DAVID BOWIE Hunky Dory RARER UK 72 Press, BARELY PLAYED

	£		36
	$		48

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Artist or Band: DAVID BOWIE

Album Title: Hunky Dory.

Producer(s): Ken Scott.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Changes; Oh! You Pretty Things; Eight Line Poem; Life on Mars?; Kooks; Quicksand.

Side 2: Fill Your Heart; Andy Warhol; Song for Bob Dylan; Queen Bitch; The Bewlay Brothers.

Label/Format: RCA Victor - Rarer very early super-smooth examples with very glossy finish. Also including the very early ‘Titanic Music’ credits that were omitted very quickly. (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both look fantastic, practically as made. Side two when viewed under angled light as what is almost certainly a manufacture super fine adhesive smear. This does NOT show with angled viewing and does in no detract from a gorgeous looking label, side one has nothing to fault whatsoever. In terms of spindle marks, well none, I cannot find any at all, this beautiful early-pressed record coming from the same outstanding collection as the near mint first-press ‘Ziggy Stardust’ I am currently offering.

Cat Number: SF 8244 (LS 4623).

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 130 grams. [These days, many modern Audiophile reissues are pressed on super-heavyweight 180 gram vinyl. Only a small percentage of ‘vintage vinyl’ was ever pressed this heavy. Records pressed in the 1960s averaged around 135 to 145 grams. Records pressed in the 1970s were usually lighter and averaged more around 115 – 125 grams. Some records pressed around 1973 were very thin and light due an oil crisis and shortage around this time. Some records were even issued on recycled vinyl from this period and sounded poor with crackle and surface noise evident from the very first play. If any record I buy is deemed ‘recycled’, I will never offer it, I have a very simple test to detect these records if I suspect this to be the case other than audible imperfection. Some records from this period were even pressed on other materials the most notable was ‘Dynaflex’, used by RCA around this time. Although inferior to vinyl, this at least mostly sounded reasonably acceptable but pressings on this material were wafer thin and flimsy. Beyond the 70s, many records often became thinner and lighter still but most played fine but were never quite the quality as from the ‘Golden Era’]. (This was based on ‘average’ weights for 50 records from these eras.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The album itself is common enough but the further back the pressing goes the rarer it becomes. Initial pressings were issued in December 1971 - it soldly reasonably - popularity and superstardom did not happen until his ‘Ziggy’ phase when issued in 1972. ‘Hunky Dory’ first pressings included a laminated front cover and are rare. This is earliest second pressing issued in September 1972 with a standard non-laminated cover but like the first pressings of Ziggy, it has NO Mainman logo or credits and this also is a pretty scarce copy and also in lovely condition. Maybe played once with ultra clean sound. This album along with Ziggy was further repressed again in 1973 and then cover included the Mainman credits and logo so this in actual fact was not available for very long either hence elusive. The labels became matt and the pressings became thinner too. Do not under-estimate the scarcity of such an early copy.

Original Year of Release: December 1971. This copy was issued in September 1972.

Matrix Nos: APRS 5947-3 / APRS 5948-3 (an unreadable letter follows the ‘3’ on both sides)

Stamper Codes: A1 AP / A1 AE (these being fine and fairly faint but clearly visible).

Run-Out Groove Etchings: ‘Bobil’ & ‘Rasputin’

Musicians: David Bowie – vocals, guitar, alto and tenor saxophone, piano; Mick Ronson – guitar, vocals, Mellotron; Rick Wakeman – piano; Trevor Bolder – bass, trumpet; Mick Woodmansey – drum.

Brief Info: This was Bowie’s fourth album on yet another new label, it sold fairly well but more interest was shown when the world was struck by ‘Ziggy Stardust’. Now on RCA with a three album contract, this was start of something very special. With huge success from 1973 onwards, his RCA contract was greatly extended. This received moderately favourable reviews but time has now regarded it as a ‘classic’ and many Bowie fans regard it as one of his very best. The cover sees the man with very long hair, soon to be drastically changed for his next realease - few artists had the ability to change their image quite like Bowie and he became the master of reinvention. The most important transformation laid just around the corner. ‘Hunky Dory’ is a brilliant album and superbly produced by Ken Scott. Every track a classic, the biggest hit was ‘Life on Mars’ that was issued later to promote the album again and it worked perfectly. Early examples in fine conditions are far more elusive than you may imagine. This one has barely been played and the cover and insert are also in super condition. The smoother glossy finish labels add extra class to the heavier pressed earlier pressing too. I consider this one of the most difficult albums in his vast catalogue to find that plays well too. Many pressings crackle badly, possibly due to rushed mass-production after his popularity soared. This example has a small few mild surface scuffs on ‘Andy Warhol’ but they are totally ignore with no sound. I am certain present from new, but with no audio consequence, why worry?, a better example with prove immensely difficult to find from the early-era. The sound is breathtaking, the power and details in the very early pressings is without precident. Although the cover is the non-laminated version, it’s about the only different. My priorities always lie with the sound quality and this is simply stunning. So-mcu-so, I had to stop tapping this piece as it played. More on that further down. Without any doubt it’s hardly ever seen light-of-day and was possibly not even played at all, it will prove hard to find much better especially on such an early pressing. Audiophile sound quality throughout, I have never, ever heard a better copy than this, it plays like new with CD quietness. With many of the vintage pressings more subjected to less sympathetic record players that wreaked havoc to the delicate groove walls. Teenagers with coins stuck to tonearms to entice stacked singles to play - all over-fifties will remember those days I’m sure? Classic album - many say ‘masterpiece’ and a gorgeous copy, this should and will please even the most discerning sound enthusiast.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: High.

Cover Grade and Format: EX++ a single unlaminated format. Only the very rare first printed cover was laminated and only available for a few months before being reprinted to this version that in real terms is little less rare with no Mainman credits. Printed and made in England by Robert Stace.

Cover Front: This is somewhat wear prone and rare to find the first non-laminate printing in such super condition. Just a faint record impression that has not removed any ink so showing little. Few will ever show less with the heavy pressed early copy inside. A very few faint surface creases show little. The lack of rubbing, grubbiness and sticker marks is a bonus also and this retains genuine freshness and high good looks. All very nice indeed.

Cover Back: Little short of pristine with even fewer fine creases and less record rim impression. Ultra clean, no grubbiness, rubbing or ringwear and NO Mainman logo that appeared after 1972. This is almost as good as they get.

Top Edge: Practically unworn.

Bottom Edge: Any rub traces on this resting edge are minuscule, both top and bottom are very straight too.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, very sharp with no wear or feathering and guarateed untrimmed. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with barely any compression. All text is pristine perfect and unworn and all well centred. No rubbing appears on the whole length.

Corners: All in super shape with barely any rubbing, odd faint surface tip semi-crease I suppose but how many will avoid this being honest? All retain very fine to excellent definition.

Cover Summary: A very strong all round example of this very wear-prone 1972 version cover, one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This beautiful item should please most collectors.

The Lyric Insert: Critically graded EX++: it is copyrighted 1971 and includes Titanic Music Ltd credits, GEM logo with no references to Mainman. Clean, sharp edged with no creasing and any of the ultra few marks, tiny and faint. Clearly hardly handled also with no writing or wear.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: It’s difficult to grade what appears to be a practically new record less than EX++. Side two EX+ I supposed. As all collectors my age and beyond know, even brand new records occasionally had minor marks when first purchased. Factory workers who packed these things were often less than subtle when doing so and the odd minor mark often occurred. As stated above, ‘Andy Warhol’ has a small area of surface marks (or more like minor scuffs), they have NO sound at all, merely superificial and of no audio consequence. A tiny mark at the very end of side one has a couple of ticks but by then, the music has ended, mere detail and affecting the music not one iota. It will be immediately apparent to any winning bidder, this is an exceptional record and clearly barely, if ever played (not including my sound check of course). A superb visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed at again over average weight. This record is barely even run-in and I feel sure has barely ever left the safety of the cover. Any other blemishes are minuscule surface traces visible under light. Visually a super record that should please most collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippetts or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This outstanding record plays even above its high visual grading with practically nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is breathtaking with true audiophile sound values, a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound, I swear even more detail was apparent than noticed before (or is this my new Rondo Red?). Any surface sounds barely even registered and was a delight to listen-too. As said, this album often is less than well pressed and some can prove very noisy even with super clean playing surfaces and few plays. Few copies will outperform this very early pressing significantly I feel sure and both sides play to near perfection with crisp, sharp and fully focused sound. The stereo imagery in places takes the breath away and no wonder Bowie fans want the very early pressings, the details in these totally unworn grooves are a gateway into his recording studio itself. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly (if indeed at all) and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record - the music’s is so brilliant and I was totally captivated to the point of having to stop tapping this piece. Nothing will ever beat the original analogue sound of this early Bowie classic, what a start for RCA, he simply never looked back, so-much-so, it promoted vast interest in his earlier works, but of course by then, the originals had been deleted. This copy will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended. If clean covers, inserts and sound quality is paramount, look now further. Unreservedly recommended.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with QED Silver terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Moth vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too.

First-time, zero-rated bidders, who do not ask permission to bid, will be cancelled immediately and blocked – NO exceptions. For winning bidders who I consider excessively slow to make contact or submit payment, I will use my right to block future bids. If any bidder who wins in the final seconds is present to do so, surely they can at least email me to inform of intention and payment method? If swift or promp payment is a problem, please do not bid.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET - PLEASE SEE MY TYPICAL PACKING BOX PICTURE.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my Moth Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional thick boxes (NOT Mailers or Cruciforms, these do not offer maximum protection). The record(s) REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with THREE or EVEN FOUR ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. The thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. Please see my picture of a typical finished box packet that will now be used on ALL transactions as from now. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. These boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand based on over 6,000+ items sold in over 8 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FOUR records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: I will cancel ALL first-time bidders with no feedbacks or excessive negatives who do not ask me if its OK to bid first – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder unless prior notice of any delay is given beforehand. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance – it’s always worth asking.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£40 maximum]) = £9. (insurance optional extra £3). Add £2.50 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£39 maximum]) = £13. Add £4 per extra LP. (insurance optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT neccessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.