KING CRIMSON Islands RARER Orig UK Island 1971 EX LP

	£		91
	$		120

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4. Europe £10. Rest of World £14. ALL signed for. – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment.

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 impressively clean, fresh and highly attractive with hardly a spindle trace to be seen.

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: 140 grams. a very impressive weight for this record.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity & Info: Scarce as a first pressing that offers mostly clean and enjoyable sound. Most copies of this crackle and few will ever play without often considerable amounts – and that is no understatement. This copy is cleanly pressed but does have some light ticks on ‘The Letters’, the quite short final song on side one. This from an incredibly fine mark and the only audible blemish on what – that apart – is a very clean example that without doubt, has been played little. 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. Considerably numbers are seen with cellotape reinforcements as the majority of these were actually damaged intransit to the shops. Never unusual to see in two separate pieces being totally sliced through by the record. This one remains intact but does have a partial split on the fold and a small neat split on the bottom edge. With due care this will remain intact and the lack of tape marks still makes this a very attractive example. Clearly, the record must not be stored inside. This album and inner, even though not perfect, are never easy as such.

Original Year of Release: 1971

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

Stamper Codes: 1 AL / 1 MR

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, are the massive highs and low in sound levels; hence this is yet another very difficult album for vinyl and I have so rarely 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, or sound whatsoever, before some fairly meaningless dialogue comes back in before the run-out grooves. There is no 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 little unwanted sound. This is among the best I have heard, and I have heard several over time right from way-back to my college days of the 1970s. Generally, this is a very clean pressing, but as mentioned further up, there are some light ticks on the final song on side one from a very small and fine mark – there is little else – but silence is almost impossible on this one. 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. Given the vintage and complex sound embedded into some very fine grooves, this record has more than stood the test-of-time and offers highly enjoyable sound from one of the prog classics of the era. With the small marks and light audible ticks, this is not perfect enough for the most discerning collectors, but still an impressive over all copy.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT: or very close to. A single, unlaminated format, this has the original top and bottom flipbacks on the back that were omitted on later examples that were still pressed on the Pink rim format. This includes the gatefold inner/lyric sheet. 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. No protection and flipbacked and made with fairly thin card, with the dark finished artwork, few of these will survive with little wear. 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 it’s title. There is not one word of text printed on this sleeve.

Front: Very impressive with little wear or blemishing. Rich colour and freshness with barely a hint of record impression or creasing. A small one on the bottom left corner tip with a little rubbing on the very tip too. Few will be found a great deal better and this remains very attractive overall.

Cover Back: Practically the same again and the lack of ringwear again is a huge bonus and the fragile unprotected flipbacks are in very solid shape with little wear at all. Both stuck down fast, these have largely avoided edge burring, rubbing or major creasing which is very unusual. A little corner creasing and small tip rub but little else. 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 offer to a fragile cover like this. All considered, this back too is in very fine and attractive condition.

Top Edge: Light to moderate rubbing, more towards the corners.

Bottom Edge: Only very light rubbing on this edge.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with little wear with minimal traces of any thickening or burr traces. Record entered on this edge.

Spine and Text: Mainly light patchy rubbing, solid, straight with no splits that can occur due to the inner offering scant protection from movement. No text was printed on this one.

Corners: The top pair have moderate tip rubbing, only light on the bottom ones. Fine to very fine shape is retained.

Cover Summary: This has always been a difficult cover to find nice. Overall, a strong all-round example with most of any wear on the closed edges and corners that few will ever avoid. In real terms, even this is modest. The main faces are impressive and seldom seen with less wear than this. This rarer original format version should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: Not that easy grading this one because in terms of real wear, it has little. But like most all, this has a split on the fold. This covers are around half the length, being in the central area and a smallish one on the bottom. Also a smallish one on the bottom of the storage edge. There are NO repairs or tape marks as none was ever applied. With many seen with tape around all edges and sometimes seen in two pieces, this neat movement splitting is comparatively mild. So delicately intact and very nice looking – so fragile and to be handled with care. Originally, the record was stored inside, that is why most all are torn and split, quite possibly many so from new. This gatefold inner sleeve includes lyrics and information on the band. For looks, this sets a high standard and even with the neat splitting, will not be found much better easily. Clean, fresh and uncreased, all very nice indeed.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NEAR EXCELLENT: a few light surface marks and one tiny fine mark on ‘The Letters’, the shortish final song on side one. As stated, this omits some light ticks for around half the track’s duration. Enough to notice but not to really spoil the song to any great degree. This played on very sensitive equipment too. A very fine visual copy that is very clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed on thick vinyl. A copy modestly played for sure and it should please many collectors, but with the blemish not for the highly discerning or perfectionist.

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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This Crimson classic plays very impressively with little to fault bar the aforemenioned (again) light ticks towards the end of side one. 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 huge understatement, but typical of King Crimson. So many quiet passages and most all plays beautifully, the silence near the end of the album is pretty close to that. Some I have heard have constant crackle through the entire duration of this silent passage. 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 very well. Few copies will outperform this very early pressing significantly I feel sure – what I will confidently predict is, most will play far FAR less well than this still overall impressive copy. Underrated by some, but not me, this is almost as 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. All parts of this set are strong, if not perfect. All being this fragile, finding perfection is a near impossible task, but this will please many collectors.

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 8,000+ items sold in over 10 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 as 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.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (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 [£46 maximum]) = £10. (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 [£46 maximum]) = £14. Add £4 per extra LP. (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’.