Bob Thiele & Gabor Szabo Light My Fire ORIG UK Black Label Impulse STEREO LP EX+

	£		14
	$		19

Background Information

I am currently in the process of shifting a vast collection of stock which largely derives from a Record Shop which closed its doors in the early 1980s.  The stock spans a period from the early 1960s through to the early 80s with the bulk dating from the 1970s.  There are large quantities of Progressive Rock, R & B and Soul and Modern Classical.  Most of the items have sustained a single play (clearly standard practice to check for flaws upon receipt of new records back-in-the-day) however, some are obviously UNPLAYED.  The bulk of what I’m currently selling comes from this source and I’d guess it will be years before I exhaust it!          

UNSOLD SHOP STOCK ORIGINAL U.K. 1968 (sleeve dated 11/1968) STEREO Black & Silver Flip-Back Sleeve ABC Records/Impulse! Pressing of Bob Thiele’s and Gabor Szabo’s ‘Light My Fire’ L.P. (Catalogue Reference: ABC Records/Impulse! SIPL 511).  Actually the full artist listing here reads ‘Bob Thiele and his New Happy Times Orchestra/Gabor Szabo with The California Dreamers and Tom Scott and Bill Plummer’.  This features covers of contemporary classics (of the time) as well as a couple of originals (‘Krishna’ and ‘Sophisticated Wheels’).  This is a really stunning copy and although there is evidence it has seen some play (most likely a ‘test’ play) it comes from a collection of unsold shop stock.  Upon withdrawing the vinyl from the paper sleeve it is immediately obvious that this copy has never seen heavy play and the playing surfaces retain a great sheen.  I grade all my items under an intense light and here if you look really, really hard you will spot the odd hairline mark.  I note what appears to be a more substantial hairline mark near the edge of the playing surface on Side Two however, like the few other marks it is also superficial (i.e. non-sounding).  Lastly, I note just the slightest suggestion of groove-wear on the first track on Side Two (‘Faking It’) which is the evidence that I would put forward that this must have seen some play at some point but believe me when I say that it really isn’t obvious.  The labels are immaculate (i.e. look as good as the day they were applied) and I think it would be doing the record a great disservice to grade it as being in anything less than EXCELLENT+ condition.  Like most of the items from this source the sleeve has spent it’s whole life stored inside a polythene sleeve and this has aided with it’s miraculously ‘fresh’ appearance for a record which is getting on for 50 years old.  The laminate really does look like it was applied yesterday and aside from a suggestion of yellowing along the opening edge of the sleeve (i.e. mirroring the opening edge of the polythene sleeve) the rear is literally bleached white.  The flaws are few but obvious.  There is a crease in the sleeve in the middle of the spine on the front which has caused a break in the lamination and a crease that diagonally crosses the top right-hand corner of the sleeve on the front.  The latter crease is not replicated in the corresponding position on the rear of the sleeve however, a bend is visible.  It should be noted that all four corners are quite sharp.  There really is nothing else to say and the sleeve is conservatively graded as being in EXCELLENT condition.

Condition

VINYL – EXCELLENT+

SLEEVE – EXCELLENT

Concluding Remarks

A simply stunning copy of this record.  It is obvious this copy has sat in storage for decades.  Please note that Gabor Szabo is featured on the Chico Hamilton L.P. also on Impulse! I am currently selling.  Please check my other auctions for further Jazz LPs as well as a large run of Folk, Pop, RnB, Rock and Soul items from the same source in similarly immaculate condition.  Please save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

General Conditions & Information

I have been a collector for in excess of 15 years now and regard myself as a conservative grader.  I know from experience that there is nothing worse than buying an item which is described with superlatives only for it to arrive and look like it has been scrapped along the floor (!).  As a rule I don’t submit anything to auction which I wouldn’t be happy receiving myself.  I endeavour to be accurate with my grading and all items are graded under an intense light.  Please take a look through my feedback as I’d like to think it speaks for itself. 

Returns Policy

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase then please contact me within 7 days of receipt.  The buyer is expected to meet the return postage costs.

Payment Methods

Domestic buyers can pay via Cheque, PayPal or Postal Order.  Overseas buyers are always welcome and are required to pay via PayPal.  Payment is expected within 7 days of auction end unless otherwise agreed.

Postage Costs

I have had to bring my service in-line with changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions effective of April 2013.  Previously items sent via standard post were automatically covered up to the value of £46.00 however, standard postage now only covers items up to the value of £20.00.  Items with an opening value >£20.00 will include domestic Signed For postage costs automatically.  Items with an opening value <=£20.00 and which complete with a value <=£20.00 will continue to be dispatched via standard post unless otherwise agreed (i.e. the buyer indicates a preference otherwise).  Items which have an opening value <=£20.00 but whose final value is >£20.00 will be subject to enhanced postage costs in order to cover the extra insurance which is required.  I hope this is as straightforward as I can make it?  Ultimately, please don’t make payment until you’ve received an invoice from me and if you aren’t happy with the invoice you receive then I’m always open to discussion.  Buyers should be aware that both Ebay and PayPal take a % of postage charges (i.e. they are higher than I’d ideally want them to be).

Multiple purchases will be subject to consolidated postage costs.  I will contact you at the end of the auction to confirm these costs.

Proof of postage is always obtained and retained.

Overseas Buyers

As noted above Overseas buyers are welcome.  If you want me to investigate potential postage costs in advance of the auction’s end then please feel free to contact me.