Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground featuring Nico 1st UK Press EX/VG + Rare Press Cutting

Matrix

A-side runout, stamped: 2354010 A//1?420 1 1 7 04

B-side runout, stamped: 2354010 B//1?420 1 1 9

C-side runout stamped: 2354011 A//1?420 11 11 04

D-side runout stamped: 2354011 B//1?420 11 0 04

Catalogue number MGM 2683 006

Originally released 1971

1. Overall condition is EXCELLENT / VERY GOOD

Sleeve EXCELLENT The sleeve is still bright and glossy in very good condition with no tears or splits but there is a slight creasing to the two outer corners and some very light creasing to the edge nearest the spine. There isn’t any writing, taping or stickers.

Inside EXCELLENT The dramatic reproduction of the famous Warhol lips and coke bottle is still glossy and unmarked.

Spine EXCELLENT There’s only minimal edge wear and the spine is firm and totally legible but has some very slight creasing.

Inner Sleeves EXCELLENT The original inner sleeves are still in good condition.

I will also include the original plastic outer that I bought with it which still fits tightly and has successfully kept the dust off for all these years

Labels EXCELLENT The labels show little sign of use, have no writing and are clean with minimal spindle marking.

Audio Quality Record 1 VERY GOOD It’s pressed on heavyweight vinyl The record itself is clean and glossy and the disc retains its deep, black vinyl sheen. BUT please note on side 1, there are a couple of pops near start of track 1 which sometimes causes a small jump and side 2 track 2 has one bad jump, although deep cleaning would probably remove them. Were it not for these two jumps I would grade the records overall as EXCELLENT as to quote the Record Collector grading system for the category of EXCELLENT, “there is very little lessening in sound quality.”

Audio Quality Record 2 EXCELLENT This is also pressed on heavyweight vinyl, is clean and glossy and the disc retains its deep, black vinyl sheen. BUT please note on side 3 there is one quick pop between tracks and side 4 has a surface mark across track 1 through to track 2 but it doesn’t sound.

Overall they play really well apart from the points noted above and some of the usual vinyl hiss and crackle between tracks and some quieter passages, which don’t detract from the overall sound, which is still amazing.

(Please remember even new, factory fresh vinyl is likely to have some clicks and pops, but the richness of sound will always be better than digital. OK eventually the robots and aliens will make digital sound as good, but until then, it’s a compromise, you have to choose; deep rich tones and a beautiful sleeve (often with lyrics or other notes) or clinical sterility with nothing to see and a narrow frequency range.)

Since 1970 all my records have been played on a Pioneer PL12D with a Shure N75 ED-T2 cartridge and stylus, tracking at 1.5 grams which I continue to use today – although the stylus has been replaced regularly. It’s quite possible that a slightly heavier tracking weight would prevent the ‘jumps’ or having them professionally deep cleaned.

PRESS CUTTING I’m also including a double sided press cutting from Melody Maker from May 1974.Iit is a little tatty but perfectly legible. I think it’s very rare, as I’ve never it referred to in books or on the web.

Summary:this ICONIC, acid rock masterwork is a compilation album of the Velvet Underground, released by MGM Records in 1971, that features selections from the band's first three studio albums. The cover artwork and inside gatefold sleeve feature imitations of Andy Warhol's paintings of Coca-Cola bottles, but are credited to other artists on the back sleeve of the album. The album was released in the UK to capitalise on the interest from Warhol's film Pork.

The album is a lovely piece of genuine memorabilia from a bygone time that changed the world, as well as the way that music is made, and would grace any collection. If you haven’t heard it on vinyl this could be for you. It certainly doesn’t sound 49 years old.

Although I’ve graded the album overall as EXCELLENT/VERY GOOD this is an averaged grading in line with the Record Collector system but that is why I’m starting at a sensible price so a genuine fan or collector can enjoy it without paying rip off prices.

If you check my feedback you will see many people think my grading is spot on.

I’m not a dealer of any sort, but am just downsizing and having to clear things out and trying to survive on a poxy pension. Good luck with your bidding and feel free to ask any question.

A Word About Payment and Postage

Sorry but it will be posted as soon as payment has cleared, which must be paid within 24hours of the end of the auction. This may seem harsh but I’m fed up with time wasters!

I use 12" Vinyl LP Record Cruciform postal mailers and protect them with an additional layer of bubblewrap. In the UK I use Royal Mail Signed For.

Price for postage is for 2nd class and reflects the fact that eBay & PayPal take a combined total fee of 13.4% on shipping charges. If you are outside the UK, I will use Ebay’s Global Shipping Program and you are therefore accepting their shipping terms and charges over which I have no control.

Record Collector grading system used

MINT: The record 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 will be torn, stained and / or defaced.

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

As well as the above grades, Near Mint is often used as well; this is really for a record that appears new but is known to have been played because the label has light spindle marks or because it has come from a previous owner and is assumed to have been played by them. For records which appear to fall between the accepted grades, + and - are also often added to the grading.