The KInks - S/T "Black Album" x2 LP orig UK 1970 NPL 18326 excellent vinyls VG+

	£		28
	$		37

THE KINKS - THE KINKS (sometimes referred to as "The Black Album")

A very presentable copy of this increasingly rare and sought after 1970 UK original, very first pressing of this rock/pop/beat/psych classic, on the PYE label, MONO NPL 18326

The dead wax matrix numbers are :

Side 1  NPL 18326 A1 - <> H with mother stampers "A" and "1" at 6.30 o'clock and 1.30 o'clock respectively, and the "KT" tax code at 10.30 o'clock 

Side 2  NPL 18326 B1 - <> H with mother stampers "F" and "1" at 7 o'clock and 1 o'clock respectively, and the "KT" tax code at 10 o'clock

Side 3  NPL 18326 C1 - <> H with mother stampers "G" and "1" at 8 o'clock and 2 o'clock respectively, and the "KT" tax code at 10.30 o'clock 

Side 4  NPL 18326 D2- <> H with mother stampers "A" and "1" at 8.30 o'clock and 2.30 o'clock respectively, (can't find the "KT" tax code)

The appearance of both of the flat, thick vinyls is excellent (EX). Gleaming vinyls with jet black lacquering and in normal daylight no obviously detectable marks at all. With close scrutiny and under an intense light I can identify a few small, faint paper scuffs and wispy hairlines on each side of each of the vinyls...each of these is non-feelable, not below the surface and purely superficial. The strong impression is that this record has been underplayed and well looked after - truly excellent condition vinyl and becoming increasingly rare to come across original UK Kinks first pressing vinyls in as good a condition as this. Excellent, without hesitation!

The labels are excellent (EX). Beautiful, original blue textured labels with no unwanted writing or marks, and the iconic PYE logos, on both the side 1 and side 2 labels, perfectly intact, as is all of the black text. Just a few very light spindle trails adjacent to the centre hole on each label which are only really noticeable under a bright light, otherwise perfect.

The non-laminated Garrod & Lofthouse black coloured, flip-back outer gatefold sleeve is a solid very good (VG). Highly presentable and fully functional still, despite some relatively minor blemishes : each edge, including the spine, remains firm but there is some intermittent, mild scuffing on each (although all text on the spine remains nicely intact and perfectly legible); each corner remains a well defined right angle but there is mild rubbing/scuffing on each; there is a light 3cm diagonal crease on the reverse side located at the bottom left corner; there is just the hint of some very minor ring wear on the front and reverse sides (only noticeable when tilted at the right angle in a good light); there is some internal mild, vertical creasing adjacent to the spine (superficial only) and at some stage a strip of sellotape has been stuck upon the opening edges as protection against feathering/fraying - this sellotape has long since fallen off but has left a vertical line of of very mild residue adjacent to each edge - superficial only. The sellotape did it's job, however - the opening edges are completely firm with no fraying at all. Apart from these minor aberrations the sleeve is in excellent condition with near perfect inside top edge flipbacks and no nasty creasing, unwanted writing, or unsigtly score lines or abrasions. Note the Pye sticker "Dandy" amendment on the inside of the gatefold - this is unique to very first pressings.  

Finally, the quality of the audio is truly excellent (EX). No clicks, no skips, repeats or jumps, and just the hint of a little background crackle at the very beginning and end of each side and during a couple of the quieter moments and interludes...very trivial and barely worth mentioning; just great mono audio reproduction with brilliant tone and clarity throughout even on the higher frequencies and at higher volume. A terrific "best of Kinks" double album with every track making for a great listen including all of the 60's Kinks classics. Enjoy!

The tracks are :

Side 1 :

1. You Really Got Me

2. Long Tall Shorty

3. All Day And All Of the Night

4. Beautiful Delilah

5. Tired of Waiting For You

6. Love no A Fighter

Side 2 :

1. A Well Respected Man

2. Till The End Of The Day

3. See My Friends

4. Don't You Fret

5. Dedicated Follower Of Fashion

6. Sunny Afternoon

Side 3 :

1. Dead End Street

2. Death of A Clown

3. Two Sisters

4. Big Black Smoke

5. Susannah's Still Alive

6. Autumn Almanac

Side 4 :

1. Waterloo Sunset

2. The Last of The Steam Powered Trains

3. Wonderboy

4. Animal Farm

5. Walter

6. Days

Comes with original poly-lined white inner sleeves, with some mild age discolouration but no tears or splits and remaining fully functional - excellent. Note that I always post the record(s) in a new plain white inner sleeve(s) in order to protect the original(s).

In summary a very nice, highly presentable copy of this increasingly rare and sought after 1970 UK original first press rock/beat classic (with truly excellent condition vinyls and brilliant mono audio reproduction throughout) - a "must" for any serious 1960's vinyl collection and only continuing to gain in value.

 If you require any further information, including photos, then let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. 

If this record interests you then take a look at my other 60's & 70's classic vinyl listings.

A bit about myself : I have been collecting vinyl for almost 50 years and have amassed a huge collection covering a varied genre, but mostly of 1960's and 70's origin. Most of my records were originally bought by myself for my own collection, but during the past 30 years I have embellished my collection by buying records from a variety of sources : friends/acquaintances, car boot sales, auctions, and even through putting up a "vinyl wanted" notice in my wife's shop! I am now retired and take great delight in being able to spend more time scouring the country and attending boot sales and auctions in the hope of unearthing more vinyl gems...I am 64 years of age now and am still discovering bands and music of the 60's and 70's that I have never come across before. Wonderful! Richard

My ebay feedback speaks for itself so rest assured that you are buying from a trusted seller and in the very unlikely event that you are unhappy with your purchase just e-mail me and I'll sort out the problem. I offer a "no quibble" refund policy. 

On the subject of postage, I take great care in the packaging of all items, using a proper vinyl thick cardboard "crucifix" style mailer along with at least two thick cardboard stiffeners. I take great care in separating the record from the outer sleeve in order to help prevent sleeve damage in transit and I always insert the vinyl, outer sleeve and inner into a clear plastic sleeve, thus adding further protection. 

For this item postage & packaging will be UK £5.00, Royal Mail 1st class signed for; continental Europe £11 and Rest of the World £15, Royal Mail 1st class tracked and signed for. 

 I DO discount post & packaging costs for multiple purchases. I do NOT profit from postage.

Good luck with your bidding!

NOTE : My vinyl descriptions comply with the official Record Collector vinyl grading guidelines :

Mint

The records itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items, such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent

The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and /or creasing.

Very Good

The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good

The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

Fair

The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents are torn, stained and/or defaced

Poor

The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents are badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad

The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler