Kevin Ayers : Joy Of A Toy A1/B1 2nd Press (w/EMI Logo)

This second pressing on the EMI Harvest label plays to a superb standard with very little intrusion.  In fact the only track that is not on a par with the others is 'Girl On A Swing' that has some light static for some unknown reason.  The other tracks play with outstanding clarity and depth and 'as new' describes the audio very well.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops on either side and this is a vinyl that has been so well preserved down the years and it is visually stunning also.

The cover is in superb condition and the original inner has only a little wear.

This is known as a second press because it has the EMI logo on the labels.  However, it still has the first press A1/B1 matrix and this is clearly early on in the second press 'run' as it has single stampers on each side.

SHVL 763 // A - 1 B - 1 // O 1 / L 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 VG+)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 & T5 Near Mint) 

The laminated cover is Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

The original inner is Ex-

The vinyl is visually stunning and still has that 'as new' glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  There is some spindle wear but this is clearly a vinyl that has been so carefully handled down the years.  I can only detect a small number of very faint hairlines and even they are difficult to locate.  The run out grooves are super clean and the yellow/green Harvest labels have no marking or writing on them.

Play grading  

'Joy Of A Toy Continued' plays with superb audio throughout with no ticks, clicks or pops.  If I am being super harsh there is just a hint of very light static on the first couple of grooves before the percussion comes in but this is undoubtedly a Mint- start to the side.

The intro on 'Town Feeling' plays so clearly with no intrusion and Ayers' opening vocal is of the same 'high end' quality.  It continues with a clarity that is second to none.  You have to appreciate this vinyl is over 50 years old and yet the playback so far is stunning in every regard.  The vocals sound like they were sung yesterday and the instrumental sections play beautifully.  I cannot adequately put into words just how 'clean' the audio is on this track.  A couple of barely audible dust ticks at most this easily qualifies as Mint and the fade out has no 'background' either.

'The Clarietta Rag' keeps up the standard and plays with perfect precision from the first note to the last.  Sublime clarity once more and Mint is again deserved.

The piano intro on 'Girl On A Swing' has no interference and it then plays very clearly with no ticks, clicks or pops.  However, for some reason there is a little static on the vocal, perhaps this is common on this track.  Because of that I can only grade it as VG+

Normal service is resumed with 'Song For Insane Times' which plays with great clarity and definition throughout.  A miniscule amount of static on a couple of 'words' but Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

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The intro on 'Stop This Train (Again Doing It)' is superb!  With only a couple of dust ticks the clarity is amazing and the depth of the audio is so impressive also.  As the vocal comes in there is no decrease in quality.  I've played this track twice now and the sonic quality is incredible - it has the CD aesthetic clean quality but without the warmth and depth you only get from vinyl.  The instrumental end section is faultless but then that can be said for every second of this track!  This is Mint in every sense.

The acoustic intro on 'Eleanor's Cake (Which Ate Her' plays beautifully and it continues in much the same way with no ticks, clicks or pops.  There is a very quiet static 'moment' just after the second line and again just a minor touch towards the end for a couple of seconds but they are totally non-intrusive and hardly noticeable.  Near Mint is still very much deserved and even that may be under-selling it.

The intro on 'The Lady Rachel' is nigh on perfect and the opening vocal has no 'background' at all.  From then on the audio is STUNNING with a clarity and warmth that is unbelievable.  What a version, the finest I have ever heard.  Mint-

'Oleh Oleh Bandu Bandong' plays with impeccable from start to finish with, you guessed it, no interference and I suspect it has hardly been played judging by the audio.  A almost imperceptible amount of mega light static for a couple of seconds but this is another Mint- track without doubt.

'All This Crazy Gift Of Time' ends the album with great quality as you would expect.  The playback is so 'clean' and there is only a minimal touch of mega light static audio on the vocal every now and then which again does not affect the listening 'experience'.  A Near Mint finish with the majority being better than that.

In summary this very early pressing plays with incredible clarity, depth and warmth on every track bar one.  It is only 'Girl On A Swing' that has some background static but the good news is that there are no ticks, clicks or pops here.  In fact that applies to the entire album which is rather impressive for a 50+ year old album!

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The laminated E.J. Day cover is in lovely condition with only very minimal wear.  The edges are so close to perfect with only one very small rub on the bottom edge of the front cover and the wide spine is superb with no obvious wear at all.  The corners are also very clean with only bottom right having a tiny amount of wear and the opening edge has barely any handling wear.  However, the opening edge on the back cover does have 2/3 small 'waves' but it doesn't detract from the overall 'look'.  The front cover is in excellent condition with no laminate wear and only a few faint scratch lines that you always find.  There is a 1.5 cm white 'band' running down the spine where the colour has faded for some reason.  The back cover is in great order with only a small number of tiny indents and a minor amount of ringwear.  The bright yellow colour on both sides has lost none of its original glossy sheen.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and overall this is a very strong example of this cover.

The original 'Plastic Bags...' inner has only one tiny side split, a little ringwear, some faint marking and a little creasing also.

Play Tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

SHVL 763 // A - 1 B - 1 // O 1 / L 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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