THE DOORS The Soft Parade US EKS EX LP with RARE PIC/LYRIC INNER.

	£		36
	$		48

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.75. Europe (including Russia) £12.50. Rest of World £16.50. All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all. More details on this nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible even yet another Royal Mail price hike, I will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably a little heavier.

Artist or Band: THE DOORS

Album Title: The Soft Parade.

Producer(s): Paul A. Rothchild.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Tell All the People; Touch Me; Shaman’s Blues; Do It; Easy Ride.

Side 2: Wild Child; Runnin’ Blue; Wishful Sinful; The Soft Parade.

Label/Format: Elektra – US red format with matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both very clean, fresh and highly attractive with a lovely deep colour. A tiny adhesion crinkle on side one. Any of the tiny few spindle marks are ultra light and faint as seen more critically under angled light. A very fine US copy that plays superbly with very little unwanted, never any easy find in the UK for sure.

Cat Number: EKS 75005.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm. [this album was not issued in mono]

Weight of this Record: 125 grams.

Country of Manufacture: USA.

Rarity: One of The Doors less successful albums and finding any US-pressed copy outside America is never easy. Even more so with a hardly played record, very neat, little worn cover, and especially one that includes the rare graphic and lyric insert inner sleeve that looks little short of as made. These only came with very first issues in the UK and have always proved very difficult to find, ones in this condition are rare and very sort-after by fans and collectors.

Original Year of Release: July 1969.

Matrix Nos: EKS 75005-A / EKS 75005-B (‘CP’ etched on the dead wax area).

Musicians: Jim Morrison - lead vocals; Robby Krieger - guitar, vocals; Ray Manzarek - keyboards, bass guitar, vocals; John Densmore - drums, percussion. Guests: Harvey Brooks and Dough Lubahn - bass; Curtis Amy - saxophone; George Bohanan - trombone; Champ Webb - English horn; Jesse McReynolds - mandolin; Jimmy Buchanan - fiddle; Reinol Andino - conga.

Brief Info: The Door’s fourth album that marked a slight change in direction, moving away from the ‘Underground’ into a more commercial sound. An album that received more mixed reviews at the time, it’s overall sound was probably a surprise. All the basic ingredients remained, but this album included brass and strings, and even includes a bluegrass song (‘Runnin’ Blue’). A lush production that took far longer to record than previously, and although this album is often rated as average within the Morrison era, I still personally consider it as another superb Doors set. Notable too, it was the first not to be issued in both mono and stereo. Possibly slightly biased maybe, this legendary band have long been favourites of mine and they could do no wrong as far as I was concerned. This original group never made a bad song for me, let alone album – this one is simply a little ‘different’. Less intense but with wonderful melodies and Morrison again in strong vocal form despite his growing addiction to alcohol. I just love this album and always have. This an American copy with a very heavy thick gatefold cover with the same wonderful artwork as the UK version. The record is clean and appears little played and sounds marvellous. The inclusion of the rare graphic/lyric inner a massive bonus, especially in such super condition. Most tear and crease badly, but being honest, most examples fail to have it still inside. So for those who like their records to originate from the band’s homeland, this is a rare chance here.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very High+, and few will ever escape often very heavy wear, that being from wherever they are manufactured.

Cover Grade and Format: NEAR EXCELLENT: and this for an impossibly wear-prone US cover a very fine example. An unlaminated gatefold format with fairly matt, and subtle gentle textured surfaces. It is made with very heavy, thick hard and the inside has the paste-on style panels. This has the EKS catalogue number and was printed and made in the US and includes the rare original inner sleeve. In this UK, this graphic lyric piece was an insert sheet but acted as the inner sleeve from the United States.

Cover Front: Being so dark and unprotected, this is hugely prone to all forms of wear, US ones even more so. Any rubbing is light and quite faint with the vast majority having none. A little to the corner tips and near the top. A couple of light surface creases near the bottom left and corners but not a great deal else. Actually retaining fine freshness, deep colour and fine good looks, so rarely seen anywhere like this really.

Cover Back: The back is generally the same with a more moderate crease near the bottom right corner area. The lack of ring wear is a major plus as so few ever avoid it.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Fantastic artwork and this has little to fault at all. I have rarely seen this centrefold, which is still prone to wear as well, look much better.

Top Edges: Both thick and straight with just a little gentle crinkle, no splits or repairs, that again unusual and a real bonus. Minimal traces of any rubbing, cannot rule-out the odd tiny tip-in on the black surfaces.

Bottom Edges: All largely the same again.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The front has a real edge and has little wear again and still straight, very fine surface ‘cracks’ at the top and bottom that naturally seem occur on these quite brittle US-made covers. The back entry edge is crisp and neat with barely any traces of thickening or wear. Viewed-end on, you can see just how thick this heavyweight cover card really is, this is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: Very solid and thick, straight with any compression small and light. Folded square so the edges meet up closely together and parallel. Still erect with minimal tilt and also against the odds, no splits and minimal rubbing with all most of the text present and hardly worn. I can see one small tip-in but little else and even the fold hinges retain most ink. Such wide spines are often seen crushed and broken, but this has survived well with a little rubbing to the very ends that few will ever avoid at best.

Corners: Light to near moderate tip rubs (most on spine top), with fine to very fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: Difficult to say the least, even UK ones are rarely seen without significant wear and this US one beats just about all EKS copies I have ever seen. Incredibly heavy for a cover, this American one will take a fair degree of beating.

The Lyric Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): arguably better still – printed in the US. I have never seen one of these as an inner sleeve, the UK version was an insert sheet. This is in superb condition and against the odds has no tears and just one small neat edge movement split that I repaired to stop the risk of it widening. You would hardly even know it was ever there. A paper inner and unlined, hardly any creasing and little aged with all the song lyrics one side and a superb Doors drawings the other. Seldom seen in the UK, only the originals here had it in insert form, this a significant part of this set and many collectors for sure will no have it. This will prove near impossible to find much better and is guaranteed original.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: with any surface marks few, light and quite faint. I have found US albums to be generally well-pressed but do tend to mark more easily. So finding this vintage album with so few marks overall was very pleasing. Many dull and scuff when shipped here and the fact this retains such a lovely overall shine and degree of freshness is another considerable plus. A tiny mark on the second joining groove on side two emits a couple or three light ticks but barely anything spoils the wonderful clean sound of the music which is very impressive throughout. So all considered, this is a very fine example that should please many collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: A record that plays even above it’s high visual grading and offers all the power, precision, details and grace of an EKS US copy. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - including the horns and strings that are always more of a challenge on older vinyl records. These complex sounds more intolerant of heavy tracking equipment more used from the past. Sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. A strong production and clean sound this was a real pleasure to hear again via a vinyl source and they rarely sound a great deal better. The lack of any distortion, pressing noises or groove wear is the most important factor and minimal, to mostly no surface sound either – this being played on a very sensitive system. Often the reeds and strings can clip and break up on less than fine copies which ruins this more fragile recording – this has none of that and this is a quality pressing. Nothing of any real spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful, and still unfairly underrated record and I can strongly recommend it. With a clean overall cover, inner sleeve and record, this US copy merits strong recommendation.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 10,000+ items sold in over 12 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.