SOFT MACHINE 1st US Probe Wheel cover STUNNING N/M COPY

	£		98
	$		130

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: THE SOFT MACHINE

Album Title: The Soft Machine

Track Listing: Hope For Happiness; Joy of a Toy; Hope For Happiness (reprise); Why Am I So Short?; So Boot If At All; A Certain Kind; Save Yourself; Priscilla; Lullabye Letter; We Do It Again; Plus Belle Qu’une Poubelle; Why Are we Sleeping?; Box 25/4 Lid.

Label: Probe (ABC).

Label Condition: Beautiful clean examples that show only very light/barely any spindle traces. This stunning copy looks hardly played. (Please see label scans for all information needed).

Cat Number: CPLP 4500.

Mono or Stereo: Stereo.

Country of Manufacture: USA (This was not originally in the UK)

Rarity: Scarce, in this condition, rare because you are unlikely to ever find a much better copy - that is both record and cover. I seriously regard this as one of my very finest albums I have yet offered on Ebay. The fragility and vulnerability of early US covers are second to none and when something as important and beautiful as this comes along its one to really get excited about.

Original Year of Release: 1968. I am not hugely clued up on US pressed albums and when exactly this one was pressed I cannot say. All I can do is give all the information I have here in front of my eyes. But the look and feel of all tells me its very early.

Matrix Nos: CPLP 4500 A S-2LW and CPLP 4500 B SB 2SS

Brief Artist & Album Info: Founded in 1966, this British art-progressive rock band toured with Jimi Hendrix and were encouraged to record by him and his producer, ex-Animal, Chas Chandler and they laid down the foundations for this remarkable album, which was not issued in the UK originally. This album was indeed jointly produced by Chandler and Tom Wilson. The original copies of this stunning debut album will only be found on Probe US. This has to be one of the greatest covers in rock: a remarkable piece of packaging for this time and to find a US cover looking quite like this is nothing short of remarkable. US covers are notoriously prone to wear, rubbing and splitting. Words almost fail me on this one, because put simply I have never seen a US cover, and a very complex one too, looking quite like this before. This is a massively thick and heavy item, a gatefold format with the front face being cut out in a circle and then another layer which has a revolving wheel (on a similar basis to Led Zeppelin III), with large cut out windows revealing band members and nudes. Now I am not going to say this cover is quite perfect, but it pretty damn close and if anyone has a much better example than this they are indeed very lucky. Any faults on this are as nit-picky and minor as they get. This one sets the standards of excellent (and way beyond) and this intricate item is unlikely to be found looking much more attractive and fresh looking. If only all classic US covers could be found looking like this. The heavy pressed record is the same, it looks barely played and sounds superb. The trio for this, their ‘art’ period were: Michael Ratledge, from Canterbury on organ; drummer and vocalist, Robert Wyatt from Bristol and Kevin Ayres of Berne Bay on lead guitar - all sounds pretty simple until you hear the music pressed here. This is anything but conventional - I will quote from the stunning inner gatefold what Arnold Shaw wrote about this remarkable and groundbreaking album because it will give a far better insight to what’s included here than ever could.

“Close your eyes and visualize this group! Children of world War II, long hair, shades, multi-colored, paisley-patterned shirts, offbeat hats, beads, bells and bikini shorts. Three British ‘drop-outs’ stranded on the French Riviera and sleeping on the beaches. But they have a panel truck bulging with electronic hardware. And soon their sound fills the first half of jean Jacques Lebel and Alan Zion’s Festival Libre at St tropez, loosening up audiences for a play by Pablo Picasso, Desire Caught by the Tail — Now, open your ears and listen to their music!

It’s a Now sound, swings like jazz, rocks like rhythm-and-blues, hairy with fuzz-box distortion, off the keyboard with electronic atonalities - the sound of music updated by the music of sound. In this, its debut album, the contrast between the group’s hippie-crude appearance and its cultivated background, is reflected in the absorbing tensions of the music. The drive is to synthesize the diverse sounds of jazz and rock in an electronic continuity. ‘Continuity’ is the precise word, for even in personals, the group’s sets are like suites, with an organ-drum interlude serving as a bridge to the next tune. the lines of succeeding numbers frequently echo, or are developments, as with Hope For Happiness in this album, of a preceding number.

‘We play hour-long sets’, Mike Ratledge explains, ‘developing a concert style. The compositions are spaced with improvisations from drum and organ and punctuated with songs. The light show diverts the eye from the mind to the bodily functions. Soon, the audience is up on its feet. As the dancers react to the organic rhythms, the regular steps modulate into free form and movement.’

The music of The Soft Machine includes the shock values of unstructured composition, although many of their works are songs. Electronic devices add the impact of sensory bombardment. But these effects are mere gimmicks unless they are used with sensitivity and logic. The Soft Machine is an exciting testimonial: men need machines but machines need men and ideas to produce meaningful experience. The group creates music that is meaningful, also appealing, because it has good taste, craftsmanship, and, most of all, involvement. The track of Joy of a Toy tells it like it is!’’

This, put simply, is a remarkable record, with stunning packaging, in incredible condition - this is one for the connoisseur collector and I unreservedly recommend this one.

Cover Grade and Format: Mint(-), this is more than justified for a US cover looking like this. Its a gatefold format and these were never laminated of course. Die-cut windows with the rotating wheel format and made with massively thick card. Simply stunning, it does prove US covers could survive if treated well and this sure has been.

Cover Front: Apart from a microscopic crease and light rub on the very bottom corners this is near flawless. Barely a trace of rubbing on any of the expose ink and super clean and fresh too. All six of the die-cut windows are near perfect with no fraying or damage around their edges, including the huge round main cut out. The large recess and rotating wheel edge are virutually mint with no burring or creasing or ink removal. There is no creasing, splits or indentations, even surface marks are there none. This is reference standard and will adorn any serious album collection.

Cover Back: Wow, take a look at this beauty too, its near perfect again. The odd tiny mark but any rubbing is so light its almost an insult to even mention any. Again crease-free and all colour is solid and fast. And above all else there is NO ringwear - an unsightly wear that blights so many US covers so often.

Cover Gatefold Inner: Well what can I say? Almost too good to be true, absolutely gorgeous again. This centre-fold is just about perfect.

Top Edge: No rubbing, one tiny chip only.

Bottom Edge: Very light rub traces.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with no wear or feathering Record entered on right outside back edge.

Spine and Text: Very thick, solid and square with little wear other than faint rub traces, text is perfect and unworn. The spine text states: ‘CPLP 4500 THE SOFT MACHINE’ on the far left, and ‘COMMAND/PROBE’ on the far right.

Corners: A small, light crease to the bottom right front tip. All are nicely shaped, all near perfect any wear is very minor indeed - remarkable.

Cover Summary: A sensational US item, this was robustly built for sure, but how many have survived looking quite like this will be very few I would imagine. This item is hardly common anyway but to find a cover looking quite like this almost takes the breath away - go on, have another look at those pictures.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: Mint(-), and some would even say better. A superb copy with just the odd faint surface trace, but look hard - anything is superficial and nothing sounds. Super clean and shiny, and jet black and heavily pressed. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence. Visually a very nice record that should please most collectors again.

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. No pops or ticks from memory and a fine pressing, any surface sounds are largely absent. Both channels are clean and unstressed, I feel very sure this record has been played little and has been immaculately stored and looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Little, if anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this gem. 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: Did progressive rock start here?, this is a landmark recording for sure. Less jazzy than Third onwards, but highly compelling and original. A remarkable copy all round and this will never have to upgraded - truly in investment standard quality. One for the serious collector to cherish. Dont even think about losing this one – 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.