JACK BRUCE Songs For a Tailor RARE 69 Laminated N/M LP

	£		80
	$		106

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 Ortophon 520 Mk II cartridge (tracks at 1.75 grams). Amps: Arcam 2 x 125W Pre-Power. 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: Songs For a Tailor.

Producer(s): Felix Pappalardi.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune; Theme For an Imaginary Western; Tickets to Water Falls; Weird of Hermiston; Rope Ladder to the Moon.

Side 2: The Ministry of Bag; He the Richmond; Boston Ball Game, 1967; To Isengard; The Clearout..

Label/Format: Polydor – Intense matt finished format that have a very delicate and faintly textured finish (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both in supreme condition, ultra clean and attractive with barely a spindle trace to be seen. Try finding the classic album in better condition that this.

Cat Number: 583058.

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: 132 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 140 to 150 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, 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 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The album itself is moderate to scarce but most seen or offered are later pressings. Not only has this copy hardly even been played, it doubt if its seen daylight for four decades. The record was fairly difficult to remove from its polylined inner hence side two has some evidence of ‘bag-rash’ but this has NO EFFECT ON SOUND WHATSOEVER. The very first pressings of this psych classic were issued with a laminated cover both on front and back. Only a handful of this, the most prized Jack Bruce album, will ever be seen laminated, most all are matt finish with no protection. Also most examples of the first made laminated covers have problems in manufacture. The laminate is more often seen badly creased in manufacture. Often with multiple lines or areas or non-adhesion which does spoil the appearance. Mottling (or fine surface bubbles) are near impossible to avoid on this elusive cover and every example I have ever seen or had has some. This one has the least of any laminate problems I have ever seen with NO laminate lines or non-adhesion and any mottling patterns are very few and light indeed with just a couple of small areas on the front that has little visual impact. Whether the laminate problems was a factor in dropping it on subsequent printings I don’t know but I will guarantee, most found will be the unlaminated version and few of the originals will have fewer laminate problems that this. Such early examples are very rare indeed and seldom seen or offered and only a tiny percentage will ever be found better.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: 583058 A2 1 1 4 / 583058 B2 1 1

Musicians Include: Jack Bruce - bass guitar, vocals, piano, organ, cellos, guitar; Dick Heckstall-Smith - saxophones; Chris Pedding - guitar, John Hiseman - drums; Felix Pappalardi - guitar, vocals; Harry Becket and Henry Lowther - trumpets.

Brief Artist & Album Info: At last, I can offer the most elusive and rare copy of this Jack Bruce debut album. Yes a laminate cover copy of this title is very hard to find and the record is the best I have ever seen or heard bar none. After the demise of Cream, the legendary bass-player, but now multi-instrumentalist issued this mini-classic. Short quirky songs with brilliantly bizarre and surreal lyrics by Pete Brown, a combination that was heard to great effect in Cream’s classic output. Still sounding as fresh and vibrant as when issued back in 69, this famous album still sounds wonderful today. Never underestimate the rarity of the first-made copies of this gem and finding this record better will prove nearly impossible.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: More moderate with protection. The far more common unlaminated covers often suffer rubbing and ringwear: [Unlaminated covers are always the most vulnerable for rubbing, fading, sticker tears and ringwear, gatefolds are more prone still and the darker they are, the more this type of wear occurs and shows. Some sleeves have a textured finish or die-cut shaped edges or ‘windows’. These are even more delicate and the hardest to find in top condition. Fully laminated covers are more resistent to wear but often the laminate ages with dulling, creases and blistering. Many 60s covers have outer flipback construction, these are very vulnerable to damage]. (US covers are the most fragile of all, very rarely laminated and made with thick brittle card that rubs and ringwears badly. Seams and edges split easily). Please see format below to access this cover’s potential for wear and damage.

Cover Grade and Format: EX++ and Mint(-) would be more than reasonable simply because it looks very close to as made. Not only does this cover vary in the fact both front and back are fully laminated, the Polydor credits vary also. This one has the text ‘Manufactured by Polydor Records’ that was then changed to ‘Marketed by Polydor’ on the unlaminated reprintings, so beware of standard covers being ‘hand laminated’ to fake originals – yes it happens believe me. Also this has the single thickness front card making it heavily prone to creasing and burring. Construction was slightly strange too with a more rounded spine and folding was some distance out with the back edge about an eighth of an inch longer than the front. Although very slightly compressed, it’s nothing like as much as the length difference on view. This cover always seems to suffer production problems and inconsistencies. The laminate adhesion seems a lottery and most suffer accordingly. For once, the laminate on this example is as close to perfect as I have ever seen. I guarantee this cover is untrimmed, the edges have a fair band of exposed card where the laminate ends short, any trimming would have removed this strip but all is exactly as made. This rare original cover was printed and made in England by MacNeill Press Ltd.

Lamination – Front & Back: This cover looks certainly lustrous with the lamination and, for a change, both sides look superb with no major lamiante production problems. Bruce’s portrait looks magnificent and so much better than the matt finished version. Both sides retain incredible rich shine, easily the best glossy finish I have ever seen on this original cover. There is no dulling or friction rubs and ALL is fully adhered with no blistering or lifting – either natural or manufactured and that is very unusual. Ultra clear and fresh with few marks, creases and devoid of crinkle lines. Any fine surface creasing, mostly on the front, are very few, small and light and have little visual impact. The spine top corner has creased a little but the exposed edges where the laminate ends a fair degree short of full width or depth are very neat and clean with no chipping or grime-line formation. As stated above, the biggest plus factor (for many) will be the general lack of mottling, or tiny surface bubbles this cover rarely escapes from. There are small traces on the front towards the right edge area but as light and few as I have ever seen. Around these small areas is a strange very light green hue, again this is a very mild production issue and again I have seen this before only much more apparent. I can honestly state, this is by some distance the very best original laminated cover I have ever seen for this title. A cover so often fraut with problems in manufacture, it will prove very difficult if not near impossible to find much better. The front is superb, the back exceptional and both are very difficult.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Still very clean and white with only slight traces of ‘set-off’ where black meets white when closed. A slight burr to the top left edge.

Top Edges: Little wear at all and only very slightly thickened on the fragile single thickness front.

Bottom Edges: Similar again only the front is very sharp and the back has faint burring traces. Being the ‘resting’ edge, this is no great surprise.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with barely any wear and no feathering. Record enters on this back edge. As stated above, the front edge is somewhat wider than the back.

Spine and Text: The spine is solid, straight but is slightly compressed but not to the extent of the overhang on the front edge. Simply not trimmed accurately in manufacture, the temptation to trim the front edge could be high for some but I prefer to leave this cover the way it was made. All text is pristine and unworn under solid and uncracked laminate.

Corners: Minor tip creasing and rub trace but all in very fine condition overall with very neat shape retained.

Cover Summary: An unusual cover in many respects and certainly a rare one as a first made with lamination. A very strong all round example and what blemishing there is practically all in manufacture NOT wear. This rare and attractive item should please most collectors. By far the best example I have ever seen.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NOT taking into account of mildish bag-rash on side two, I happily grade this superb album as Mint(-). This superficial mottled pattern on the record’s surface is a reaction caused when a record has been left inside a polylined inner for many years. Some inners seemed more prone to this than others, Decca I have found to be most guilty. This pattern has NO effect on sound whatsoever and only the most severest cases will ever be audible. A superb visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed. Hardly a mark or blemish to be seen and this nearly 40-year-old record could easily pass for new (bar the interesting pattern from the inner). A copy hardly even played on all the evidence and it’s almost a mystery why some wonderful records like this were bought and just stored in racks. Not knowing the history of this copy, I can only assume the original owner put it to tape, who knows?

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 sublime record plays up to its high visual grading with nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Devoid of surface sounds and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing for a fairly challenging album. I have heard later pressings that have disappointed with surface sounds and crackle, I simply won’t offer such copies. This very early pressed example was a sheer joy from start to finish and plays to perfection. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Audiophile quality, nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. With an exceptional cover too, this copy will prove near impossible to find better for sound and can be strongly recommended – do not lose this beauty.

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’.