SYD BARRETT THE MADCAP LAUGHS A2G/B2G 1st PRESS No EMI + G1 Stampers SUPERB
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.
Syd Barrett : The Madcap Laughs A-2G / B-2G No EMI Logo G1/G1 Stampers
This genuine first press is easily one of the finest examples I have ever played. The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is stunning and there is barely any intrusion on the audio, just 2/3 light ticks and a hint of mega light static on a couple of tracks that is al. As always I played every track in full so as to provide a 'complete' grade and the sonic quality is just so impressive. Now 53 years old this vinyl has been very well cared for and whilst there are some hairlines you really cannot fault the audio.
Now the rarity of this album! The collectors out there will have already noticed that this album has the holy grail G1 stampers on each side and this of course means that this first pressing was one of the first off the 'production line', maybe even the first! This album was only produced in limited numbers so I imagine not many G1/G1s were pressed and in fact in all my years selling on eBay this is only the second I have ever sold. A rare and stunning example!
This first press has no EMI logo on the labels and of course the A2G/B2G matrix. It also has Barrett except + Joyce on the S2 label not Barrett + Joyce that you see on later pressings.
The gatefold is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear, mainly on the spine, and has the printing date 6911 on the back cover, in advance of the release date! The original inner sleeve is also in excellent order.
SHVL 765 // A - 2G / B - 2G // G 1 / G 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 & T3 Near Mint-)
The laminated gatefold is Ex-
The labels are Near Mint-
The original inner sleeve is Ex
Visual description
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches. Only under a bright light can you see some faint hairlines but these, as detailed below, have no impact on the superb audio. Under a more forgiving light you cannot see these hairlines! The yellow/green Harvest labels are superb clean with not too much spindle wear.
Play grading
S1 begins with a superb version of 'Terrapin' that could hardly play any better. A relatively quiet track and yet the clarity is stunning from the intro right through to the final note and I heard just one very light tick during the mid instrumental section. Barrett's vocal is so 'high' in the mix and yet has lost none of its original sonic quality. I will grade as Mint- although I am not entirely sure the minus is required, that tick is very quiet!
'No Good Trying' plays with impeccable quality and and it's the depth of the audio that really stands out here. It is one of the 'busier' tracks on the album and yet there is no 'muddiness' to the sound at all, the audio is so clean and precise. There are a couple of very quiet dull ticks right at the end of the fade out so I will grade as Mint- accordingly.
'Love You' plays with sublime clarity from start to finish with no intrusion. No ticks, clicks, pops or static just pure Mint audio and another example of how well this vinyl has been preserved down the years.
The powerful 'No Man's Land' once again plays with tremendous sonic quality and there is no sign of any interference. No negatives this is another stunning Mint track.
Just Syd and his guitar 'Dark Globe' is practically 'as new' with no interference. If I'm being super harsh there is perhaps just a hint of inner groove distortion but it is so minor and totally non-intrusive, you may not even notice it! It plays with great precision and Mint- is fair.
'Here I Go' has a couple of barely audible dust ticks on the intro and from then on plays so clearly for a final track with no interference. There is no distortion and the clarity is stunning throughout, even the guitar fade out has no 'background'. A Mint finish to a fantastic side.
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The acoustic intro on 'Octopus' is perfect and Barrett's opening vocal is just as impressive. It continues to play with a clarity and warmth that belies it 53 years of age - there is no 'background' and the clarity is stunning in every way. No ticks, clicks, pops or static this really is audio of the highest quality and again the fade out has no 'background', that's a measure of the clarity on offer here. Mint
The quiet acoustic intro on 'Golden Hair' has only the bare minimum of very light intermittent static and then Barrett's first vocal is nigh on perfect with just one tick. From then onwards the playback is superb with no intrusion and overall Near Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio here. 'Long Gone' has only one mega light tick on the intro and the opening is very clean with only a couple of light ticks that do not detract from the audio, they are not clicks! It then plays with a clarity that is second to none - the playback is again so 'clean' and there is nothing that gets in the way of the 'listen'. I will grade as Near Mint- again but the majority is certainly stronger than that.
'She Took A Long Cold Look' plays with STUNNING quality from the first note to the last and you can easily hear Barrett's first turn of the page on this 'opening' track. The clarity here is so good! The only 'background' during the entire 'Feel' intro is a static tick just after the spoken 'Feel Take One'. The near 10 second silent section that follows is exactly that, silent! From then on it plays with great precision and... no interference. The segue into 'If It's In You' is faultless and once the track 'gets going' the clarity is again so impressive. There are no ticks, clicks or pops and only a couple of moments of barely audible static, hardly deserves a mention really. The first track of this trio is Mint and the next two are easily Mint- such is the quality.
'Late Night' ends this classic album with wonderful clarity. One of the few non-acoustic tracks it plays with great depth and warmth and no interference. The sonic quality is so strong for a final track and if there is any static it is again so quiet - so quiet you barely notice it! Just a little more on the final second of the fade out but this has to grade as Mint- as there is basically no intrusion on the audio.
In summary this rare and very collectable first pressing plays to a superb standard with no clicks or pops or jumps of course. I cannot emphasise enough just how 'clean' and precise the audio is and you would be hard pressed to find a better version. A couple of ticks and the bare minimum of mega light static on a couple of tracks that sums it up perfectly. The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is so impressive and how many G1/G1 first pressings play as well as this? Not many has to be the answer! A rare find and a collectors' piece for sure! A STUNNING album!
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only a minimal shelf wear. The edges are perfect with no rubbing and whilst the spine is very clean it is little compressed as is common and does have some wear/rubbing on the corners. As for the other corners only the one bottom right on the front has some light wear. The opening edge is in lovely condition with no obvious handling wear at all. The front cover in very clean with just a few faint creases next to the spine that you often find, a minor crease top left and some very minor wear on the right hand edge. The back cover is again very clean with only one faint scratch line and some wear on the right hand corners can also be seen. The inside of the gatefold is in perfect condition with no marking etc. An impressive first press cover overall.
The original Harvest / EMI inner is in excellent order with side splits or tears, just some creasing here and there and very light fading around the edges. Just seen Lyon written on one side also.
Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
SHVL 765 // A - 2G / B - 2G // G 1 / G 1
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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Postage & Packaging
I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS! IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT. I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!
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