Syd Barrett - Barrett 1st UK Press LP Textured Flipback Sleeve 1970 Identifiers
$
222
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Description
Feast your eyes (and possibly ears) on Syd's masterpiece and final studio album from 1970: Barrett. After this, he went into solitary refinement and painted. The word genius is grossly overused in music these days, but Syd was surely worthy of the appellation. I believe him to be the progenitor of psychedelic music. I also believe his solo work tops his Pink Floyd output. This particular album didn't sell so well even though some of Syd's former bandmates joined him on it. This, of course, makes one in this condition a rare find.
The wax at first glance looks Mint- and Pristine. There's still a nice, rich luster to both sides. I'm a conservative grader and you can count on me to assess all items closely before honestly listing them. Under intense blazing light and at a certain angle you will see some feathery light scuffs on side 1 and a couple of tiny markings on side 2. This is a hefty slab of vinyl and playback is wholly unaffected. In fact, this is the way the album was meant to be heard all warm, full and brilliant. So I went with a lower EX grading. The sleeve is still wonderfully intact. No rips, tears or splits. Everything is still bold and readable. Lovely artwork/printing right down to the font choices (University Roman with an upside down E). The only issue being some creasing mostly from ring wear and a small dot of discoloration front bottom right near the mouth. I prefer the textured sleeve 1st press to the laminated 1st press, it looks and feels better, of course both copies sound the same (there was a time when I owned both). The inner paper sleeve does not seem to be the original Harvest picture print sleeve. I'm guessing it is a replacement which has a patent # on it and states Made in England (see last pic). It shows toning and a tear at the top.
I mentioned UK 1st Press identifiers on the title line, they are as follows:
Gramophone Co Ltd on the label ring with no mention of EMI on the label. Made in GT Britain at the bottom of the label. Flipback sleeve with printer's credit: Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd on the rear. File under POPULAR: male vocal on flipback sleeve's rear (not sure if this is an official identifier but it kind of cracks me up, as if Syd is Jack Jones or something). Track's duration not listed
- Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped): SHSP 4007 A-1G T 1
- Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped): SHSP 4007 B-1G G 1
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that some folks will argue that the laminated sleeve is the true 1st press. Codswallop. This album was released with 3 different sleeves (laminated, textured, and plain) in the UK. That is the variable whereas the wax is the constant. You may go and pay $300 more to get a laminated sleeve copy if it be your will...assuredly, the record will still sound the same.
Stored inside a clean, smoke free, music loving home. Questions, comments, observations? Feel free to message me. Payment is kindly expected within 24 hours of your winning bid. Kindly message me with any issues you may have. I will do my best to get you into the solution. Thanks for dropping by!
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