KING CRIMSON RED A3/B6 1st PRESS 1974 Stunning COVER & SUPERB AUDIO EX+/MINT-
£
143
$
190
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.
King Crimson : Red A-3U / B-6U 1st Press
This first press on the pink rim Island label plays with stunning quality for the vast majority and very little intrusion. A handful of static ticks plus a couple of static clicks on a fade out on S1 and minimal light static on the opening section of 'Providence' on S2. This track still plays with great quality but 'Starless' is the real highlight here - wow what a version I have never heard better! The vinyl is visually stunning and based on the audio and that there is not very much spindle wear it cannot have been played very much down the years.
The fully laminated is in fantastic condition with no real wear and the inner sleeve is also in excellent order, probably not original though.
A first press is denoted by the A3U/B6U matrix and the pink rim palm tree Island labels. The cover has 'Printed in England by Robor Limited' on the back. This version also has G / R stampers so is clearly one of the first off the production line.
ILPS 9308 // A-3U Sean (etched) / B-6U PECKO (etched) // G 1 / R1
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T1 Near Mint- / T3 Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 opening section Ex+)
The cover is Near Mint
The labels are Near Mint-
The inner sleeve is Ex
Visual description
The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has an immaculate glossy sheen with no marks or scratches. Under a strong light I can only locate a very small number of barely visible hairlines, it could hardly look any better. The run out grooves just have some light marking but you can easily read the matrix info and the pink rim Island labels just have a little spindle wear.
Play grading
The opening 'heavy' section on 'Red' is near perfect with just three static ticks just after the one minute mark. Aside from that it plays with great clarity and power. The first 'quieter' passage plays so clearly with just one very light static tick and the next high octane section does indeed play to perfection. Near Mint-
The intro on 'Fallen Angel' has no interference and Wetton's opening vocal plays with sublime clarity and that includes the quiet acoustic section. All I picked up was one minor static tick. As the volume increases the playback is stunning and it continues in the same precise way with no intrusion apart from two static click sounds on the fade out. The 'heaviest' of Crimson albums the audio resonates with such power and definition and there is no distortion. This would be Mint- but for the fade out but I think Near Mint is still deserved.
Another powerful intro on 'One More Red Nightmare' and it plays perfectly. The first vocal is just as good and from then on the audio cannot be faulted. The clarity of sound is superb and the power and depth again - wow! I heard just one light tick during one of the earlier instrumental sections but this is so close to 'as new'. A dynamic Mint- track to end the side with.
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The quiet violin intro on 'Providence' plays very clearly with some light static ticks here and there with only a couple that are a little louder. There are no clicks or pops and the music is still very much to the fore. The more I listen to it the more I am impressed actually! The vast majority plays with stunning clarity. As Bruford's percussion comes in and the volume increases the audio is so strong and this entire section plays with no intrusion. The high octane passage is superb! A couple of very light ticks during the quieter final section that is all - I will grade the opening section as Ex+ and the second as Mint-
The intro on 'Starless' has a clarity of sound that is second to none, it really does play beautifully, and the opening vocal section is of the same high end standard. I am up to 4 minutes already and there has been no interference. The second vocal is just as impressive and the long instrumental section then plays with exceptional quality - there is no background and the playback is just so clean and precise. The level does not drop as the volume increases and the sonic quality is just out of this world! To the very end the audio is STUNNING and the entire 12 minutes are background / interference free! The powerful finale has no distortion and this is easily the finest version of this classic instrumental that I have ever heard! It really is audio of the highest calibre and I have no hesitation in grading it as Mint such is the quality.
In summary this first pressing plays to a superb standard with very little intrusion as detailed above. The clarity, depth and resonance of the audio is hugely impressive and especially on 'Starless' the final instrumental. With just three static ticks on the first track of S1 and only minimal (very minimal!) static on the first track of S2 this album could not play much better in my opinion. In conjunction with a super clean cover this is one stunning 'package'!
The Cover & Inner Sleeve
The laminated cover is in superb condition with barely any wear, nothing obvious at all. The edges and thin pinched spine are in perfect shape and the corners are incredibly clean which makes a change. The opening edge is so close to perfect also with only a couple of tiny 'rubs' near the top and the front cover has no marking or laminate damage either. The back cover is just as impressive and overall this has to grade as Near Mint as it really is in lovely condition.
The inner included is not a blue Island one but is nonetheless in excellent condition with no side splits or tears, minimal creasing and just a little age related fading around the edges. It is dated 1-72 so is probably not an original unless Island used some left over ones.
Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
ILPS 9308 // A-3U Sean (etched) / B-6U PECKO (etched) // G 1 / R1
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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Postage & Packaging
I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!
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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
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LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra
USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS! IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT. I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!
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