HELEN MERRILL SINGS ULTRA-RARE JAPAN-ONLY AUDIOPHILE LP

$

34

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·       HELEN MERRILL – HELEN MERRILL SINGS, TEDDY WILSON SWINGS - ORIGINAL, JAPAN-ONLY ALBUM, NEVER RELEASED OUTSIDE OF JAPAN ON VINYL

·       ORIGINAL 1971 JAPANESE AUDIOPHILE HIGH QUALITY PRESSING ON A VIRGIN VINYL – ORIGINAL NIVICO / VICTOR CO. OF JAPAN (JVC) STEREO LP SMJX-10111

·       ORIGINAL JAPANESE  PRESSING

·       ALLEGED TO INCLUDE (UNCREDITED AND UNDOCUMENTED) THELONIOUS MONK ON AT LEAST ONE TRACK. (WE COULD NOT INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRM THIS)

·       ORIGINAL GREEN NIVICO LABEL (JAPAN) WITH A GREEN NIVICO STICKER WITH THE LABEL’S LOGO COVERING TOP OF THE LABEL

·       THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, FIRST JAPANESE. PRESSING; THIS IS NOT A REISSUE, AN IMPORT, OR A COUNTERFEIT PRESSING.

·       INCLUDES ORIGINAL 2-PAGE INSERT

·       ORIGINAL GATEFOLD COVER, MADE OF THICK CARDBOARD (AMERICAN STYLE) 

·       ORIGINAL GLOSSY, LIGHTLY LAMINATED, COVER

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS

·       THICK, HEAVY VINYL PRESSING

(►PLEASE SEE THE IMAGE OF THE COVER, LABEL OR BOTH, SHOWN BELOW)

(Note: this is a REAL image of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. This is NOT a "recycled" image from our previous auction. What you see is what you'll get.  GUARANTEED!)

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These Japanese hi-grade , virgin-vinyl, extended-dynamic range vinyl pressings - while they were imported  in the 1970's and early 1980's - were audiophile and connoisseur delights  (we   have not  seen some of these titles in circulation in years – some of them are highly collectible). These majestic recordings received an  intense, meticulous and laborious treatment like very few other recordings did.   They are characterized by the boosted dynamic and frequency range, almost compulsive attention paid to the fine detail and integrity of the pressing and highest quality  of the material. Many of  these recordings remain unsurpassed, delivering music  reproduction as close to  the actual recording session as possible. In the best tradition of some of the major Japanese corporations -  such as RCA Victor Co. (Nippon),  Warner-Pioneer Corporation of Japan or EMI-Toshiba Corporation  -  the sound quality of the Japanese pressings is, generally,  truly extraordinary

***

This lesser-known LP is an easy success. Although singer Helen Merrill usually performs with more modern musicians, she must have been thrilled to have veteran swing pianist leading her backup trio. Merrill takes a chance by performing ten veteran standards, most of which are associated with other singers, but she comes across quite well. Most of the songs are taken as medium- to slow-tempo ballads, with a happy "Pennies From Heaven" being the only moderate cooker. Wilson is joined by either bassist Larry Ridley and drummer Lenny McBrowne or bassist Kunimitsu Inaba and drummer Takeshi Inormata, and he is his typical flawless self, while Merrill rarely strays much from the melody and sometimes sounds surprisingly similar to Susannah McCorkle (who would not emerge for another decade). A rewarding album (its listed recording date is approximate), long overdue to be reissued on CD.

 (EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE REVIEW BY SCOTT YANOW, ALL MUSIC GUIDE  /ALLMUSIC.COM/)

THIS IS A NO-RESERVE AUCTION!

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·       CONDITION:

·       RECORD

(IMPORTANT NOTE: unless otherwise noted, ALL records are graded visually, and NOT play-graded!; we  grade records under the strong, diffuse room light or discrete sunlight)

(a)            WE GRADE THE VINYL AS STRONG NEAR MINT. The original luster is very much intact, and the vinyl shines and sparkles almost like new.

(b)            The album comes with the original 2-page insert still intact.

(c)             The record is pressed on a beautiful, high-quality, virgin-grade vinyl, which is usually used for audiophile, extended-dynamic-range, half-speed mastered and connoisseur pressings.

(d)            In addition, the record is pressed on a beautiful, thick, inflexible vinyl, which was usually used for the first or very early pressings. Usually, the sound on such thick vinyl pressings is full-bodied, vivid, and even dramatic. Do not expect to obtain such a majestic analog sound from a digital recording!

(e)             Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!!

·       COVER

THE COVER IS NICE --- ABOUT EXCELLENT OR VERY GOOD++ (VG++).

The following flaws or imperfections are noted on the cover:

-         Cover has some light ring wear (nothing significant); On the scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the least, and  10 being the most severe), we assess the severity of ring wear as 3

-         Minor shelf wear noted on the spine  (nothing significant)

-         Cover has one corner slightly worn / frayed / bent.

-         Tiny stain (barely visible) noted on back cover (less than 1/8 square inch in size)

-         Cover shows JUST A HINT of yellowing on both sides, apparently from aging.

-         Two small manufacturers labels (JVC/NIVICO) and country of origin stickers noted on back cover

NO OTHER IMPERFECTIONS ON THE COVER:

-         No split seams

-         No cut-out (drill) holes.

-         No cut-out corners

-         No saw-marks or indents

-         No dirt/dust rubbing stains (friction marks caused by rubbing against other covers)

-         No wrinkles or creases

-         No writing

-         No stamps

-         No peel-off marks

-         No mold or mildew spots

-         No water damage

-         No razor marks, scratches, pressure marks, lines, streaks, or  cuts.

-         No warping

-         No wax, glue, paint or liquid drops on the cover

-         No bar codes

-         No RIAA stamps or stickers. 

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POSTAGE & SHIPPING:

We offer two postage rates for both Domestic and International Mail: Media Mail and Priority Mail for domestic, and First Class and Priority International Mail for international orders. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: you should select priority mail when making a payment, in order to prevent any lost, stolen, damaged or undelivered orders and to obtain tracking info, which is NOT available for First Class International shipments.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE- and insurance rates vary from country to country. For SPECIFIC international and domestic postage and insurance rates ►click here. While you can be rest assured that our packaging is careful, sturdy and impact-proof,  please note we are NOT responsible for uninsured items.

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OUR REFUND POLICY :

Cash refund will be granted only for DEFECTIVE  items, but we are flexible and reasonable in reviewing the merits of each individual case. We do NOT play-grade records and can only make reasonable judgment  on the item's condition based on its visual appearance. Every bid carries a risk that purchased item might play worse than its visual grade may indicate. Still sealed items MUST be returned sealed in order to be eligible for a refund. Please read our complete refund policy before placing a bid. ►Click here  for the full text of our policy .

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