TONS 0f SOBS ..EX+/EX+ PINK ISLAND 1st UK PRESSING

	£		271
	$		359

                                            TONS of SOBS

                                                            by

                                                       FREE

*Please read*

Hi and welcome to my auction. I am in the process of selling off my LP’s which I have acquired over many years. The majority of the LP’s I have bought, were obtained when they were released; they have been handled with care and have been well looked after over the years. Sadly space at home is required for other things so, the time has arrived for me to pass these much loved LP’s on to someone else who will appreciate and prize them like I do. The LP’s have not been ‘in and out’ of records shops since their release, or owned by anyone else.

I am not a shop or a dealer, or a collector, or corporate businessman. I am a music enthusiast who enjoys the rock, prog-rock, folk, and blues music of the 60’s and 70’s. I respect music and the vinyl on which it is pressed. My feedback on eBay speaks for itself of selling my personal LP collection. How I describe my LP’s is absolutely accurate to the best of my abilty and as akin to the esteemed 'Record Collector bible' – I am honest and have no reason to mislead bidders. I always start with a low starting price simply to attract views. I have copied/burned many of my LP’s to disc, so as some kind of small insurance I will always have them in my collection; be it on plastic, rather than on beloved vinyl.  I will be selling LP’s from the acclaimed music stables such as Island; Vertigo; Atlantic; Blue Horizon; EMI Harvest, etc etc, and by how they are affectionately known today as; Pink Island; Atlantic Plum and Vertigo Swirl, record labels.

Artist:  FREE

ALBUM/LP:  TONS of SOBS

Company:  ISLAND RECORDS

Catalouge Number:  ILPS 9089 (stereo)

YEAR:  1969

Matrix Numbers:  ILPS – 9089 – A2/B2   (original and very first UK pressing)

I was an avid fan of music by FREE; there was no other guitar sound like that of Paul Kossoff and, no other voice like that of Paul Rodgers in my humble opinion – they were a joy together! This auction is for FREE’s very first pressing and a very rare UK LP; Tons of Sobs. The LP is the original first UK pressing in that it is pressed with the much sought orange ‘eye’ label, has the A/2 B/2 matrix stampers, and the E.J. Day produced gatefold sleeve.

VINYL

EX+

Immaculate - the thick heavyweight vinyl of the LP is in a word, stunning! I cannot overstate how good vinyl sound quality on this LP really is. It is easily an EX+ grading! There are no scratches; clicks; pops; jumps; and no ghastly ‘breakfast frying’ sound. The audio quality on this vinyl is superb and you will be amazed that an LP of near 45yrs old can still retain such a brilliant sound. Even the usual ‘suspect’ songs on the LP, which are the run-in and run-out songs (Over the Green Hills Pts 1 & 2 and Moonshine).. because of their more subdued sound play with excellent clarity. The sound quality on those particular songs on this LP is probably the best you’ll hear! Hardly a ‘tick’!!.. It goes without saying the remainder of the LP audio is also outstanding listening quality. From the run-in song on side 1 through to the run-out song on side 2, every song is crystal clear and plays with superb clarity, and more importantly sounds brilliant! Visually, the LP has the usual very odd wispy paper mark, resulting from being removed and replaced from the inner sleeve, but that’s it. You really will be very hard pressed to get better than this, and when the winning bidder sits and listens to the LP, it is only then they will appreciate what I am describing right now – outstanding sound quality.

SLEEVE

EX+

 The original unlaminated gatefold sleeve is also is great condition - no writing; no ink marks; no pencil; no smudges;  no stains; no tears or rips or splits or creases and is still sturdy and robust. It has the thick spine which is still square and the writing/print on the spine is still prominent. There is the slightest of edge-ware to each end of the spine which is very minimal, but it has no feathering on the opening and the edge is clean and sharp. Inside the gatefold cover the photographs of the band are as vivid as when the LP was released. All of the print (text) is still sharp and clear. Printed on the inside and on the back it states the LP cover was produced by E.J. Day & Co and also printed is, 'Island Records Limited, 155-157 Oxford Street, London W1, England'.

The LP is housed in the plain white original inner with grey print patent numbers: 11 2 55 55 and 'Made in Great Britain' on bottom of sleeve. 

LABELS

EX+

Both of the beautiful Pink Island labels are as near to perfect as you will get. The pictures speak for themselves, the labels are pristine. There is no rubbing; no ink marks; no rip or no tears; no stains; no smudges; an no sticker marks. Both of the Pink Island textured labels are still vivid and bright with clear and vivid print. There is the very faintest of spindle marks around the spindle hole but believe me when I say these can only be seen if turned towards a light. These attributes are actually indicative of how many times the LP has been on a deck – at a rough estimate no more than 2 dozen times in 44yrs.

The winning bidder will not be disappointed with this LP; it is as good as it gets and is from my personal collection.

If you have any questions or wish further information you may email me via eBay

Good Luck and Happy Bidding

**Payment is to be received within 2 days of end of auction. If no payment is received by the end of this duration, I reserve the right to deem the auction as void.

Contact from buyer is to be made at end of auction**

Postage to mainland UK is:   £4.00 First Class

                                        £8.00 Royal Mail Special Delivery (insured and signature required on receipt of LP)

Below is my estimated postage costs to Europe and the rest of the world. If you are in doubt as to the cost you may wait until I have taken the LP to have it weighed and priced to its intended destination.

International postage to Europe is £10.00...The LP will only be sent via insured post to any country in Europe. This will require a signature on receipt of the LP. The is to cover the buyer and vendor.

International postage to Rest of the World is:  £12.00 ...The LP will only be sent via insured post to any other country other than the UK and will require a signature on receipt of the LP. This is to safeguard the buyer and the vendor.