METALLICA - Metallica aka Black Album dlp EX+/EX+ GB VERTIGO 1st Press & Variant

	£		126
	$		167

Welcome to the World of MacLizardking’s Music.

Greetings music lovers and welcome to another of my LP listings here on the ‘Bay. This next batch are somewhat different, as I’ve finally ‘fessed-up to myself that I’ve way too many albums, and it is now time to thin-out some of my highly prized, personal collection … I am running out of space! 

They are either hard-to-find, older, book-valued treasures, or pristine, in some cases either un-played, or played only once copies of more recent, modern classics you’d always been after… or in some cases, both.

There will be the odd re-issue offered, if on specialist labels, but the vast majority are original, if not FIRST PRESS, jaw-droppers, and will be highlighted as such. Please note, I am not an e-Bay business, just a record enthusiast who lists as accurately and packages beautifully, always as best I can, whilst keeping both quality of service and product as my prime mantras from the start to finish of the process. 

Here’s the MacLizardking deal folks…

·       I grade honestly and strictly to the “Record Collector” system, all as detailed below. 

·       I’m only parting with quality records. Some rare, some less so, but always the best I can. 

·       If it says “NM”, it means “NM”. And, “EX” is still a beautiful item, both physically and aurally.

·       Start prices are not indicative of condition, so there’s serious potential bargains to be had.

·       Instantly an LP arrives in my collection, it’s re-housed in a high-quality polly-lined inner sleeve. 

·       Every record is then re-housed in a high-quality, PVC outer sleeve, along with the original inner.

·       Every record is re-housed in the polly sleeve, outside the original prior to packaging. No seam splits!

·       Every record is both visually and aurally inspected. The ONLY way to appoint an accurate grading.

·       I l feedback when you pay… no “ransoming” here! You’ve done your bit, so now it’s up to me.

·       I package each item personally and with a ludicrous level of care…practically a work of art! 

·       Please see the final photo within the carefully taken selection above for an example of my packaging.

·       I strive to provide the VERY best product and services possible, with detailed, accurate descriptions.

·       I do all this as I genuinely love both music and people, and eBay is a fantastic forum for both.

·       Please do check my feedback… it even amazes me as to how kind buyer’s comments can be!

Peace, love and good health …

MacLizardking.

MacLizardking is delighted to offer for sale at auction...    

Artiste: Metallica

Title: Metallica (“The Black Album”)

Track Listing: 

Side 1:

·      Enter Sandman

·      Sad But True

·      Holier Than Thou

Side 2:

·      The Unforgiven

·      Wherever I May Roam

·      Don’t Tread On Me

Side 3:

·      Through The Never

·      Nothing Else Matters

·      Of Wolf And Man

Side 4:

·      The God That Failed

·      My Friend of Misery

·      The Struggle Within

Label: Vertigo Records

Catalogue Number: 510 022-1

Country of Origin: GB

Original Year of Release: 1991

Matrix Numbers (a/b): 510 0271 A-2U-1-1 / 510 0271 B-2U-1-1 & 510 0281 A-1U-1-1 / 510 0281 B-1U-1-1

Stamper Numbers/Reference (a/b):  SIDE A STERLING / SIDE B STERLING & SIDE C STERLING / SIDE D STERLING

Mono or Stereo: Stereo

Introduction and MacLizardking’s Initial Review: So, final treat for the day, I am finally parting with my GB 1st press of the metal classic of metal classics … “Metallica” by Metallica … better known as The Black Album. This is the first variant of the GB 1st press and was bought by me a lifetime ago when it was released. Now, as the gradings indicate, this copy has been played and handled and enjoyed for the incredible audio it contains … indeed, this album was the ‘go to’ lp when it came to testing audio set-up and speaker positioning … BUT, it has been both played and handled really carefully! 

The sleeve has light signs of handling and use, and the vinyl has the lightest surface marks from being slid in and out of the original pic-liners (these were the days before I know about quality polly-liners, in which they are both now housed!) but that’s it … the audio is simply stunning. It is not ‘mint’ … but you will not be disappointed … it’s a GB, FIRST press from a time when folks weren’t buying vinyl anymore … if you’ve been hunting one, and avoiding the 500 quid touch on another site, I rather fancy you’ve just found it! 

Now, please read on for the full, details … being both my personal description statement and accuracy of condition guarantee. Please also examine the stack of photos within the listing detail above, as I attempt to highlight every component, both positive and negative, to assist with your decision as to bid or not. As above, all listings benefit from a careful play-grade on my “every-glitch-audible” set-up of classic wooden Revolver deck and TEAC amp, all pulsing through a rather splendid pair of Mission P-755, rosewood floor-standers.

Detailed Cover & Inner-sleeve Review.

Specific cover grading: EX+

Front: Bright and undamaged, a couple of light hairline creases to sine and one light kink in sleeve opening.  

Back: As front, same creases to spine and light surface rubs in patches.

Edges & Corners: All in great shape (un-dinked) bar light fuzzing to lower corner tip extremities and light ware (NO SPLITS!!!) to lower seam alone.

Spine:  Good shape and fully legible, two slight pinch points from stress creases crossing from front.

Inner-sleeve: Original, fully numbered pic liners (EX+, just light creasing / handling marks, NO SPLITS), now with brand new polly-liners.

Record Collector Sleeve Gradings;

M (Mint): “The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition” 

NM (Near Mint): As M, but also as “Sod’s Law” occasionally dictates, with one miniscule physical flaw, that has no effect on the overall quality of the item yet means it’s no longer “perfect”; i.e. a solitary tiny rub-mark or dink. 

M- (Mint Minus): A notch below NM, but indicating a cover that’s still in fantastic condition, though it‘s just possible to see it’s been slid carefully in and out of a collection over the years; i.e. lightest speckled lower edge ware, the odd tiny stress crease to or a whisper of fuzzing to extremities of the corner tips. 

EX (Excellent): “The cover and packaging might have light wear and/or creasing”.

VG (Very Good): “Normal wear and tear on the cover and extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable”.

G (Good): “The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration etc”.

F (Fair): “The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced”.

P (Poor): “The cover or contents will be badly damaged or partly missing”.

Detailed Vinyl/s & Labels Review.

Specific Vinyl grading: EX+

Visual: Near flawless, gleaming vinyl. Still a great sheen and deep gloss. Light surface hairlines, from being slid in and out of the original sleeves just visible but NOTHING that effects play back. They’re not ‘Mint’ but there’s nothing … no needle squiggles or scratches that are visible.

Audio: Awesome, start to finish, both sides. Slightest tickle of background sound on the play-ins, and, in a few track gaps, the same, and we’re talking way in the background, but else wise just STUNNING! 

Labels: Near flawless, bar lightest of light microscopic spindle-marks on one side of those fantastic Vertio-swirls, even with some flashing still in place! 

Record Collector Vinyl Gradings; 

M (Mint): “The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality.” 

NM (Near Mint): As above, but, as “Sod’s Law” occasionally dictates, with one miniscule physical flaw, as detailed above, that has no effect on the overall quality of the item, yet means it’s no longer “perfect”; i.e. a solitary spindle-mark, production mark or blush, but still aurally perfect.

M- (Mint Minus): Still a truly beautiful vinyl, that it’s just possible to spot that it’s been played before. Possibly the lightest of paper-marks on the physical or even a whisper of crackle on the play-in’s alone, but still practical perfection on the aural.

EX (Excellent): “The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality”.

VG (Very Good): “The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch”.

G (Good): “The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches”

F (Fair): “The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump”.

P (Poor): “The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise etc”.

B (Bad): “The record is unplayable or might even be broken and is only of use as a collection-filler”.

After the auction…

Informed customers are happy customers!

Expect to receive the following mails;

1. Initial “You’ve Won!” auto invoice e-mail, offering either Standard or Signed-For, insured postage options. 

2. Payment received e-mail. Feedback is also left at this stage. You’ve done your bit, so now it’s up to me!

3. Dispatch notification e-mail; your gem is on the way, also detailing the tracking number I you’ve taken up the option!

Postage & Packaging Charges: 

P&P Prices:

The postage costs for this record are stated in the listing header above and are non-negotiable. Overseas, insured, Tracked and / or Signed For services are available on request. If the final price heads toward or into 3-figures, I’m usually happy to cover additional insurance myself, but not the postage. It is as advertised above!

I will only send overseas via Standard, Air Mail Services, and not Economy. Sorry, but it just takes too long, and e-Bay offer up refunds before there’s a chance of the package landing in some of my far-flung client’s laps! 

I will combine additional items if requested, but no more than five discs per parcel (a MAXIMUM weight of 2kg) and will need me to package and weigh to get a final post and packaging cost – all via Royal Mail.

I dispatch Worldwide, with global locations split as follows: UK, Europe & Rest of The World.

The following table should be used as a guide;

Please note: Obviously, things are all a bit insane at the moment and trips to the post office a rare, but necessary treat, so I will dispatch as soon as I can, but it might take a little longer than usual – hence the “10 working day” disclaimer.

I always try to post as quickly as possible after payment is received, but it’s usually going to be the Saturday morning after you’ve paid that I head from the wilderness to dispatch your beautifully packaged slice of vinyl or two. These costs are for the standard Royal Mail postage rates and for LPs at least £1.00’s worth of bought-for-the-job packaging materials. Each package is lovingly created with great care and attention, as you’ll see when it arrives. Please note, there is no profit and the charges are not negotiable; particularly post sale. A packaging example is included as the final photo in the set within the listing.

Payment Methods:

It’s all in the hands of e-Bay’s payment systems now! Seems to work okay thus far, so will stick with it for now. 

Problems, Refunds & The “Boink” Factor:

·       If the item you win differs from the description above, I will refund your original payment.

·       Refund will be issued on receipt of item in original packaging in the same condition as when dispatched.

·       Proof of dispatch certification is retained for every package. 

·       I take GREAT care with packaging and have only ever had 3 arrive damaged out of over 2500!

And finally…

Whilst this may all appear slightly excessive on the detail front, I do go to great lengths to ensure the accuracy of these listings and promote “service” and “honesty” as treasured commodities as, on rare occasion, I have found them to be lacking in (one or two) others with whom I have dealt on e-Bay… however, NOT here! I feel I should also add that I have been professionally involved in either the music or entertainment industry for 20 years and as a fan of all genres of “quality” music since year “dot”…  To verify all this manic attention to detail please do check my feedback, which I go to great lengths to keep positive and my buyers are both cool and kind enough to leave.

 OVER 3000 POSITIVE SALES FEEDBACK RATINGS CAN’T BE WRONG FOLKS!!!

My genuine appreciation for looking at my listing and checking out the blurb. I hope this finds you well, under “blue skies” and at peace with your world, whilst listening to some groovy tunes on the greatest format ever, lovely, lovely warm & natural vinyl! 

Cheers, peace & love, and good health … 

MacLizardking.