NICO - Chelsea Girl - CLASSIC SCARCE UK MGM N/M LP

	£		25
	$		33

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.25. Europe £11.75. Rest of World £15.75. ALL signed for. – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P as low as possible after the Royal Mail price increases.

Album Title: Chelsea Girl.

Producer(s): Tom Wilson.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: The fairest of the Seasons (Copel/Browne); These Days (Jackson Browne); Little Sister (Cale/Reed); Winter Song (John Cale); It Was a Pleasure Then (Nico/Cale/Reed).

Side 2: Chelsea Girls (Reed/Morrison); I’ll Keep It With Mine (Bob Dylan); Somewhere There’s a Feather (Jackson Tim Hardin); Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (John Cale); Eulogy to Lenny Bruce (Tim Hardin).

Label/Format: MGM – gold and blue format (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both immaculate: ultra fresh, clean and attractive with barely a spindle trace to be seen. One of the very cleanest and least played copies of this underground classic I have yet seen.

Cat Number: 2353025 Select.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 140 grams. Way above average, most examples of this one I have held have been considerably thinner and lighter.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The second Velvet Underground album in all but name and issued in the same year as the seminal groundbreaking debut. The very first copies of this record were issued in the US in 1967 on Verve. In the UK it was pressed in 1971 on MGM. These are scarce and difficult to find in top conditions and often let down by less than clean pressings. Seldom have I heard this album that does not offer some light crackle (at best), this one has little – mild traces on the first song, thereafter little – this thick very solidly pressed example has hardly been played and could almost pass for new. Both cover and record are vulnerable due to format and content, both often seen, when found, in poor conditions. It was later pressed on Polydor and even these are not so easy find either. This classic has always proved difficult to find no matter when it was made and this one is likely to please the more discerning audio collector.

Original Year of Release: US: 1967. UK: 1971. This copy is (possibly) a little later than a first – but is probably all the better for it. The inner sleeve is date coded 0672

Matrix Nos: 2353025 A / 2353025 B (these are scripted, side one not too easy to see as the dead wax (run outs) almost go into the label with only a very narrow area on this side)

Musicians: Nico – vocals; Jackson Browne – acoustic guitar; Lou Reed – electric guitar; John Cale – viola, organ, guitar; Sterling Morrison – electric guitar.

Brief Artist & Album Info: The German beauty queen that came to music fame via her contributions with The Velvet Underground. The Velvet Underground and Nico remains for me one of the greatest albums ever issued and it’s importance to music history cannot be overstated. Requesting to do all the lead vocals, but turned down, and she left the band soon after. This album, her first, for me is an absolute classic also, it simply carries on the sound of the famous VU debut - a couple of the songs were actually to feature on the VU album, but length restrictions made it impossible. It even features compositions and backing by Velvet members. (I have included the writing credits on the track listing above). Also featured is a young Jackson Browne with memorable songs by him too. The album’s title is from the famous Chelsea Hotel in New York which was used by many cerebrities of various types in those heady days of over-indulgence and experimentation. Dylan Thomas, Arthur Miller, Jackson Pollock, Allen Ginsberg, Edith Piaf, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen (he made a famous song about his experiences there) and Janis Joplin have all lived there. This is an album of eerie beauty and I never tire of listening to it. Nico was unique, a one-off, no-one sounds quite like her and this album for those who have not heard it, simply carries on where the first Velvet Underground album ends. It can be argued, this is the Velvet Underground that never was – all bar Mo Tucker feature and the dark mood is the same. More subtle and subdued in texture - reference to her songs on that masterpiece debut. This sparse, mellow and stark, but beautiful record gaves no clues to the following dark gothic album that was to follow - The Marble Index. Well produced by Tom Wilson, at this time he was producing Zappa’s Mothers of Invention Verve classics. I have often found the MGM pressings crackly with substantial amounts of unwanted pressing sounds. This one has little, as stated above, light traces on the opening song, but thereafter, any being gentle and very infrequent (this too being play-graded on a very sensitive system). This is certainly one of the better pressings I have had to offer – this being a much heavier and thicker pressing that has barely been played. This came from a discerning friend’s collection and I feel sure neither cover or record have seen light-of-day for decades. The music is so captivating and engrossing, I adore this record, for me, almost as important as the legendary ‘banana’ classic. For me this is one of those definitive covers that again bring those incredible days of the 60s underground scene back again. If you love, like me, ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’, ‘I’ll Be our Mirror’ and ‘Femme Fatale’ you will adore this dark, haunting record. I simply cannot recommend this stunning album and highly enough.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): a single format with a semi-gloss sheen. No printing credits.

Cover Front: One of the covers of the 1960s, what a beauty this lady was. This definitive front has little to fault other than a small few, very fine and faint edge hairlines and a small scuff trace near the top left corner on the fold itself – a tiny enhancement of this is likely but shows very little at all. Beautifully fresh and that surface sheen gives an almost de luxe finish.

Cover Back: This looks practically as made – a faint hint of a surface crease near the bottom edge but little else.

Top & Bottom Edges: Any rub traces are minute, both remain very straight.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with barely any hint of thickening. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with a little mild compression. Just the merest hint of a rub to the ‘N’ in ‘NICO’ but all other text is almost pristine.

Corners: Minimal traces of any corner rubbing and all retain excellent (or better) shape.

Cover Summary: An impressive all-round example of this classic cover, one that will prove difficult to find much better with only the small spine edge rub trace the only tiny issue. This beautiful item should please most collectors - worthy of another look.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): the Polydor style lined inner is included in impressively preserved condition. Hardly aged at all in fact with no splits or creases. Both windows crisp and sharp and the lining solid and ultra clear as new.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: MINT(-): a superb visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed. A copy barely even played on all the evidence, this has all the hallmarks of a near new record. Any surface traces are ultra fine, few and faint and few will better this one. Visually a super example that should please most-all 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 B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: I could hardly wait to get this on to the turntable – I adore this album and even today it’s still a somewhat guarded secret of excellence. If Reed had agreed to Nico’s request to be lead singer on her own, this could have been the second Velvet Underground album - it’s has all the characteristics of the famous ‘Banana’ album (but with better sound). This wonderful record mostly plays up to its high visual grading with little to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is high with a solid dynamic range and detailed sound. Any surface sounds are gentle and mostly infrequent – as stated already, some gentle traces were heard on the first song, but this is one of the best-pressed examples I have ever heard. I have never heard a totally silent copy of this album, such examples are beyond rare but this has little to fault – just enough to remind you are listening to a vintage record rather than a clinical digital copy. As stated, I have heard this album several times on MGM and most have some inherent surface sound – nothing to do with static or groovewear – simply in the pressing and this will prove near very difficult to find better. Excellent material and sung as only Nico could, this really is The Velvet Underground under Nico’s name – the missing album they could have made and been credited too. Few copies will match or outperform this UK MGM significantly I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has hardly been played at all and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Little spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, near maximum pleasure from start to finish. This copy will prove very difficult to find better and can be highly recommended.

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 - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, 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 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 and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. 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 - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. 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 Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 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 VPI-17 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 and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap 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 less than one in two thousand+ based on over 8,000+ items sold in over 10 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. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? 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 as me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, 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 and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). 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] = £4.25

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £11.75 (Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 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 [£46 maximum]) = £15.75 Add £3 per extra LP. (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’.