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John Martyn : Solid Air A1/B2 Early pressing

This early pressing plays to a fantastic standard with very little intrusion on the audio.  In fact 8 of the tracks play with stunning quality and only the first track on S2 'Go Down Easy' has some static on the intro.  The vinyl has not been over-played and the clarity and depth of the audio is very impressive to say the least.

This is I believe a 1975 pressing but still has the same matrix info as per the first pink rim issue.  It has the orange Palm Tree label with the 'Witchseason' logo.

The gatefold is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and the inner sleeve is in superb shape.

ILPS 9226 // A-1U (etched) / B-2U (stamped)

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro VG+ then Ex+ for the remainder)

The gatefold is Ex

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in great condition with a very strong glossy sheen and no marks or scratches.  I can only detect a small number of faint hairlines under a strong light and there is nothing that stands out.  The Island labels are pristine with no spindle wear on S1 and only a couple of traces on S2.

Play grading  

The quiet intro on the title track 'Solid Air' plays beautifully with no intrusion and as Martyn's vocal comes in there is no decrease in quality.  As you get into the track what is apparent is the sheer depth of the music, the audio is so strong and deep.  From start to finish there are no clicks, pops or static and only a handful of barely audible dust ticks - I don't really need to mention if I'm honest!  The clarity and definition of the audio is superb and easily deserves a Mint- grade.  It really could not play any better.

The acoustic intro on 'Over The Hill' plays to perfection and continues in the same way.  You can hear each note so clearly and 'as new' is no exaggeration.  The long fade out also plays with remarkable precision.  This is Mint in every sense of the word.

'Don't Want To Know' has just 3/4 very light static ticks on the intro but yep they are so so quiet and totally non-intrusive.  The first half plays with stunning audio and the more up tempo second half is equally as good with just one light tick on the fade out.  Mint-

'I'd Rather Be The Devil' plays with superb audio for a final track with no interference and no inner groove distortion.  A progressive piece the playback is exceptional!  The first half vocal section is faultless and this standard is kept up as you move into the instrumental section.  It soon plays very quietly of course and the clarity here is out of this world - the only 'background' is one tick very close to the end.  A truly astonishing version that has to grade as Mint- at the very least.

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'Go Down Easy' does have some static on the intro but by the time the vocal begins it has decreased considerably and plays very clearly.  There is a minor amount of very quiet background static every now and then but then the second half is more or less perfect with barely any intrusion and the acoustic end section plays with stunning clarity.  I will grade the intro as VG+ but the remainder has to grade as Ex+ at the very least.

Normal service is resumed with 'Dreams By The Sea' which plays with impeccable quality throughout with no interference of any kind.  Ok there is one minor static tick right at the end but that hardly qualifies as interference.  Mint-

'May You Never' is of the same 'high end' standard with no ticks, clicks or pops and no static.  A superlative Mint version.

The quiet intro on 'The Man In The Station' is so close to perfect with only a couple of barely audible dust ticks and then Martyn's opening vocal is exactly that - perfect.  It continues to play with imperious quality without any 'background' and the clarity and definition of the audio is superb.  Amazing audio truth be told!  To the final note it plays 'as new' and Mint- is again fair.

The acoustic intro on 'The Easy Blues' can also be described 'as new' and that pretty much applies to the entire track!  There is no intrusion on the audio and it provides a suitably impressive ending to this classic album.  In essence the twpo sections of this track could not play any better.  A sublime Mint version.

In summary this early pressing plays to a superb standard with only minimal interference at the start of S2 and even then it isn't loud.  The other tracks on the album play to the highest standard possible with no intrusion on the audio.  It does not get any better!  The quieter sections (many of them!) play with wonderful clarity.  A sublime near perfect album.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear.  The edges have only minimal rubbing with just a little more on the bottom edge of the back cover.  The wide spine has a couple of minor marks, a crease line running down the centre and only a little wear on the corners.  The other corners are very clean with barely any wear and the opening edge has only light handling wear.  The front cover is unmarked with only a small number of minor creases around the edges and the back cover is also in great order with no marking.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with only one small white 'scuff' at the foot of each panel.  A very strong example overall.

The plain white die-cut inner is in superb shape with no side splits or tears and no marking and barely any creasing.  I'm not sure if it is the original but it is certainly in great condition.

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

ILPS 9226 // A-1U (etched) / B-2U (stamped)

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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