CHRIS McGREGOR Up To Earth (Polydoric Original LP 1969) Test Pressing. UK Jazz

	£		540
	$		715

 

 

Chris McGregor Septet - Up To Earth

(Polydor Records 583072 UK Test Pressing LP 1969)

 

This is an extremely rare, possibly unique, UK Test Pressing LP from 1969. The previous owner worked within the legal side of the UK music industry. One of their clients was "Chris McGregor" I believe. Therefore, he often acquired early, and sometimes unusual, pressings of his LP's, or LP's where he is featured. So, this is how this Test Pressing LP was originally acquired.  

Also, what makes this Test Pressing even more special is, at the time, this LP was all set to be released by Polydor, and then, for some reason, was never actually released. The release of the LP was shelved by Polydor. Possibly only a handful of these Test Pressings were probably pressed. Subsequently, the "Up To Earth" LP has been finally released in the UK in 2008. Therefore, it is probably available to hear on Youtube if you want to check the LP out. However, this is a 1969 Test Pressing original copy! These are unbelievably rare!

This Test Pressing LP has a handmade sleeve. It has a heavyweight plain white card sleeve which has a front picture panel & a "Chris McGregor" artist title stuck on the front. These appear to be taken from a music paper at the time? - it's difficult to be certain. The front picture panel is a close up picture of Chris McGregor. The rear sleeve is blank except for a small series of numbers which are stamped at the top opening area. There is no spine text. "Up To earth" has been written on the front in biro (see photo). This is just underneath the photo. This sleeve was definitely created by a Polydor staff member as a makeshift sleeve for Test Pressing purposes. It is quite nicely done.

The record is pressed on thick vinyl & has plain white labels. Interestingly, there are two sets of matrix numbers. There is the "Polydor" set of matrix numbers. These are 583072 A-1 and 583072 B-1 respectively. There is a second set of matrix numbers too. These are: WSC MG*1 A-1 and WSC MG*1 B-1 respectively. I'm not sure what the reason for the 2nd set of matrices is. Both sets of matrices are machine stamped in the dead wax. It comes with its original generic polythene-lined company paper inner sleeve.

As stated, this Test Pressing LP is possibly unique! As mentioned, Test Pressings are only limited to a handful of copies at most. Sometimes, they can be unique. Especially when they also have a handmade "unique" cover. It is a great chance to own this excellent item. A real rarity.

The LP is a great late 1960's UK Jazz/ Free Jazz/ Avant-Garde Jazz/ South African Jazz LP. The musicians are: Chris McGregor (piano), Dudu Pukwana (alto sax), Evan Parker (tenor sax), John Surman (baritone sax, bass clarinet), Mongezi Feza (trumpet), Barre Phillips & Danny Thompson (bass) and Louis Moholo (drums). 

I have some other rare & collectible 1960's, early 1970's, UK Original UK Jazz/ Free Jazz/ Modern Jazz  LP's for sale too. This includes several other LP's by, & relating to, "Chris McGregor". There is also another unique UK Jazz "Amalgam" Test Pressing LP. So please see my other listings. Don't miss out!

Sleeve: There is a 1 cm seam split, and area of more moderate rubbing wear, at the bottom corner tip area at the sleeve opening. There is a 1 cm area of more moderate rubbing wear on the top edge - at the spine area. There is mild or very mild rubbing wear to the other two corner tips. There is mild to more moderate fading to the top edge of the sleeve. There are a few other areas of light, mild or very mild rubbing wear on the top edge too. There is mild fading to the spine. Otherwise, the spine in is very nice overall condition. There is light or very minor fading, to a varying degree, to the "white" of the sleeve. There is some light, very mild or very minor finger-tip staining on a few areas too. There is some light, very mild or very minor ringwear on a few areas. Overall, Very Good+ condition.

Vinyl: Looks to be hardly played! It still gleams like new! There is an extremely minor pin-head sized surface pressing mark at the very end of Side 2. This hardly really notices. There are a few light or very minor sleeve rubs which can barely be seen under a strong light. The original inner sleeve, over time, has left some light, very mild or very minor dull surface marks on a few areas. These, again, can barely be seen under a strong light. A strong  EXCELLENT+ condition. Very close to being in Near Mint condition! The labels are in Excellent+ condition and show minimal spindle wear only.

The original polythene-lined company paper inner sleeve is in Very Good+ condition. There is light, mild or very mild ringwear, fading & creasing. the LP catalogue number and artist have been neatly written in one corner tip area. There are no seam splits.

I have play tested this LP in its entirety & it plays Near Excellent to Excellent overall, & Excellent+ in many places. There is some light, mild, very mild or very minor crackle in some quieter places. This is mainly at the start of Side 1. This eases out fairly quickly. 

This is an Excellent audio copy overall, However, it would definitely benefit from a professional deep down "groove clean" in a record cleaning machine. Visually, the disc looks in Excellent+ to Near Mint condition. It looks to have been hardly played! It still gleams like new! Therefore, any clicks or crackle is just due to microscopic deep down dirt in the grooves over years of storage. This record would play, I believe, Excellent+ to Perfect after a professional clean. It would remove any clicks and crackle.


  Traceable insurance is already included in the stated P&P price for this listing.


Discount is given on P&P for multiple purchases. I shall always weigh combined purchases to get a completely accurate price.  So please wait for the invoice to be sent before paying. Please see below for a more detailed description.

    >>  Grading Information All grading is very strict & adheres to 'Record Collector' specifications. However, I have fine tuned them & they are explained below. All vinyl is examined closely under a strong light & play tested on excellent quality audio equipment.

MINT Condition = This is as perfect a copy as you are likely to find. The cover will show no, or next to no, wear. The vinyl will be unplayed or very, very near unplayed.

NEAR MINT Condition = Nearly mint, just slightly under. There maybe some minor paper/ inner sleeve rubs that can barely be seen under strong light. This disc has been played only a few times & has been extremely well  cared for. The cover is nearly perfect - Very minimal wear only.

EXCELLENT Condition = An excellent copy will show only mild, or minor, signs of use. There will be light, or very mild, sleeve rubs that can hardly be seen under strong light. There may be a very small & minor hairline mark in some instances. Play, in most cases, will be excellent or better. There may be some light, or very light, crackle in a few quieter places. The sleeve will show mild, or minor, rubbing wear & ringwear only.

NEAR EXCELLENT Condition = This has been played a few more times but it has been well cared for. There will be mild sleeve rubs which can be seen under a strong light. There may be a couple of minor, or light, hairline marks. Playback will be generally excellent or better. There may be some light, mild or very mild crackle in some quieter places. The cover will show mild rubbing wear, ringwear or creasing

Very Good Condition = Most records that have been quite well played, but reasonably well cared for, tend to fit into this category. This is probably the most varied of the gradings so I have elaborated below.

There may be mild to more moderate sleeve rubs which can only be seen under a strong light. There may be a few light hairline marks but nothing too bad. A quite well played but serviceable copy. Playback will be very agreeable overall. There will be light, mild or very mild crackle in some places. There may also be a few light clicks. A more thorough description will always be on the listing. The record will certainly not be trashed!

The cover will show more noticeable signs of storage or use. There will be mild to more moderate rubbing wear on some edges There could be fading, ringwear or a minor seam split. There could be some mild creasing or mild sticker tears.

Please note that I also use "+" or "-" symbols for this grading. A plus symbol is obviously at the top end of "Very Good" & is really not too far from being in "Near Excellent" condition. The minus symbol obviously means it is at the lower end. This will mean that it is near to being in "Good+" condition. 
>>  Postage Rates

AN INVOICE WILL BE SENT TO YOU VERY SOON AFTER THE AUCTION ENDS. PLEASE WAIT FOR THIS BEFORE PAYING.

(Please note that these prices include packaging costs too) 
Double LPs are classed as two LPs. Also gatefold sleeves, posters, inserts, etc.. can increase postage costs.

Please note that there are now VAT import charges from the UK into all EU countries. Anything under 150 Euros will need an IOSS number. VAT is paid at point of sale. For any items over 150 Euros in value. There will be a customs charge too. These vary, I believe, from country to country. Please check your relevant postal service online for details. Please note that these charges are beyond my control and are the law for outside parcels going into the EU.

All records will be sent in high quality vinyl box/ mailers with at least two card stiffeners either side of the LP or 7" Single. I use a cruciform box for larger orders (3-6 LPs). All parcels will be marked "Fragile" and dispatch time will generally be between 1-3 days after payment.

I will also remove the vinyl from the sleeve & place them in a re-sealable polythene sleeve. In order to prevent seam splits. Depending on the inner sleeve; I often remove the vinyl from the inner sleeve & place it in a separate plain paper, or polythene-lined, plain inner sleeve. I am very conscientious and careful when packaging your LP(s).

I consider my postage & packaging costs to be very transparent & very fair. Packaging costs will generally be between £0.80 to £1.50. I am not adding any further costs for handling, etc...

If you are uncertain about any of the above, or just simply want some information regarding any item, please do not hesitate to contact me. I welcome any questions.

Remember to check out My Other Items Lots of rare & quality vinyl! Most are UK 1st Pressings. It is quite likely that there will be more records by this artist, or records in a similar vein.