DAVID BOWIE Hunky Dory RARE '1st PRESS' 3T/3T Bobil/Rasputin 1972 LP LOVELY COPY

	£		47
	$		62

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 will now be blocked 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: DAVID BOWIE

Album Title: Hunky Dory.

Producer(s): Ken Scott and David Bowie.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Changes; Oh! You Pretty Things; Eight Line Poem; Life on Mars?; Kooks; Quicksand.

Side 2: Fill Your Heart; Andy Warhol; Song for Bob Dylan; Queen Bitch; The Bewlay Brothers.

Label/Format: RCA Victor – original high gloss with a super-smooth finish. Later examples have a matt surface. GEM Production and Titanic Music text credits as seen.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive with barely a spindle trace to be seen. These retain that lovely surface sheen and super smoothness.

Cat Number: SF 8244.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 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: 124 grams. A fine solid weight.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Overview: A scarce early made copy. When first issued in December 1971, few record buyers were hardly even aware of this man’s previous works. This was his fourth album, by then the Deram debut was deleted, and the self-titled second (later to become ‘Space Oddity’) and ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ were gathering dust on shelves, both later repressed and repackaged. All three albums issued on different labels, Bowie was actually without a recording contract when work on this album began with all his previous output selling in tiny numbers to a small cult following, all are rare and massively collectable as originals. He was signed by RCA records where he stayed for many years, all bar the first album reissued and revamped when the success of ‘Ziggy Stardust’ caused a buying frenzy of his earlier works.

But prior to Ziggy, this classic pre-glam masterpiece only sold in only small numbers, even with excellent reviews. Hence the earliest issues are rarely seen or offered. Although this album was not repackaged as per his second and third album, only the very earliest copies were laminated. Now to be clear on this, because the price guides fail to mention a key factor – first-printed covers had no reference to ‘A GEM PRODUCTION’, which was a clear error as both the record labels and lyric insert DID include it and these were ALL laminated on the front. But very quickly, this production credit was added, and a tiny few of these WERE ALSO laminated, so this omission from guides is misleading. These are rarely seen or offered, most versions of the same cover had no lamination and sold as totally matt versions. This still very early copy IS just such a copy. It has the corrected GEM PRODUCTION text, but NO reference to Mainman and has NO laminate. I would imagine, as interest in Bowie’s back catalogue increased with the massive success of ‘Ziggy Stardust’, the lamination process was dropped entirely probably due to cost and/or, to get units into shops faster. The record on this copy is the more important factor. It still has the -3T / -3T matrixes and the run-out (dead wax areas) inscriptions ‘Bobil’ and ‘Rasputin’, hopefully these can be seen on my close-up pictures. All these factors were quickly changed and the inscriptions dropped altogether on subsequent pressings. Conditions and pressing quality are major factors as well. This has a superb clean cover with the lyric insert which also has no Mainmain references. Also this copy plays mainly very well with little unwanted, that never to be dismissed lightly. I have always found this a difficult album to find clean, often marred with pressing noises and less than wonderful pressing quality and sound. So in terms of rarity, this is a scarce copy, the record with the inscriptions and first matrixes quite rare as these were quite quickly changed as repressings became abundant.

Original Year of Release: December 1971. Logically, this one mid- to late 1972.

Matrix Nos: APRS 5947 3T / APRS 5948 3T [machine punched, NOT scripted]

Mothers / Stampers: A1E / A1I

Run-Out Groove Etchings: ‘Bobil’ / ‘Rasputin’ [these only the earliest pressed records, soon dropped altogether]

Musicians: David Bowie – vocals, guitar, alto and tenor saxophone, piano; Mick Ronson – guitar, vocals, mellotron; Rick Wakeman – piano; Trevor Bolder – bass guitar, trumpet; Mick Woodmansey – drums.

Brief Info: This Bowie album, his fourth, is regarded by many as his greatest work ever. Most these days will know the songs well enough, but when issued, few even were even aware of him. But changes were to happen fast – within six months, he was to become a household name and superstar with his seminal glam-rock masterpieces ‘Ziggy Stardust’ and later ‘Aladdin Sane’. This very ‘arty’ album paved the way for that legendary release, and only when ‘Ziggy’ went global, did sales for this one then take-off as well. But by then the laminated covers were all but gone. Regular fully matt versions were then the order-of-the-day (as per this) – a tiny few of those still had ‘first-issue’ records inside for the briefest time (also as per this). So this is NO ordinary 1972 copy, the first issue format records are rare, make no mistake. This a very fine all-round copy as well, the cover is fantastic. The record has a few light surface marks, but the most important factor – apart from the first pressing criteria – it plays very well with little unwanted. Not pristine perfect with a few gentle reminders of being a 43-year-old record, but it lacks the horrible pressing noises and issues many included. I have always found this album a pure lottery with most I have heard anyway, disappointing. This is a copy to please many collectors, and certainly with the inscriptions on the run out grooves, the specialists as well.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a single format with matt, smooth surfaces. Includes the ‘A GEM PRODUCTION’ text on the top right with NO reference to Mainman. Printed and made in England by Robert Stace. Includes the GEM PRODUCTION (with Titanic logo and credit) lyric insert and plain white inner sleeve, all seen in pictures.

Cover Front: Although unlaminated, this is still a superb early-printed cover. Very clean, fresh and attractive with any creasing very little, fine and light. Barely any hint of rubbing or rim impression and no sticker marks, this has been cover-protected from new and the difference is more than apparent. Clearly very wear-prone, this front sets a superbly high standard.

Cover Back: A microscopic tip crease on the bottom left apart – almost too small to see – this back is little short of as-made and looks fantastic. Rarely seen a GEM PRODUCTION (no Mainmain) cover back better.

Top Edge: Clean and very straight, any rub traces are minuscule, faint and faint.

Bottom Edge: As above, the cover-protection means this storage edge has barely rubbed black surfaces, that rare to see.

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

Spine and Text: Absolutely superb again: solid, very straight with barely any compression or ageing. All text perfect, clear and unworn, all very well centred as well for maximum good measure.

Corners: All very crisp and neat with any rubbing or tip creasing tiny and faint. Excellent to near mint shape retained.

Cover Summary: One of the earliest corrected covers, as stated, a tiny few were briefly laminated (I sold one recently in fact), but now fully unprotected and matt. Seldom seen this clean and fresh, obviously wear-prone, but this has little to fault and I consider it exceptional. It should please most collectors, indeed it could even prove a substantial upgrade for some.

The Inner Sleeve: AROUND EXCELLENT: a plain solid white unlined inner, that has only very gently aged with some seam edge adhesive darkening, only quite mild. Two neat window circles and all edges unsplit with no repairs.

The Lyric Insert: EXCELLENT(+): a matt paper lyric insert with NO mainman credits. This has the ‘A Gem Production’ text and Trident logo and credit. Printed both sides and almost as clean and fresh as when made. The only small blemish, a small corner tip crease and a gentle trace opposite.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NEAR EXCELLENT: a very fine visual copy that is generally clean with fine shine and solidly made. Most of any surface marks are fine and faint as seen more critically under bright angled light. There are no penetrating stylus scratches and this, compared to so many I have heard, very well pressed. After Ziggy swept the globe, this album was far more mass-produced and sound quality suffered (often badly). I can honestly state, I have hardly ever heard a copy of this album that plays perfectly, even ones that looks practically as made. So whatever ‘Hunky Dory’ I have, it is always with trepediation I make my play-grade. I feel sure this has been played lightly, most of the surface blemishes are whispy and faint with just a small few more easily seen in normal room light conditions. These however are still only fine and light as well. Like other albums of this period, many early examples were bought by younger music fans of the time and far fewer by older collectors. Hence many originals are rendered unlistenable or ruined by less than worthy record players. This still a splendid copy one I actually played and enjoyed without horrible pressing rasps or distortions. Visually a very fine record that should please many collectors but not the perfectionists – good luck finding a pristine ‘first pressing’ of this one.

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: Always a tense time when play-grading this album. This significantly rarer record, that meets all the criteria for a genuine first pressing (all details further up), plays even above it’s splendid visual grading with very little to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Beautifully produced, but so often let down by indifferent pressing quality – I have heard some real shockers in the past – mostly slightly later pressings suffice to say. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and this is an exceptional clean pressing (in comparison to most-all others I have heard). A little brief, gentle crackle trace here and there to lightly remind of what is being played – the odd sporadic tick being near impossible to avoid also – this being played on very revealing and clinical equipment (all listed further down), hardly anything else in that respect and few copies will match or outperform this one significantly I feel sure. I am certain this record has been played very sparingly and has been generally well stored. Very little spoilt the experience when play-grading this wonderful album – still up there with the very best for me. Complex sounds, some quiet passages, but this album gave of it’s very best for most all and is certainly one of the better ones I have heard. The stereo imagery and clarity is second-to-none, and I swear this has more punch and sonic delivery of the vocals and instruments, the fantastic songs gave me that rare tingle factor that only the very best recordings ever can. A wonderful experience and devoid of those loud irritating pressing rasps many Bowie albums seem to have with no tracking issues*. It could prove difficult to find significantly better with all the first issue credentials, it can be strongly recommended (unless perfection is mandatory). If clinical silence is demanded, the digital formats offer exactly that, but will never give that warmth and finese the early analogue copies do. The difference between a first pressing and later ones is considerable – the sound purists and audiophile collectors will know exactly what I mean. Not quite perfect, but this copy – for most – has that genuine ‘X-Factor’ in audio delivery and fine detail quality that makes quality systems really ‘sing’.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Blue 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 programmes. 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 Blue 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 Floorstanding 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’.