BUDGIE (First Album) SCARCE ORIG UK MCA 'DOGBONE' 1971 EX+ DECCA-PRESSED LP.

	£		172
	$		228

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, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled 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: BUDGIE

Album Title: Budgie

Producer(s): Roger Bain

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Guts; Everything in My Heart; The Author; Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman.

Side 2: Rape of the Locks; All Night Petrol; You and I; Homicidal Suicidal.

Label/Format: MCA – first ‘dogbone’ format with matt surfaces that have a gentle hint of texturing.

Label Conditions: Both in supreme condition: very clean, fresh and attractive with any spindle traces very few, fine and faint, hardly any at all in fact. This record appears very little used and plays great throughout.

Cat Number: MKPS 2018

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: 142 grams. A typical heavier very early MCA record, at this time pressed by Decca, so quality is assured.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Quite rare on this label that came and went quickly. Most are seen on the later MCA labels, and soon the Decca-pressed issues stopped.

Original Year of Release: 1971

Matrix Nos: 7-LNMG-240-1L / 7-LNMG-241-1L

Stamper Codes: 1 H / 1 I

Musicians: Burke Shelley – vocal, bass, mellotron; Tony Bourge - guitar; Ray Philips - drums, percussion.

Brief Info: Superb debut album from this heavy rock trio, arguably their best album. Famed for rather spectacular, if bizarre, artwork on their covers with budgies in different dress. Here we have one as a mediaeval warrior for example. Self-confessed as ‘not the greatest composers’ and ‘not particularly subtle’ and ‘not progressive’ but a ‘freaking good Rock band’. Rarely a critics favourite but like Uriah Heep, this band gained some popularity from their mid-period and later albums which sold fairly well. This debut however on the first format MCA labels are genuinely scarce, and even rare in this superb condition. The fragile thin card cover in truly immaculate condition, and rarely seen as such – the record appearing hardly played – so-much-so, it has very gentle inner bag dulling seen under angled light, where it has not been removed from its inner sleeve for probably decades. A common, but harmless trait (unless severe) from the polylinings used by Decca and Phonogram et al at the time. This record plays beautifully throughout and the usual quality Decca-quality pressing. Both record, cover, and even the original 1971 date-coded inner sleeve are the best I have seen.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a single unlaminated format with matt, smooth surfaces. Printed and made in England by Robert Stace. Includes the Decca-style polylined inner date-coded 8-71.

Cover Front: Very wear-prone, this really is a lovely example with very little to fault. Very clean, fresh and highly attractive. Just the merest hint of rim impression near the centre of each edge, but this as light as it reasonably gets with a thick record inside since 1971, and there is no doubting this fact with these labels that were soon replaced by the black and blue diamond format. The lack of rubbing, creasing, sticker marks or tears, and especially significant ring wear are all major bonuses on a cover that is very difficult to find like this. They hardly get much better these days.

Cover Back: Vert impressive again and hardly aged at all. Only gentle, faint rim impression, this seen under light. Apart from a very fine strip of natural light fading on the spine edge, the graphic retains superb deep colour and freshness. I am actually struggling to find a crease worthy of mention on either side.

Top Edge: Thin, but straight with barely any wear.

Bottom Edge: Almost the same again, any rubbing on the pale surface light and registering little.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly very sharp with minimal hint of thickening or burring as seen viewed end-on. Doing so also emphasises how thin thin the card is, putting an example like this into true perspective. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with barely any compression or wear. All text is perfect and unworn as seen, that another major plus.

Corners: Any tip rubs are bordering on minuscule, better than excellent shape retained with no bashes or dinks.

Cover Summary: A very strong all-round example of this fragile and challenging early 1970’s cover, one that will prove very difficult to find better. This attractive early item should please many, if not most collectors, indeed it could prove a major upgrade for some collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): a Decca style inner that is date-coded 8-71 (August 1971), so a very early example indeed. Two perfect crisp and undamaged window circles and very clear polylining and no edge splits or repairs. Light seam edge darkening of the adhesive, any creasing little and light. This is UK patented, with ‘Foreign patents pending’ text.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+): arguably better. Any real surface marks are very few, wispy and faint, there are no stylus scratches. As stated further up, some gentle dulling to the surfaces from the polylining of the inner sleeve. Totally harmless and light, this a result of being left undisturbed for many, many years – most collectors will know this trait, somtimes referred to as inner bag rash. Viewed normally in average room light, it hardly even registers, but is more visible under a bright light source. On a scale of 1 to 10 – probably a 2 – again I reiterate, this is totally harmless with affect on the audio quality of the record. A very fine visual copy that is clean with fine shine and quite heavily pressed. My grading takes no account of the gentle patchy polymer marks, any opinion is purely subjective. For sure, this quite rare rock classic has hardly been played and visually a splendid example of easily the rarest Budgie album, this should please many, if not most collectors.

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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This rare first label format record plays even above its high visual grading with barely anything of note to fault. It offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a full dynamic range and detailed sound. The production and mix has quite a deep punchy sound which is quite typical of this and future Budgie albums. This high quality MCA/Decca pressing is typical and this tracks and plays effortlessly* and few ‘dogbone’ label copies will outperform this very early pressing significantly I feel sure. An album not available long on this format before going through the usual ever-changing MCA runs. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this elusive debut album. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended – in this format, it will seldom be seen or offered.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams.

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 as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – 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 it’s 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 programs. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Tellurium 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, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 minuscule in over 14­ 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. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. 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 TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. 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] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 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 £2 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’.