KING CRIMSON In the Wake of Poseidon UK 70 PINK ISLAND

	£		101
	$		134

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.25. Europe £12. Rest of World £16. ALL signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes.

NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible after the very significant Royal Mail price increases and will never compromise on solid, safe packing.

Artist or Band: KING CRIMSON

Album Title: In The Wake of Poseidon.

Producer(s): Robert Fripp & Peter Sinfield.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Peace—A Beginning; Pictures of a City; Cadence & Cascade; In the Wake of Poseidon.

Side 2: Cat Food; The Devil’s Triangle; Merday Morn; Hand of Sceiron; Garden of Worm; Peace—An End.

Label/Format: Island – Full Pink format, smooth labels with large white i logo. These are a beautiful real rich pink colour with an almost pastel-like finish. I hope my pictures do these justice because I have seldom seen these look much better.

Label Conditions: Almost as clean and fresh as the day they were applied to this record. This came from a top quality collection that had been played little. Any spindle marks are tiny, very few and faint as seen with scrutiny under angled light.

Cat Number: ILPS 9127.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 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: 138 grams. A very good above average weight for this Polydor-pressed Island record.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Moderately scarce on the pink label and like most now, getting scarcer. A vintage copy in this condition will never be easy to find. Like all King Crimson albums this is a roller-coaster ride for volume extremes and intensity and finding top copies that will look and play well is always a challenge. This one has a fantastic cover, one of the best I have seen in fact. The record is very impressive too – it has but one small blemish – an ultra fine and tiny mark on the very start of side two emits a few light ticks. That apart, this hardly played copy offers supreme sound and bar this one brief mishap, it would have rated amongst the very best I had ever heard. Pressing quality is fantastic and never underestimate just how difficult this prog-clalssic is to find like this.

Original Year of Release: 1970

Matrix Nos: ILPS 9127 A // 1 1 4 1 and ILPS 9127 B // 1 1 2 9 [the last two digits fairly unclear and my best interpretation]

Musicians: Robert Fripp - Guitar, mellotron, devices; Greg Lake - Vocals; Michael Giles - Drums; Peter Giles - Bass; Keith Tippet - Piano; Mel Collins - Saxes and flute; Gordon Haskell - vocal; Peter Sinfield is credited with ‘words’.

Brief Artist & Album Info: After the astonishing groundbreaking magnificence of their debut album, how could this ever be followed up? – well the answer, they thought, was to issue another similar album again. This album was not given the same adulation as the first by the critics of the day, that labelled it as another ‘In the Court of’. Sure I can see the similarities especially on side one – the formula of a loud first track, quieter second and epic third that follow do the same format, but all the songs are treasures in their own right. Side two does vary more: after the somewhat bizarre jazzy ‘Cat Food’, that features brilliant piano work by Keith Tippet, it becomes awesomely powerful and compelling, as ‘The Devil’s Triangle’ instrumental builds with ferocious intensity with heavy use of the magnificent Mellotron. This incredible keyboard instrument is blasted to it’s limits by Fripp with an intensity that was probably never matched. Unfairly underrated in my opinion, ‘Poseidon’ is simply another Crimson classic. Beautifully packaged too (apart from maybe the use of silver ink inside that is always hard to see properly). It’s one of the deepest textured covers ever, the front and back almost resemble oil on canvas and hence (sorry to mention it again) this is one of the most wear prone rock covers ever made. Any friction to the front and back will literally strip off the ink from the very raised surfaces (I call this ‘speckle’) and this will rarely ever be found anything like perfect. Many, if not most are highly speckled that ruin the appearance. This one has survived the 42+ years with hardly any rubbing or speckle at all. That’s clearly great news, but even better the record offers immense sound that for most all is fantastic. It looks hardly played with two beautiful true pink Island labels. Just the one noteworthy blemish as mentioned above, the ultra fine and small mark on the start of side two that has a few light ticks that disappear after the quiet intro when the music gets really going hard. The quality of this album really depends on the pressing quality that with Island records was often uncertain. Well rest assured, this Polydor-pressed early copy offers the most stunning sound you will ever wish to hear. It’s of true audiophile quality and for those with massively expensive systems who take sound very seriously – the dictionary definition of ‘audiophile’ – this is simply of mastertape and studio quality. Even those incredibly fragile opening and closing vocals parts by Lake are immaculate and generally quiet. Those massive dynamics crystal clear, focused and precise. It hardly gets better than this on a highly complex and intense record like this. It has a massive dynamic range and detail – and that brief blemish apart on side two, this will take some beating and I enjoyed it immensely. Personally, I can a few light clicks or gentle reminder of what I am actually listening too - it is almost part of the vinyl experience. It is groovewear and distortion I hate and this has none whatsoever.

Cover’s Potential for Wear: Very high indeed. Most are shabby, tired and plain disappointing with the raised surfaces of the heavy texturing rubbed showing large amounts of heavy speckle. This has minimal traces and is one to be held, viewed and truly enjoyed. Any speckle that may appear on my pictures is due to camera flash, I have taken two real close-ups just to emphasise how impressive these surfaces are.

Cover Grade and Format: MINT(-): and I think the very first I have graded quite this high, I can hardly imagine finding one a great deal better and that is the truth. An unlaminated gatefold format with heavy, deep texturing on the front and back. The inside is matt and smooth. Printed and made by the E. J. Day Group.

Cover Front & Back: A genuine work-of-art that has the appearance of an old-master with very deep and heavy textured surfaces. This has not aged one iota: both sides looks fantastic. Clean, fresh and largely devoid of any rubbing or speckle – any traces are few, light and very faint. No creasing, press marks or ring wear – the lack of rim impression is almost unheard of on this cover, but this is 100% devoid of any. This is all fantastic news for the cover connoisseur but what really makes the biggest difference is the lack of rubbing to ALL edges. The golds on both sides have no wear or rubbing at all so both the main faces look totally sharp and complete. One of the best Poseidon covers I have ever seen bar none.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Pristine perfect, clean and fresh as made. That silver ink is still however quite hard to read, best when tilted towards light.

Top Edges: Any rub traces are beyond minuscule and both very straight.

Bottom Edges: Very slight surface rub traces, but will these storage edges be found better? I am talking ultra faint and few indeed.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, very sharp with barely any traces of wear with no trimming, burring or thickening. Record enters on the back edge.

Spine and Text: Again exceptional: solid, straight, barely compressed and folded practically square. The edges meeting up very closely and parallel. All text is present and unworn with any rubbing to the fragile surface so faint and light it barely even registers. Both folds retain all ink which is a near impossible ask, this is guaranteed natural with NO tip-ins or enhancements – if I suspect this, I will always mention it. I have scrutinised this very closely and knowing the source of this record well, it’s never even an issue to consider.

Corners: Very small tip rubs that on such covers are near impossible to avoid, possibly the least seen on what is a ruthless and uncompromising sleeve. All retain excellent to near mint shape and definition.

Cover Summary: I cannot emphasise enough how intolerant this cover is to poor or inadequate storage, lack of protection or heavy-handling. Many are found in a poor or shabby states making one like this exceptional. As close to ‘off-the-shelf’ as I can imagine, the pure freshness of this classic prog cover is almost world-class. It almost spoils you for whatever shows up next, this beauty should please most-all collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): this Polydor-pressed Island pink album includes it’s original polylined inner as it should. This has aged little but has a little mild darkening on the adhesive areas of the seams and this only reason a Mint(-) grading was resisted. Both window circles are immaculate and the lining ultra clear and secure as are the edges. that have no repairs. Barely a crease to be seen and this almost puts the icing on the cake.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++) with just a small and fine mark on the start of side two that emits a few light ticks, that apart, I would have considered a still higher grading because any other visual blemishes are tiny, very few and ultra faint as scrutinised under bright angled light. Either a tiny manufacuture mark or a small mishap from the distant past on side two, but this still has the lustre and wonderful good looks of a record hardly even played. A hugely impressive visual copy that’s super clean, with deep shine and lustre, intense black and quite heavily pressed. The one small and brief blemish apart, this is near top-drawer with sound to match. The one small blemish may deter the perfectionist, but most releastic collectors of difficult prog-classics will treasure this.

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 snippets 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: Firstly, I have to state yet again just about all King Crimson albums are a vinyl collector’s nightmare – with the ultimate in extremes and I am always a little nervous when playing a ‘new’ found title. One minute virtual silence, like the very beginning of this album and last minute of side two. Also some segments of side two’s instrumental passages where there is barely any sound at all. Then ferocious crescendos of mass volume and swirling Mellotron that are captable of shaking the building’s foundations. This is the ultimate test for any vinyl record (and equipment) and I believe that hardly any copies will exist that will play absolutely ‘silent’ in their entirity, the format hardly allows it. Most sound enthusiasts are now used to CD silence, but records with ‘contact’ reproduction are a different matter altogether. The tiniest fragment embedded into any groove can sound as a light pop or crackle and can anyone honestly say a record 42 years old will have none at all? – this is being totally honest and realistic – I play all my records from beginning to end on VERY revealing equipment and simply tell it the way it is.

So how does this one play? I almost hold my breath on every King Crimson record I play-grade to offer because even if they look like new they don’t always play like that. These ultra fine delicate opening grooves are so fragile and vulnerable, and as stated a fine mark is seen (just) and heard briefly at the start of side two, but little else. Few will look and sound much better for their entirety. A record that delivers in every department with incredibly powerful, totally distortion-free sound. All frequencies are sharp, clear and fully focused and offers truly awesome sound quality that is astonishing with a massive dynamic range with lovely detail. Any other surface sounds are minimal, faint and very infrequent. This is an immensely challenging record that for those familiar will already know. Most of the ultra quiet sections play very well indeed without that irritating constant crackle so many seem to have, any traces are minor and faint. This is near mastertape quality that takes you into the studio itself with a pressing standard of the highest possible quality. As stated, some passages on side two have no instrumentation or vocal, pure silence and the reproduction here was pretty close to that. On the other end of the scale, the sheer sonic power and difficult-to-track intense Mellotron sound on side two is perfect without any hint of high frequency breakup or stressing, all focused and precise, it’s just a question if your system can handle ‘The Devil’s Triangle’. Very complex groove patterns with wide and varying widths can clearly be seen with the naked eye and with close observation while playing, both the headshell and stylus can be seen ‘flicking’ from side to side just to try and stay in the groove and track perfectly. Both channels remain clean and sharp, yes even on the thunderous Mellotron climaxes, I am certain this record has hardly even been handled let alone played, and then only on quality equipment and has been ultra carefully stored and lovingly looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. I can forgive one small blemish, it happens, but with little else to fault, life goes on. Like the cover, this record suffers any abuse badly and is very intolerant of ancient unforgiving equipment or overplaying on such. Nothing beyond the fine mark spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this progressive giant – ignore those critics from the past, this is a ‘Crimson Classic’. Visually and aurally this is a delight throughout and this example will prove very difficult to find better overall. This merits my strong recommendation and even putting this up for sale is proving hard. If the few light ticks at the start of side two is an issue… well you decide.

End Piece: I adore King Crimson, they could little wrong for me right up to Red which I regard as their final masterpiece – although the later albums are interesting, the early-era Island albums are all essential and King Crimson remain in the premier league for real progressive rock. Along with van der Graaf Generator and early Genesis, their albums on vinyl are very hard to find in a fit state to really enjoy, so many being ruined by intolerable amounts of surface sound (or worse). How many copies of the debut will really play near silent? – few, if any to be honest, and this album is similar as we all know. So I am delighted to offer this very strong all-round early copy, not the rarest Island pink for sure, but one of the most difficult and demanding conditionwise. Any progressive or pink Island collector will enjoy this one, the sound and mix on the early pressings are vastly superior to the latter, thinner pressings that followed and all fine details that remain masked or hidden on later pressings are all here on these deep and unworn grooves. This is what real high fidelity is all about and why many collectors invest vast amounts in audio equipment to enjoy the finer details. The one small blemish apart, I doubt I will ever find a better example again – I think Robert Fripp himself would approve.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. 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 collector – 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 total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. 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/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. 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. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are 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 at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 8,000+ items sold in over 10 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please as me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

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

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.25

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16 (£17 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. 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. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

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 necessarily 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’.