MIJ /-BY THE NUMBERS-/ ABSURDLY RARE STILL IN SHRINK

$

40

  Long since squirelled away,THIS IS A ORIGINAL PRESSING of what can be (ARGUABLY) Called a lost masterpiece!! From the label that went on to produce some of the most "challenging" music, I offer a glimpse into what some would call a "less than accessible" album.At RECORDMART165 we truly feel this album is a necessary part in the completion of the ESP catalogue.

  Let's get one thing straight right off the bat. MIJ — aka Jim Holmberg — does not yodel. Yodeling is a learned technique that requires the ability to slide between singing from the chest and from the throat, moving between the two while leaping intervals. It requires control over the epiglottal stop, closing the throat with a hiccup while moving into a falsetto. Most people have imitated it, but that doesn't mean they're doing it right. (And while the table is being set, let us mention that while MIJ may be an astrologer, it's not entirely evident from his record. For some true avant starch-art pop, search down Harvey Sid Fisher's records.) What MIJ does is warble. He peppers his songs with falsetto screams. Not the same thing.

Which is not to accuse MIJ of selling a beat bag. When his set of reverb-drenched hippie folk songs was originally released in 1969, it was titled Color by the Number. He may or may not have been yodeling when ESP-Disk founder Bernard Stollman stumbled on him in Washington Square in Greenwich Village. Either way, he was reportedly playing and singing the sounds he'd heard ever since fracturing his skull in car accident. Stollman promptly booked him for three hours studio time, and Holmberg's place in history was reserved.

And it is a little place in history he has. The album is a curious, funny yet enjoyable time capsule. His sopranino hiccoughing and outer space love songs are a product of the time when Marc Bolan was still singing about unicorns. The slap-back on his acoustic guitar is cranked so high it almost sounds like there's someone else playing along. And it, of course, ends quite epically with the 8-minute "Look Into the (K)Night," a song so wide-eyed that the listener is forced to realize that not only did boy hippies make such mythic declarations of true love, but girl hippies presumably must have lapped it up.

If you feel it necessary,below I provide a link to see and hear what MIJ is all about:

http://espdisk.com/official/catalog/1098.html

Tracks

1. Two Stars 3:55 
2. Grok (Martian Love Call) 7:04 
3. Romeo And Juliet 3:16 
4. Little Boy 4:19 
5. Lookin' Out Today 3:42 
6. Door Keys 4:47 
7. Planet Of A Flower 4:20 
8. Never Be Free 4:23 
9. Look Into The (K)Night 8:02

Matrix:

Side 1/a:- ESPS-1098-A

Side 2/b:- ESPS-1098-B

VISUAL GRADING:

     AT RECORDMART-165 WE USE GOLDMINE (MAGAZINE) STANDARDS.ALBUMS ARE VIEWED UNDER THREE FORMS OF LIGHTING; NATURAL (DIRECT SUNLIGHT),FLORESCENT AND DIFFUSED LIGHT.RECORDS ARE INSPECTED FOR SCRATCHES, ABRASIONS, SLEEVE WEAR ,WARPING AND LUSTER.OUR GRADING IS CONSERVATIVE AS WE NEITHER WANT TO WASTE OUR TIME NOR DISAPPOINT YOU.SPECIFIC QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE STATE OF THE ALBUM ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED.WE DO NOT LISTEN TO THE RECORDS AND FOR THE MOST PART ,HAVE NOT SINCE THEY WERE ISSUED.

GRADING STANDARDS

Near Mint (NM or M-)

A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like. Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap. Near Mint is the highest price listed in all Goldmine price guides. Anything that exceeds this grade, in the opinion of both buyer and seller, is worth significantly more than the highest Goldmine book value.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value. A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK". The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG)

Generally worth 25 percent of Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them. Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list Very Good as the lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your guide when determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price a dealer will normally pay you for a Near Mint record.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+)

Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white). A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.

Poor (P), Fair (F)

Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near Mint price. The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon. Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

THIS RECORD

THIS RECORD/VINYL IS IN NM(-) SHAPE ,THE JACKET AND LINER ARE IN VG++ SHAPE .LINER ON THIS RECORD WAS STANDARD WHITE LINER. WE JUDGE THIS RECORD AS A VERY SOLID (VG+++).AS STATED ORIGINAL SHRINKWRAP IS INTACT,IT HAS SEEN SOME DISCOLORATION ANDTEARS OVER THE YEARS THOUGH.CORNERS HAVE SEEN SOME "DINGING",WE APPRAISE THESE "FLAWS" AS SLIGHT AT WORST.

 HAPPY BIDDING

-NO SPINEWARE or RINGWARE

-NO SPLIT SEAMS

-LABEL IS INTACT AND CONTAINS NO MARKINGS OR WEAR WHATSOEVER

-NO MOLD OR GENERAL WATER DAMAGE

-NO SCUFFS OR MARRING OF VINYL

-NO BARCODE OR RIAA LABELING

THE RECORD WILL SHIP IN A STURDY CARDBOARD MAILER WITH FOAM PADDING SO AS TO ARRIVE IN THE SHAPE IT IS SHIPPED OUT IN.RECORD IS REMOVED FROM JACKET AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITTING.

=====================================================================================

Payment Must Be Received Within 5 Days After Auction Close

=============================================================

About Us:

-Please note,At Recordmart165 we strive for complete customer satisfaction!! To this end we want to keep our clientele happy and (hopefully)returning.If satisfied please tell a friend,if not please allow us to rectify the problem before leaving feedback.

-When bidding,remember all bids are taken seriously and the bid is considered binding.We do value communication and find it a invaluable tool in this format.Our response time is quite quick,all questions received are answered within 24 hours.

-We relish our overseas customer and have safely landed many items abroad.

-Items sold that exceed $150.00 (US) are sent Priority Mail and are insured,there is added cost to this but there is also added security.

-ITEMS CLOSING OVER $150.00 RECEIVE A 25% SHIPPING DISCOUNT

-ITEMS CLOSING OVER $200.00 SHIP 1ST CLASS FREE.$25.00 PRIORITY MAIL FEE THOUGH.IF THAT IS HOW YOU CHOOSE TO SHIP (RECOMMENDED)

INVOICE SENT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF AUCTIONS CLOSE.PLEASE DO NOT MAKE PAYMENT UNTIL INVOICE IS RECEIVED.

SHIPPING

USA: I can send this LP to you by Media Mail for $4.00, 1st Class Mail for $5.00 or Priority Mail which will be calculated after the auction using your zip code. Most of my customers prefer Media Mail because it is very cheap. Please keep in mind that it's cheap because it is SLOW.

CANADA: If you are in Canada, I can send this LP to you by 1st Class Airmail for $7.00.

MEXICO: If you are in Mexico, I can send this LP to you by 1st Class Airmail for $11.00.

EVERYWHERE ELSE: Due to questionable customs problems in Italy, we will no longer ship there. If you are not in the USA, Canada, or Mexico,  STANDARD INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING (AIR MAIL) IS $14.50 .I can send this LP to you by PRIORITY for $25.00. International customers please contact before  completion of transaction (ie: Invoice Sent) so as to discuss shipping requirements or requests. THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS FOR PROTECTION OF BUYER AND SELLER ALIKE. INSURANCE ,TRACKING AND CONFIRMATION ARE PROVIDED WITH THIS SERVICE. IN THE EVENT ITEM CLOSES FOR MORE THAN $150(USD) THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC SHIPPING REDUCTION OF 25%.