The Kinks 1st Album UK LP Debut Pye Mono 1964 VG+ MOD

	£		26
	$		34

The Kinks 1st Album UK LP Debut Pye Mono 1964 VG+

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Really great copy of the first pink Pye label press of the debut album by the Davies Brothers and Co! In all it's Mono glory this album is admittedly not the most difficult Kinks album to acquire (though it is increasing in scarceness), though the condition of this one sets it apart from the copies you'd usually find available.

A lovely gloss with only a few surface hairline imperfections make up the playing surface of this wailed bill of rights from Muswel Hill! The only mark that could be considered more signifficant that this is in the space between the tracks "I Took My Baby Home" and "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter" on side 1.

As in the case of most of this collection the records have been extremely well looked after and carefully labelled in rather an sneaky way! This one is no exception, both in condition, and in subtle labelling, in the dead-wax of side 1 very neatly etched, and not overlapping the matrix is the previous owner's name. Since exploring this collection both audio and visually I've come to wish that everyone who labelled and cared for their records in the 60s did it in this way!

Te labels are beatifully clean, with no writing/abbrasions/stains etc. The only marks to take away from it are some spindle marks near the centre-holes on both sides, there are less of these than usual wear, and none take away from the pink-ness of the label!

The cover is in lovely shiney condition, 5 small crescent handling indents on the front, creating very small ripples in the laminate, though these have held firm, and the laminate isn't broken as a result. The Front is fuly laminated, as are tghe flip-back tabs of the back, the back it's self is matt, non-laminated. Though has suffered none of the usual wear as a result. All the black print is still stark and clear, there is a feint handling ripple to the cardboard at 8 o'clock on the rear, about half way up the leg of the stark black "K", and a very slight one, noticeable only when held in the light at about 11 o'clock across a bit of the word "popular" in "pye popular". The previous owner's name has been written in fading black ink above the K and S of "KinKS", very slight (I guess thumb smudges) are visible within a inch of the spine on the rear cover also.

The Spine it's self is wonderfully crisp, and fully legible, the laminate appears slightly twisted across it, though I can only think this was in manufacture, as there are no signs of breaks in the laminate. A very sight dink in the laminate along the top edge of the cover 2 inches from the spine, though this hasn't broken the laminate, it has caused a 1cm by 2mm bubble in the laminate, though so close to the edge that it is hardy noticable. Very slight feathering on the corners (the only places where the laminate has worn) of the cardboard, pretty crisp opening mouth, the odd sight wobble and feathering to the edge otherwise great.

The inner sleeve is the original blue/black/white non die-cut, Pye "The Best Entertainment On Record" (polythene lined), slight, folding to bottom left-hand corner, and for some reason "553" written in very small numbers in black biro pen, in the top right hand corner. No rips/tears/wearing through/dinks/or writing and folding other than that mentioned.

Record Condition:

Visually: VG+ a peppering of light surface marks, nothing significant.

Audibly: VG+/EX-, Really lovely audio, with just silences carrying a little groove noise. A single left side click on the sparse intro to Bald Headed Woman on side 1, and a tiny little crackle on into to Beautiful Dililah, on side 2.

Labels Condition: VG+, only some light spindle marks around the centre hole, certainly not enough to wear the coloration or anything, free of writing/staining/abbrasions etc.

Inner Sleeve Condition:VG+, very crisp, with a few folds where it has sat dormant inside it's sleeve, though it could have come home like this on the day of release, except for the number "553" written very small in the top right hand corner.

Sleeve Condition: VG+, Very little wear indeed, 5 thumb indents laminate creases on the front cover, slight laminate twisting (must have happened in manufacture) along gthe spine. Spine fully sturdy and beautifully legible. Very little wear along top and bottom edge seams. Tidy opening mouth, very slight feathering to corners, flip back tabs on back sleeve in great condition, and in no way folded etc. Previous Owner's name written neatly on the back in black ink, also the number "553", carefully written in the very top right corner of the back cover.  

As with a number of the amazingly preserved, seminal albums of the 60s included in this collection, the previous owner devised a sneaky way of identifying his records from other peoples’, he engraved hi name, very carefully and neatly in the dead-wax (near where the matrix would be found) on one side of the record, on this record it is written at about 10 o’clock on side 1, in text 5mm high and about 4cm across, in between the run out grooves, taking massive care not to stray close to the playing surface, run-out grooves, matrix/stamper/lacquer info etc,  or label. Please see photos of this, I have tried to catch it in the light, but in truth it is as discreet, if not more so, than the Matrix info!

Matrices/Stampers-

Side 1-

NN 1096-A2T

AAAAB        1

Side 2-

NN 1096B-4S

M                 1

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY ITEM THAT GOES OVER £36 FINAL BIDDING PRICE I INSIST ON SENDING IT INSURED, AS SUCH POSTAGE WILL COST A LITTLE MORE, PLEASE WAIT FOR ME TO INVOICE YOU IF THIS APPLIES, ANYONE WHO DOES NOT WAIT I WILL EXPECT TO PAY THE EXTRA BEFORE I SEND OFF THE ITEM... MANY THANKS!

Photos Below,

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This record comes from an incredible collection of very early (1G1G, 1B1B etc laquer numbers) presses of some of the very sought after 60s LPs, the condition is remarkable, and the earliness of the laquers unique in my experience! I am listing this collection in it's entirety (though I would love to buy it all- I have taken nothing out!), over the next weeks, there are some things have never seen before, such as a Beatles For Sale with the central KT taxcode pressing INWARDS to the record! 1G1G Verve Zappa albums! A lot of Dylan TMOQ (The Mark Of Quality) and other 60s/70s bootlegs, the 3 Decca Birds singles (featuring amongst others Ronnie Wood), various Widespines (Sgt Peppers, Zappa's Lumpy Gravey etc), REMIX 11 copy of Beatles REVOLVER in really lovely condtion, Velvet Underground on early Verve... Please watch this space! I have been clearing out of non-record related stuff over January, but am listing back again now with avengance! Please refer to the pre-christmas sales' feedback for my pedigree of strict grading! Many thanks!

I will of course, if you aren't ENTIRELY happy with your item offer you a full refund upon a quick return of the item, in exactly the same condition I sent it out in, I wont however cover the postage costs- just in order to put off any time-wasters, I hope you understand. I do have here some REAL MEGA-RARITIES, and I understand perhaps your confidence in me might not be complete, as I haven't listed for a while, which is why I offer this offer of full re-embursment. However I am not a fan of the trend of people trying it on and asking to keep the item but want a partial re-fund, I haven't had it happen to me, and want to keep it that way, so please don't try that, I will happily offer your full winning bid money back upon the safe return of the item, and I think that's fair. 

I am very strict with my grading, having been a collector myself for many years, and I try to include as much relavent information as possible on sales, however if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask, I will gladly resond as soon as I can.

One thing I would ask is that the winning bidders do leave feedback, as it's annoying when people overlook it.

I happily offer reductions of postage costs on multiple-items, 

I try grade using direct sunlight which shows up more than anything (hence where poss I take my photos in direct sunlight too), however living in the Pennine Hills, contrary to popular rumour it isn't sunny here EVERY day! So when this isn't always possible, as a backup I also use a 100 Watt lightbulb, though when poss I try to use both.

My Record Grading System:

Mint: I'm really loathe to use this term, if you ever catch me using it, it must be sealed, but also no holes in seal, and no knocks/bangs/other shelf-wear to seal. Doubt you'll ever catch me using it, makes me wince when I hear people dropping that casually into conversations about a record they just picked up on a carboot/found in a loft etc!

Near Mint: Probably still sealed, or possibly played once or twice, but I'm unable to see ANY proof it's been played ie. no spindle marks/surface abbrasions OF AN KIND even in the strongest light, in short, I have a strong suspicion this, whilst possibly not fully sealed has never been out of it's sleeve!

EX+: Must have been reverantly played about as many times as you can count on your hands! Absolutey nothing audible at all, and you'd have to be looking hard in strong light to find fault with any none audible elements of this record package. If I get hold of a record that sounds, and looks like it could have just been carried home from the shop this is about as high as I go unless in exceptional circumstances. In most instances I've found records like this I'd consider them the final upgrade, I'd even consider some sealed records EX+.

EX: Straight Excellent has to mean just that, the kind of copy you wonder how somebody kept it in that condition whilst still having a social life, especially rare in 50s/60s albums, certainly not a grade to be taken lightly or thrown about willy-nilly. Nothing should be audible to the listener during songs, and even in the silences I'd only allow the most minute groove noise.The kind of record that you'd have to look a long way to upgrade!

EX-: A Bloody lovely record, I'd allow the tiniest ticks to be audible on this, so long as they are only a handful throughout the entire record, and they are WELL back in the mix. This is a record/sleeve/insert etc. that has clearly been owned, but looked after to a degree that you ask questions about the previous owner's social life! Perfect for DJ-ing

VG+: The difference between VG+ and EX- for me is probably that the previous owner of an EX- possibly didn't have to worry about their collection being ruined too much, as they could count on their fingers the number of people that might have visited them annually, a VG+ is a more realistic grade, clearly played, but by a music lover, who took good care of their records. May have been present at social gatherings, but probably quickly tidied away when more rowdy guests turned up! Still usually  good for alot DJ-ing needs. 

VG: This is a good example of a record that has lived it's life without a glass bubble surrounding it, but it's owner has been quite careful, perhaps the odd feintly feelable mark if you go in search of it that would make an audible click/pop in a number of places on the records surface. Certainly won't be in any museum, but plays well from start to finnish, and whilst may not stand up to a DJs condition, alongside many collections, you'd be very satisfied.

VG-: As VG, but to a slightly heavier degree, might look a bit worse than a VG, else have the odd repeated click that bugs you in the fade-out of that epic side-ending song. Certainly not perfection, but you could do a damn-sight worse! OK for most collections, though there will be better ones that will probably come up (unless it's very rare!) 

G+:   This is starting to wane, shows more signifficant signs of wear/play/misuse. This could be through general carelesness, one bad night, or using a worn stylus, either way, certainly listenable/passable, but if you saw a better copy going at a decent price, you might think about buying it, and seeing what it's worth to sell this one.

G: Plays through but that's about it, signifficant noise that wasn't there when it was bought. Can still hear the song, but would only really be a filler. I doubt I'll sell anything this bad unless I really think someone will appreciate it in their collection. I'll take these down to the local charity shop and let them find their own homes on the whole!

I'll avoid anything less than this unless it's of signifficant interest, and then I'll clearly title is such. I really don't want bad feedback, and it isn't worth it for me, so I'll avoid this.

I feel my grading system is stricter than many I see used, but the sellers I respect on Ebay and elsewhere seem to be of the same mind as me, I'd much prefer to be known as someone who undergrades and you can get a good record from, than someone you have to wonder, "actually is their VG+ quite what I'd expect from that?". Hope I can win you over!

(SOMETIMES I MAY COME ACROSS A RECORD OF SIGNIFFICANT RARITY/DESIRABILITY THAT MAY HAVE A JUMP/STICK IN IT. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT I THINK SOMEONE MAY WANT IT (EG. IT'S COVER'S IN GOOD NICK, OR IT'S A PRIVATE PRESSING/PROMO OF LIMITED AVAILABILITY) I'LL CLEARLY MARK THIS IN THE TITLE "JUMPS" OR "WARPED" ETC.)