~ ORIG 1974 FACTORY SEALED ~ "PRETZEL LOGIC" ~ ABC RECORDS ~ ABCD- 808~

Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Night by Night
Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Barrytown
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
Parker's Band
Through with Buzz
Pretzel Logic
With a Gun
Charlie Freak
Monkey in Your Soul

~ THE MUSIC ~

Countdown to Ecstasy wasn't half the hit that Can't Buy a Thrill was, and Steely Dan responded by trimming the lengthy instrumental jams that were scattered across Countdown and concentrating on concise songs for Pretzel Logic. While the shorter songs usually indicate a tendency toward pop conventions, that's not the case with Pretzel Logic. Instead of relying on easy hooks, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen assembled their most complex and cynical set of songs to date. Dense with harmonics, countermelodies, and bop phrasing, Pretzel Logic is vibrant with unpredictable musical juxtapositions and snide, but very funny, wordplay. Listen to how the album's hit single, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," opens with a syncopated piano line that evolves into a graceful pop melody, or how the title track winds from a blues to a jazzy chorus -- Becker and Fagen's craft has become seamless while remaining idiosyncratic and thrillingly accessible. Since the songs are now paramount, it makes sense that Pretzel Logic is less of a band-oriented album than Countdown to Ecstasy, yet it is the richest album in their catalog, one where the backhanded Dylan tribute "Barrytown" can sit comfortably next to the gorgeous "Any Major Dude Will Tell You." Steely Dan made more accomplished albums than Pretzel Logic, but they never made a better one.- Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

~ ITEM DESCRIPTION ~

From my personal collection. This beautiful example is an authentic, very rare, 1974 SS (still sealed) ABC, gatefold, first issue. Not the common MCA reissue. There is no way of knowing if this is the black or multicolored label, except to open the shrink, and I am not going to that since opening it would immediately decrease its collectible value. It has every indication of being a 100% authentic first issue. Heavy USA pressing with thick cardboard construction. Thick centered spine. Amazing near mint condition, quite like a 40 year old time capsule unto itself, back when rock and roll was still raw and creative. Guaranteed not to be a bootleg, counterfeit, or one of those 180 gram re issues. These unopened gatefolds are hard to find sealed, since most fans couldn't wait to open them up to see what was inside. Two shrink holes, one on the front and one on the back. Clean and straight with tight shrink all around. Unopened and unplayed after all these years ! Absolutely georgeous overall! The final upgrade for your collection. Own a unique piece of Rock and Roll history !



~ No tears or rips
~ No bar code
~ No promo stamps
~ No notches
~ No stickers
~ No lemon peel
~ No glue residue
~ No pen marks
~ No warping
~ No cut corners

~ ITEM FLAWS ~

Slight ring wear front and back. Slight push with barely exposed corner, top left. Bottom left corner barely exposed.

~ PAYMENT ~

I only accept Paypal as payment. It is the best and easiest way through Ebay. Please pay within the first few days of winning an auction. If you want to wait longer, let me know, otherwise I may have to cancel your bid and offer the item to the next highest bidder.

~ SHIPPING ~

In my opinion, still sealed vinyl records are historical items that need to be adequately protected especially during shipping. As I see it, is our duty to the collectors of the future to keep them in the best condition possible. Simply writing "fragile" on the package assumes that the gorillas at the USPS know how to read.If you have ever recieved a damaged item due to poor packaging, you know how freaking annoying this can be. For shipping, I use a double layer of cardboard which extends beyond the corners of the jacket. By doing this, you are more than likely to receive your item in the same condition as the one you saw in the photos. Just knowing that your record will arrive safely is an extra value in my opinion. I only ship USPS Priority, and with a tracking number. Media mail is not a good idea, since fragile records are thrown in with heavy book orders, and the prospect of damage is increased. You will only need to pay the actual cost of shipping plus a $2 handling fee. I am sorry but I do not ship out of the USA. I live too far from the post office, and it is too big of a hassle to ship internationally. Insurance is free for any order over $100. Insurance basically covers you in the unlikely event that your item turns up missing.

~ REFUND POLICY ~

I will refund your money in its entirety regardless of the reason, with in the first 7 days of you receiving the item. I will send your refund through Paypal as soon as I receive the item back to me in the same condition I sent it to you in. Please do not open sealed records, unless you plan on keeping them. I can understand why you might want to hear the music, as it was originally intended . If that is the case, you might want to consider purchasing an opened copy which is in mint condition. You may find it interesting to know that sealed records are generally worth about 10 times that of an opened record to collectors. There are plenty of mint opened records to be had, and opening a sealed vintage record is like spending an uncirculated coin. Again, still sealed items MUST be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund. You will be responsible for the cost of return shipping.

~ SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE BUYING ~

If you have been buying records on Ebay for any time at all, you might have noticed that most of the big sellers out there are unlikely to respond to your emails. If they do, they will often come off rude and disinterested. They are of course, too busy to give you the time of day, or refuse to respond to your questions with any detail. In this regard, I am not too big to care. I understand that many collectors, are looking for sealed records in pristine condition, though items in this shape are rare. Many times, the best we can do, or afford for that matter, is a record with some flaws, in an effort to fill that spot in our collection. The photos you see are the actual item, and I am not trying to hide imperfections or flaws with substandard photos with inadequate focus or lighting. To the contrary, if anything, I ussually Photoshop the items with extra contrast to show the flaws more than you might actually see in normal lighting. You will get the item you see in the photo. For this reason, I try to provide what I believe are some of the clearest and largest photos available on Ebay. If you want to know the truth about any item, go to the section entitled, "ITEM FLAWS". In this section, I do my best to describe the flaws in detail, especially the ones that are not apparent in the photos.

~ THANKS FOR YOUR PATRONAGE ~

Please check my feedback. I do my best to give detailed attention to every sale, and I am sure you will not be disappointed. Whatever I can to to make your buying experience a good one, please let me know. As with most sellers, your positive feedback is appreciated. Please get a hold of me before leaving less than 5 stars, I will do what I can to make things right for you.