Mike Oldfield TUBULAR BELLS 1973 UK LP 1st Press B&W Labels, Laminated Sleeve NM
£
104
$
138
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Description
I have come across a collection of records that defy time.
They belonged to a collector who was buying in the mid to late 60's through the 70's and 80's
However his family have said that he didn't own a record player until the mid 80's.
Very strange I know, but what it means is that the early records have in most cases never been played or at the most one play.
Naturally people's tastes in music change and that's why the 80's albums have had more play than the 60's
There are some incredible records in this collection
I aim to release one per day and will list them at 8pm UK time so that they don't get confused with my other listings
I will also be playing each record and recording IT. My very very careful test play will go undetected however
MIKE OLDFIELD - TUBULAR BELLS
IN SUPERB NEAR MINT CONDITION
1ST VIRGIN PRESS - BLACK AND WHITE LABELS
MINT MINUS LAMINATED SLEEVE
- CATALOGUE:VIRGIN VS2001
- MATRIX: VS 2001 A-2U / B-3U
- MOTHERS/STAMPERS:1 TO / 6 GGG
THIS ALBUM WAS ONE OF THE 'GIANTS' THAT SOLD IN THE MILLIONS, BUT BACK IN 1973 WHEN IT WAS THE FIRST EVER ALBUM RELEASED ON THE NEW VIRGIN LABEL IT SOLD POORLY.
IN FACT IT TOOK OVER A YEAR TO REACH THE UK NUMBER 1 POSITION IN THE CHARTS. THEREFORE FINDING A FIRST PRESS WITH IT'S SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IS INDEED A RARITY
A FIRST PRESS TUBULAR BELLS IT MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING TRAITS
1. THE SLEEVE MUST BE FULLY LAMINATED ON BOTH SIDES (LATER PRESSES WERE UNLAMINATED)
2. THE LABELS MUST BE TOTALLY BLACK AND WHITE (NO OTHER COLOUR WHATSOEVER) ALL OTHERS ARE REISSUES
A QUICK TRIVIA QUESTION. WHO ANNOUNCES THE INSTRUMENTS AT THE END OF SIDE ONE?
A: VIVIEN STANSHALL OF THE BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND
THE RECORDS
THE LABELS
THE LABELS ARE IN TOP CONDITION, BOTH BLACK AND WHITE COLOURS ARE UNRUBBED WITH THE WHITE SECTION REMAINING 'WHITE' , AND THE BLACK DEEP AND RICH . THE SURFACE FULLY STRETCHES IN TO the UNWORN SPINDLE HOLE, WHERE THER ARE JUST 1-2 REALLY TINY SPIDER LINES AROUND THE HOLE, SHOWING JUST HOW LITTLE THIS SUPERB ALBUM HAS BEEN PLAYED
THE BLACK TYPEFACE IS ALL PERFECTLY LEGIBLE AND UNRUBBED.
THE VINYL
THE VINYL HAS RETAINED ALL OF ITS ORIGINAL SHEEN, AND LOOKS MAGNIFICENT.
IN DAYLIGHT IT IS TOTALLY FLAWLESS
WHEN PLACED SPOTLIGHTS THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MINUSCULOE WISPY HAIRLINES AND A TINY LITTLE DULL MARK ON THE OUTER RIM OF SIDE ONE
THE TEST PLAY
THIS IS SUCH A DIFFICULY LP TO FIND IN COLLECTABLE CONDITION, DUE WHOLLY TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY QUIET PASSAGES OF MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ALBUM THAN SOME NOISE IS ALMOST A FOREGONE CONCLUSION
HERE HOWEVER WE HAVE ONE THAT HAS BEEN PLAYSED NO MORE THANA COUPLE OF TIMES AND REMAINS IN SPECTACULAR CONDITION
THE QUALITY OF THE RECORDING IS INCREDIBLE, WITH EVERY NOTE BEING HEARD CLEARLY. THE PRODUCTION IS PURE FIRST PRESS. THE STEREO REPRODUCTION IS JUST MAGNIFICENT
THE VINYL PLAYS WITHOUT ANY DISTORTION TO THE SOUND WHATSOEVER. MEANING NO GROOVE WEAR
NO EMBEDDED VINYL NOISE EITHER
THERE IS NO SERIOUS BACKGROUND CRACKLE AT ANY POINT
VINYL NOISE IS LIMTED TO JUST A LITTLE LOW LEVEL STATIC LIKE BACKGROUND IN A COUPLE OF PLACES AND JUST A FEW MINUSCULE LITTLE DUST / STATIC TICS
PLUS A TINY BIT OF BACKGROUND AS SIDE ONE STARTS FOR A COUPLE OF ROTATIONS
A VERY CLEAN AND CLEAR SOUNDING 1ST PRESS OF THIS OUTSTANDING ALBUM
I AM HAPPY TO GRADE THIS AUDIO NEAR MINT
THE SLEEVE
CORRECT 1ST ISSUE E.J.DAY LAMINATED SINGLE SLEEVE
THE FRONT SURFACE IS FLAT AND CLEAN, AND THERE ARE NO HEAVY CREASES OR CREASE LINES, NOR ARE THERE ANY BENDS OR DINGS
THE COLOURS HAVE ALL BEEN RETAINED AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF RUBBING, AND PARTICULARLY NO RING WEAR OR RECORD SHAPE AT ALL
THE LAMINATE GLEAMS LIKE A POLISHED MIRROR, AND LOOKS SUPERB. NO PEEL, LIFT OR FLAKE
THERE IARE NO PRESSURE LINES AGAINST THE SPINE WHATSOEVER. NONE ON THE TOP EDGE.NONE ON THE BOTTOM EDGE, AND NO THUMB LINES NEAR THE OPENING EDGE
THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES ARE FREE FROM ANY SHELF WEAR. AND HAS CLEARLY BEEN PROTECTED SINCE NEW. THE LAMINATE ON THESE EDGES IS IN PRISTINE MARK FREE CONDITION
THE SPINE IS FREE FROM ANY SHELF WEAR AND EVERY LETTER OF THE TYPEFACE IS PERFECTLY LEGIBLE. IT IS ALSO VERY FLAT AND HAS NO RUB TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM
THE OPENING EDGE IS RAZOR SHARP ALL THE WAY ALONG BOTH SURFACES
THE REAR SURFACE SHOWS TWO VERY LIGHT CREASE LINES, ON THE RIGHT HALF, VISIBLE ONLY WHEN ANGLED INTO THE LIGHT. VERY ODD BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ON THE FRONT
THE ORIGINAL PAPER INNER SLEEVE IS INCLUDED AND IS IN UNSPLIT CONDITION.
I AM HAPPY TO GRADE THIS SLEEVE MINT MINUS
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BID IF YOU CHOSE TO GO FOR IT
GARRY
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