FREE - Tons of Sobs - RARE HEAVYWEIGHT ISLAND PINK RIM TEXTURED LABEL PRESSING.

	£		18
	$		24

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World £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. More details on this 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 ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible even yet another Royal Mail price hike, I will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably a little heavier.

Artist or Band: FREE

Album Title: Tons of Sobs.

Producer(s): Guy Evans.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Over the Green Hills Pt I; Worry; Walk in My Shadow; Wild Indian Woman; Goin’ Down Slow.

Side 2: I’m a Mover; The Hunter; Moonshine; Sweet Tooth; Over the Green Hills Pt II.

Label / Format: Island – Pink rim format with the matt, rough textured contract press finish (Please see my label scans).

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and attractive. Spindle marks are on the lighter side of moderate with minimal visilibility unless searched for under angled light. At first glance, you may think, ‘just a pink rim issue’, but little could be further from the truth. Only a small number of the early Island albums were pressed – I think by Pye – with these heavily textured labels that have the same look and feel of the very first pink pressings. They also include the very different large, deep punched matrixes (details further down) that also go back to the very first issues. For me the most attractive Island albums ever made, and these offer master tape sound quality that packs a massive punch in dynamics and detail. These were pressed on very thick heavyweight vinyl as early Pye records invariably were, and this no exception. More details on these very limited and special pressings further down.

Cat Number: ILPS 9089.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 160 grams. A massive pressing that even exceeds most of the very first pressings.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity etc.: Island – Ultimate first repress on the new Pink Rim format. The very first issues on this new format were much heavier and thicker pressed and had textured labels with a deep inner ring ridge. For me, the most beautiful and prettiest Island design ever. The Island design was in constant change between 1967 to 1970 and this replaced the full pink label with the i logo that in turn replaced the previous, short-lived variants. Most-all pink rim copies had smooth labels and were much thinner. Now just about everything was superior for these very limited pressings that came and went very quickly with only a small number of titles pressed on it. The labels have a more de luxe finish with deeper, richer colour and the texturing is lovely. The matrixes are much bigger and deeper punched (as can be seen on my photographs), just like the first pink format with the orange eyeball logo that are seen on the early Jethro Tull, Traffic, Fairport Convention and Spooky Tooth albums (to name just four). For good meature, these were issued in the original cover with the E. J. Day credits, this wear-prone sleeve in very fine condition, few seldom are these days. I also consider this particular pressing to be superior for detail and clean sound too. Many pink originals suffer pressing flaws and finding one that will play without surface noise, pops and clicks is immensely difficult, especially if subjected to old heavy-tracking record players of the time. This record has a few light surface marks, but offers quite stunning sound that totally blew me away and has hardly anything unwanted. A contract issue offering vastly superior, clean sound that owners of quality systems will treasure. I consider these textured pink rims albums to be the most difficult to find as so were ever made – they are becoming sort-after and collectable. In a way, they are a little ‘strange’, as they actually go back to the first issues, but this is no bad thing. The deep punched early-style matrixes suggest these are first issues in a new style and the truth is, they are a cut above most others in terms of weight, quality, detail and sound. Indeed some of these Pye contract albums offer slightly different mixes and details. ‘Unhalfbricking’ by Fairport Convention and King Crimson’s debut are two that are quite different. These were not as ‘mass-produced’ as most other pressings – these ultimate first pink rim textured copies are somewhat unique in the Island catalogue and are not seen often.

Original Year of Release: 1969. This one pressed in 1970.

Matrix Nos: ILPS + 9089 + A2 / ILPS + 9089 + B2 [deep punched, large Roman style, nothing like the later matrixes at all].

Musicians: Paul Rodgers - vocals; Paul Kossoff - lead guitar; Andy Fraser - bass guitar; Simon Kirk - drums.

Brief Info: The debut album from one of the UK’s most respected rock bands. This is probably the only album in their catalogue that can truly be classed as ‘blues-rock’, with quite a few of the songs being slow tempo and fairly dark – even sombre. All the four members were under 20 when this classic set was recorded and although highly-rated, it failed to chart in the UK and only just scraping into the top 200 in the US. With such few sales, all the pink Island pressings are elusive, even rare, and few survive in decent playing conditions with even fewer with respectable covers that are massively prone to all forms of wear. Although it has a fairly raw, not particularly polished production – a bit like Led Zeppelin I – it has immense in-built power and detail and this more unusual and arguably rarest variant copy sounds incredible and plays superbly with very ittle unwanted. As outlined above, this first pink rim pressing goes backwards in utilising the early matrix styles and is very heavily pressed. It also included as standard the first-style E. J. Day cover and these rare pressings are little difficult to fathom. The record has been played and has a few minor surface marks, but they are simply ignored and non-feelable or penetrating. These very deep groove Pye contact Island records were tough and robust and offer definitive master tape sound. If this was a first pink pressing, it would go off-the-scale for desirability as few around will better it. But, the label design apart, this is pretty much what it is – my Sondek made this excel and the sonic delivery of the music and vocals was little short of breaktaking. This alone for many will prove a significant upgrade. I am sure fewer of these unique pressings were made than even the first pressings and appear less often – these are almost the same as a first pressing but with the pink rim label. Most-all pink rim copies have smooth finishes with standard EMI-style ‘U’ matrixes and much lighter vinyl. Only a select few titles were pressed on this format before they disappeared completely. The very wear-prone cover has little and being a first pink rim issue, it has a plain white inner being made prior to the blue ones that came shortly afterwards. This copy is not just for specialist Island collectors, it offers the type of sound purists really want.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High+, the earliest Ernest J. Day printed ones are nigh-on impossible to find in top condition.

Cover Grade and Format: NEAR EXCELLENT: a very dark unlaminated gatefold format with a matt, smooth finish. Highly vulnerable to friction rubs, storage damage and most of all, ring wear. This has the prized original Ernest J. Day imprint as seen in my close-up picture.

Cover Front: Although this has a little gentle wear, these ‘Day’ covers are seldom seen with so little overall. This front has a light rub against the top inner flipback near the top edge and a press mark just below the cross, this seen more under angled light with minimal trace seen full-on. A little tip creasing/rubbing, but retaining deep colour, very little rubbing and still attractive. It will not prove easy to find much better.

Cover Back: The back is quite similar, the lack of penetrating ring wear which is a massive plus on a cover so prone – especially with a 160 gram record inside for 43 or so years. Any creasing very little, fine and light with most of any wear on the vulnerable corner tips, the bottom left area has a tiny surface scuff, but look hard.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Little to fault inside at all – please see my close-up of the rarer Ernest J. Day imprint. As seen in the band pictures, this looks terrific.

Top Edges: Mainly light, with a little nearer moderate, patchy rubbing, both straight.

Bottom Edges: The front edge has little wear. The back with light+ to moderate slightly patchy rubbing.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The front edge is sealed, crisp and neat. The back opening is very clean, sharp with minimal hints of wear, thickening or burring, bith are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with no compression. Folded a little off-square so all edges are not quite parallel. Any rubbing is very little and light with just a couple of tiny surface chips. Most of the text present with little wear, a few gentle rubs only and still easy to read. Both folds are solid also with little wear, these are often seen white and threadbare. So given how difficult this is, a very fine spine overall.

Corners: Moderate tip rubbing with a little creasing, mostly to bottom left that has a fairly gentle dink. Reasonably fine to fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: Most rock collectors will know this cover well enough to know just how intolerant to wear, careless handling or bad storage it is. This has far more positives than negatives and the main areas all look quite impressive given the facts. ‘Day’ covers are not so easily found and few will better this significantly I feel sure. Not for the perfectionist, but many fans will be happy.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: a plain white solid unlined inner with only very gentle traces of darkening on the seam areas. Barely creased and all edges unsplit with no repairs. The earliest pink rim Island albums included white inners prior to the blue ones that followed shortly afterwards.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(–): Clean with a fine shine shine, intense black and heavily pressed. But this does have some surface marks, mostly seen under angled light, these are non-penetrating and mostly fine, they are practically all ignored and have no affect on the very impressively quality this deep and wide grooved record offers. Not for the visual perfectionist, but let the music do the talking, on that account, this one really delivers.

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 classic Free debut plays above it’s solid visual grading with very little to fault. Powerful rich and punchy sound, that is immediately clear after the short gentle opening song, totally distortion-free, this record gives an impressive account itself and was a real pleasure to listen to. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed – traces on ‘Green Hills’ is near impossible to avoid totally being quiet and on the most vulnerable areas – beginning and end – of the record. A top quality ‘contract’ pressing and not the usual EMI with the evidence from it’s early-style and unusual (rare) large punched matrixes. Nothing of any note spoiled my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful album, the music does the business and the early qualities of this legendary band really shine through. A slightly raw production that suits the music and style perfectly. The type of inbuilt power, like the early pressings of Led Zeppelin I, the music and vocals simply explode from the speakers. This copy will prove difficult to find on this format or sounding a great deal better, and a reminder I play-grade on an LP12, still one of the world’s most revealing turnables that many consider to be the best and most clinical ever made. The mild surface marks (of which there are several) are simply ignored. Worthy of the strong recommendation, this matches, or truly even exceeds the very first issues. Certainly not mass-produced, elusive and rare on this pink rim variant – I enjoyed this one immensely and even putting this on offer proved difficult.

End Piece: Be under no illusion about the rarity of this very early textured pink rim copy, all the non-charting Island pinks are scarce this one is fast becoming one of THE most challenging to find. With a generally attractive cover and record that plays strongly, this unusual ‘variant’ may not prove easy to find a great deal better (even if marked). The detail and sonic delivery within these clean and deep grooves will blow away the discerning listener. Get this on to a worthy system that can glean all the information and prepare to be blown-away. The Free legend lives on within this super-detailed pressing and lovely slab of vintage vinyl.

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 Terrarium 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 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 10,000+ items sold in over 12 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 2 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). 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 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] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (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 [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced 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 [£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’.