LP: BOOKER ERVIN, Song Book, original STEREO Prestige PR 7318

$

55

 
LP: BOOKER ERVIN, Song Book, original STEREO Prestige PR 7318

If you are just starting to collect vintage Jazz records, you may not be as familiar with Booker Ervin as some of the other more well-known sax players.  There are a few great sax players from the late 1950's to early 1960's who have a unique "voice" (i.e., have their own unique sound signature/tone) which is readily recognizable.  Although it is easy to tell the difference voices among singers, it is not as easy to have a unique, readily discernible "voice" for many instruments, such as the saxophone.  Booker Ervin certainly had his own "voice" and style, and in my humble opinion, was one the great ones from this golden era of Jazz.  His "Book" series of records made for Prestige are some of his finest Jazz records, in my humble opinion, and are very difficult to find in the ORIGINAL STEREO label pressings.  It is not as difficult to find the original mono (yellow/black label) pressings, and even easier to find the 2nd stereo (navy-blue-with-silver-trident-logo-at-right label) pressings, but the original stereo label (silver/black label) pressings are extremely difficult to find.  I have only personally seen two copies of this album with the original silver/black label in all my years of collecting, and this is my last copy.  This is, of course, another great Rudy Van Gelder recording and mastering (with his familiar stamp on the dead wax of each side of the record) and the sound is very dynamic.

Condition of vinyl:  Visually, NM-; there is one set of non-feelable sleeve marks and about 5 additional non-feelable sleeve marks on one side and a few more non-feelable sleeve marks on the other side, visible under a strong light; there is one or two spindle trails on each side of the label.  I have only played this copy a few times over the years but it plays with general vinyl surface noise at the beginning and in between the tracks, which cannot be heard during the music; the surface noise is NOT caused by any scratches but by the vinyl itself; but because of the surface noise at the beginning and in between the tracks, I play grade the record as only VG+.

Cover:  The solid cover is graded VG+ at best, due to some corner wear, edge wear and bits of ring wear beginning to form on the front; there is also a manufacturer's stamp "F S" at the top of the back; the original plain paper inner sleeve is solid, clean and crisp, except it has yellowed with age.



At least 50% of my buyers are located outside of the United States, and I WELCOME BUYERS OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.  However, I still reserve the right to refuse to honor bids by buyers from countries where shipment routinely gets lost, damaged or delayed and buyers who have a pattern of nonpayment or negative feedback.  Please contact me before bidding should you have any concerns.  I also reserve the right to end the listing early if there is no bid on the item, in accordance with eBay policies. 

GRADING POLICY FOR LPS:  Grading is for the cover/box and for the record.  The record may have two grades, one for visual grade and another for play grade.  I have never played some of these records and some records may only be visually graded.  The grading for the record will be relative to a mint record of the period manufactured by the same record company.  Therefore, the standards will not be the same between, for example, a Japanese Pioneer/Holland Philips/German Teldec pressing of the early 80’s (which are on super quiet vinyl) and a U.S. ABC/MCA pressing of the late 70’s (which are typically noisier).  A Near Mint graded late 70’s U.S. ABC or MCA record will play with considerably more background noise caused by cheaper vinyl material than a Near Mint graded early 80’s Japanese Pioneer, Holland Philips or German Teldec record. 

SHIPPING POLICY:  All records have been cleaned on my VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine and will be placed in a poly-lined or rice paper sleeves, unless the records are sealed.  The LP will be packed in a cardboard box LP mailer manufactured by ULINE.  The record will be placed outside of the LP outer jacket so that it will not damage the cover during transit. 

For U.S. destinations, the shipping cost for 1 record delivered via US Postal Service Media Mail will be $4 for everyone in the Continental United States, and the cost for USPS Parcel Post will be $6 if your State touches the Pacific Ocean, $8 if your State or Commonwealth touches the Atlantic Ocean, and $7 if your State touches neither Ocean.  For each additional record, add $1 for each for up to 5 records.  (Each LP mailer will fit up to about 5 records.)  For example, for a boxed set containing 3 records, please just add $2 to the shipping cost of the first record.  If you would like your item shipped using a different option offered by the US Post Office (e.g., Priority Mail or Express Mail) or a private courier service (e.g., FedEx or UPS), please contact me.

For destinations OUTSIDE of the U.S., below are the prices for US Postal Service First Class Mail and Priority Mail.  Please contact me regarding the cost if you would like your item shipped using a different option offered by the US Post Office or a private courier service (e.g., FedEx or DHL). 

I will NOT be responsible for UNINSURED items lost, damaged or delayed during transit.  If you would like to pay for insurance, please contact me regarding the cost.   

Cost of international shipping via USPS First Class Mail, which usually takes about 2 weeks but may take as much as 4 weeks: 

Canada

Asia

Europe

1 record

$7

$13.50

$13.50

2 records

$10

$20.50

$20.50

3 records

$12

$23

$23

4 records

$14

$26

$26

5 records (assuming less than 4 lbs.)

$16

$29

$29

Cost of international shipping via USPS Priority Mail, which usually takes about 1 week: 

Canada

Asia

Europe

1 to 2 records

$23

$31

$31

3 to 4 records

$25

$34

$34

4 to 5 records

$27

$38

$37

6 records

$29

$41

$39

PAYMENT POLICY:  I accept PayPal and U.S.-negotiable cashier’s check.  Payment must be made within five (5) business days after the bidding for the item ends.  If that timing does not work for you (because, for example, you will be on vacation, etc.), please contact me BEFORE bidding.