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Colosseum : Valentyne Suite 1Y1/2Y1 1st Press w/Philips credit 1969

The first pressing plays to a standard you so rarely find today.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is just exceptional and to say the vast majority is 'as new' is no exaggeration.  There is just one light click on S1 caused by a tiny 'speck' and that is really the only obvious intrusion across the entire record.  I cannot emphasise enough just how strong and clear the audio is here!

The matt textured gatefold is very clean overall with only some rubbing on the edges and corners and the 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner is in excellent condition.

As this is a genuine first press it has 'A Philips Record Product' on the Side B label and of course the large Vertigo swirl.

886 775  1Y*1  420  1 1 2 1

886 775  2*Y*1  420  1 1 2 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 mid-section Near Mint-)

The gatefold is VG++

The labels are Near Mint / Ex+

The inner sleeve is Ex

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still retains a very strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Only under as strong light can I see some faint sleeve removal hairlines plus on S1 there is one tiny white 'speck'.  The run out grooves are very clean and the iconic Vertigo labels have only a little spindle wear and only small pen 'mark' on Side B.

Play grading  

The intro on 'The Kettle' could not play any better, the depth and power of the audio is stunning, and the opening vocal is equally as strong.  The mid guitar solo again plays with phenomenal quality and there is no distortion on the top end at all.  This really is audio of the highest calibre and to the end it is 'as new' with no sign of any interference.  Sonic quality straight from 1969!  This is Mint from start to finish.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Elegy' then keeps up this fine start with impeccable quality throughout.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is superb and there is not so much as a dust tick let alone anything more.  'As new' is honest description of the audio here and Mint is again deserved.

The intro on 'Butty's Blues' plays with sublime clarity and power and the first vocal has just one click followed by a couple of very light ticks due to that annoying 'speck' that refuses to move!  From then on normal service is resumed - the sonic quality is just on another level and there is literally nothing that detracts from the STUNNING quality of the music.  Each note is so clean and precise and that includes the vocal.  Yes one click but I do think Near Mint- is still an honest appraisal of the audio.  Even the fade out has no 'background'.

'The Machine Demands A Sacrifice' ends the side with impeccable quality once more.  From the first note to the last the audio is perfect and I mean perfect!  You would think it was pressed only yesterday such is the clarity.  The opening vocal section is faultless and as the volume decreases to silence there is NO 'background' at all.  This percussive section then plays with sensational clarity right through to the very end.  A Mint finish to the side and wow what a side!

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S2 is of course made up of 'The Valentyne Suite' and 'Theme One - January's Search' plays with STUNNING clarity from the very first note.  A quiet intro and yet there is no 'background' and it continues in the same precise way with no intrusion on the audio.  There is just a very minor touch of static distortion on a handful of notes during the mid sax section but it really is so minimal and you barely notice - just a little more as you exit this section.  As the volume increases the playback is amazing!  'As new' is a correct description.  The final 'high octane' section plays with sublime power and depth so I would say it plays as Mint for the vast majority and Near Mint- during the middle section.

'Theme Two - February's Valentyne' is superb throughout - audio does not get any better than this!  Every section plays with incredible power and depth and if you are lucky enough to win this LP then just listen to the end section here you will know exactly what I mean.  The sonic quality is phenomenal - the power and definition of sound is quite simply on another level.  This second 'part' is Mint in every way.

The final piece 'Theme Three - The Grass Is Always Greener' plays to the same standard with no interference - no ticks, clicks or pops and no static either.  This is clearly a vinyl that has not been played very much and thus it has retained practically all of its original sonic quality.  The clarity and depth of the audio here is again so strong and the 'high octane' passage towards the end is a prime example of that - each note is so clean and precise.  Wow this is a fantastic listen!  The quieter end section brings this classic instrumental to a perfect conclusion and Mint is again 100% fully deserved.

In summary this genuine first pressing plays with stunning quality on both sides with barely any intrusion.  One light click on S1 that is all.  I just cannot emphasise enough just how good this album sounds and rarely have I heard it play with such clarity and definition.  I know it is a well known Vertigo pressing but I often think it is sometimes underrated - not by me!  I love the music on this album and is a perfect mix of prog rock and prog jazz.  If not for that one 'speck' on S1 this would be as close to perfect as is possible.  A STUNNING album in so many ways.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The cover is in very good condition with not very much shelf wear.  The only 'obvious' wear is some rubbing on the edges and a couple of small scuffs on the spine.  The corners of the wide spine also have some wear but the right hand corners are actually very clean with only minimal wear.  The opening edge has a little handling wear but not too much.  The front cover is so clean and the back cover is almost as impressive with just one print type mark top right.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with barely any of the fading/spotting around the edges that you so often see.

There is no swirl inner with this album but does have a 'Plastic Bags...' poly-lined inner which is in excellent in excellent condition with no side splits or tears, minimal creasing and just a little age related fading around the edges.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

886 775  1Y*1  420  1 1 2 1

886 775  2*Y*1  420  1 1 2 2

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!