THE HOLLIES Greatest SCARCE UK 1969 1-Box MONO N/M LP

	£		43
	$		57

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Please see my Detailed Packing Description Further Down & All Shipping Costs and Options – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment.

Artist or Band: THE HOLLIES

Album Title: Hollies’ Greatest.

Producer(s): Ron Richards.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: I Can’t Let Go; Bus Stop; We’re Through; Carrie Anne; Here I Go Again; King Midas in Reverse; Yes I Will.

Side 2: I’m Alive; Just One Look; On a Carousel; Stay; Look Through Any Window; Stop Stop Stop; Jennifer Eccles.

Label/Format: Parlophone – second issue black and silver with single format EMI box. Please see my scan.

Label Conditions: Both superb: make no mistake, this is a scarce record on this label in mono. A format only available for a very brief time and only a small number of this title were ever repressed in mono. Any spindle marks are tiny, few and very faint – simply compare this to the majority of 1968 mono copies, most played to destruction on heavy-tracking mono record players – the sound trashed and unlistenable.

Cat Number: PMC 7057.

Mode / Speed: Mono / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 147 grams. Seven grams heavier than the last first pressing I offered. This is no inferior lightweight repressing, this sounds as marvellous as the yellow and black original.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Scarce: and I truly state, this first mono issue on the new single box Parlophone label is much rarer than the yellow and black original. Not only that, if you want pristine perfect sound, look no further. Few originals will ever boast that. The loud mix and complex vocal harmonies do not stand up to too much playing on Dansettes and the like. The complex groove walls shredded by massive tracking weights and thick, often blunt stylus stubs. This barely played gem has suffered no mistreatment and looks hardly even played and sounds fantastic. All the beautiful mono mix singles sharp, clear and precise with no distortions or crackle. Only a small number of these would have been repressed in mono and the label itself came and went quickly to be replaced by the two box version. Doubtful if that version made a mono release at all.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: XEX 693-1 and XEX 694-1. Stamper Codes: 2 AL / 1 AG

Brief Artist & Album Info: Along with The Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Kinks, The Hollies made some of the very best singles of the 1960s, every song included on this fantastic singles compilation is a classic and the icing on the cake here is the fact it’s a mono copy and it plays beautifully with nothing unwanted. Never take this for granted on any mono pressing especially by this band. I consider Hollies albums in mono amongst the hardest to find that will play well throughout. The intense sound, complex harmony vocals and volume nearly always incur high frequency distortion and break-up. Well this hardly played example offers no traces of that, this truly has to be the very best example for sound I have yet offered – that including clean and modestly played first pressings. The detail and dynamics are quite incredible and I heard fine detail and sound I feel sure I had never heard before. A pure feel-good factor this band’s singles (and albums) always give, and sounding so good in their natural mono sound, the format of the era. The Hollies in the 60s were quite brilliant and their singles collection from this period are second to practically none. The mono mixes here are vastly superior and any connoisseur collector is likely to agree, what a joy to hear these gems so clear and clean, I fear most of the seven inch singles would not get close to these. Not just another compilation, this is a definitive collection of some of the finest singles ever made by one of the finest 60s bands, do not miss this one.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT: even with a small sticker surface pull on the back, this is still worthy of this impressive grade. A single format with a laminated front that wraps around the closed edges on to three large rear flipbacks. PMC 7057 on the back with Also available on Stereo No PCS 7057. File under POPULAR: Pop Groups on the top right. Three large flipbacks on rear and text ‘this mono record’ etc and reference to New Emitex record cleaner. It was printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse and still includes the original ‘Patents pending’ text.

Lamination & Front: This is lovely, a superb band picture with the old rocking horse. The laminate remains shiny, fresh and clear and all is fully adhered with no lifts or blisters – a crucial detail for maximum pleasure on a dark cover. A few mainly very light surface creases mainly on the spine edge and any dulling is modestly light as seen under angled light. This cover, which is identical to the first made will not be too easy to find much better.

Cover Back: A smallish and reasonably inconspicuous sticker mark and light pull towards the bottom in a just off-centre left position. That apart, not a great deal else to really fault. Any discolouration is mild and light and these backs were prone to darkening very easily, a little streaky traces are just seen which is a common trait of this and similar sleeves. A little left edge burring but hardly any creasing and all the flipbacks are impressively neat and undamaged. Their ends clean and grime-free with any burr traces tiny and faint. For a cover 42-year-old cover, this has stood the test-of-time well.

Top Edge: Rubbing on the right corner tip, but little else.

Bottom Edge: As above with rubbing on both corners.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, fairly sharp, not the cleanest of cuts in manufacture (which I have always found on this cover) and this does appear a little thickened but guaranteed untrimmed, beware of razor sharp edges on this one. A little mild burring seen via the back but overall, quite neat and certainly natural. Record entered on this edge.

Spine and Text: A stunning spine: solid, straight with no compression, all text is perfect and unworn under very solid and uncracked laminate which is very clea, shiny and totally unaged.

Corners: The spine pair are superb, almost as made, the right pair have moderate tip rubs.

Cover Summary: A highly attractive all-round example of this scarcer late-60’s mono cover, one that will prove difficult to find much better. This strong item should please many collectors but the small sticker issue means not the more discerning.

The Inner Sleeve: MINT(-): this copy still included the original sepia EMI promotional inner that has the ‘Patents applied for’ text. These were not lined and amazingly the edges have survived unsplit or torn with with barely a crease to be seen. There are fewer good indicators that the record has barely made the trip out. This inner promotes other EMI and Parlophone acts from the 60s up to 1967 and includes: The Seekers, The Beatles (Sgt Pepper), Lulu, Pink Floyd (Piper) and Simon Dupree and the Big Sound. Finding these inners like this is never easy. This guaranteed original and the one that came with the record.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: MINT(-) and immensely unusual to find these popular compilations looking so underplayed. People who bought these usually played them into the ground. This is super clean, shiny, intense black and quite heavily pressed. Barely a notewothy mark to be seen, both playing surfaces look stunning and this looks barely used. This will be a joy for most 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 snippetts 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: This fantastic mono pressing plays up to its high visual grading with nothing to fault and must rank as one of the very best (difficult) mono albums I have ever heard in terms of pure clean sound. As I have stated already, I have always found Hollies albums very difficult to find ‘perfect’ in mono. Just a few plays with a blunt pile-driver stylus ruined so many of their early records making the delicate vocal harmonies clip and distort, destroying the marvellous audio quality once there. This is so often the norm rather than the exception - this ultra clean sounding record is THE exception and almost takes you directly into the recording studio itself. Strong and punchy sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is tremendous with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds barely even registered and few copies will play better than this, most would be just happy to match it. Both channels are clean and sharp and devoid of that single channel mono noise, this too being played on a clinically revealing LP12 – this record was hardly designed to be played on such equipment, but this one really excelled. No traces of clipping or vocal stressing, all those complex sounds intact and enjoyable. To have zero is a near impossible ask, but this pretty much offer just that. I feel very sure this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and looked after. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading these 14 classic tracks, what a joy to hear them all so clean with that mono mix that does give them that extra punch and clarity. The 60s was the age of the mono record and still the connoisseur’s choice. The bass tones are certainly richer and deeper and the sound is just so right for the time. This record will prove immensely difficult to find better for high quality, clear and noise-free sound and is strongly recommended.

End Piece: This truly was a thrilling play-grade, I have always loved the Hollies early records, it bought back happy memories of my dad played these back in the late 60s on his Alba radiogram (a stereo unit) and only as time passed did I actually discover the mono sound for myself. The difference really is vast with a far stronger more detailed sound – I do like the stereo too, but given the choice of the two modes, the mono wins for me. If you need this fine set for your collection I promise you will find it difficult to find a better copy for looks and sound, this is a treat from beginning to end, and truly, this is hard to find on this elusive label format. One not to be missed.

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 QED Silver 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 7,000+ items sold in nearly 10 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 3 or 4 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). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please as 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.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (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 [£46 maximum]) = £10. (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 [£46 maximum]) = £14. Add £4 per extra LP. (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’.