FLEETWOOD MAC, Then Play On (1969 REPRISE NEAR MINT)

	£		46
	$		60

This is the seriously rare original and first pressing of the essential Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac album ‘Then Play On’. On the genuine first three colour Reprise label and in the kind of ‘like new’ condition that’s almost impossible to beat so don’t miss out...

Year of original release: 1969

Year of this pressings release: 1969

Label: Reprise (3 colour ‘tugboat’ label)

Catalogue No: RSLP 9000

Matrix No’s: RSLP 9000 A1 / RSLP 9000 B1

Country of Manufacture: England 

Mode: Stereo

RECORD CONDITION

Labels: NEAR MINT

These are completely clean labels which display only minimal spindle wear that could be associated with just one play. There are no marks or writing on the labels at all, they are basically in perfect order

Visual: NEAR MINT

The vinyl surfaces look clean and immaculate, there is very little in the way of signs of handling to report really. A close look under strong light shows up just one or two very light paper scuffs and paper marks but there’s nothing here to cause any problems with the playing of the record at all. This still looks pretty new quite frankly and for a 40 year old collectable that really is something special!

Play: NEAR MINT

The audio clarity here is absolutely superb; it’s a real clear sound that suits the raw blues punch of the music perfectly. Nowhere does the needle stick or skip and there are no bad pops or clicks. The most I have to mention is the occasional light background sound but it’s only the kind you can get on any vinyl record, even brand new, and certainly not an indicator of wear, age or use. This is possibly going to be the best ever original pressing of this album I ever have to offer, there is simply nothing to find fault with here.

COVER CONDITION

Gatefold sleeve: NEAR MINT

A brilliantly preserved original ‘Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd’ album cover, the one previous owner did an amazing job keeping this in such immaculate, fully intact order. There are no marks, creases or stains on the sleeve. The edges are all smooth and un-scuffed as is the firm spine. There is only the vaguest hint of early stage ring-wear but that’s only visible if you’re going out of your way to look for it. The inner sleeve is the original poly-lined ‘UK patent pending..’ text white inner, also in unblemished Near Mint condition. All in all, this is an original sleeve in wonderful shape!

ABOUT FLEETWOOD MAC - ‘THEN PLAY ON’

This Peter Green-led edition of the Mac isn't just an important transition between their initial blues-based incarnation and the mega-pop band they became, it's also their most vital, exciting version. The addition of Danny Kirwan as second guitarist and songwriter foreshadows not only the soft-rock terrain of ‘Bare Trees’ and ‘Kiln House’ with Christine Perfect-McVie, but also predicts ‘Rumours’. That only pertains to roughly half of the also excellent material here, though; the rest is quintessential Green. The immortal ‘Oh Well’, with its hard-edged, thickly layered guitars and chamber-like sections, is perhaps the band's most enduring progressive composition. ‘Rattlesnake Shake’ is another familiar number, a down-and-dirty, even-paced funk, with clean, wall-of-sound guitars. Choogling drums and Green's fiery improvisations power ‘Searching for Madge’, perhaps Mac's most inspired work save ‘Green Manalishi’, and leads into an unlikely symphonic interlude and the similar, lighter boogie ‘Fighting for Madge’. A hot Afro-Cuban rhythm with beautiful guitars from Kirwan and Green on ‘Coming Your Way’ not only defines Fleetwood Mac’s sound, but the rock aesthetic of the day. Of the songs with Kirwan’s stamp on them, ‘Closing My Eyes’ is a mysterious waltz love song; haunting guitars approach surf music on the instrumental ‘My Dream’; while ‘Although the Sun Is Shining’ is the ultimate pre ‘Rumours’ number someone should revisit. Blues roots still crop up on the spatial, loose, Hendrix-tinged ‘Underway’, the folky blues tale of a lesbian affair on ‘Like Crying’ and the final outcry of the ever-poignant ‘Show Biz Blues’, with Green moaning "do you really give a damn for me?" ‘Then Play On’ is a reminder of how pervasive and powerful Green's influence was on this band’s originality and individual stance beyond his involvement. Still highly recommended and a must-buy after all these years, it remains their magnum opus. (AllmusicGuide)

POSTAGE & PACKING

UK:

Basic option – FREE / Recorded Delivery (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) £3.50

EUROPE:

Basic airmail - £4.00 / Insured delivery £8.00

REST OF WORLD:

Basic airmail - £7.00 / Insured delivery £12.00

We will always ensure that our records will be well packed in a secure manner. We do everything we can to provide a safe delivery and ensure that your records arrive in the same condition that they left us in. We use professionally packed heavy-duty mailers. We are also happy to accommodate pick up in person.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

If you are unhappy with your purchase, for any reason, we are not going to get into a long dispute with you about the items merits. We offer a no nonsense money back promise including postage upon return of the item. Obviously we do ask that you raise any issues within 7 days of delivery. Just get in touch, we can work it out.

GRADING

‘Record Collector Magazine’ have for years promoted a grading system that has been accepted as the all round standard amongst dealers and collectors. We too use that system but just in case anyone’s not sure here’s my basic interpretation:

MINT: Only ever used if a record is totally un-played and therefore can be classed as brand new. Even if a record has only had one play it can no longer be Mint.

NEAR MINT: This grading applies to a record that has no visible faults and no lessening in sound quality. Other than perhaps a little dust and in some cases the lightest of totally non-sounding paper scuffs visible under strong light, vinyl graded Nr.Mint will be extremely well cared for. Sleeves graded Nr.Mint will have no damage and only the vaguest suggestion of any handling or use.

EXCELLENT: Records graded thus will essentially be in a very well cared for condition and play without any problems. Excellent records have been used but they will have been well looked after and the worst you can expect with the audio will be the odd light pop or click and perhaps a little bit of light background noise in a couple of places, but certainly nothing that will spoil your enjoyment of the music. Covers graded Excellent have no damage or defacement to the artwork , their evidence of handling will only be in minor details like a few faint creases, tiny edge scuffs or a small amount of writing or sticker residue but certainly no serious damage.

VERY GOOD: Records graded VG will be totally satisfactory to all but those looking for total perfection. They will be used but still fully playable and only show the kind of wear you would expect to find on a second hand record that has had a few plays. The odd light scratch may be evident as well as general spindle wear and paper scuffs but nothing to cause any overall problems with your enjoyment of the record. Basically, be realistic in what you’d expect a used record to look and sound like and you won’t have any disappointments with a record that is graded Very Good. Covers graded VG may show a bit of general wear or scuffing around the edges, there could be some light ring-wear, a few creases and perhaps a little bit of writing (1960’s record owners seemed to always write their name somewhere on the sleeve) but they will still be fully intact and certainly not abused in any way.

GOOD: Vinyl graded as Good should be approached with a little more caution, as most dealers will tell you in record collecting terms ‘good’ means ‘bad’! We try and keep our items above this standard, however Good does have some saving graces and is not the lowest grading vinyl can be given. A record graded thus will still be just about playable although it will clearly have been played a lot by previous owners. You can also expect light scratches and definitely some surface noise. Covers graded as Good will be just about holding it together although you will inevitable find plenty of creases, maybe a few rips and seam splits as well as possibly chunks missing, writing or stains and indeed any other kind of defacement that it’s possible to find on record sleeves without them being totally destroyed.

FAIR: Don’t bother bidding!

NB. There may be occasions when we add a + or a – to a grading. The reason for this is fairly self explanatory but essentially, if something is VG+ that means it is a seriously strong example of that particular grading and potentially worth a higher grade. Please also remember that there are variables within all of these gradings (for example, it is not impossible for a Nr.Mint sleeve to have a tiny bit of writing present) but we’ll always endeavour to mention any especially relevant points within the bulk of the main description text