Velvet Underground White Light White Heat 1st UK Stereo EX 1A 1G Skull Cover

	£		88
	$		116

Velvet Underground White Light White Heat 1st UK Stereo EX! 1A 1G !! Skull Cover!!

MORE PHOTOS BELOW!

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE ALBUM RIGHT HERE!!!!

(each track is one side!)

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This recording comes direct from the vinyl copy you are now bidding on, straight out of my NAD amp, into my ZOOM H2 recorder, recording directly into MP3. When including these recordings for this purpose I make no audio tweaks in any way to the audio recording I have done, I do not alter the weight of the stylus, though I do use a fresh stylus, as, I'm sure we're all aware, is healthy to do anyway, very regularly!  

I have taken this recording directly from the vinyl copy you are bidding on, straight through my NAD amplifier, and into my ZOOM H2 recorder recorded straight into MP3s, I have in no way altered these recordings, or the weight of my stylus cartridge, I do however always use a fresh stylus to record albums for this purpose... 

There are loads more very rare records from the same collection here in my other items!

Velvet Underground White Light White Heat 1st UK Stereo EX! 1A 1G !! Skull Cover!!

Really Absolutely Amazing Audio, Try to Find Better! So Rare! So Early!

This record is in a very similar condition catagory to the copy of "Freak Out" by Frank Zappa and the Mothers Of Invention, I also have listed at the moment, I don't feel I can over-play the sound response, crystal clear throughout! I've never possessed a copy nearly in the same league of condition as this one. And with stamper numbers 1A/1G (a little introduction to EMI stamper numbers follows below, for those of you scratching your heads at this!) you very rarely get any earlier than this, so in this condition, this has to be one of the best around. In a very similar way to "Freak Out", alot of what is important to the sound of this record is the distortions of amp sounds, and therefore, whilst instruments/musicians stand idle, often on albums like this you hear pops/muffles of incidental sounds whilst they wait to kick in (when you hard pan your speakers etc.) and so often, even on later presses the condition of the press or the vinyl just isn't there for you to fully tell what was that surface mark and what was John Cale! On this copy you are left in absolutely no doubt! I have sound checked it through multiple times on different decks, through speakers (and more notably through large diaphragm headphones with the high EQ turned all the way up), and there are absolutely NO POPS etc that I have been able to hear on any set-up AT ALL! ABSOLUTELY GRAIL-LIKE in this condition!

This record is rare in any condition, but in such an early 1st press and in this condition, there really can't be many better!

Just give you guys an idea if you're not aware of EMI stamper (9 o'clock number) and Lacquer (3 o'clock letter(s)) codes for those of you who are baffled by this sort of thing, here's the rough idea behind them...

There's alot written about this kind of thing elsewhere, so I'll just write a little...

When manufacturing a record there's a long process, from the master tapes you make some master disks to copy from- logic suggests that the earliest of these is the strongest level, then from these you make imprints/lacquers to run the disks from and again, the earlier these are, the stronger (and some say deeper grooves) the signal on the final record.

The Stamper at 3 o'clock tells you how early a master they've used- ie the earlier the number the earlier the impressing- 1 being the first, 4 obviously being later!

The Stamper/Lacquer codes at 9 o'clock can itemise more exactly how early in the process this disk has been made, but rather than numbers here they use codes, all EMI companies at this period used this code: GRAMOPHLTD - G meaning 1, L meaning 8, GD meaning 10.

The very first ones off the press (some say about the first 300ish others say up to 2000) of a record could carry 1   G on both sides. Obviously to a collector, especially a completist collector this is the grail for each record. This doesn't bother all collectors, but I include this information here for those that it does. 

This record bears stamper/lacquer codes 1A  (3rd)   1G   (1st), often the stampers don't quite match, this isn't uncommon, what is uncommon is how early these stampers are on this record. If 1G/1Gs are believed to be in the first 1000 copies (generally accepted for EMI subsidiaries), this 1A/1G Have to be considered incredibly early!

The Matrices on each side of this record end with A-2/B-1, but with such early stamper codes this must be the very first UK press, barring a few hundred earlier copies carrying a different mix/mastering etc, and therefore carrying a A1/B1 matrix that is currently undocumented (I can see of no other reason for changing a matrix so early in the pressing procedure!) 

If you are reading this and have any information regarding this please let me know and I will deffinitely include it in this listing!

LISTEN FOR YOURSELF TO THE INCREDIBLE AUDIO!!!!

The audio is so clear on this copy I suggest the first thing you do is to get the best headphones you have, wap the high EQ up all the way, put on "The Gift" and hard pan so's all you've got is silence and John Cale talking (and admittedly a little band-bleed- blame Tom Wilson or Gary Kellgran! (the producer/engineer), and just listen to the clarity. I have done this and was amazed! There's room noise I didn't notice on my CD version! Am I just getting a bit too deep now? Either way, I challenge you to find fault in it! So clean, so clear! OK enough of me going on about that now!

I'd suggest this copy of the record as a final upgrade HOWEVER there is a downside, and you have to decide yourself how signifficant it is to you. Even though this record looks like it has only been played a handful of times, the previous owner has taken the precaution against theft he took with most of his collection (listed here over the next few weeks in it's splendid entirety!!!), which was to very carefully and neatly engrave his name in the deadwax of the record (in this case on side 1 at 3 o'clock with the A stamper-code) please see the photo below highlighting this. As I said, this is the only negative of this disk, and whilst there must be a copy in this condition without that insideous insignia, we must be talking alot of money, so there's the trade-off for such good audio quality!

Record Condition:

Visually: 

EX-, a couple of very light surface hairlines

Audibly: 

EX , the weakest of weak pip in the silence between White Light/White Heat and the Gift, just that once, EVERYTHING ELSE unbelievable! As I said check out quiet side of The Gift! Amazing!

Labels Condition: 

VG+ The only real signs that this record has been played are the spindle marks on either side, near the centre holes of each lanel! They in no way wear the lovely blackness and silveriness of the label and text. No KT tax code evident either near central spindle hole on either side, of in the deadwax either side.

Sleeve Condition: VG+ The elusive and very collectable SKULL sleeve is rarely seen in this condition! No shelf wear along the bottom edge, fully legible, square and pinched cornered spine! The sheen of the rich black front cover is very unforgiving, however even here it can only betray 4 small thumb creases in the laminate, near the opening mouth, and small crows feet style light creases in the ,laminate near the spine… The flip back non-laminated back cover, is in beautiful condition too! Only the previous owners name having been written neatly in black ink above the catalogue number to detract! Very slight yellowing here and there, really slight though, the bottom right hand corner of the bottom flip back tab (where it reads "Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. Patents Pending      S/VLP  9201") from just above the word "pending" to the bottom conner, there has been a folding back of the tab at some point, that has been righted, but has caused an inch tear in the laminate, only on the tab and in no way stretching in the direction of the lovely rich front cover! Really nice crisp opening mouth etc. Tiny feathering to the bottom corners. Really REALLY nice, a shame to see it go!

Inner-sleeve Condition: 

VG+ Original generic non die cut "Patent Applied For              Made In England" text, company inner sleeve. Very slight handling folds etc, nothing major, free of writing/rips etc.

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 2 o’clock on side 1, in text 4mm high and about 3.5cm across, in between the run out grooves, taking massive care not to stray close to the playing surface, run-out grooves, or label, in this case is slightly overlaps the lacquer code of "A" on this side, though this is still fully legible, as it is pressed much deeper than the name is engraved. 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!

Matrix/Stamper/Mother/Lacquer Info etc.

Side 1:

V6   5046    A-2

1                    A

Side 1:

V6   5046    B-1

1                    G

 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!

Check out loads of other rarities from this collection in beautiful condition in my other items!

There are loads more coming over the weeks/months from this collection and many others so, please make sure to add me to your favourites list!

Lovely clean side 1 label!

Also lovely and clean, the side 2 label!

Side 1 angled into the sun to try and show off the almost non-existant hairlines etc!

Similar shot of side 2!

The very careful etching of the previous owner's name between the run-out grooves of side 1.

Side 1 Matrix

Hard to see, but twixt the playing surface and the first run-out groove, there's the "1" mother stamper of side 1 (the playing surface was a little dust when this was taken).

More or less centrally you can see that the name etched, just overlaps the "A" of side 1's extremely early lacquer (3 o'clock) code! 

The matrix of side 2

The clear first mother code of side 2 "1"!

The clear very 1st "G" lacquer code (3 o'clock code) of side 2, note the matrix ends in 2, but this is the very first lacquer code... Therefore, if there were any doubt, this proves that the first matrix used was this "2" ending one! 

The side 1 label at an angle.

Superb side 1 central hole... what can I say!

Side 2 label at an angle, lovely!

Another beautiful central hole, this time of side 2!

The Original "Patent Applied For" Inner Sleeve.

Front cover, hard to photograph!

The rare SKULL, even harder to photograph!

Angled into the sun to show off the slightest laminate defects...

Very slight wear of spine bottom corner.

lower half of spine, original pinched corners still very clear and crisp!

Still very legible!

Top corner of spine, again, pinch very strong and clear!

Clean, fresh top edge (and just check out that laminate reflection!)

Top corner of opening mouth

Nice opening mouth!

Slightly feathered bottom corner of opening mouth.

The only thumb style handling indents, caught in the light for clarity...

The lovely clean, flip-back, non-laminated back cover, Note the previous owners name, 2/3s up in the top right, and the extreme right of the bottom flip-back tab...

Lovely opening mouth from back...

Close up of the bottom offending flip-back tabs, only weakness!

The top flip-back corner

Be sure to add me to your favourites list!

Check out the rest of this collection here in my other items!

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!

And if you're at all unsure, please check my previous feedback for tales of satisfied customers, many of whom return again and again!!

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.)

I have have had a few questions about international shipping costs, please do not be put off by the £14 quoted! Yes I combine postage costs, and will only charge  the cost of insured international postage, plus the costs of the packaging (I buy good cruciform boxes, and good stiffeners to post in, I am also pricing up the best way to pad your precious records, and so hopefully this next batch will even be shipped with bubble-wrap too as some of my previous batches have (please observe my feedback regarding this!! All very positive!)), the costs of my packaging will not be about £1 additionally to to costs of the insured postage only, therefore if you live in most of Europe the cost will be signifficantly cheaper than the £14 quoted, and if you buy multiple items, you will save even less! Please wait for an invoice!