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

This first pressing on the Dawn label is one of the finest albums I have ever sold from this era.  Put simply it plays 'as new' on both sides with no interference not even a single light tick.  The clarity and definition of the audio is STUNNING and I just cannot emphasise enough just how 'complete' the sound is.  There are of course many quiet sections and yet they all play beautifully with no intrusion.  This is without doubt a FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic the likes of which you rarely find today.  The vinyl is also visually stunning and has clearly hardly ever been played.

I sold one a couple of months back which was very impressive but this one is even better.

This was their last album and Gravy Train certainly went out on a high.  Sadly they were not appreciated enough in the early 70s but at least they left us with four superb albums.  This one may have a more 'commercial' sound in parts but it still has many prog elements and to find one as 'clean' as this is a genuine rarity.  So many highlights, too numerous to mention, but a special mention for 'Busted In Schenectady' which is phenomenal from start to finish, it is superb.  The definition and power of the audio is comparable to a high quality vinyl pressed only yesterday not nearly 50 years ago!  Plus all the other are equally as strong!

The Roger Dean cover is the finest example I have ever seen with no real wear, it is incredible clean and still retains its original shape and structure like it has hardly been handled before.  The inner sleeve is also in great condition.

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

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex+

Visual grading

The vinyl is in fantastic condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen comparable to a new vinyl.  There are no marks or scratches and I can only locate a small number of very faint 'specks' on S2 and some very light insignificant hairlines on both sides.  That is under a very harsh light though - under a more forgiving light it looks 'as new' and the run out grooves are also pristine.  The Dawn labels have no marking or writing and have only a couple of spindle traces on S1 and just one tiny one on S2.  This is a stunning vinyl!

Play grading

First and foremost the quiet intro on 'Starbright Starlight' is absolutely stunning!  It has no 'background' not even a dust tick and as the volume increases there is no let up in quality.  As it continues you can't help but be struck the sheer clarity of sound - it honestly plays like it was pressed only yesterday but on high grade vinyl!  Barrett's voice is so strong and of course by their standards this is a very melodic number.  Every section plays with unbelievable clarity and power and I am confident in grading it as Mint such is the sonic quality on offer here.

The acoustic intro on 'Bring My Life On Back To Me' plays beautifully with no intrusion and the opening vocal is equally as impressive.  From then onwards it plays with sublime clarity and definition and despite being a powerful vocally driven track there is no distortion on the top end.  The vocals are so 'clean' even during the choral sections and again there is no 'background' of any kind not even on the fade out.  Another pristine Mint track.

The brief and very quiet intro on 'Never Wanted You' plays perfectly.  By the way you can easily hear the band in the background on this intro, that's how impressive the clarity is!  It then plays with STUNNING quality - the clarity and power is faultless and there are no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  The quieter mid section plays perfectly and as this section builds the playback is phenomenal and the closing instrumental is just as strong.  What a version!  Mint

The long intro on 'Staircase To The Day' pays testament again to how well this vinyl has been preserved and plays with genuine precision, only a handful of barely audible dust ticks.  Barrett's first vocal is perfect and it continues to play with a clarity that defies the age of the album.  It builds perfectly into the 'choral' end section which then plays with tremendous power and barely any inner groove distortion.  A breathtaking Mint finish to a side that delivers on every level.  Wow!

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'Going For A Quick One' plays with impeccable quality from start to finish with no interference at all.  Carrying on where S1 left off this is audio of the highest standard and Mint is easily deserved.  The long fade out also plays with 'as new' clarity.

The intro on 'The Last Day' is flawless and again the more you get into the track the more you are amazed by the sonic quality here, just like all the other tracks!  Has this album ever been played before?!  Each vocal and instrumental section plays with a clarity and depth that is second to none and whilst Barrett's vocal is often on the higher register there is no distortion at all.  Mint is again the only grade I can give.

The very quiet 'Evening Of My Life' plays beautifully with no ticks, clicks or pops and no static either.  Driven largely by piano and Barrett's (unusually) gentle vocal it demonstrates again (if further proof was needed!) just infrequently this classic has been played.  With only a handful of barely audible dust ticks (that hardly need a mention as you find them on new vinyl let alone one of this age) this is Mint from start to finish.

The absolute classic 'Busted In Schenectady' begins perfectly and the first silent section is exactly that - 100% silent!  The opening vocal section plays with sublime power and depth and it continues in the same precise way with no intrusion whatsoever, just pure MINT audio in every way.  As the volume builds into the classic instrumental the playback is just mind-blowing!  I have never heard anything like it - it is so powerful and the audio definition is just incredible.  There is no interference, no distortion and it just demands to be played loud!  It then stops abruptly and the quiet guitar section that follows more than keeps up the standard with literally no 'background'.  The all powerful finale just could not play any better - it has a stunning dynamic quality and I repeat there is no inner groove distortion, the guitar work here is superb.  It continues like this to the very end and the long final quiet note has no 'background' either.  WHAT A VERSION!  This is as good as it gets basically and provides a high end Mint finish to this classic prog album.

In summary this first pressing can accurately be described 'as new' as there is just no interference on either side.  I know 'as new' is a bold statement to make for the entire album but having played every second it is fully justified.  It's not often you find a prog album from this era playing with such clarity, depth and power and it is patently obvious it has hardly been played.  The audio reflects that, the stunning visual quality reflects that and the minimal spindle wear reflects that.  Every track is a genuine highlight but the final track 'Busted...' is pure genius!  The sonic quality here is phenomenal and as I said a couple of months back it is criminal Gravy Train did not get the recognition they deserved in the early 70s.  They had such variety to their music and in my opinion they are the most underrated band of this genre ever!  This truly is a stunning 'package' - perfect audio and a beautiful cover make this a FINAL UPGRADE classic in every way.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The cover has retained its original quality so well which is very impressive when you consider it isn't laminated.  The edges and wide spine are in perfect condition and the corners have barely any wear either, just a couple of tiny 'rubs'.  The opening edge is also super clean with barely any handling wear.  The front cover is in beautiful condition with just one very small crease in the lower left corner and the back cover is just as clean.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate with no damage or compression of the inner spine.  This is easily Near Mint it could hardly be any more impressive.

The record is housed in a plain white die-cut inner (Patent No 1,125,555 and Made In England) which has no side splits or tears, no marking and only light 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 // B 1 & D 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!!

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!