Chico Hamilton Further Adventures of El Chico UK Impulse STEREO LP Szabo EX/EX+

	£		14
	$		19

U.K. 1968 STEREO Black & Silver Label Flip-Back Sleeve ABC Records/Impulse! pressing of Chico Hamilton’s ‘The Further Adventures of El Chico featuring Gabor Szabo’ L.P. (Catalogue Reference: ABC Records/Impulse! SIPL 503).  This was issued on ABC’s jazz imprint Impulse!  The sleeve is dated 06/68 (i.e. June 1968) whereas I understand that this was first issued in the U.K. in 1966 and therefore outwardly this appears to be a later pressing.  As well as Gabor Szabo (who is named in the title) this features other stalwarts Ron Carter and Clark Terry as well as Charlie Mariano and Jerome Richardson.  This is a really superior copy which although has seen some play has clearly been very well looked after.  All my items are graded under an intense light and here there are a relative volume of the tiniest, wispiest hairline marks present on both sides (perhaps more so Side One than Side Two).  These have been caused by light finger ‘drags’ across the playing surfaces and therefore they aren’t omnipresent but are instead in confined clusters.  Ultimately, they are superficial and there are no marks which can be seen in normal daylight or which can be felt.  The playing surfaces retain a certain sheen to them and I’m grading this as a solid EXCELLENT.  Lastly, it should be noted that aside from a few spindle drags evident around the spindle-hole (when the labels are angled under an intense light) they are otherwise as clean as the day they were pressed.  I think this is something worth emphasising as this kind of label tends to show-up greasy fingerprints with ease.  The sleeve is also a truly great example.  The first thing to note is that the laminate retains a certain ‘fresh’ appearance.  The rear is still pretty white with perhaps a little yellowing evident around the periphery.  The only flaws which I feel are worth matching are that each of the corners display a minimal amount of fraying with the most pronounced being to the bottom right-hand corner.  I suppose I could also say that if you angle the front of the sleeve under an intense light you can just about make out where there was once a sticker in the top right-hand corner which has long since been removed and which has slightly ‘raised’ the lamination (where it once was).  There is a very light crease on the rear of the sleeve at the top in the centre and in the corresponding position on the front of the sleeve suggestion of ring-wear.  The sleeve is graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.

Condition

VINYL – EXCELLENT

SLEEVE – EXCELLENT+

Concluding Remarks

A really great example!  I can’t imagine anyone would feel a burning need to upgrade this and more importantly I believe you’d struggle.  Gabor Szabo is featured on the Bob Thiele L.P. I am also currently selling.  Please check my other auctions for this as well as further Jazz LPs and a large run of Folk, Pop, RnB, Rock and Soul items 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. 

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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).

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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.