I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.

Budgie : Squawk 1L/1L 1st Press Blue / Black Hexagon Label 1972

This first pressing plays with stunning quality and barely any intrusion.  I have played every track in full and the clarity, depth and power of the audio is so impressive.  This is without doubt the finest Squawk I have ever listened to and the only background is one very brief scratchy type sound on the final track of S1.  Other than that there are only a handful of very quiet ticks.  S1 is superb and S2 is superb+++!  The sonic quality truly is on another level.

The cover has an obvious crease on the back cover but otherwise remains in excellent shape.  However, it does seem like it is from the '74 rainbow label repress rather than the '72 first press.  Maybe not one for the 'purists' so probably best not bid if in any doubt.  The first press cover has MKPS 2023 on the back cover in the lower right corner and this one has MCF 2502 in the top right corner.  The inner sleeve is in ex condition also but looks like it was from the '74 issue also.

A first press has the blue / black hexagonal MCA labels and the 1L/1L matrix.  This one was pressed very early on as it has only a single stamper on each side.

MKPS 2023 // 7-LNMG-261-1L / 7-LNMG-262-1L // U 1 / C 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T5 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Ex+

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still retains a strong glossy sheen with no scratches.  There is a small scuff mark on S1 with a couple of small hairline marks next to it on S1 but they have no affect on the superb audio at all.  Aside from that the vinyl is stunning with only a small number of ultra faint hairlines.  The blue / black hexagonal MCA labels have no marking / writing and hardly any spindle wear.  The JT tax code can clearly be seen on each run out groove.

Play grading  

The lead in on S1 is extremely clean and then the intro on 'Whisky River' plays to perfection with no background.  Shelley's opening vocal is just as impressive as is the following instrumental passage.  The next vocal has one faint tick but you could easily miss it and the mid instrumental is 'as new' with zero intrusion.  The rest of the track plays with stunning precision and the long fade out has no background either.  I will say Mint- due to that one minor tick :-)

'Rocking Man' plays with real quality throughout, the clarity of sound is phenomenal and you really notice that during the 'silent' section that precedes the long instrumental section, it is completely silent!  Bourge's solo then plays 'as new' and that pretty much applies to the entire section, I just heard one very faint tick.  The final vocal is perfect and again the fade out has no background not even a single dust tick.  Mint-

The acoustic 'Rolling Home Again' plays beautifully with no interference as such, just one very faint tick near the end.  What's this a one light tick per track record?!  Mint-

A couple of ticks in the dead wax and then the acoustic intro on 'Make Me Happy' has no background at all.  It continues to play with STUNNING clarity and there is not one single negative.  Put simply it is 'as new' from start to finish with literally no background.  Mint all the way.

The intro on 'Hot As A Docker's Armpit' has no background and the first verse has just one scratchy type sound that lasts for all of half a second.  If you're not listening closely you could miss it as it is on a beat.  The first chorus is perfect and it continues to play with a sonic quality that is second to none.  The long instrumental is so strong and deep it could not play any better and the 'percussive' end section sounds fantastic with no distortion at all.  I will say Near Mint but clearly it isn't far off Mint.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Drugstore Woman' plays with stunning precision from start to finish with no intrusion.  The clarity is 10/10 as is the power, depth and definition.  It then plays with stunning audio for the remainder with only a couple of minor static ticks on the repeated Woman line at the very end.  Mint-

The instrumental 'Bottled' plays perfectly without any background and grades as Mint

The acoustic intro on 'Young Is A World' plays with wonderful clarity and Shelley's opening vocal is equal to that.  The first heavy section is 'as new' and again the playback is just STUNNING!  The clarity and warmth of the audio is outstanding and the next vocal more than keeps up the standard.  The remainder of this 8 minute classic is of the same exact standard and in all my years I have never heard a version as clean and powerful as this.  Each note is so clean and precise and the end vocal / instrumental plays beautifully also.  Only at the end of the fade out are there three faint ticks so I will grade as Mint- but it really is a stunning version.

The intro on 'Stranded' has no background and Bourge's solo section is just as strong.  Not a single dust tick throughout this entire section let alone anything more!  The opening vocal is just as strong and it continues in the same way and especially during the dynamic second half.  The power and definition is superb!  Another classic riff and there is no intrusion of any kind.  The final vocal section is flawless and the closing instrumental could not play any better either.  If there is any inner groove distortion on this track it is so so minimal and hardly worth a mention!  A stunning Mint- track.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in excellent shape with only minimal wear.  Only the bottom edge has a little rubbing towards the right corner and the thin pinched spine is very clean with barely any wear on the corners.  The right hand corners have only light wear and the opening edge has no handling ear.  The front cover is unmarked and has only faint creasing by the left corners and the back cover is very clean also although there is a more obvious crease lower right and just a minor amount of ringwear.  Because it is matte textured it is often found in poor condition but not this one!

The EMI inner is in great condition with no side splits and only minimal creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine

MKPS 2023 // 7-LNMG-261-1L / 7-LNMG-262-1L // U 1 / C 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

THIS IS WHAT A SELLER SHOULD BE LIKE ON HIGH END VINYL! Exactly as described if not better ! I could not be a happier customer .. well packed for international flight .. and shipped and received very fast .. No worries here this guy is the tops

GREAT AS DESCRIBED BEST SELLR OF ALL THE UK PEOPLE AND I HAVE BOUGHT FROM ALL OF THEM

Beautiful record as described, fast safe delivery, top seller. Cheers Steve.

Another fantastic LP from this seller - condition exactly as shown and the audio as described! Fast delivery, vinyl properly and carefully packed. Very highly recommended A++++

Another stunning LP from this very reliable and helpful seller.

Very quick delivery. Album exactly as described. Excellent packaging. Once again all perfect. Thanks!!!

Great item and seller (no.1), many thanks from ITALY !!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic! Record as Described! Excellent Packaging and Fast Overseas Shipping!

One of the best on Ebay!

Another amazing record from this exceptional seller. Absolutely delighted!

Great seller and great vinyl record, professionally packaged. I’m very satisfied with my purchase and will certainly buy again!

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!