Nick Drake Bryter Layter UK LP Original Island Pink Rim ILPS 9134 Ex Condition

	£		102
	$		135

I have several rare collectible first and early pressings for auction this week, including all three Nick Drake albums. Please be sure to look at my other items. All start at 99p with NO reserve. Please await invoice BEFORE you pay. Shipping rates include insurance (see the bottom of this listing). Combined shipping rates are always offered.

Nick Drake – Bryter Layter was issued in the UK on 1st November 1970 on Island ILPS 9134. This is a second pressing (from 1972) with the pink rim labels. Matrix numbers are: ILPS 9134 A-1U / ILPS 9134 B-1U.

Following disappointing sales of Five Leaves Left, both Joe Boyd and Drake were keen to produce a less pastoral sounding follow-up. According to Robert Kirby the plan was to make an ‘up, good, happy album’. As a result, Fairport Convention’s Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks were called as rhythm section and Kirby was brought in again to provide string and brass arrangements. This would be the only album of Drake’s to be recorded with a rhythm section.

Fairport were living in a disused pub in Little Hadham along with their families at this time so Nick went there for pre-recording rehearsals with the two Daves. According to Dave Pegg, Nick was uncommunicative during these rehearsals.

Once again, sessions for the album were held at Sound Techniques with John Wood and Joe Boyd. As well as the rhythm section, the sessions included piano, electric guitar (played again by Richard Thompson), saxophone, brass and strings (with arrangements by Robert Kirby) and John Cale of The Velvet Underground on celeste, piano, organ, viola and harpsichord. Cale was producing an album with Boyd for Nico at this point and persuaded Boyd to let him join the sessions after becoming intrigued by Drake and his songs.

The sound of the album is far more commercial and poppy than either of Drake’s other albums. Indeed, it was the slickness of Bryter Layter which led him to perform solo on his next and final album, Pink Moon, a decision Drake apparently took almost as soon as Bryter Layter was finished.

Tracks:

Side 1

1.   Introduction

2.   Hazey Jane II

3.   At the Chime of a City Clock

4.   One of These Things First

5.   Hazey Jane I

Side 2

1.   Bryter Layter

2.   Fly

3.   Poor Boy

4.   Northern Sky

5.   Sunday

Musicians:

Nick Drake: Vocals, Guitar

Richard Thompson: Electric Guitar

Dave Pegg: Bass

Dave Mattacks: Drums

Paul Harris: Piano

Ray Warleigh: Alto Saxophone, Flute

Mike Kowalski: Drums

Ed Carter: Bass

Lyn Dobson: Flute

John Cale: Harpsichord, Viola, Organ, Piano, Celeste

Chris McGregor: Piano

Doris Troy: Backing Vocals

P.P. Arnold: Backing Vocals

Robert Kirby: Arrangements

Produced by Joe Boyd

Engineered by John Wood

Recorded at Sound Techniques, Chelsea

The single, textured sleeve is in Excellent condition with hints of ringwear at the front and very gentle touches of edge and cornerwear and one or two slight dinks to the opening edge. Spine text perfectly legible. Very, very nice condition for a sleeve of such delicate design.

The vinyl is also in Excellent condition. The playing surfaces are beautifully clean with just one wispy hairline visible. Beautiful clear, undistorted audio from start to finish with just the occasional light tick and the occasional lightest traces of crackle. Superb! The labels are like mint.

Supplied with a scanned copy of a 2 page article from ZigZag Magazine Issue 49 (January / February 1975) titled “Nick Drake – The Final Retreat” by David Sandison.

I am not a dealer but a serious collector. All my records come from my private collection. Please read my ME page for details of my philosophy on descriptions and gradings. I absolutely guarantee my gradings as played through my system. All my records are cleaned on a Moth Mk II RCM and play-graded in their entirety on a Rega Planar 3 turntable with RB300 tonearm and Denon DL-304 MC cartridge tracking at 1.5 g through an azur 840a amp via Chord Odyssey 4 bi-wired cable into KEF Q900 speakers. Inferior component-type turntables without proper tracking are more prone to sticking and jumping than high-grade turntables. If you love vinyl, do yourself a favour and invest in a decent system if you don't already own one. You don't have to pay thousands. Excellent quality 2nd hand turntables are available on eBay for around £100 (about the price of 1 rare LP). Your investment will be more than rewarded by the additional listening pleasure you derive.

BUT if, unexpectedly, you are unhappy for any reason, please get in touch.

Grading :

M = Mint - as new

NM = Near Mint - very few, light signs of usage that don’t affect play - the cover has only minor signs of wear.

EX = Excellent - some signs of usage, but very little lessening in sound quality – the cover might have slight wear and/or creasing.

VG = Very Good - no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch - normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items.

G = Good - the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches - the cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

+ and - are used as appropriate.

Payment

Payment is expected within 3 days of auction end. PAYPAL is welcomed. In the UK cheques or direct credit into my bank account (please ask for the account details) are also fine. 

Non-paying bidders will be reported to eBay.

Shipping Policy :

If not still sealed, records are taken out of the sleeve to avoid splitting. They are posted in professional mailers with proper stiffeners for extra protection. These are pre-used and so are provided free of charge. A polythene sleeve is also always included. 

Postage / Shipping Charges

The following rates insure all packages up to a value of either £250 or £500, dependent upon destination. Additional insurance may be available for a higher fee.

UK 

1 LP                     £7.35

2 – 3 LPs            £8.65

Europe

1LP      £13.60

2LPs    £15.30

3LPs    £16.60

The Americas / Asia / Australasia / Rest of the World (ROW)

1LP      £16.55

2LPs    £19.45

3LPs    £22.30