N.S.U. - TURN ON, OR TURN ME DOWN Rare N Mint STABLE LP

	£		57
	$		75

A very, very rare and high book value album "Turn on, or turn me down" from the Scottish band N.S.U. on STABLE RECORDS - SLE 8002 ~ (Stereo 1969)

This is in stiff, heavy 166 gram weight vinyl and has the matrix numbers "SLE + 8002 + A2" on side 1 and "SLE + 8002 + B2" on side 2, (SLE 8002 is twice repeated on the labels); there are no separated out Mother or Stamper numbers but the album was only available for a very short time and is in heavy vinyl so it is extremely likely that this is a first pressing copy, if that matters!

This auction then is for an exceptionally rare and highly collectable LP from this short-lived Scottish psychedelic freak rock progressive blues band NSU, on a fairly rare and also collectable label, that is musically also one of the finest recordings of it’s time and a real forgotten gem.

Check my bidder’s feedback - you will see I describe my records 100% truthfully so you can bid in confidence.

The record itself is pressed in heavy grade vinyl and is very clean on both sides, with just a couple of light spindle marks on the labels, which are the correct silver print with matt black ground, with no stickers or writing on them - I have played this of course, but only a handful of times and so it still has a tight spindle hole.
There are very minor sleeve marks on the record surfaces, really minimal surface noise, NO clicks or jumps, NO crackles or pops and obviously absolutely NO scratches!
I have just played this VERY, VERY LOUD, to check it out once more, (OK then, twice......), and that's because it’s just so damn GOOD!
It plays really well, having the typical sparkling clean audio that was characteristic of most recordings done in the late sixties/early seventies at The De Lane Lea Recording Studos in London; the replay level is relatively low to give all the vocals and instruments a clear and distinct sound with no audible degradation and it is definitely in excellent playable and listenable condition, but the cover lets it down so I am starting it at a relatively low price and with no reserve. This item would be ideal of course for someone who has a copy with a good sleeve but a worn out lump of vinyl!!

The gatefold cover is a heavy matt card, unlaminated type and is OK except for some surface lifting at the front top LHS and RHS, (where stickers has been removed by A. Nother), but it has no writing, marks, folds or tears and minimal pressure rubbing marks; there is a slight split at the top leading edge and quite a lot of shelf wear though, (see the pictures - and quite why the cover features the band with Mount Ararat, the national symbol of Armenia in the background defeats me - surely it should have been Stack Polly of Ben Nevis?)

The sleeve is the correct square corners, plain paper one, with some old folds, one minor 12 mm tear but no age browning, writing or marks.

Using the Record Collector grading system; the vinyl is thus EXCELLENT on both sides, but the cover is just GOOD.

I never saw this Ayrshire/Fife based band and bought this record solely on sight because it was cheap in a record sale in Harrods in Knightsbridge, (great for buying recent records of the day at low cost every Christmas!), and as the track NSU was one of my favourite Cream tracks at the time; it turns out that the band were supposedly influenced by Cream, but to my ears, they are far more in the experimental American West Coast vein, with long, adventurous guitar solos and ambitious changes and the record is bluesy, freaky, laid back, fuzzy, jazzy and folksy, all in one. Sort of Sam Gopal meets Love via Mike Bloomfield.

There is some superb, fast attacking drumming on this album from drummer "Billie" and it was very far ahead of it’s time in this respect, very Stewart Copeland in fact, (although he does drop into fomulaic Ginger Baker drum rolls in his solo in their cover of the old Canned Heat track "On The Road Again" - it’s actually a very good version though), and the guitar is very nicely up in the mix, with very nicely controlled use of real feedback, as it is similarly on the other tracks.
In my day they were simply Hard Rock in the progressive mould of the time and I wish I had caught them live!

So I cannot vouch for this record’s history, since I did not really buy it new, but generally, all my records are from my own personal collection, built up since the early 1960’s and have genuinely been played very little and then only on quality turntables, (Garrard Zero 100, Lab 80 and Goldring GL75), set up with a low tracking force, using Shure, then Grado then Stanton cartridges over the years. All records have been dry stored, vertically, in the dark in a proper custom made record shelving system and only ever played by myself and NEVER loaned to anyone and especially, never ever partied!

If you are interested in early British R & B and Progressive Rock Bands and the USA West Coast bands of the time then please add me to your favourites as I do have some rarities that I have never seen on eBay. I generally do not go in for all the b******s about rare first pressings and the excessive detailing of group histories that I see other sellers boring eBay members with and will describe the records honestly, just indicating the basics, but in this case, I have put more details in than usual as this band are really not well known.

The packed weight of this item is estimated at 520g and signed for postage via 2nd class Recorded Delivery is now shown as £2.80 to UK addresses, insured to £34.00, (if the final value goes over this, then I shall send it Special Delivery in the UK, insured to £500.00 at £6.40).
LP’s will now be sent in the heaviest grade of mailer available, (600gm) with double board stiffeners, and this is charged at an additional cost of £0.63 but will take up to 2 LP's safely for those who wish to combine postage on multiple bids, (each LP will be protected with a waterproof plastic bag).
No other packing charges are added; you just pay what I pay!

NB: This item may be picked up in person, or will be despatched securely, so it will need to be signed for on delivery; I will not send it care of a business address without written acceptance of your liability for loss, theft or damage, nor to a PO box.
Carriage charges, where indicated, are for zone 1 UK post codes only. If you are in other zones or are an overseas bidder, you can get an estimate of carriage costs by checking with the www.royalmail.co.uk web site, entering the package dimensions and estimated volumetric shipping weight shown above and choosing the International Shipping options, plus an additional insurance fee if appropriate to the item's final value, but please note that additional packing may increase the packed weight and hence the actual cost.

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