FAUST Rare Skeleton Fist X-Ray Debut. ORIG Clear EX LP

	£		101
	$		134

Hi, I am Mike, now 51. Old enough to remember the golden era of original, high quality music, bands, artists.

Also records from the 1960s and 70s bought from the shops from new, I have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 37 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and elusive items now. 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 reader – 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 one hundred percent is exact colour matching for covers - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. 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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: I post all my UK items on FRIDAY every week, most will arrive Saturday to make signed-for delivery easier. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with the record(s) 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 TWO massively thick stiffners for even extra protection and bubble wrap if deemed necessary. These stiffners are the thickest possible and custom supplied for ‘Oneadayrecords’ – these are NOT commercially available and you will not have seen thicker protection anywhere. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. Printed address labels are used as well as ‘Fragile’ tape for that extra professional touch for the packet. 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. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but NOT surface mail abroad. I never make profit on posting and offer probably the cheapest and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends, with the total costs including ‘standard’ or ‘optional extra insurance’ P&P – ALL UK and Russian packets go out non-negotiable Recorded Delivery. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 3,500+ items sold in over 5 years of Ebay trading (I am now one of most established sellers via Ebay) and I consider that pretty exceptional.

PLEASE NOTE: I will now only send packets to Russia with Recorded Delivery at a cost of £7 per single LP. If this is unacceptable to Russian collectors, please do not bid. I only want my records to arrive safely and this gives packets a better chance to do so. Also ALL UK packets will be sent with either Recorded or Special Delivery as standard (both have to be signed for). All shipping costs and rules can be found after my description. If they are not acceptable, please do not bid.

Album Title: Faust.

Producer(s): Uwe Nettelbeck.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Why Don’t You Eat Carrots?; Meadow Meal.

Side 2: Miss Fortune.

Label/Format: Polydor – Heavily customised original with silver labels that are near impossible to scan. The text is etched or punched into the labels. (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both very clean and attractive with only light and faint spindle marks and no wear around the hole area. Both retain a fine shine with no tarnish or dulling. Unusual to have to state this on labels but these, like the band, are a little different.

Cat Number: 2310142 SUPER.

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: 121 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 135 to 145 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, many records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 50 records from these eras.

Country of Manufacture: Record Germany. Cover England. For the original ‘clear’ vinyl copies this was normal, clearly both record and cover were very ‘specialised’, the cover being a silk-screen printing.

Rarity: Rare as a genuine original. The earliest pioneering progressive German bands did not sell well, far to experimental for most people’s tastes, certainly initially anyway. Even though it received high critical acclaim it was purchased by only a curious few with slightly more interest from a minority of prog fans after the issue of ‘The Faust Tapes’, a budget issue on the new Virgin label. But these very special avant garde issues remain highly elusive and do not show up often.

Original Year of Release: 1971

Matrix Nos: These are very difficult to even find but present if scrutinised, they are small and difficult to read. The mother stampers are 1/1 but the again the letters hard to decipher. I am sure this was deliberate as to not spoil the illusion when the record spins on the platter. When being played, this clear vinyl appears to start and stop, the dead wax areas have ‘fake’ grooves that also trick the eyes, any standout numbers on this area would give the eye something to focus on and spoil the illusion – that’s my theory anyway.

Musicians: Werner ‘Zappi’ Diermaier – Drums; Hans Joachim Irmler – Organ; Arnulf Meifert – Drums; Jean-Hervé Péron – Bass; Rudolf Sosna – Guitar and keyboards; Gunter Wüsthoff – Synthesiser and sax.

Brief Artist & Album Info: A Faust album on offer and no, not ‘Tapes’ this time. This is Faust’s groundbreaking debut album and just one of two made for Polydor Records. Possibly too uncommercial, for this label, the elaborate packaging for both albums would have been expensive and with limited returns they were likely deemed unviable. Very experimental and uncompromising at times, this album is arguably the least accessible in their catalogue and I absolutely love it. Along with Can, Neu, early Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream, Faust made great music, and unlike most of the band’s who loved to experiment with sound, Faust never sold out to commercialism - they remained cutting edge, even slightly weird - far too strange and dense for many listeners who refused to even try. Like all fine music of this type it takes time and perseverance, when their music really clicks in, it’s truly wonderful. Incredible rock music with use of electronics and at times sounding like the other great sound pioneer Frank Zappa. Faust was recorded at Wümme between 1970-71 and was produced by Uwe Nettelbeck. The original LP record was on clear vinyl in a clear cover with an X-ray of a human fist silkscreened on the outer sleeve. It also included a transparent plastic sheet with the lyrics and credits printed in red. The word ‘Faust’ is German for ‘fist’. Always difficult to find the cover unsplit or crinkled, this is in very shine shape but does have a toned edge which has also effected the record’s rim in one area - possible a reaction to light exposure in storage or from a smoker’s home – I really don’t know. A relatively minor blemish anyway, this remains a very fine and rare original copy. They rarely come up for sale and seldom seen, so this this rare album appeals, do not lose it.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High: easily damaged, rarely seen unsplit.

Cover Grade and Format: EX, a silk-screen printed transparent cover with inside fold for record retainment. The transparent inner is included also. Printed and made in England by Autoscreen Ltd and includes the world patents pending text.

Cover Front & Back: Overall a very nice example. The closed edge is toned as mentioned above but only a very fine line right on the seam. Dulling and marks are modest and this retains a fine transparency with minimal traces of fogging. The skeleton graphic and text is all undamaged or faded with any surface scratching light and few. A very famous cover, even for a poor selling album, this is well preserved example overall.

Edges: All edges are solid and unsplit and that is very unusual. As the cover ages, it can become brittle and splits happen, this has been avoided. The entrance is neat and lies to the right of the hand.

Corners: All neat and solid, very slight bend on top right being critical.

Cover Summary: A very strong all round example of this unique early 70’s cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This equally groundbreaking item should please many collectors but not quite the perfectionists.

The Insert: EX++ with just a few light thumb crinkles, these only really show when the light catches them. Still very transparent and all the red text is pristine. Light surface marks as most all will have, again only really noticeable under light. All edges razor sharp, this is a fine example.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Not quite so easy to visually grade as a black record, but what I see I think around EX or thereabouts. A fine looking example with number of plays evidence looking modest. As mentioned above, this has a small rim toned area on the run-in grooves that has no effect on play. Close examination under light reveals light surface marks and the odd slightly deep mark and there are a few sporadic clicks most on side two. As most collectors will know, non-black records have the tendancy to be less quiet than standard records and this album does have its fair share of quiet passages so a ‘silent’ example is a near impossible ask, even from new. With that in mind, I feel this is a copy that will 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 snippetts 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 unusual record plays mostly up to its high visual grading and a larger percentage above with only a few blemishes in the form of a few sporadic clicks. It has strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear. Sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any actual surface sounds are minimal indeed, just a modest few, low level clicks were noted in places. For those familiar, you will know this is a challenging record in all departments, I have had very few to compare this with but my strong hunch is few will play a great deal better. Watching the record rotate when playing is mesmerising initself, the records appears to almost stop and then start again and the strange run-out grooves still baffle. Certainly a unique piece of vinyl and as advanced as the music itself. Faust is an absorbing and challenging album, waves of electronic sounds merge with jagged rhythms and effects, I really cannot compare it to anything else I have heard before – a unique debut in every respect. A rollercoaster ride of inventiveness, just the type of entertainment I enjoy. These early Krautrock bands almost reinvented the progressive rock scene, adored by the few who demanded something different, and few were quite as different as Faust. Very little spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, not quite a copy for the perfectionist but I state again, this will not be easy to find significantly better, finding it at all is challenging enough. ‘Coloured’ vinyl e.g. not black, records were rarely purchased by sound purists of hi-fi connoisseurs and this record does exist in traditional black vinyl, but is equally difficult to find. If the true original is wanted, the clear pressing is mandatory, you have little choice so to speak. If you have doubts, do not bid but overall I am happy to firmly recommended it. Nothing beats the sound of this first pressed album, even with minor blemishes.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & OPTIONS:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (First Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4 (OPTIONAL).

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA (NOT RUSSIA, see below) (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £5.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £9 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: RUSSIA (Recorded Only, if this is unacceptable, please do not bid):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ only £7) = £9 (OPTIONAL extra insurance as above).

Posting & Packing: OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. US; Australia; Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £8.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £13 (OPTIONAL).

* If Rules allow for that country.

PLEASE NOTE: I always get a Royal Mail ‘Proof-of-Posting’ receipt for ALL packets that are sent out and I am happy to prove this to any customer who wishes to see it via email.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

The customer can choose their method of shipping with the exception of second class or surface mail overseas – these I will NOT use. The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£35).

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. 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 minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

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 neccessarily 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’.