ART BLAKEY - Free for All - NY USA - Ear First Pressing

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41

“FREE FOR ALL” - Art Blakey - Blue Note BST 84170 - blue/white label, New York USA address on both sides, the Ear or P symbol engraved in the deadwax and the Van Gelder stamp too, heavy vinyl - first stereo pressing!! - I have owned the mono and stereo first pressings of this LP and I cannot decide which one I like better - nice sound here and you know ol’ Rudy recording Blue Note sessions only in stereo from late-1958 on right? - stereo first pressings of this LP have sold for in excess of $125, I have set a reasonable reserve less than that based on what I paid for this a couple of years ago - not going to give this away - you will not be disappointed!! - - an absolutely desert island disc, Blakey could almost not make a bad album, especially for Blue Note and this 1964 session (some argue Blakey’s finest hour) is my favorite!! - Blakey has a fearsome sextet here with Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton, and Reggie Workman - the vinyl grade is VG+ (strong) to NM-, with very little, if any, surface noise - sounds awesome!! - the cover grade is VG+ to NM-, still in shrinkwrap and the original Blue Note inner sleeve is included too! - - check out the jazz album review at All Music Guide.com!!

I am a longtime collector of jazz LPs and most of the LPs offered are from my personal collection.  The LPs have been play-graded.  I rarely will use NM- (my highest grade for an opened LP) and differentiate between VG+ and VG with additional language such as (strong), (solid), and weak).  I am known for my conservative grading - just check my feedback!!

I have decided to put the best LPs in my collection, the LPs I have searched long and hard for, replaced two or three times over with the cleanest, first pressings I could find, up for auction.  I will likely regret parting with these gems but rest assured I am not going to give them away!  I am a very experienced ebay seller and bidder of jazz LPs.  I know how to grade (several friends and customers say I grade too conservatively) and would rather undergrade to ensure a bidder is happy.  I know what it feels like to pay good money for an LP advertised as excellent only to receive something that looks like it was used as a family dinner plate.  These LPs come from my personal collection and have been play-graded on a sweetly set up Garrard 401 turntable and JMW tonearm. 

In other words, these LPs have been cleaned, inspected, taken care of, and played on a revealing analog system.  Bid with confidence!  In my humble opinion, several of the LPs I am putting up for sale will be the best examples up for auction on ebay.  I am parsing down my collection from A to Z and putting up around 50 or so LPs at a time, so you will want to save me as a favorite seller!!

All of this LPs were cleaned on a VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine and have been placed in heavy gauge plastic album cover sleeves and lined LP inner sleeves.  I always remove the LP from the cover (matter of fact I shelf the LPs this way) for shipment to prevent splitting.  I only use proper LP cardboard mailers with added packing materials to ensure the LP arrives safely.  I know what I am doing, so do you - now bid!

I know how to package and ship LPs safely and only use LP cardboard mailers with added cardboard inserts or bubblewrap.  All LPs are in sleeves and have already been removed from their covers for shipment.  I do not overcharge for shipping and will combine LPs to save you shipping costs.  I have the ability to ship up to 25 LPs in a single shipment. 

Media Mail for a single LP in the continental U.S. is $4.50 - $1 for each additional LP.  Priority Mail for a single LP in the continental U.S. is $6.25 - $1 for each additional LP.  Ignore the Ebay shipping costs, especially for multiple items.  I welcome international bidders and will ship anywhere the U.S. Postal Service ships!  Shipping rates will vary on where you live and the weight of the package.  I never charge more than $2 over the actual shipping costs to cover my handling expenses.  I usually ship between 1 to 3 business days after receiving payment.

I am not responsible for lost or damaged packages (rare but it happens).  If you want insurance please ask.  If you are not satisfied with the LP for some reason please notify me before leaving feedback.  I accept returns up to one week after delivery and will refund the cost of the LP or LPs but not your shipping.