KING CRIMSON Lizard RARE EARLY UK 1970 PINK RIM ISLAND EX++ 163g LP, PLAYS WELL.

	£		45
	$		60

ONEADAYRECORDS – Serving-up a Christmas & New Year Feast of Entertainment

I would like to wish all my customers, regulars and newcomers, a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Over the Holiday Period, I am offering some interesting Christmas ‘Crackers’ – the theme this year being ‘Rock Classics’ – ENJOY!

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £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, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received if possible. PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT send any item, no matter what its value without a Royal Mail or courier tracking number. ALL my items must be signed and traceable to comply with Ebay delivery rules. Please do NOT ask me to make any exceptions to this rule as no country offers 100% reliable service without it.

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 ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business.

FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: KING CRIMSON

Album Title: Lizard

Producer(s): Robert Fripp & Peter Sinfield

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Cirkus (including Entry of the Chameleons); Indoor Games; Happy Family; Lady of the Dancing Water.

Side 2: Lizard; a) Prince Rupert Awakes b) Bolero – The Peacocks Tale; c) The Battle of Glass Tears including 1: Dawn Song 2: Last Skirmish 3: Prince Rupert’s Lament 4: Big Top.

Label/Format: Island – original pink rim format with matt, quite smooth surfaces. This album was not issued on the full pink format in the UK. Slightly later pink rim labels included text: ‘P 1970 Island Records Ltd’, at the 3 o’clock position each side as seen on these. This copy superbly pressed by EMI and that is something I can rarely state for this album.

Label Conditions: Both in supreme condition, very clean, fresh and highly attractive with just a tiny spindle trace on side two, side one has none. This very heavily pressed copy appears hardly played and for a massive change, is very well pressed lacking the usual, often constant crackle, pops and clicks most copies seem to offer. An album I seldom offer simply because most fail my play-grade test and will not purchase and offer them.

Cat Number: ILPS 9141

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 163 grams. A massive weight for this album, considerably above average – not only that – it’s very well pressed as well. And being honest, so few are.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity & Special Note: First issues of this wonderful prog album included an E. J. Day cover with a wider spine, the text inverted compared to most standard reading covers, these also had less shiny laminate. Also they included a white inner sleeve prior to the issue of the blue types. Second ‘Day’ covers had the spine text printed the other way and had more shiny laminate, the spines were also less wide. Later covers were printed by Robor. This album only missed the pink label cut by a few weeks and was one of the earliest original albums on the new format. In terms of rarity, the early ones are scarce, but special mention has to be made about the pressing quality. King Crimson, prog and vinyl collectors will know just how bad this album often sounds. I am sure this was often pressed on recycled vinyl and the audio quality often horrendous. An album rarely heard without significant crackle, pops, clicks and even inherent pressing sounds – personally, I will never buy a copy of this album without being able to play it first, simply because I know it has lottery odds on sounding decent. Like some other famous albums of the era, it suffers on vinyl quality and only a full play-grade will reveal if its even listenable. All King Crimson albums are a challenge in terms of musical content with passages of volume and quietness, so a top pressing, and a lesser used copy preferably is always required for a better listening experience. But I have heard very few Lizard’s that offer it. Inherent crackle being the biggest and most consistent problem, few seem to avoid it, finding a truly clean pressing is beyond difficult. So when one surfaces I consider them rare, finding one played less as well, very rare. Another issue with the first inverted text spine covers is the laminate. This more often seen with manufacture adhesion issues, creasing lines are seldom avoided. This second ‘Day’ format cover has no such issues and looks simply stunning as seen in my pictures. So a copy manufactured to the highest standard, hardly played and a glorious cover with no laminate issues. Overall, a copy here that should please the majority of listeners, it plays with little unwanted and probably the cleanest pressing I have heard for some considerable time. An immensely complex and challenging album that was enjoyed to almost maximum advantage on a still very early-pressed, and heavyweight record. This is not absolutely ‘silent’, I doubt if any copy ever truly will be, but with only the odd gentle reminder of what you are playing here-and-there, this I consider an excellent and mostly above playing copy and it should please many, if not most fans and collectors. Highly recommended, it could even prove an upgrade for some. A typically complex and brilliant King Crimson album, and one of the most intense in just about every respect.

Original Year of Release: 1970

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9141 A-2U / ILPS 9141 B-2U [first issue matrixes, machine punched and very clear]

Stamper Codes: 2 MM / 2 MR

Musicians: Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron, electric keyboards and devices; Mel Collins – flute and saxes; Gordon Haskell – bass guitar, vocals; Andy McCulloch – drums; Peter Sinfield – words. Guests: Robin Miller – Oboe, cor anglais; Mark Charig – cornet; Nick Evans – trombone; Keith Tippet – Piano, electric piano; Jon Anderson (of Yes) vocals on ‘Prince Rupert Awakes’.

Brief Info: With Ian McDonald and Greg Lake now departed, this could have been a serious blow few bands could have coped with, but against the odds King Crimson’s third album is a prog classic and one of my favourites within their illustrious early catalogue. The bands second album, ‘In the Wake of Poseidon’ was criticised somewhat for being too similar to the debut classic, this one pushed the boundaries of progressive rock still further and introduced a more jazzy sound. A highly adventurous and complex work with use of many varied instruments as will be clear from above. Beautifully produced, but so regularly let-down by poor pressing quality. The packaging includes a stunning cover with magnificent artwork – this is real progressive rock at it’s very best. The title song has beautiful use of wind instruments including the haunting cor anglais (sometimes known as an English Horn) – a woodwind instrument in the oboe family, but larger with a deeper tone – few prog bands used such exotic instruments as often, or effectively as King Crimson and Lizard remains possibly their most complex and inventive work. This is a very impressive all-round copy that includes the gorgeous cover without the usual laminate issues. The heavy-pressed record plays very well also with little unwanted (certainly compared to many). It plays impressively without the usual crackle and surface noises that blight so many, any traces few and light. These days, I buy most of my records on approval, and this particular album is up there with the most rejected one I come across. Most I hear, have unacceptable levels surface noise, constant crackle, pops, clicks and even pressing noises and distortion. Even the most perfect shiny and unplayed copies can disappoint, these sounding terrible from day one. Well this copy plays impressively well with little unwanted and actually proved a joy to play-grade. The odd sporadic light click or blemish near impossible to avoid on such content, but the lack of crackle and contact noise or clicks a massive plus, especially on songs with some very quiet passages – the introduction to side two being a case-in-point. The cover also suffers laminate adhesion issues – many seen with large crinkle and blistering and few will ever be ‘perfect’. This again is exceptional with little to fault at all, it being a joy to hold and admire, when found so nice and fresh with lovely shine and freshness, I hardly care is a spine is inverted or not because few will better this cover-protected example.

Cover Grade and Format: MINT(–): one of the most gorgeous prog and Island covers ever made and this does it very near maximum justice. A gatefold format with laminate on front and back, the inside matt and smooth. This with the narrower correct reading spine text. Printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group. Includes the blue basing street text Island inner sleeve.

Lamination: front & back: With artwork of this quality, it has to be seen near it’s very best. The first covers used laminate that had a less glossy surface and it did not adhere as well as the second-made ones that were more glossy, and quite honestly, far more attractive. This has no adhesion issues at all (e.g. no crease lines the first ones usually have, and barely any lifting or blistering at all). A mere trace on the bottom edge being very critical. Both sides retain impressive shine, freshness and clarity which hardly any creasing at all. One fine hairline mark on the front seen under light, little else. That magnificent artwork looks fantastic with deep colour and not even a hint of fading or wear. If you want this classic sleeve looking close to its very best, look no further.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Barely any discolouration or ageing to two clean surfaces. With the slightly narrower spine, this has also avoided the second creasing near the hinge that often spoils the first prints as well. Any surface marks fine and faint, these seen under light and are from the manufacturing machine grippers which are common and natural, they barely even register, the same goes for any set-off where black rests upon pale ink opposite when closed. Such is the freshness of this cover. it still has a lovely creak when closed.

Top Edges: Both thick, straight and flush with barely any hint of wear, the surfaces shiny and smooth with hardly a chip to be seen.

Bottom Edges: Almost the same again.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Both clean, very sharp with minimal hint of thickening, these are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced. The record enters on the back.

Spine and Text: Very solid and remaining straight with the usual natural central crease simply from opening. All the laminate fully intact with no peeling or cracking, and the text and graphic fully intact. So often the text will sink into this natural recess, but being centred a fraction high, it has largely avoided it and all is still very clear and easy to read as-seen. Folded squarely (not always the case), so the edges meet up almost flush and parallel. A challenging spine seen in excellent condition and seldom the case.

Corners: All corners are in superb condition as well with near mint shape retained. Any tip rubbing minuscule and avoiding knocks or dinks.

Cover Summary: A fantastic fresh and colourful cover with the most beautiful artwork, here seen to near perfect advantage. Few will match or better this and it should please many, if not most collectors. Indeed another with considerable upgrade potential.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): EXCELLENT(++): only marked down a little for darkening on one edge on the seam adhesive. This the blue polylined Island inner with the basing street address credit. It largely retains impressive colour, many badly fade, but the one edge apart, is fresh and attractive with hardly any creasing and all edges unsplit with no repairs. The main text and i logo still bold and sharp.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(+) / (++): a very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and heavily pressed on exceptionally robust and thick vinyl. Also pure without the often seen impurities within the record that regularly cause the less than pleasing sound. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence with two immaculate labels and any surface, very light, mostly wispy and faint as seen critically under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room light, little even registers. Complex grooves indicating areas of high volume and then quiet passages – in other words, a typical King Crimson album and always a huge challenge for vinyl regardless of pressing quality. Visually a super record that should please many 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 equipment, all listed further down.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This intricate and complex prog album plays even above it’s high visual grading with little to fault – so rarely can I state this. I am not saying ‘silent’, because I deem this near impossible on this album, especially played on a very revealing system. But this offers strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. No inherent pressing flaws or invisible sound issues. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*, pressing rasps or distortions. No repetitive clicks or pops either, just the odd sporadic tick or contact trace to politely remind of what is being played, and few will ever offer less. As stated, I have heard several shocking copies of this album and being honest, I almost expect crackle and clicks, even on clean looking copies. So when this played very well indeed with little unwanted – especially after my mandatory clean on ‘Nessie’, it was a genuine thrill to enjoy on the vinyl source. The sound, detail, mix and production is brilliant and at last a copy that can be enjoyed somewhat near its very best, an album that thrills when not masked in loud surface noise and faults. Few available copies will outperform this still very early pressing significantly I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been very well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environment. Little spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this quality record. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended. If absolute silence is mandatory, the digital alternatives are an option, they are impressive also, but nothing beats the drama and warmth, and especially details of an early vinyl copy – even with the odd blemish or so.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

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 as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – 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 it’s 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 the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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. 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Nessie 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 Nessie 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, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 minuscule in over 17­ 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. 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 TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. 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] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 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 £2 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’.