GENTLE GIANT - OCTOPUS VERTIGO SWIRL EX++ OMG condition

	£		149
	$		198

GENTLE GIANT  -  

OCTOPUS

     VERTIGO SWIRL 

    6360 080

1st ITALIAN Press 1972

Machined first press matrices and original date stamp 031072

 The gatefold cover is beautifully laminated. Original inner. The whole package is in an impossible EX++ condition and looks like it was when first purchased in 1972, possibly the greatest year for prog with e.g. Yes - Close to the Edge, Genesis - Foxtrot, Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick all issued as prog light bearers.

PRESSED WITH THE FIRST ISSUE SWIRL LABELS. FIRST PRESS MOTHER STAMPERS. THIS ALBUM IS AN IMPOSSIBLE FIRST WEEK OF ISSUE.

THE RECORD IS HOUSED IN THE FIRST ISSUE LAMINATED GATEFOLD SLEEVE WITH ALL LYRICS ON THE INSIDE GATEFOLD.

 Octopus was the second Gentle Giant album to be added to my collection and it still remains one of my favorites, not because of nostalgic reasons but because despite listening to the album around a zillion times I kept discovering new things about it. It's really a rollercoaster of moods and structures focusing heavily on medieval elements and experimentation (bordering avant garde sometimes), it's probably Giant's most daring album when it comes to inspiration. The progressive vocal workout "Knots", one of the bands signature songs, is easily the most "far out" piece here and its odd structure is as memorable as the piece itself. Great stuff! John Weathers is introduced here on drums and works splendidly as a solid backbone on this otherwise complex and highly adventurous music. This was also Phil Shulman's last and you can easily hear his absence on later GG albums.

The strongest cut here have to be "The Advent of Panurge" which is easily in my GG top-three, a very inventive piece that set the standard both for this album and later Gentle Giant albums. It's a very refreshing song that is heavy on the rhythm section but so wonderfully eclectic, adventurous and playful at the same time and will surely provide hundreds of great listening experiences alone. This album is for the adventurous listener, and while you might not like it as much as I do you'll surely enjoy it in some strange way nevertheless.

I have played this in FULL> The replay is ASTOUNDING!!! There are not any jumps, pops or skips.  Very remarkable for this 1972 vinyl!!! This copy has barely been played. The heavy vinyl with high groovewalls provide a fantastic audio experience with channelling not equalled by the later re-issue. I played this on my Technics turntable with a Linn cartridge and through my very revealing B&W three way speakers!!! A beautiful CLASSIC with supreme songcraft, a joy to listen to!!!! 

ELUSIVE PROGMONSTER!!!! VINYL IN A UNIQUE EX+ CONDITION!!!

!!!!AN IMPOSSIBLE FIND!!!GORGEOUS EX+!!! A few hundred of the LP were ever sold!!! This is SOOOOOOOOOOO very rare!!!!!

****ELUSIVE PROGMONSTER!!!****PERPLEXING SONGCRAFT!!!***AN INSPIRATION TO MANY SUBSEQUENT TOPACTS!!!***

!!!!A VERY HARD FIND!!! Most have been bought up by collectors!! This is hardly offered these days as an original first press!!

 Sensational sound quality, I have played this through in its entirety and it was a great joy!!! NO skips or jumps. NO clicks or crackle, this is really a stunning heavy glossy jet black vinyl .The audio is impeccable. Inspected under an intense lightsource and angled.

Vinyl: EX+ .  A sensational find and barely played!!! I have played this in FULL twice over> The replay is ASTOUNDING!!! I first played for a general listen and a second time for a more detailed observation. Only one wispy hairline can be seen under a strong lightsource. Fantastic songcraft!! A personal favourite of mine and I am very glad to be able to report that this is a fine slab of vinyl without any problems at all and as such worthy of inclusion of any great prog collection. This will be an ultimate upgrade version for most collectors.  Outstanding audio delivery in all respects with a crystal clear, deep, rich, warm and detailed sound and on playback at a loud volume (which is how I always listen to my LPs prior to listing and it's always an immense pleasure to return to this one) there is barely any surface noise. This is a beautifully clean pressing (and I must emphasise again how difficult it is to find a copy which plays this well). The whole LP sounds absolutely great and plays to a high standard with superb clarity, no groove-wear and no distortion and is very strictly graded a strong EX+  for audio without anything untoward, no static or crackle at all - great copy!! Of course, NO skips, NO jumps, NO ticks.

Gatefold Sleeve: EX++.  A beautifully laminated gatefold sleeve in time warp condition without any creases and even the edges are as first issued in 1972. The spine  is 100% legible. Just imagine finding this ultra rare first press without any edge wear? Well, that's exactly what we have here in all its full glory and 44(!) years old. The inside gatefold is likewise NM. 

***This is a unique prime investment opportunity!!! Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible!!! This is  a great and seriously collectible super album!!  You will buy into a piece of  prog core history.*** 

Labels: NM!!! Unmarked, these are the very desirable swirly labels.  None scarcer though than this label!! I doubt we will see this again this year or the next! This vinyl has indeed barely been played. Please take a close look at the pictures!!

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 20.00.  These fees in England have gone up significantly last May. Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

***This is a unique prime investment opportunity!!! Finding this classic album in any condition at all is nearly impossible!!! This is  a great and seriously collectable super album!!  You will buy into a piece of  superb prog history.*** 

This is a unique investment opportunity!!! The next prog album to go completely through the roof. Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible so late in the day. Get this while you still can. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price.

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 20.00.  Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly!  PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST,  if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one!  I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem!  This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy! Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 * rating is effectively detrimental to a seller's rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees  and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem.  Thanks again!!

This an excellent investment opportunity!!! Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.