LOVE 1st LP. Orig V. Rare Stereo UK 1966. N/M STUNNING

	£		91
	$		121

Hi, I am Mike, I am 46 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 33 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and ellusive items now. 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, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirity, not just bits to guess a grade (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - 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 reader – 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. 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 or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

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. 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. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please if you have quality items for sale).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of their intended payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions. NOTE: I WILL NOT ACCEPT BIDS FROM UNREGISTERED USERS, I will cancel them immediately, and sorry, I cannot give valuations on people’s personal items just for their own curiosity, no item can be accurately valued blindly.

Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert - Thankyou.

Artist or Band: LOVE

Album Title: Love

Track Listing: My Little Red Book; Can’t Explain; A Message to Pretty; My Flash on You; Softly to Me; No Matter What you Do; Emotions; You I’ll Be Following; Gazing; Hey Joe; Signed DC; Colored Balls are Falling; Mushroom Clouds; And More.

Label/Format: Elektra (original orange with the rough interior circle format).

Label Condition: Stunning originals that look truly gorgeous. Spindle marks, to say the least, are few, I can see hardly any actually and even more importantly, no wear around the centre holes at all - I would doubt if this incredible copy has hardly ever been on a deck. Vintage Elektra labels always appear very thin to me and visually they almost appear semi-transparent with black flecks appearing in the orange. This pair of 1966 gems will rarely, if ever, be found looking much better than this (Please see label scans for all information needed, the rough textured finish may make the text appear slightly blurred with the limitations of low resolution digital pictures for the Net).

Cat Number: EKS 74001.

Mono or Stereo: Stereo (This was issued in mono also and is slightly more common, or am I the only person who thinks stereo records this age are far rarer?).

Country of Manufacture: Gt Britain.

Rarity: Rare, this is a genuine UK first pressing with an equally rare UK custom made cover, many of these are found in the US imported covers for UK sales. I have never seen this vintage item in this cover which by-the-way is laminated on BOTH sides. This may just be one of the rarest classics I have yet offered, I would say this album is even rarer than UK Doors originals.

Original Year of Release: 1966

Matrix Nos: EKS 74001A and EKS 74001B. Importantly too, etched onto the run out grooves are 28 5 66, I presume the pressing date?

Brief Artist & Album Info: The first rock act to be signed to the expanding Elektra label beating The Doors by a whisker. Led by the brilliantly enigmatic Arthur Lee, this debut must rank as one of the finest ever. Only one of the greatest albums of all time, Forever Changes issued later in their catalogue was superior to this beautiful set. Finding an original, in stereo, so lightly played is nothing short of miraculous, this mini-masterpiece will rarely show up. A UK 1966 copy in a UK printed and laminated cover must be considered rare, I have seen two or three mono copies (few in decent condition) in the US printed, thick card cover but never a stereo original. Even with some mild cover edgewear this is still a stunning item, the record sounds quite sublime and the stereo mix is nothing short of jaw-dropping. This major rarity should please and grace any serious collection.

Cover Grade and Format: EX+, single format, laminated front and back. Stereo and EKS printed on this cover. Distributed in Great Britain by Polydor Records Limited, London printed in a white box on the back also. This cover will probably be ever rarer than the actual record.

Cover Lamination: Beautiful laminate with deep shine and little dulling at all. This has no peeling and is devoid of creasing by tiny hairline types near the spine (and these are few and very light). There is only a very thin dry sliver parallel to the spine edge, this is really small and light and hardly even shows, its only between 1/16 to 1/8 in thick. One or two very light and mild press marks that are virtually invisible and even surface marks are very few. No ringwear whatsoever, this laminate looks quite superb.

Cover Front: Fantastic, seeing this vintage gem laminated brings out the quality of this early band picture. Its clean and the bottom edgewear barely encroaches, although the bottom corner just appears. Colour and detail is lovely and this can be counted as one of the great ‘lost’ covers of the 1960s.

Cover Back: Virtually the same as the front, magnificent and it may even be slightly better.

Top Edge: Virtually unworn.

Bottom Edge: This has light(+) to moderate(-) rubbing, but is mainly confined to just the edge.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, quite sharp with little wear. Record entered on right outside edge.

Spine and Text: Solid and square with little wear, odd tiny crease, text is near perfect and unworn under the very solid lamiante. There is some wear towards the corners top and bottom, only very light at top though.

Corners: All four show a little minor wear, but the bottom left has a moderate rub and small tip erosion.

Cover Summary: Still a lovely all round example of this rare original mid-60’s cover, one that could prove hard to even find let alone in much better condition. This strong item should please most collectors.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX++/Mint(-) A superb copy with just the odd faint surface scuff on side one - anything is superficial and nothing sounds. Super clean and shiny, and jet black. A copy barely played on all the evidence - this has clearly avoided abuse from heavy armed vintage decks. Visually a rarity to treasure. This record even comes in its original British Patented inner which is immaculate

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This super record plays up to its high visual grading with little to fault. Strong, undistorted sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear and for a record this age with the potential for groove wear this is a revelation. No pops or ticks from memory and a very fine pressing, any surface sounds are largely absent. Both channels are clean and unstressed and the sound and production embedded in these vintage grooves should thrill even the connoisseur vinyl lover. This is a powerful dynamic stereo recording, the mono version was very loud indeed. Both versions are essential of course, but an original stereo pressing is very special and I guarantee this will not show up often. This copy will prove near impossible to find significantly better.

Mono vs Stereo, an overview: Always a matter of opinion which is better or more important. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure they are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records. As a general guide to rarity, mono was the far more common format from 61–65; Around 66–67 the balance was roughly equal, then from 68-69 the balance swung more to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: What a lovely rare album, like their label-mates The Doors, early Love albums had a real edge and nothing beats hearing this magnificent debut than from the first pressed vinyl. Albums this age rarely turn up looking and sounding this fine, most being dirty, scratched or even trashed. Hearing a copy with near crystal clarity and no distortion is nothing short of incredible. This copy, even with a little cover edgewear is still in investment quality condition and records like this are better than cash in the bank. A connoisseur’s item, if you need this one, dont think about losing it, for sure, I am unlikely to ever see it again - Good Luck – Mike.

Payment Details please read carefully:

UK First Class: = £2.50; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £4.00 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £6.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Doubles add extra £1, triples add extra £2. Box sets add extra £3 (£4 overseas and Europe)

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do not profit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken out of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be given.

I accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders own risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other interesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear 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. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.