Jimmy Smith - The Sermon Blue Note BLP 4011 Mono LP RVG Deep Groove First Press

	C$		29
	$		21

Up for auction:

The Sermon!

Jimmy Smith with Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, Art Blakey, George Coleman, Eddie McFadden and Donald Bailey

Original pressing (originally released in 1959)

Blue Note Records 4011

This copy is first pressing from 1959 having the following details:

Mono pressing on heavy weight vinyl

Deep Groove labels on both sides

Run out includes "9M" and Plastylite "P" (ear) hand etched on both sides

Rudy Van Gelder "RVG" stamp on both sides

Labels show  the ® under the "E" in NOTE and Blue Note Records Inc. with the 47 West 63rd NYC address

Back cover has "Blue Note Records Inc" and 43 West 61st St., New York 23 address along bottom.

Vinyl was "Play Graded" (see grading details explained below) to determine condition accurately.

Overall vinyl grade is a strong VG (visual grade VG)

Cover grade VG

Side One: (VG + overall) The first side plays a strong VG + with stretches of VG ++. Slight surface noise at the beginning when the needle meets the groove. Plays beautifully despite some scuff marks that span the record in a couple of spots and cross the label. The label has a few spindle marks and some tiny stains that are barely noticeable.

Side Two: (VG overall) The first side plays a strong VG  with long periods of VG +. There is a little more surface noise on side two. Visually better looking with no scuff marks like side one has, only a few small, light scratches are visible. The label has almost no spindle marks.

Cover overall VG grade is still glossy with some rubbing wear on the front (including the barely detectable start of ring wear), no seam splits anywhere, the spine is clean and defined, see detail photos.

Back cover has initials "JLW" in top left corner, slight wear on the bottom corners as well as near the "JLW" top corner. Back has some age staining and foxing, all type is clear and legible. 

Please contact me if you have any questions about the condition.

Visual or play grading? I PLAY grade the records to get an accurate result. Generally I find vintage records made in the 1950s and 1960s until the early 1970s are more resilient to handling and can show marks, scuffs and scratches yet play better than they appear. Records made since 1973 are prone to have more defects, and often play worse than they appear. 

I do a detailed play grading so please read my comments before bidding. I play records at volume so I will hear everything, good or bad. I play all my records on a REGA RP6 with an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge and listen through a pair of Totem monitors. Covers are carefully visually graded and if needed I will point out flaws or problems and often include detail photos.

Record cleaned on VPI rcm and is in a fresh inner sleeve. Original plain Blue Note sleeve included as well and all inside a plastic outer sleeve. Packed with care for shipping.

Shipping via Canada Post - I recommend XPresspost which has insurance and tracking

Shipping to the U.S.A. and Internationally, several options available, some with insurance /tracking.

Please contact me for an accurate shipping estimate to your location and any other questions you might have.

No Returns on records (except if I sent you the wrong one) which is why I carefully grade and describe them. 

Thanks for looking and Good Luck bidding.

The grading system I have is based on industry standards with some specific differences. 

I do not buy records to sell, everything I sell are extras from my collection including any vintage jazz albums which my dad got new in the late 1950s /early 1960s. His albums always had his three initials "JLW" written in the top left back cover. 

I clean all records I have and sell on a VPI HW16.5 rcm. Every cleaned record will have a small 0.5" colour label with VPI written on it on the inside flap where the album goes, and it is removable. 

Grades:

Mint (M) Extremely rare and seldom seen, this would be perfect in every way and have zero flaws. 

Still Sealed (SS) This record has not been opened and is in original shrink wrap or plastic. I never assume a still sealed record to be Mint, or Near Mint. SS means still sealed.

Near Mint (NM) Close to a perfect record in the real world, no visible defects, shiny playing surface, virtually no surface noise. Labels are centred, have no writing or spindle marks. Covers don't have writing, ring wear, creases or seam splits.

Excellent (EX or VG++) Is a record that comes just short of Near Mint. Plays NM except for a few seconds in spots. Some scuffs, light scratches may be visible but does not affect the listening enjoyment. Covers can have very slight wear, discolouration, might have a cut out or hole punch and a small amount of writing.

Very Good Plus (VG+) will usually have more scuffs or light scratches than EX, signs of wear that do not affect listening. Labels may have spindle marks and some writing. The record might be slightly warped but played beautifully. Covers might show minor ring wear, a short seam split, have some writing and also have a hole punch.

Very Good (VG) have more of the imperfections found on VG+ records, will have noticeable surface noise especially between songs or during quieter moments due to nearly invisible groove wear, more obvious scratches that you can feel or scuffs on the surface. Vinyl will not be shiny. Overall, still quite good. VG covers will have more ring wear - maybe tape residue and longer seam splits. 

Very Good Minus (VG- or G+) will have more of the imperfections a VG record has. Surface noise will be more pervasive than VG mostly heard in between songs and the start/end, sometimes you'll hear a scratch. It may have a bigger warp than VG but this will not cause the needle to skip on a properly set up tonearm. VG- records play okay. Covers may have obvious ring wear, taped seams or other marks. 

Good (G) Vinyl has more scratches, scuffs, groove wear but plays through. Surface noise is heard during songs. Labels show more wear and spindle marks, possibly writing as well. Covers have more noticeable ring wear and seam splits. 

Good Minus (G-) Likely has an annoying skip or repeating skip during play. Warps may be bad enough to cause the stylus to jump. Covers show plenty of wear, may have lots of writing and ring wear is starting to take over. 

Fair (F) and Poor (P or Rough) Poor sounding or not playable, cover has serious damage.