfectionist of course, but is sound quality is more important, this is still a fine record.

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 miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This classic Cooper album plays well above its visual grading with practically nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and no clicks were noted and this is a very fine pressing. I have heard several of these that have emitted crackle, especially on the funeral organ passage, this needs to be quiet and this gives a fine account of itself. Few copies will outperform this early pressing significantly I feel sure. Yes it has marks, but they are simply ignored. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderfully macabre record. This copy could prove difficult to find significantly better for audio quality and on that basis, can be highly recommended and the cover certainly is.

End Piece: One of rock’s greatest and legendary showman, still very much going strong today and long may he do so, I enjoy his radio shows on ‘Planet Rock’ immensely (when I get chance to hear). It’s astonishing to think this album is fast approach forty years old, and with all considered, it’s aged well (like the man himself really). This vintage album (his fourth) is really magnificent - Alice really knew how to shock and surprise. With its daring packaging in superb condition and clean sounding vinyl this should appeal to his fans and collectors and merits high recommendation. Any doubts on anything, do not bid, but this is real nice and the old snake will be hard to find better.

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 QED Silver terminated cable). 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 prompt payment is a problem, please do not bid.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET - PLEASE SEE MY TYPICAL PACKING BOX PICTURE.

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 Moth 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 thick boxes (NOT Mailers or Cruciforms, these do not offer maximum protection). 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 THREE or EVEN FOUR 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. 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. Please see my picture of a typical finished box packet that will now be used on ALL transactions as from now. 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. These boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffners 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 7,000+ items sold in nearly 10 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 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

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 & 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.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (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 [£40 maximum]) = £9. (insurance optional extra £3). Add £2.50 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); 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 [£39 maximum]) = £13. Add £4 per extra LP. (insurance 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: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, 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’.