EMERSON LAKE & PALMER (ELP) RARE UK 1st Pink Island

	£		69
	$		91

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4. Europe £10. Rest of World £14. ALL signed for. – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment.

Artist or Band: EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

Album Title: Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Producer(s): Greg Lake.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: The Barbarian; Take a Pebble; Knife-Edge.

Side 2: The Three Fates: a) Clotho b) Lachesis c) Atropos; Tank; Lucky Man.

Label/Format: Island – original full pink with i logo format.

Label Conditions: Both look lovely: very clean, fresh and highly attractive with spindle marks on the lighter side of moderate. These are fine and faint and only really show under angled light.

Cat Number: ILPS 9132.

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: 130 grams. Around the average for this one.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The original on the Pink Label are getting harder to find especially in near top playing conditions and the cover is near impossible without substantial ageing, rubbing and ringwear. A record that suffers groove damage very easily, the pinks rarely will be found much better than this. One of the best and most intensely recorded Island albums ever made. Early equipment often inflicted heavy wear to these most complex grooves, so they often suffer distortion and crackle unless treated well and played on more sympathetic record players. This very clean example has very clean playing surfaces with few marks and sound quality was simply immense, it totally blew me away for audio quality, and few ever do. A hugely challenging record (and that no understatement), this plays entirely without any distortion with any audio blemishes tiny, very few and faint, it will take an extraordinary example to better this. A hugely intricate genuine hi-fi recording that’s over 41 years old. The cover is in very fine condition also with few of the usual wear traits this normally is seen with.

Original Year of Release: 1970 and not available too long before the pink rim pressing came along.

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9132 A-2U / ILPS 9132 B-1U

Stamper Codes: 1 R / 1 GA

Musicians: Keith Emerson – Piano, Royal Festival Hall organ, Moog; Greg Lake - Vocals, bass, electric & Acoustic guitar; Carl Palmer - percussion.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Featuring Keith Emerson, formerly of The Nice, Greg Lake (King Crimson) and Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster) these three played high octane progressive music. Keyboard driven rock with a classical feel this debut for me still remains, for many, their best and definitive album. Featuring only six tracks but every one superb and of course the final song, ‘Lucky Man’ remains one of the definitive prog classics. A sublime song with stunning sound. This has to be heard via the vinyl source. Near it’s end, when the Moog kicks in right at the death, the bass frequencies hit below 60 Hz and on a big system this actually pulls at the stomach muscles. This is true hi-fi nirvana and nothing can better it. This is a very impressive copy that plays with very clean sound with very little unwanted. I realise this is a bold statement, but this gives a hugely enjoyable performance. The lack of often loud, irritating crackle on the quiet passages is so unusual to hear as Island pressing quality was somewhat variable – it simply depended who did them – this one was pressed by EMI and the quality is was more assured. There is no clipping or distortions either and the dynamic range is simply incredible. Also for once, a little-worn UK cover, the lack of rubbing and penetrating ringwear is always a huge bonus and near impossible to find especially with the pink label record inside. On the back is the original 39/11 (an old penny under £2) price sticker. This with care I feel will remove, but I personally like these old pre-decimal prices, it helps date the album and it’s part of the history. So a strong package of this increasingly more difficult record to find.

Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very high indeed, one of the most wear-prone covers on this label and is seldom seen even a decent Very Good with a proper Excellent example being a very fine example. Highly rub and ringwear prone and often seen with huge sticker tears. It’s nigh-on impossible to find with absolutely nothing to fault and this is still not that, but a delicate design that will not be easy to find much better.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT: or very close to. An unlaminated single format with matt finish, highly intolerant of abuse, overhandling and bad storage. This one was printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group.

Cover Front & Back: One of Island’s most intolerant covers and seldom seen this attractive. In terms of surface rubbing and rim impression, both sides have little and amongst the least I have yet seen. Any traces are very light indeed with no ink removal. There is a fine vertical crease along the spine edge of each side, but this shows little and overall, this cover retains a high degree of freshness and rich colour. Under light, very fine surface creasing is seen on the back, this totally natural within manufacture, not visible with normal viewing and when looked for, it actually enhances this covers vintage look. The original price sticker is neat and has clearly been left well alone.

Top Edge: Any traces of rubbing are tiny and very faint indeed, and this is still very straight with no evidence of any enhancements or tip-ins.

Bottom Edge: A little light and patchy rubbing, seen few with less on this traditional storage edge.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, quite sharp with very few traces of wear, any thickening or burring minimal to none. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: A very sound spine with just a little rubbing on the very ends and milder in places on the folds – few will ever avoid this.Solid, mainly straight with some reasonably light compression in places. Unusually, ALL the pink text is unworn, present and easy to read – this often fades and rubs away totally – so this a real bonus.

Corners: All the corners have smallish tip rubs but retain very fine shape with sharp points and no dinks or tip-ins.

Cover Summary: In terms of this uncompromising cover, this can almost be considered exceptional and an attractive all-round example, one that will prove difficult to find much better. A cover that cried out to be laminated, but like the majority of Island covers, not to be in the UK. With all considered, this should please many collectors. The plain white unlined inner has aged only slightly with some mild discolour and fine creasing, all edges unsplit.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NEAR EXCELLENT: with some fine surface marks more seen under angled light – but this grading hardly does this quality record justice – the sound is fantastic, any visual blemishes do not affect the audio quality at all. A strong visual copy that is very clean, shiny, with an intense black finish. Very solidly pressed with deep and wide grooves for super-fi sound, these have complex patterns and are very clean and totally unworn. A copy modestly played and an exceptional Island piece, the last new title issued on the pink i format before the pink rim took over. Visually a super record that should please many collectors.

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 miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This very impressive original pink i ELP debut plays even above it’s visual grading with very little to fault. With such detail and complex sound embedded, this was a record that could be easily destroyed if not treated with reasonable respect and many often have crackle and distortion – this has minimal traces of surface sound and no distortion whatsoever – it’s just a question of if you system can handle it. Strong, dynamic and powerful sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. I swear this very early cut has the most intense sound I have yet heard and it really gave me that rare tingle factor when playing. This is a vintage record with genuine hi-fi audio quality and will make any worthy system sound superb. A record with massive highs and lows, real church organ and deep bass synths, that will shake the foundations and then delicate piano pieces and some real quiet passages. These type of records are the ultimate test for pressing standards and silence is near impossible, but this copy excels and for realism and dynamic range, it will prove unbeatable. The most difficult track is the delicate ‘Take a Pebble’, but this simply plays very impressively, the acoustic guitar sounds in the room and with little unwanted. The odd cracle trace or sporadic tick is impossible to avoid, and just the odd hint reminds of what you are actually listening too – a 41-year-old vinyl record. Few copies will match or outperform this beautiful pink pressing I feel sure – I have heard several noisy copies of this before, both on pink and pink rim repressings and often clean looking copies can disappoint. Remember groovewear cannot be seen, only heard, this has none whatsoever. Both channels are clean and sharp, I feel very sure this record has been played modestly and has been generally, well looked after and within a non-smoking environment. The piano parts are crisp and sharp and those demanding sonic parts on the finale are beautifully focused and sharp. Even the immensely difficult to track church organ is totally focused and devoid of the clipping and crackle that spoil so many of these. Tracking effortless and maximum pleasure is gleaned from this wonderful original. Nothing of any note spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this vintage prog classic – the odd minor blemish, but that’s records. This copy will prove very difficult indeed to match or find better. This album and copy are strongly recommended, with both parts in impressive condition, and they are becoming harder and harder to find like this.

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 - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, 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 its 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. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. 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 Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with QED Silver 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 and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap 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 less than one in two thousand based on over 7,000+ items sold in nearly 10 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. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. 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). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please as me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, 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 and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). 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.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£46 maximum]) = £10. (Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 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 [£46 maximum]) = £14. Add £4 per extra LP. (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’.