CAPTAIN BEEFHEART Safe As Milk RARE ORIG UK 1967 EX MONO PYE LP, PLAYS SUPERBLY.

	£		185
	$		245

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: CAPTAIN BEEFHEART and HIS MAGIC BAND

Album Title: Safe As Milk

Producer(s): Richard Perry & Bob Krasnow

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Sure ’Nuff ’n Yes I Do; Zig Zag Wanderer; Call on Me; Dropout Boogie; I’m Glad; Electricity.

Side 2: Yellow Brick Road; Abba Zaba; Plastic Factory; Where There’s Woman; Grown So Ugly; Autumn’s Child.

Label/Format: Pye International – matt surfaces with a faint trace of texturing.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive, spindle marks are near moderate, but fine and faint and no wear around the hole area. Be assured, this groundbreaking classic plays superbly with hardly anything of note to fault. More details further down.

Catalogue Number: NPL 28110

Mode: Mono (This original album was not initially issued in stereo, it was later re-issued as Dropout Boogie on Buddah Records, electronically processed to offer stereo of sorts, and also omits two songs, even though the cover still states 12 songs, the record only played 10. The mono reissue also has 10 tracks. Only first pressings included ALL 12 of the original songs with the original mono mix – there is no better way to experience ‘Safe as Milk’ than a genuine first issue mono record.

Speed: 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: 160 grams. A heavyweight first issue, made in the era of quality.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Rare – first issues went largely unnoticed selling in meagre numbers. Within a year of psychedelia and ‘Sgt Pepper’, few had any interest in new experimental American blues-based bands. His previous singles on A&M were a financial disaster and had to seek a new label for this album. Those that surface for sale are invariably in less than fine condition. This one is excellent, or even better condition and plays superbly with hardly anything to fault. For a number of years, this was my own personal copy, now available because the near impossible showed up last week – a near mint, practically off-the-shelf copy that is now stored away with my other Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa albums. I honestly thought finding a better example than this would prove unlikely and immensely difficult – and so it proved to be.

Original Year of Release: 1967

Matrix Nos: NPL 28110 A-1 G / NPL 28110 B-1 G

Mothers / Stampers: F 1 / B 1

Musicians (none are credited on the cover): Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) – lead vocals, harmonica, marimba; Alex St. Clair Snouffer – guitar, backing vocals, bass, percussion; Ry Cooder – guitar, bass, slide guitar, percussion; Jerry Handley – bass guitar, backing vocals; John French – drums, backing vocals, percussion. With: Samuel Hoffman – theremin; Milt Holland – log drum, tambourine, percussion; Taj Mahal – tambourine, percussion; Russ Titelman – guitar.

Artist & Album Info: An album of stunning originality and ground-breaking music and performances. The cover depicts four clean-cut lads in suits and tie; one is even wearing his father’s hat. Is this not the most paradoxically bizarre cover ever, in relation to the music within? This sounded like music from another planet in 1967; now it just sounds remarkably good. Don van Vliet’s Howlin’ Wolf growl almost tears the speaker-cloth as he launches into ‘Electricity’. Other marvellous excusions are ‘Dropout Boogie’, ‘Plastic Factory’ and ‘Yellow Brick Road’. This ‘lost’ classic, so was highly regarded by the likes of John Peel and disc jockey, Mike Read, who regarded it as his favourite album of all time. Although issued to considerable critical acclaim, it failed to chart in the UK or US – what chance did an album like this stand in the greatest year in popular music? – 1967 – the ‘Summer of Love’. Everything revolved around Sgt Pepper and psychedelia. An unknown American act with a bizarre name that received scant promotion and barely any radio time? The famous ‘fish-eye’ cover does not give any credits to the players. Ry Cooder’s guitar stands out, and the pulsating bass and percussion drives the music beautifully. It even includes early use of electronics in the form of the theramin. From the very outset, nothing had been heard quite like this, those pulsating bass-chords pulsate and boom from the speakers with punchy sound as does intricate guitar-work and rhythm. van Vliet’s incredible toned vocal must have raised a few eyebrows at the time. This groundbreaking trip into originality was as important as a pioneering album to the late 1960s underground scene as the Velvet Underground debut album and Zappa’s Freak Out!. Safe as Milk was issued after initial single issues on A&M records – they were a commercial disaster and the band were dropped. This album, the only one the band made on Pye, contains some of most remarkable sounds ever put to vinyl. The early incarnation of the Magic Band made music like no other – like his old school friend, Frank Zappa, the Captain was light years ahead of his time. That said, this classic is far more accessible than the early Reprise era material that took his music over the fringe of the avant garde and was all too much for most. Another important factor with this original mono copy is the sound. This has been remixed, restructured and generally tampered with more than most, but never improved. This one (or course) has the original mix, just like producers Bob Krasnow and Richard Perry wanted it. Just listen to those throbbing bomba-bomba-bomba-bomb bass lines that just pound from the speakers, it sounds absolutely fantastic. If you have never heard this legendary classic as the 12 track mono original, you really have never heard Safe as Milk for real. This is a lovely copy that proudly was included in my own collection for several years, unruined by blunt or chipped stylus, I put all my vinyl favourites to disc to enjoy anywhere, and play my vinyl sparingly. Any usage with due care, and this plays great. The lack of penetrating scratches or groove wear are the important factors, and this really delivers quality sound with little unwanted. Sales of this one would have been few and in any condition, this surfaces rarely. The cleaner better ones hardly ever. The Captain Beefheart legend began here and little was the same thereafter – a musical genius was born – and the only way to truly experience the real thing is on this rare first issue.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT: arguably better. A single format with laminated front. This covers all the folds and ends on three rear external flipbacks. The main back panel is matt and smooth. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse with ‘Patents pending’ text. The original ‘PATENTS APPLIED FOR’ white inner sleeve is included.

Lamination & Front: The laminate retains excellent shine and clarity with minimal hint of dulling and hardly any lifting. There are some laminate creases, mostly half moon types or fine edge ones. One longer one near the top is nearer moderate, the rest less so. The famous fisheye graphic of the band looks superb, the pale yellow background clean and fresh. Overall, this front is impressive and will not prove easy to find much better.

Cover Back: The back is superb, I would grade this at least excellent plus (or better) on its own. The actual main panel has hardly anything to fault, the odd fine crease apart, it has hardly aged, worn or darkened at all as seen. All three flipbacks are equally impressive: solid, clean with few creases. Only very gentle traces of burring to the bottom ones end, they hardly get better than this on covers around 50-years-old.

Top Edge: Quite straight, smooth and unworn.

Bottom Edge: Practically perfect.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, very sharp with barely any wear. Any thickening or burring minimal, a trace near the very bottom as seen viewed end-on. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: Solid, quite straight, a gentle trace of natural bowing with minimal compression, the ends very gently taper in manufacture. All text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate.

Corners: Any tip rubs are small and light, very fine or better shape retained with no bashes.

Cover Summary: A strong all-round example of this elusive 1960’s cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better – this I know for certain. This attractive and still fresh item should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): a solid plain white unlined inner sleeve that includes the ‘PATENTS APPLIED FOR’ text. Minimal discolouration, ageing or creasing, all edges unsplit with no repairs.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: a very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and heavily pressed. A copy played a few times, but any surface marks are mostly fine and faint, importantly, they are superficial with no affect on the impressive clean sound. Few mono records of this age and type will avoid a few gentle, minor visual blemishes. The lack of groove wear, arm-drop crators and penetrating stylus scratches are the most important factors – this classic plays superbly. Visually still an impressive record that should please many collectors, possibly even most given the rarity and all other factors.

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 quality album plays even above it’s high visual grading with hardly anything of note to fault. Offering 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 this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*. The complex music in punchy, warm and detailed mono is a thrill to play. Those who know this album will know the poor conditions it is normally found in when a copy does surface, putting a clean example like this into true perspective. Few will outperform this genuine first pressing significantly I feel sure – even the near mint copy I just purchased plays little better than this, but both record and cover almost look new. Even when played on a revealing stereo LP12 Sondek, both channels are clean and sharp, no clipping, unwanted noise or inherent pressing sounds. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, my play-grade was the first time I had played this for a long time since I put it to disc to enjoy anywhere. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended. Being more accessible than most, a great place to start to experience the wonderful world of Captain Beefheart – this probably still one of the greatest albums that many still have yet to hear – do not lose this one.

* 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 Floor standing 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’.