JOHN MAYALL's BLUESBREAKERS with ERIC CLAPTON. RARER ORIG UK 1969 STEREO UNBOXED

	£		173
	$		230

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: BLUES BREAKERS – JOHN MAYALL with ERIC CLAPTON

Album Title: John Mayall’s Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton.

Producer: Mike Vernon.

Engineer: Gus Dudgeon.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: All Your Love; Hideaway; Little Girl; Another Man; Double Crossing Time; What’d I Say.

Side 2: Key to Love; Parchman Farm; Have You Heard; Ramblin’ on My Mind; Steppin Out; It Ain’t Right.

Cat Number: SKL 4804.

Label/Format: Decca – Original unboxed Stereo format with matt, deep blue smooth surfaces (please see my label scans).

Label Conditions: Both in truly stunning, connoisseur type conditions that come very close to reminding of new. Ultra clean, fresh and hugely attractive with only one or two tiny, super-fine small spindle traces. This beautiful first pressed stereo record looks hardly even played, reitterated by stunning sound quality.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 152 grams. A typical heavy pressed Decca record that offers audiophile top quality real stereo sound.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The stereo version was issued in 1969, around three years later than the mono version. Briefly available on the unboxed format in stereo before being repressed boxed – henced first issue stereos are quite rare. This record will rarely be found better and a classic album in stunning condition – I am almost reluctant to even let this one go.

Original Year of Release: 1966 in mono – 1969 for the stereo version. This a late 1969 pressing.

Matrix Nos: ZAL-7297.P-1W / ZAL-7298.P-1W

Stamper Codes: 1 C / 1 K (one of the earliest copies of this popular blues masterpiece you will find)

Brief Artist & Album Info: An album of immeasurable greatness as an icon for the British Blues scene of the mid-1960s. With its very famous ‘Beano’ cover, this album always features high in any serious list of all-time greats, whether compiled by critics or the record buying public, and justifiably so. The Bluesbreakers quartet on this landmark legendary album were: John Mayall, Eric Clapton, John McVie and Hughie Flint. Even non-blues fans usually want this one and treasure it equally, is any vinyl collection really complete without a copy – I own a Mint boxed stereo myself, or this beauty would not even be offered for sale? This is one of the most important albums ever issued to own in both stereo and mono, the mix is very different to the earlier issued mono version and the sound experience varies considerably. The stereo mix offers super imagery, detail and sounds more ‘open’. A 1969 pressing in fabulous, age-defying condition, the record is sublime. It offers supreme sound and without any doubt, has hardly been played. Decca quality was never compromised and this gem does it full justice. The cover very nice also, but a little toning on the laminate ends is often seen as a bare minimum. Also this cover includes a rare ‘AVAILABLE ON CARTRIDGE’ sticker on the laminated front, I consider this a small piece of history in it’s own right from this long defunct format.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): a single format, laminated with Clarifoil on the front, this wraps around the closed edges and ends on the spine edge on the back. This has the peep-hole mono/stereo indicator back, here filled by the blue inner sleeve that denotes a stereo copy inside. Printed in England by MacNeill Press. Simply one of the greatest and most famous covers ever made - the four members sitting on the ground up against the graphittied wall - a young Clapton reads a 1966 Beano – just think, the famous year England won the football World Cup – yes, this title really was first issued that far back. The record includes the Decca lined inner sleeve, here in blue to fill the hole on the back cover. Some edge discolouration and fading but fully intact with barely any creasing. The lining very clear and circles both crisp and edges unsplit with no repairs.

Front & Lamination: The famous graphic looks wonderful under near very clear, shiny and still fresh Clarifoil laminate that for a change is fully adhered with no lifts or blisters. Even under light, barely any dulling, any creasing very light, few and fine – showing little in fact and mostly hairline types near the edges that few ever avoid at best. A little fine, gentle toning on the right unprotected strip on the opening right edge, mostly near the centre, all very minor indeed, but a gentle clue to the real age of this cover. This famous old cover front will prove very difficult to fine better – and personally, I think that vintage ‘AVAILABLE ON CARTRIDGE’ add even more history to this classic. That has gone a little transparent over time, but clearly has never been removed or picked at, this seen in close-up.

Cover Back: Again, very impressive with minimal traces of any discolouration or ageing. The only small exception is a toning trace near the bottom right corner and a couple of traces above. The faintest traces of grubbiness near the edges, but look hard. No creasing and any surface marks few and very light as seen more critically under angled light. The mono/stereo indicator hole crisp with no burring of damage. So a few minor blemishes but little else.

Top & Bottom Edges: Minimal traces of wear, just very gentle thickening to the main back panel being critical, also both quite straight, Clarifoil covers often bow badly which this has largely avoided.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean and very sharp with real crispness, barely any hint of thickening or burring. The record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way.

Spine and Text: Solid, but quite thin, mainly straight with any compression patchy and only light. The ends are nipped in manufacture. All text is sharp, clear and unworn under the solid unpeeled laminate, this also well-centred on a fairly narrow depth.

Corners: All impressively neat with minimal traces of any rubbing. They retain excellent shape or very close to.

Cover Summary: A very strong all-round example of this very famous cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This beautiful item should please many, if not most collectors. The original heavy-duty Decca inner is described further up.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+) to EXCELLENT(++): a super visual copy that is arguably being conservatively graded. Without doubt, very little played and this offers supreme sound and wonderful good looks. A very clean record with a lovely shine, jet black and heavily pressed. Any surface traces ultra fine and faint as seen viewed with scrutiny under bright angled light – I grade all my records under an intense desktop lamp and leave nothing to chance. A quality Decca pressing as you would expect and this will please most collectors.

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 wonderful stereo record plays even above it’s high visual grading with practically nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound (never take this for granted on any copy of this record), all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Devoid of surface sounds, I heard no crackle on this record at all. No pops or clicks were noted and this record sounds wonderful with all the clarity and detail you could justifiably expect from this Decca record. Mastertape quality, it will thrill all listeners who take sound seriously. A record with a very powerful and dynamic sound mix with quality stereo imagery and separation. Decca pressings were amongst the toughest and best made, no matter what era they were made, they rarely fail to please. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this blues masterpiece – the music did the talking and was a genuine thrill to hear in stereo again. A very strong all-round copy I can strongly recommend.

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’.