STEELY DAN KATY LIED MFSL 1-007 HALF SPEED AUDIOPHILE OMR FAGEN BECKER OOP

$

30

    This auction is for the MOBILE FIDELITY SOUND LAB ORIGINAL MASTER RECORDING OF STEELY DAN -- KATY LIED.

     This was released by ABC/MFSL in 1978, a few years after it had originally been released in 1975.  Catalogue number is MFSL 1-007.  The liner notes from THIS lp say "Half speed lacquers by Stan Ricker, JVC imported high definition vinyl, static free inner sleeve."   Liner notes on LATER pressings say, "Specially plated and pressed on High Definition Super Vinyl by Victor Company of Japan Ltd.  Special static-free dust free inner sleeve.  Special heavy duty protective packaging.  Source: The original stereo master tape.  Mastered with the Ortofon Cutting System."   A limited edition release, and long out of print.  This album was released in the first year that MFSL starting pressing their audiophile albums, and one of the few rock records they released that year (the others being Al Stewart - Year of the Cat and Supertramp - Crime of the Century).

     The cover is in at least very good condition.  There is a one and a half inch seam split along the top (photo #2).  All of the corners have blunted ends; three of them are very small.  The top left blunt is maybe about a half inch long across the corner (front & back...photos #3 & #4). A little foxing along the front cover open edge (photo #5).  There is a small corner section on the back bottom left corner that has some spotting on it (photo #7).  It looks like it was on the original slick pressing.  Some yellowing along the white open back cover edge (photo #6).  The album comes in its original plastic covering (photo #8).  There are a couple of small tears in the plastic along the bottom of the front covering.  There is a sticker on the cover that says "Super High Fidelity -- Limited Edition Pressing Enclosed -- 1978 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab". 

     The album is in VG+/VG++ condition.  I did play-test the record, and there is the SLIGHTEST hint of surface noise between tracks.  And by "slightest", I mean what you would usually hear on a regular pressing of an album!  Some TINY, LIGHT tics on the fade-up of "Black Friday", a few light tics on "Rose Darling",  "Doctor Wu", and "Any World".   At the very, very end of "Throw Back The Little Ones" there are a few rotations of very light ticking.  The labels are perfect (photos #11 and #12). 

     The set comes with the original inner sleeve.  The folded cardboard insert is blank in and out.  There is some yellowing/browning along the front and back of the bottom edge (this must have been facing the opened end of the album cover...see the very bottom of photo #10).  The warranty sheet is there (photo #9).  Best of all is an original two-sided flyer from July of 1979 that lists the first sixteen releases, plus upcoming releases for the rest of the summer and late summer of that year (again, photo #10).   Frankly, some of their choices on what to give the MFSL treatment astound me!  Sleeve, warranty and flyer are in excellent condition.

     I'm making the conditions sound much worse than they really are...just so you're not disappointed.  The lp is not out-of-the-box mint, but it's certainly not used and abused.  Definitely taken care of...

     If you have any questions about this item, please feel free to email me.   Also, check out my other auctions going on NOW (including some other MFSL lps) of various other items of interest.  Thanks again for looking...during these most troubled times...

US Media Mail (affordable, but can be slow - especially to West Coast):

$ 4.00  1st LP, $ 1.00 each additional

Canada (First Class International) ***

$ 11.95  1st LP, $ 2.00 each additional

Mexico (First Class International) ***

$ 16.60  1st LP, $ 2.50 each additional

Worldwide (First Class International) ***

$ 18.60  1st LP, $ 4.00 each additional (up to 4 total).

For more than four albums, Priority Mail International (roughly double the 1st Class Costs) or insurance, contact me for specifics.

NOTE: SHIPPING UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES OVER $ 100 US. (Such as Priority with Tracking, Registered, etc. Rates and services vary by country).

Cost of postage includes $ 1.75 for shipping materials (sturdy custom mailer, poly sleeve, filler pad).

Record Grading:

MINT (10) Perfect! Still sealed albums are presumed MINT, but covers may not be. I will not grade any opened album as "mint", since there's obviously been some handling.

NEAR MINT (9.5) ---- Close, but one or two tiny flaws that do not impact play. Vinyl may have a barely visible scuff mark, but no scratches. Label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers close to perfect with very minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident.

EXCELLENT (9) ----Disc plays near-perfect. There could be scuffs or a hairline scratch or two that does not impact play. Vinyl is bright and shiny. Label is clean and unmarked. Cover may have some slight corner creases or minor ringwear.

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (8) ---- Record handled and played occasionally, but very carefully. Very minor scratches and/or scuffs that should have little impact on the sound quality, or minor label imperfection---noted, but otherwise clean. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS records may have some light surface noise during quiet passages or between tracks. Covers: one or two minor wear issues such as writing on cover, corner creases, some ringwear, minor staining, etc. (All noted).

VERY GOOD PLUS (7) ----The record has been cared for, but has some minor flaws. Light scratches and/or marks/scuffs that won't make a big impact.Light surface noise here and there, but nothing to overwhelm the listening experience. Covers may have a few minor defects (duly noted). Those who are looking for pristine-only might not be pleased, but most music fans would be happy to have a collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD (6)---- The record has been played often with some care, but also a little neglect. Record displays visible surface wear---scratches or scuffs that will cause some minor to perhaps occasionally moderate surface noise.Vinyl could be "dull" at this point and not "shiny', or still perhaps shiny, but then a little more scratched-up. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. Most music fans would be happy to have a highly collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD MINUS (5) ---- Well-played with little luster and moderate surface noise, but skip-free. Lots of scratches/scuffs or fewer but more deeper marks.Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork---seam splits, significant ring wear, tears, cuts, taping (all noted). I will only sell RARE "VERY GOOD MINUS" records.

GOOD (4) --- Pretty banged-up with lots of scratches, but not dead yet. Record should still appear not to skip, though it's possible it can.Surface noise is moderate to occasionally heavy. Seam splits are usually a bigger issue around this level with the records better off in a plastic sleeve. I only sell VERY RARE "GOOD" records. They are certainly "good enough" until another copy comes along.

GOOD MINUS (3) --- Even more beat with tons of scratches and LOTS of surface noise. Skips are possible, though I wouldn't intentionally sell a record that does. Given the right moment, fans could probably enjoy a GOOD MINUS record, but might also be irritated by it at times.I will only sell VERY VERY RARE "GOOD MINUS" records. Covers are hanging together by a thread (seams shot) but not intentionally defaced.

FAIR (2) ----FAIR records appear and sound lousy (significant surface noise, horrific scratches). I won't sell these, unless I find something that is SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Expect skipping or a very unpleasant listen. Covers may be defaced, seamless, stained beyond belief.

POOR (1) ---- Unlistenable and undisplayable.