SYD BARRETT THE MADCAP LAUGHS A2G/B2G No EMI Logo 1970 SUPERB NM/MINT- AUDIO
£
312
$
413
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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
This very early pressing is easily one of the most stunning examples I have ever listened to. In all honesty there is no interference and as usual I played every track in full so as to provide a comprehensive grading. There are only three light ticks on S1 but so quiet they do not qualify as interference! The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio throughout is superb and I cannot overstate just how 'clean' and precise the audio is. The vinyl is visually very impressive and this is a FINAL UPGRADE pressing of that I am confident i.e. no need to purchase another to find better audio!
You could say this is a first pressing (some wouldn't!) because there is no EMI logo on either side and of course it has the A2G/B2G matrix. However, it does say Barrett + Joyce on the S2 label not Barrett except + Joyce so some would categorise it as a second press. Regardless of that you it would be nigh on impossible to find a better one!
The gatefold is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear and the original inner sleeve is also in excellent order.
SHVL 765 // A - 2G / B - 2G // L 1 / M 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The laminated gatefold is Ex
The labels are Near Mint
The inner sleeve is Ex+
Visual grading
The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen with no marks or scratches. Under a bright light I can see some faint sleeve removal hairlines but they obviously have no impact on the superb audio. The yellow/green Harvest labels are unmarked and have only a little spindle wear.
Play grading
'Terrapin' plays with 'crystal clear' sound throughout with barely any 'background'. The clarity is exceptional and let's not forget this vinyl is over 52 years old now. A quiet acoustic track and yet each note is so clean and precise and there is no underlying static apart from a couple of seconds right at the end. There are three light ticks during the mid instrumental but they are quiet and not intrusive in any way. Barrett's voice is of course so high in the mix here and it has certainly lost none of its original sonic quality. This is Near Mint although the vast majority is better than that.
'No Good Trying' plays with great depth and power from start to finish with no interference. There are no negatives and a Mint grade is fully deserved.
'Love You' again provides more evidence of a record that has been so well preserved down the years and more than likely hardly played. No ticks, clicks, pops or static just pure Mint audio throughout.
The higher octane 'No Man's Land' is 'as new' with no 'background' of any kind. There is more 'going on' with this track and yet the sonic quality is as strong and clear as it would have been back in 1970. Another stunning Mint track
'Dark Globe' plays with sublime precision from the first note to the last with no intrusion. A classic Mint track.
'Here I Go' ends the side with 'high end' audio once more with only 3/4 mega light dust ticks. For a final track to play so clearly on a record of this age is a rarity and there is no distortion at all. Even the guitar fade out has no 'background'. This is Mint and provides the perfect end to an almost perfect side.
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Another classic with 'Octopus' and I am pleased to say it plays unbelievable clarity throughout with no 'background' of any kind and 'as new' describes it perfectly. There is not one dust tick let alone anything more. Mint
The super quiet acoustic intro on 'Golden Hair' plays beautifully with only a couple of insignificant dust ticks and the opening vocal is equally as 'clean'. It continues to play with outstanding clarity and I only heard a handful of mega light ticks which obviously are not intrusive. Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio here.
'Long Gone' plays to the same standard with no interference whatsoever. The playback is again so 'clean' and there is literally nothing that gets in the way of the listening experience. Already I am running out of superlatives for this STUNNING album! Mint
'She Took A Long Cold Look' has one mega light tick on the intro and then plays with imperious quality for the remainder. A couple of dust ticks that is all and you can easily hear Barrett's turn of the page on this 'opening' track. 'Feel', the second track of the 'trio', plays with sublime quality and the silent section after the 'Take One' intro has no 'background' other than a couple of dust ticks which gives you an idea of the clarity on offer here. The rest plays with wonderful precision and of course...no interference. 'If It's In You' has a handful of dust ticks during the intro section but again they are so quiet and 100% non-intrusive. I only mention it to be 'complete' with my grading and the clarity is still so impressive from start to finish. Let's grade the first two as Mint and the last as Mint- as it is still a near perfect version and I am sure most sellers would say it was!
'Late Night' ends the album with superb audio and, dare I say, no interference. The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is second to none and Mint is an honest appraisal. What an album!
In summary this very collectable album plays to a fantastic standard that you rarely find today. I cannot emphasise enough just how 'clean' and precise the audio is, you would be hard pressed to find better, well you couldn't basically! It is without question a FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic and it has been so well preserved over the last 50+ years. In essence there is no genuine interference - ok there are three light ticks on 'Terrapin' but as stated they are very quiet. There are no clicks or pops on either side and it really is a the clarity and warmth of the recording that really stand out. Judging by the spindle wear it has not been overplayed and that is certainly reflected in the audio quality. A superb album!
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear. The edges have no rubbing and the spine is very clean but is a little compressed and has a crease line running down the centre. It is still 100% legible but yes the letters are slightly 'squashed'. All of the corners are in great shape with barely any wear and the opening edge has hardly any handling wear either. The front cover in very clean with only a few small faint creases next to the spine that you often find and a little white 'speckling' next to the right edge. I think there may have been some tape around the edges at some point on both sides but it has been very sympathetically removed and you only notice it when you hold the cover at a certain angle. I only noticed it just now and I've had the album for over three months now! The back cover is in lovely condition with no obvious marking and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate. A fine example overall.
The vinyl is housed inside a plain white die-cut inner with Patent No 1,125,555 and Made In England printed on one side. It has no side splits or tears, very little marking and only minimal creasing.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
SHVL 765 // A - 2G / B - 2G // L 1 / M 1
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
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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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