KING CRIMSON Islands RARE Orig UK 1971 N/M LP + Inner

	£		114
	$		151

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Artist or Band: KING CRIMSON

Album Title: Islands.

Producer(s): King Crimson.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Formentera Lady; Sailor’s Tale; The Letter.

Side 2: Ladies of the Road; Prelude; Islands.

Label/Format: Island – Original pink rim format.

Label Conditions: Both immaculate: ultra clean and highly attractive with only a couple of super-light and faint spindle traces and no wear around the hole area. Barely played again from a collector who taped his records from new.

Cat Number: ILPS 9175.

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: 130 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 135 to 145 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, many 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 50 records from these eras.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Info: Scarce as a first pressing and this being one of the earliest I have ever seen. This is a very difficult to find with a record that has hardly been played with a really top condition cover. Most copies of this crackle and few will ever play near silent and that is no understatement – this one comes as close as is almost possible and such copies are rare, make no mistake. Only the early pressings had the flipbacked cover, only slightly ones were smooth. Also the originals had the gatefold inner sleeve with the song lyrics and band details (and some artwork). This is one of the most fragile inners ever made: The record was stored inside the thick paper and it meant most-all were severely damaged or split. Most are seen with cellotape reinforcements as the majority of these were actually damaged intransit to the shops. This one on offer is in two pieces: possibly this does not sound good but… this is really not bad news as such. The single thickness closing side is neatly removed from the other part and no bad repaires have been attempted. The storage part is very neat and fully intact and that is a minor miracle initself. I guess it could be clear taped together but it’s really not necessary, it looks fine in two super-neat pieces and sure looks better than old cellotaped alternatives that have browned and left ugly residues marks. Tears and splits are neat impossible to avoid on this hugely vulnerable inner.

Original Year of Release: 1971

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9175 A-1U / ILPS 9175 B-1U

Stamper Codes: 1 G / 1 MG

Musicians: Robert Fripp - Guitar, mellotron, pedals, harmonium, devices; Mel Collinis - flute, bass flute, saxes, vocal; Boz Burrell - Bass guitar, lead vocals; Ian Wallace - Drums, percussion, vocals; Peter Sinfield - words, sounds. Guests: Keith Tippett - piano; Paulina Lucas - Soprano; Robin Miller - Oboe; Mark Charig - Cornet; Harry Miller - String bass.

Brief Info: Fourth album by one of the undisputed leaders of British progressive rock and probably the most underrated in their early catalogue up to classic Red album. Now a leaner band in terms of numbers but this again includes a host of guests as featured on the wonderful Lizard set that preceded it. Less jazzy than the aforementioned album, this one even has elements of the classics. Featuring two of their finest ever tracks with the beautiful ‘Formentera Lady’, a gentle opener before the blistering ‘Sailor’s Tale’. This features several solos including another incredible saxophone barrage from Mel Collins. A diverse and highly entertaining set that again has superb production and sound. What is more predictable, being a King Crimson album is the massive highs and low in sound levels; hence this is yet another very difficult album for vinyl and I have never heard a copy that will play silent throughout. This album even has one section towards the end of the title track that has around 30 seconds (or so) of pure silence – yes no music, no sounds whatsoever, before some somewhat bizarre talking and tuning comes back in before the run-out grooves. There is not greater test for vinyl quietness than this and it still seems somewhat bizarre why this was deemed necessary. Anyway this ‘silent’ section plays ultra quiet and barely any unwanted sound. This is by some distance the very best pressed ‘Islands’ I have yet heard, and I have heard several over time right from way-back to my college days of the 1970s. Side one is breathtaking and plays as perfect as this record ever will and I truly heard nothing unwanted. Side two is almost the same but a very few, very light ticks were noted near the start of the intensely quiet start of the title song. That is just about the only blemish on this amazing record and given the near impossible material on this album, this will prove near impossible to find better. Just looking at the playing surfaces of this record, it has more light and dark rings than Saturn. A clear indication to the vinyl ‘reader’, this has immense volume and ultra quiet passages – a minefield for the stylus and to the quality of the pressing. The original owner really looked after his records and this retains the lustre and look of a nearly new record. Barely a mark or blemish to be seen, this is a very strong, ultra early original copy and never easy to find in decent conditions and it will never be easy to find much better than this. If absolute silence is demanded throughout, two choices: wait for the elusive copy that may never ever show up, or, buy the remastered CD version. But for those who want a very early pressing with all the trimmings and a massively impressive playing record with very little to really fault, this really will take a huge amount of beating.

Cover Grade and Format: EX++ and given it’s delicate nature, its an exceptional example. A single, unlaminated format, this has the original top and bottom flipbacks that were omitted on later examples that were still pressed on the Pink rim format. This includes the gatefold inner/lyric sheet (details on this above). That was printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group so logic tells me the cover was too - but it has no credits or text on it anywhere so, sorry that is pure speculation.

Cover’s Potential for Wear: Cover: High. Inner: Very High+. No protection and flipbacked and made with fairly thin card, with the dark finished artwork, few of these will look good these days and again this is one of the best originals I have ever seen. A very daring cover that has absolutely no information on it whatsoever. Buyers at the time would not have even known who the band were or its title. There is not one word of text printed on this sleeve.

Front: Apart from a fine half moon surface crease which hardly even shows, the only one away from the edge. And a couple of small corner semi-creases, this front has nothing else to really fault and looks magnificent. It gives nothing away for what it even is and initial buyers must have been confused. Superb colour, no rubbing or ring marks and this will prove immensely difficult to find better.

Cover Back: Practically the same again and the lack of ringwear again is a huge bonus and the fragile unprotected flipbacks are in superb shape with little wear at all. Both stuck down fast, these have avoided edge burring, rubbing or major creasing which is very unusual on this one. There is a relatively fine crease on the top one just right of centre but little else to fault. Most flipbacks from the 1960s covers were laminated that gave that extra protection, these have none and were fully exposed to any wear and damage time and handling can dish out to a fragile cover like this. All considered, this back too is in very fine and attractive condition.

Top Edge: Very light rub traces only.

Bottom Edge: Even lighter traces that above.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with little wear and no feathering. Record entered on this edge.

Spine and Text: Solid but thin, quite straight with minimal compression. There is no text printed on this spine and no text printed on the cover whatsoever.

Corners: Small creases around the tip areas and tiny tip rubs - all fairly minor in context.

Cover Summary: A very strong all round example of this very fragile, original, early 70’s cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This rarer original format version should please most collectors.

The Inner: This is somewhat difficult to realistically grade as it is now in two pieces as explained above in ‘Rarity’. Most are seen badly damaged and in tatters often being held together with badly aged cellotape. A high percentage of these were damaged in transit from the manufacturer to the retailer. Record movement sliced through the thin seams and knifed the fold of the ‘flap’ page (as here). At least this is neat and in two very clean pieces. The ‘cover’ side is unsplit but the top edge is mildly pushed and slightly ‘stressed’ near the centre but intact. Both pieces are clean, fresh and attractive with barely a crease to be seen. Okay two pieces, but even so, this inner will prove very difficult to find better visually. If this not intact inner is an issue, please do not bid.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-) / EX++ with just the finest and tiny mark on the beginning of the title song that has a tiny few, faint brief ticks – the only small blemish on the whole album. This near microscopic hairline is near impossible to see but I was determined to find the culprit for the minor sounds – it was not easy to locate. A very fine visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed on thick vinyl. A copy I know to be hardly played, probably once or twice only and visually a super record that should please most-all 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 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 highly attractive record plays superbly with hardly anything to fault as mentioned again already. The tiny few brief ticks on ‘Islands’ are of little distraction when the rest of an incredibly difficult record plays so superbly. It has a very strong and powerful production with totally distortion-free sound. All frequencies are sharp and clear and sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. To say this album is challenging is an understatement, but typical of King Crimson. So many quiet passages and most all play beautifully, the silence near the end of te album is almost that. All is sharp and focused and the wonderful production and imagery will seldom be enjoyed more from the vinyl source. Collins’s reed work almost rips the speaker-cloth when played at volume and there are no traces of breakup or stressing. The classical piece ‘Prelude’ is highly vulnerable to clipping and noise but even this demanding track plays beautifully. Few copies will match or outperform this very early pressing significantly I feel sure – what I will confidently predict is, most will play far FAR less well than this wonderful copy. This remains audiophile standard and barely anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful and scarce record. Underrated by some but not me, this is equally as wonderful as anything this band produced for Island. King Crimson, along with early van der Graaf Generator made some of the most explosive and consistently brilliant real progressive music of this golden era – both are challenging and equally compelling. This copy will certainly prove immensely difficult – and I will go further – almost impossible to find significantly better and is strongly recommended. Do not lose this elusive first pressing.

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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. 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: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets out ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is no bad thing. Also: any item with a value over £40 will have to be insured as well, but for any item that sells for over £150, I will pay the extra insurance (then the lower shipping price applies).

I now offer the fastest possible posting, mostly the very next day after payment is received or within three days maximum (unless on holiday). 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 VERY THICK stiffners for even extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will be Double Boxed. 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 for clarity as well as a sender label. 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 ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 4,000+ items sold in over 8 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. I discount of course of multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per packet. I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included in the advert.

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 & 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. (Only for items under £40)

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (Compulsory for items over £40).

Posting & Packing: ALL EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA including RUSSIA and nearby countries. (Airmail Only):

1 LP, value less than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £8.

1 LP, value greater than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, [£500 Maximum]) = £11.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (any part); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP, value less than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £12.

1 LP, value greater than £40 (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500 Maximum) = £15.

For items that sell over £150, I will pay the insurance, so the lower shipping price will apply.

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: 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’.