COLOSSEUM VALENTYNE SUITE 1969 UK VINYL GATEFOLD VERTIGO VO1 886 775 GOOD/VGOOD

	£		17
	$		22

Rare second album from this progressive jazz rock fusion band. 
This is an early pressing (4th) with large swirl Vertigo label (see full version details below).
The main visible sign of any wear is to the edges of the record sleeve. The non-laminated sleeve was prone to wear, however the spine is still legible (more worn towards top).  The inner sleeve is just a plain paper one, I will supply the record in an additional new white paper sleeve plus a 450G outer plastic sleeve. Posted in card mailer with stiffener. 
The record itself is good to very good. It plays very well but with some background noise in quieter passages, more so side 1. Side 2 is much quieter (side 1 good+ side 2 very good). The labels are very good too with hardly any spindle wear or marks. The vinyl is visibly very good. A decent enough copy. 
Priced low due to lack of swirl inner sleeve, edge wear and some background noise. Still a good buy.
Here are some details of this version courtesy of discogs.com:-
Colosseum ?– Valentyne Suite Label: Vertigo ?– VO 1, Vertigo ?– 847 900 VTY Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Gatefold  Country: UK Released: 1970 Genre: Jazz, Rock, Blues, Classical Style: Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Jazz-Rock, Prog Rock
Tracklist
A1 The Kettle A2 Elegy A3 Butty's Blues A4 The Machine Demands A Sacrifice
The Valentyne Suite B1a Theme One - January's Search B1b Theme Two - February's Valentyne B1c Theme Three - The Grass Is Always Greener...
Companies, etc. Made By – Philips Records Ltd. Pressed By – Phonodisc Ltd. Lacquer Cut At – Phonodisc Ltd. Published By – Colosseum Music Ltd. Produced For – Hit Record Productions
Credits Bass Guitar – Tony Design [Inside Cover Design] – Linda Glover  Directed By, Arranged By [String Quartet] – Neil (tracks: A2) Drums [Uncredited], Other [Machine By] – Jon Hiseman Guitar – James Liner Notes – Jon Hiseman Music By – Colosseum Organ, Vibraphone, Piano – Dave* Photography By – Peter Smith  Photography By, Cover [Design] – Marcus Keef* Producer – Gerry Bron, Tony Reeves Saxophone – Dick* Words By – Pete Brown
Notes Version 4 Label - large Vertigo style but without "A Philips Record Product" The sleeve/label Matrix number is "847 900" whilst the run out groove Matrix is "886 775"
The tracks B1a to B1c appear on the label styled as ''Part 1'' instead of ''Theme One' 'as on sleeve
Released in a matt gatefold sleeve with 'swirl' Vertigo inner bag (missing).
Recorded spring/summer 1969
Version 1 - Valentyne Suite Version 2 - Valentyne Suite Version 3 - Valentyne Suite Barcode and Other Identifiers Matrix / Runout (Side B label ): 847 900 2Y Matrix / Runout (Variant 2: side A runout, stamped): 886 775 1Y*1 420 1 1 2 2 Matrix / Runout (Variant 2: side B runout, stamped): 886 775 2*Y*1 420 1 1 2 2


"Colosseum were a pioneering English progressive jazz-rock band, mixing blues, rock and jazz-based improvisation".
"Valentyne Suite was the second album released by the band Colosseum. It was Vertigo Records' first album release, and reached number 15 in the UK Albums Chart in 1969.
Though the song "The Kettle" is officially listed as having been written by Dick Heckstall-Smith and Jon Hiseman, a credit which is confirmed by Hiseman's liner notes for the album, bassist and producer Tony Reeves later claimed that it was written by guitarist and vocalist James Litherland". 
"Valentyne Suite was originally written with "Beware the Ides of March" as the final movement, but since "Beware the Ides of March" had already been released in the UK on Those Who Are About to Die Salute You, "The Grass is Always Greener" was substituted for the final movement in the UK release".