TRACTOR Very Rare Orig UK 72 Dandelion EX++ LP AWESOME

	£		139
	$		184

Hi, I am Mike, now 48 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 34 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and elusive items now. 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, 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 (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - 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 reader – 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. The only thing I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. Variation can sometimes occur too in colour of the label scans and labels taken next to the sleeve with a digital camera, the scanned full label pictures should be the most accurate. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert. 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 or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Album Title: Tractor.

Producer(s): John G. Brierley. Clive Selwood supervised.

Engineer(s): John G. Brierley.

Track Listing: Side 1: All Ends Up; Little Girl in Yellow; The Watcher; Ravenscroft’s 13 Bar Boogie. Side 2: Shubunkin; Hope in Favour; Everytime it Happens; Make the Journey.

Label/Format: Dandelion – Yellow ‘flower’ format – a simple but beautiful design – please see scans.

Label Conditions: Both very clean and highly attractive with only light+ spindle marks and no wear around the hole area. These show little with normal viewing and this is an immaculate record that plays with stunning clean sound quality – and what an album it is too.

Cat Number: 2310 217.

Mode: Stereo.

Weight of this Record: 115 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 140 to 150 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 20 records from these eras. Later pressings were usually lighter still).

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Quite rare, another commercial non-starter, this Dandelion classic is seldom seen and will be rarely found in this supreme condition.

Original Year of Release: 1972

Matrix Nos: 231027 A 2 420 11 2 / 231027 B 2 420 11 2

Musicians: Jim Milne – lead guitar, bass, 6-string acoustics, 12-string electric, rhythm & all vocals; Steve Clayton - drums, tambourine, marraccas, hand drums, bongos, piano, flute, bass.

Brief Info: Originally this band called themselves ‘The Way We Live’ and made one album called ‘A Candle For Judith’. Here on this second album they changed their name to ‘Tractor’ and what an astonishing album it was too. Fuzzed out guitar that was far more extended than previously, this is a monumental album and progressive fans will adore it. One of the rarest and most elusive albums on this famous label which was founded by the late, great John Peel as a labour of love for acts that would have found it hard to get recording contracts with the major labels of the time (or even at all). If there had been any justice, this album should have been a huge seller, this is one of the most exciting albums of its type but like so many it failed to do so and is never easy to find. This too is a fantastic copy, played very modestly and the playing surfaces so clean with the highest possible sound quality. Sound and production-wise, this is astonishing and will leave the head spinning, no plodding along for these Tractor Boys – this is full-throttle on with blistering guitar work with a few gentle moments too – the perfect blend for a near perfect album. Start this up, get into gear and crank up the volume and let the music furrow its way into the mind – this is no weedy Dandelion record - its an absolute classic and all rock fans will treasure it. The very best album on this cult collectable label.

Cover’s Potential for Wear: Quite high, no protection and vulnerable.

Cover Grade and Format: EX or very close too. A single, unlaminated format that was printed and made in England by MacNeill Press Ltd, London.

Cover Front: The odd light surface crease, light mark or indentation but normal viewing reveals little as all mild and light. Clean with little real wear and overall, this looks modestly handled and attractive. Any record pressmarks or ring traces hardly register and this delicate front is looking strong for its age.

Cover Back: All very similar, a few light indentations or tone spot but the lack of ringwear is always a bonus on this one.

Top Edges: Faint rub traces.

Bottom Edge: Light rubbing on the right side.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, quite sharp with little wear or feathering. Record entered on this right outside edge.

Spine and Text: Solid and fairly straight, a little mild compression in places with a little light rubbing and a couple of small chips. All text is unaffected and is near perfect and unworn.

Corners: All have tip rubs but very decent shape and definition is retained, slight rounding to the bottom right.

Cover Summary: A splendid all round example of this delicate early 70’s cover, one that could prove quite difficult to find much better – they dont show up too often at all to be fair. This still attractive item should please many collectors.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX++, a light mark on side one and faint surface blemish on side two – this is a top copy and looks superb. The faint marks have no sound and this record plays with brilliant sound. A superb visual copy that is super clean, shiny, jet black and solidly pressed. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence. Visually a super record that should pleasemany collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This high octane Dandelion record plays up too and above its high visual grading with little to fault at all. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. The fuzz guitar effects are little short of exhilarating and this will make any worthy system sing. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing. Few copies will match or outperform this early pressing significantly I feel sure. Ultra clean playing surfaces, any light visual blemish is ignored and finding a better sounding or looking copy could prove very difficult. This was a delight to play-grade and nothing spoilt my pleasure from this truly wonderful record. It should please most collectors.

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 neccessarily 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’.

My Terms For Bidding

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions for payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I buy quality single items and collections also (I am regularly told I offer the best prices – please Email me if you have items for sale).

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3 or Special Delivery (Next day, fully insured), the best service available = £7.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured & Signed For: £8.00.

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured & Signed For (where available) = £11.00. Doubles add extra £1. Reductions for multiple items for all.

Any item that sells for over £75 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £100 get the same service Overseas. This gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£30).

Mailing Details: Please note I do NOT profit on postage, in fact I lose money on most packets (my packing standards are very high and the package weighs a little more - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken OUT of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR proper stiffners for extra protection (if space allows). More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new inner, but will include the original inner if available.

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal or IMO’s from overseas bidders.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. 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 minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer.