JOHN MAYALL Blues From Laurel Canyon RARE UK MINT 68 LP

	£		284
	$		376

Hi, I am Mike, now 51. Old enough to remember the golden era of original, high quality music, bands, artists.

Also records from the 1960s and 70s bought from the shops from new, I have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 37 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and elusive items now. 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 reader – 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 one hundred percent is exact colour matching for covers - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. 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 with Ittok Mk IV arm and Ortofon Samba Moving Coil cartridge (tracks at 1.8 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired). 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.

POSTING & PACKING: What You Get: I post all my UK items on FRIDAY every week, most will arrive Saturday to make signed-for delivery easier. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT mailers) with 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 TWO massively thick stiffners for even extra protection and bubble wrap if deemed necessary. These stiffners are the thickest possible and custom supplied for ‘Oneadayrecords’ – these are NOT commercially available and you will not have seen thicker protection anywhere. The cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW heavy duty 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. Printed address labels are used as well as ‘Fragile’ tape for that extra professional touch for the packet. 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. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but NOT surface mail abroad. I never make profit on posting and offer probably the cheapest and safest shipping possible. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends, with the total costs including ‘standard’ or ‘optional extra insurance’ P&P – ALL UK and Russian packets go out non-negotiable Recorded Delivery. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than 0.1 per percent based on over 3,500+ items sold in over 5 years of Ebay trading (I am now one of most established sellers via Ebay) and I consider that pretty exceptional.

PLEASE NOTE: I will now only send packets to Russia with Recorded Delivery at a cost of £7 per single LP. If this is unacceptable to Russian collectors, please do not bid. I only want my records to arrive safely and this gives packets a better chance to do so. Also ALL UK packets will be sent with either Recorded or Special Delivery as standard (both have to be signed for). All shipping costs and rules can be found after my description. If they are not acceptable, please do not bid.

Album Title: Blues from Laurel Canyon.

Producer(s): Mike Vernon & John Mayall.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Vacation; Walking On Sunset; Laurel Canyon Home; 2401; Ready To Ride; Medicine Man; Somebody’s Acting Like A Child.

Side 2: The Bear; Miss James; First Time Alone; Long Gone Midnight; Fly Tomorrow..

Label/Format: Decca – original unboxed red mono format (Please see my label scans).

Label Conditions: Both in stunning condition with only a very few ultra fine and faint spindle marks. I know for a fact this incredible copy has hardly been played and if a better playing and visual copy of this album, as an original, can be found, well I sure would like to see it.

Cat Number: LK 4972.

Mode / Speed: Mono / 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: 148 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: A scarce record and in this condition, it will prove near impossible to find. Since selling records on Ebay, this must rank as one of the incredible mono records I have ever had. This 40-year-old Decca album could easily pass for new with pristine Mint, totally unblemished mono sound and this too on a very revealing system. This will remind those around at the times what a brand new record once looked and sounded like. The cover is almost the same and looks fantastic. One that has been played no more than two or three times and immaculate. These old mono records were never really designed to be played on Sondeks or other high-end stereo turntables but more at home on Dansettes and other similar single channel record players (that tracked at massive weights with damaging down-forces). One in a thousand will ever compare to this and a copy for the serious audiophile listener or blues connoisseur. I state my reputation on this one, you will never hear this title sounding better on an original mono record.

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: ARL-8532-1B / ARL-8533-1B

Stamper Codes: 1 G / 1 BM

Musicians: John Mayall – harmonica, organ and guitar; Mick Taylor - guitar, Hawaiian guitar; Colin Allen - drums, tablas; Stephen Thompson- bass. Guest guitarist Peter Green, formerly of Fleetwood Mac.

Brief Info: A brilliant album inspired by his visit to the US where he eventually ended up living. This was his first album after the breakup of the Bluesbreakers and also was his final release on Decca before signing to Polydor. The playing surfaces of the record are unbanded as the songs blend into each other to form a musical suite based on his experiences of his visit and the people he met. One such meeting was with Frank and Gail Zappa and his his daughter Moon Unit, then a baby. The song ‘2401’ where Mayall describes Zappa as his hero has references to The Mothers and even the GTO’s, Miss Christine specifically. The album is something of a recording triumph and sounds very different in mono. It starts with a jet aircraft blasting from the speaker(s) and then blends into the music, a very dramatic and effective opening and the quality never lets up. With, or without The Bluesbreakers, Mayall has rarely sounded better or more inspired than this. An album that will delight even non-blues fans, this is a documentary tour de force and still sounds as fresh and vibrant as when first issued. In terms of condition, well I have outlined already in my ‘rarity’ paragraph just what this is like. But I reitterate again, this record is simply in breathtaking condition and is absolute reference standard. From the silent run-ins to the same run-outs, this is perfection with all music pin-sharp, focused and crystal clear with no surface sounds or distortions. This blues masterpiece will never be heard better from the original mono format and that is a promise and guarantee.

This Cover’s Potential for Wear: High: [Unlaminated covers are always the most vulnerable for rubbing, fading, sticker tears and ringwear, gatefolds are more prone still and the darker they are, the more this type of wear occurs and shows. Some sleeves have a textured finish or die-cut shaped edges or ‘windows’. These are even more delicate and the hardest to find in top condition. Fully laminated covers are more resistent to wear but often the laminate ages with dulling, creases and blistering. Many 60s covers have outer flipback construction, these are very vulnerable to damage]. (US covers are the most fragile of all, very rarely laminated and made with thick brittle card that rubs and ringwears badly. Seams and edges split more easily). Please see format below to access this cover’s potential for wear and damage.

Cover Grade and Format: Mint(-) or as close as any 4-year-old cover ever really gets these days. A gatefold format with the front being only single thickness card making it very prone to damage and creasing. The front and back are laminated with Clarifoil. Printed and made in England by Robert Stace, it has NO mono/stereo peephole and is a dedicated mono cover.

Lamination – Front & Back: Both sides have superb laminate that retains a beautiful shine, clarity and freshness. Importantly, all is fully adhered with no lifting or blistering and the overall lack of significant creasing is also great news. A very few minor hairline types on the spine edge is the least anyone could expect. Even under angled light, marks are minimal and there are no friction rubs or dulling and the superb artwork can still be enjoyed to practically maximum advantage. One tiny surface chip on the back near the top is the only blemish that is (just) worthy of note but look hard to even see it. There is no peeling or cracking to this very solid laminate, it ends just short of full distance on all edges bar the spine and these exposed strips have no grime-line formation, wear or damage and any burring to the vulnerable bottom edges from ‘resting’ forty years is minimal and very light. By some distance, this is the very best Laurel Canyon original cover I have ever seen and it will take something extraordinary to better it.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Both faces in great condition also, clean and fresh with any creasing very light and showing little. This too on a front that is highly vulnerable to damage due to its thickness (or lack of). This even lies dead flat when closed with no curl or bending and how unusual is that?

Top Edges: Barely any wear to either, both on great condition.

Bottom Edges: Little wear but a slight trace of thickening on the fragile front near the centre, any burring is very slight. Given this record has ‘rested’ on these edges all these years the overall lack of wear or damage is pretty amazing.

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

Spine and Text: The spine is little short of perfect and even this retains a lovely shine. Solid, straight, uncompressed and square, both right edges meet up perfectly together and parallel. All text is perfect and unworn under the solid and uncracked laminate.

Corners: All crisp and sharp and very neat looking. Barely any traces of wear and even the front pair have avoided any tip creasing with no burring or feathering. Quite amazing really and obviously, this has been cover protected from new.

Cover Summary: When vintage classic covers are found like this they are a thing of real beauty and they rarely get offered much better than this. An incredibly preserved all round example of this very fragile 1960’s cover, one that will prove very difficult to find better. This beautiful item should please moist-all collectors.

The Inner: The Decca-style blue text on white polylined inner is in EX++ condition with only mild natural ageing. Slightly darkened with modest gum darkening around the seams. The window is very clean and clear with no damage to the rim. No splits or tears or even creases, this complements the rest of the set well.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: I have never been more tempted to grade a played record as full Mint because this record is Mint and I do know what the word means. The most over-used and abused word in record dealing and I refuse to use it lightly. But this sensational Decca record easily justifies it. I cannot see a mark or blemish on two pristine perfect playing surfaces and this too a MONO record. How many will ever survive like this?, most a mess of marks, scratches and coated in grimy fingermarks and sounding terrible. A supreme visual copy that is super clean, shiny, intense black and heavily pressed on pristine high-quality Decca vinyl. A connoisseur and audiophile’s copy, this will never be beaten and even matching will prove nigh-on impossible these days. A copy barely even run-in in vinyl terms. Visually a sensational record that will please every collector reading this piece.

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 immaculate record plays up to its high visual grading with nothing to fault whatsoever – a bold claim yes, but this is simply as new. You may ask, how can a 40-year-old mono record really be that good, well simply because the original owner looked after it with the respect it deserved and put it to tape shortly after purchase. It looks and sounds like a just bought copy and few will ever be seen quite like it. This has immensely powerful, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. If the mono format is your choice, nothing will better this one. No surface sounds and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing for a fairly challenging album. Even the quiet passages are almost CD silent, yes true. Few copies will even match this let alone outperform this early -1/-1 pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, clearly well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, a copy the legendary bluesman himself would be thrilled to hear himself. This copy will prove near impossible to find better and is unreservedly recommended. A rare opportunity for the mono sound perfectionist.

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 & OPTIONS:

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

1 LP (First Class Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4 (OPTIONAL).

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA (NOT RUSSIA, see below) (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £5.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £9 (OPTIONAL).

Posting & Packing: RUSSIA (Recorded Only, if this is unacceptable, please do not bid):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ only £7) = £9 (OPTIONAL extra insurance as above).

Posting & Packing: OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. US; Australia; Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet Standard with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) = £8.

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with included Insurance to Item’s ‘Sold’ Value, £500* Maximum) = £13 (OPTIONAL).

* If Rules allow for that country.

PLEASE NOTE: I always get a Royal Mail ‘Proof-of-Posting’ receipt for ALL packets that are sent out and I am happy to prove this to any customer who wishes to see it via email.

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders.

The customer can choose their method of shipping with the exception of second class or surface mail overseas – these I will NOT use. The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£35).

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 minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help.

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’.