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Gravy Train : Staircase To The Day A2/B2 1st Press

With their last album Gravy Train certainly went out on a high.  Sales did not reflect just how good they were and sadly they were so underrated at the time.  This first pressing contains many classics and I am pleased to say it plays with stunning quality on both sides.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is incredible and the only interference is one brief jump followed by a click just after 'Going For A Quick One' begins.  This is unfortunate as the rest of the album is as close to perfect as could be!  There are so many highlights here and they all play with sensational audio including 'Starbright Starlight', 'Bring My Life On Back To Me', the title track 'Staircase To The Day' and 'Evening Of My Life' and 'Busted In Schenectady'.  This final track track by the way is just amazing!  The definition and power of the audio is comparable to a high quality vinyl only pressed yesterday, I have never heard a better version.

The Roger Dean cover does have some rubbing on the edges but the front and back cover are actually very clean as is the inside.  The inner sleeve is in great condition.

So if you are happy to own this classic album with near perfect audio except for two seconds then this is the one to have!  You will not be disappointed!

DNLH 1 // A-2 ∆ G / B-2 ∆ G // H 1 & L 1 both etched

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro G+ for two seconds / T3 Near Mint)

The gatefold is VG+

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Near Mint

Visual grading

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  There are some light hairlines but they have no affect on the audio.  The Dawn labels are in superb condition with no marking/writing just some faint spindle wear.

Play grading

The quiet intro on 'Starbright Starlight' plays beautifully with barely any static and as the volume increases the playback is flawless.  It continues in the same exact way with literally no intrusion on the audio.  Audio does not get any better than this aside from one light tick on the fade out!  One of their most well known tracks it provides a fantastic Mint- start to the album.

Again the acoustic intro on 'Bring My Life On Back To Me' plays so clearly with only a couple of dust ticks and the opening vocal also plays with sublime clarity.  The sonic quality does not diminish the further you get into the track and having now played it twice I cannot compliment it enough.  A vocally driven track the vocals here are so clean and powerful and the instrumentation can also be described 'as new'.  This is another example of a vinyl that has been so carefully looked after down the years and that is reflected in the quality of the music.  A STUNNING Mint version for sure.

'Never Wanted You' plays with superb audio from beginning to end with no sign of any interference.  The clarity and power is faultless and there are no ticks, clicks, pops or background static.  Even the quieter mid section plays perfectly and as this section builds the playback is phenomenal.  The closing instrumental section is equally as strong.  Mint

The long intro on 'Staircase To The Day' plays with outstanding quality - no interference - and Barratt's first vocal keeps up this fine standard.  It continues to play with breathtaking audio and for a relatively quiet track the clarity is just out of this world!  Each section plays with genuine quality with no intrusion, not one single click or pop etc.  The 'choral' end section is so 'clean' and rarely there is no obvious inner groove distortion, the playback truly is amazing!  I will grade as Mint- but I am sure I would be forgiven if the minus was omitted!  What a track!  A STUNNING side of music.

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The intro on 'Going For A Quick One' plays very clearly with no 'background' but after 10 seconds there is a brief jump followed by a dull sounding click which is rather annoying as S1 played with such incredible audio!  However, that is the only interference across the entire track as the rest plays with impeccable quality and the long fade out that has no 'background' at all.  That is a measure of the clarity on offer here.  I will grade this as Mint but the intro as G+ for 2 seconds due to the interference.

'The Last Day' plays with great clarity from the get go with no 'background' on the opening instrumental and verse.  From then on it plays with a sonic quality that is second to none and Mint is again no exaggeration.  Each note is so sharp and precise with literally nothing getting in the way of the sound.

The gentle 'Evening Of My Life' plays beautifully with no clicks or pops and barely any static.  As always I have cleaned the record and with a couple of plays this is as close to perfect audio as is possible.  There are just a small number of very light ticks/dust ticks and I only mention this to be 'complete' in my grading, they are totally non-intrusive.  The vocal plays so clearly and really shows off his range - Barratt truly had an exceptional voice!  This stunning track is so close to Mint- but I will say Near Mint just to be a little cautious.

The intro on 'Busted In Schenectady' plays with great clarity and as volume picks up there is no let up in quality.  This is another track that plays like it has never seen a turntable before and the entire 9 minutes play with a genuine depth and resonance.  There is no inner groove distortion despite being the final track and it just could not play any better.  The mid instrumental is off the scale fantastic and wow does this section demand to be played loud!  The quiet guitar section that follows has barely any static and the remainder does not disappoint either.  The rip-roaring finale plays with such dynamic quality and the long final note has barely any 'background' either.  What a version, never heard better!  A superlative Mint- finish to an album that delivers on so many levels.

In summary this first pressing plays with a clarity that is so so close to perfect.  The only 'fly in the ointment' is the jump on the first track of S2 which is totally out of character with the rest of the album.  There are so many highlights too numerous to mention really but the final track 'Busted...' is absolute genius!  The sonic quality here is breathtaking and if you want this classic playing 'as new' then this is the album to own!  It's criminal Gravy Train did not get the recognition they deserved in the early 70s and in my opinion they are the most underrated band of this genre ever!  Yes one minor aberration but the rest of the album plays with immaculate audio - it's been at least 3/4 years since I last played it and I had forgotten just how damn good it was!

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in excellent condition with only some shelf wear on the edges.  They do have some rubbing as does the opening edge but the spine has only a little wear and is very near 100% legible.  The corners have some wear but not an excessive amount.  The front and back cover are very clean with no marking and easily grade as Ex+ and the inside of the gatefold is also in great shape with only some minor compression of the inner spine.  It's only the edges that bring this cover down to a VG+ but overall it is a more than acceptable copy.

The original die-cut paper inner is in great condition with no side splits or tears, no marking and barely any creasing.

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

DNLH 1 // A-2 ∆ G / B-2 ∆ G // H 1 & L 1 both etched

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!!

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

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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

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