GORDON HASKELL It is and it isn`t King Crimson RARE TEST LP prog folk mint

	£		145
	$		192

GORDON HASKELL - IT IS AND IT ISN`T, the 2nd solo album from KING CRIMSON singer and childhood friend of ROBERT FRIPP, released in UK on ATLANTIC RECORDS in 1972. This is the MEGA RARE TEST PRESSING LP of the first (and only) UK vinyl edition. The record is in STONE COLD MINT, BRAND NEW, GENUINELY UNPLAYED condition.

RARITY:  even a regular release copy of THIS LP IS MASSIVELY RARE. Despite the fact, that it was released on major label - ATLANTIC, it was pressed in unbelievably small quantities, due to the fact that record executives at ATLANTIC simply had no idea how to market it and who this album`s target audience could possibly be. Gordon`s sound was considered too mellow and folksy for prog-rock lovers, it was not pure folk either, as some songs had definite rock structure, supported on this album by future KING CRIMSON bassist and singer JOHN WETTON. So, bigwigs at ATLANTIC decided to play it safe, and not wanting to invest too much in the album, had ordered only very limited initial run of the pressing, waiting to see if it would sell, in which case they could press more copies. Needless to say, without proper marketing, and indifference of reviwers the album`s sales were poor and it sunk without trace. I`m not sure if it was ever re-issued on LP, but I`ve never seen any re-issues of this album until 1998 when it was released on CD by BLUEPRINT. Obviously what makes the copy offered for sale here is even more rare - is the fact that it is a  WHITE LABEL TEST PRESS COPY. It`s impossible to find out an exact number of test copies pressed for this particular album, but my guess is - about 3-4. It is rumoured that even for the releases of the bands that were the cornerstones of record industry, such as THE BEATLES, there were only about a dozen of test copies made. I seriously doubt that there are other test press copies of this album in existence nowadays, they were viewed back then, as something belonging to manufacturing process and often were discarded, once the commercial pressing was up and running. In any event, TEST PRESSING LPs are the genuine very first copies of any release, and as such are UNIQUE AND MEGA RARE examples of the album. Having said that, I have to add that this particular copy offered for sale here - is in absolutely stunning, I would dare say "exclusive" condition, and I will explain in detail further on, why I am of such an opinion.

THE STAMPERS: Both sides -  A 1 (the very first copy).

THE COVER:  company in-house white paper/cardboard sleeve with "GORDON HASKELL 40311 MASTER" written on it.

THE LABELS: company in-house white labels are in STONE COLD MINT CONDITION. Both sides of this copy have been checked meticulously under 100 watt lamp at an angle, there are NO SPINDLE MARKS WHATSOEVER. There are absolutely no stickers, no sticker residue, dirt, fingermarks or writings on both sides, except the written "SIDE 1" and "SIDE 2", normally found on TEST COPIES.

THE VINYL/VISUAL INSPECTION: MINT, once again, checked thoroughly under 100 watt lamp at an angle, there are signs of the record being taken out of its sleeve, they are just several extremely light paper trace lines, which originated when the record was taken out of the insert and put back in, no scratches, no fingermarks, dirt or anything like that. I CAN`T SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF IT BEING PLAYED, in my opinion, whoever it was supposed to listen to it at ATLANTIC, never got around to actually doing it, and that in a nutshell tells us the story of how this brilliant album was treated by record executives. The record is perfectly flat, there`s not even a hint of warping. This is a vintage ATLANTIC lp, heavily pressed to the highest standards, massively thick record with deep grooves, it still has this magnificent original lustre and at an angled light shines like new.

THE VINYL/PLAYGRADED: The lp was playgraded on my high-end system including MICHEL GYRODEC with SUMIKO BLUE POINT SPECIAL CARTRIDGE, with following results: I`m pleased to say that both sides are playgraded as STONE COLD MINT. Perhaps I have at this point to elaborate on the system of grading that is currently used by the sellers on the internet. I think you`ve noticed that sometimes it can be rather vague and basically imperfect way of describing the condition of the LP. Partially it is due to subjective nature of the listening process in itself and consequently grading, i.e. - one guy`s "near mint" is another guy`s "barely excellent minus". Also, grading is heavily influenced by the quality and set-up of the record player (especially it`s cartridge) and at times, erm... by the desire of the seller to get as much as possible for his record. I think for the most expensively priced lps, more detailed grading system should be adopted. For this particular listing, in view of how high a starting bid is, I would ask you to adopt 10 point scale, where 10.0 is a compact disc like "black silence". So, if we can agree on this 10 point system - I have no reservations to playgrade the lp advertised in this listing as at least 9.5. I would also like to point out, that to avoid buyer`s disappointment I PLAY GRADE ALL RECORDS VERY (and I mean VERY) LOUD, so that all audible imperfections would reveal themselves. I want to assure you that I`m very strict and perhaps even too unforgiving a grader, and I`m confident that you will agree with my grading, allowing 0.5 point either way to the 9.5 points that I awarded to this lp on the 10 point scale . Anyway, without further ado -  I`m happy to playgrade the lp as an overall STONE COLD MINT.