Oasis- Be Here Now.....Original 1997 Vinyl LP...Gatefold Sleeve...CRELP 219

	£		69
	$		91

Original 1997 pressing of the third Oasis LP. 

This is a beautiful object.

The gatefold sleeve is thick and the vinyl heavy.

The full colour artwork is engaging and with design and detail presented over several surfaces, it harks back to the great days of albums when you could tuck one under your arm, go round your mates and pore over the cover whilst listening. A time when the release of an album was an important cultural moment.

This copy is in excellent condition. The card of both cover and liners is crisp, the edges good and corners undamaged. For the purposes of Ebay I won’t use Mint of Near Mint as categories, so I am listing it as VG+: there is a little bit of grubbiness to the top seam and side seam (photos).

The vinyl weighs in at about 160 grams per platter, offering a full and detailed sound, it is shiny and unmarked by buffs or scratches. From the tightness of the discs on my spindle I wonder whether they have ever been played! As above I have limited myself to a grading of VG+. If I have to find a fault it’s that attractive as the inner liners are, proper slip covers would have provided better protection from dust and static. 

Please understand that in both these gradings I am being generous to you, the buyer.

For the collector's out there the runout is marked with the (barely decipherable) words 'Mike's the Exchange'

Oasis were never really my thing, but this is a very attractive package and would make an excellent gift.

I am selling a collection of vinyl mostly blues, jazz and new wave from the 70’s and 80’s.

As general background the owner was a smoker and not the most house-proud, HOWEVER he was fastidious in the care of his record collection, so much so that I have kept about 30% of the records for my own pleasure. 

Given that Ebay is an unseen, trust based marketplace, my assessment's will be conservative, detailed and based upon listening to the records for sale. As with most sellers my gradings are based upon the Goldmine Standard (abridged and paraphrased from Discogs below).

Near Mint (NM or M-)

A nearly perfect record. A NM- record has more than likely never been played, and the vinyl will play perfectly, with no imperfections during playback. I am unlikely to ever use this grading for vinyl quality unless I KNOW a record to be new, unplayed and probably still wrapped.

A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as any sign of slight handling. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits, cut-out holes, or other noticeable similar defects. The same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, etc.  

Very Good Plus (VG+)

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. Defects should be more of a cosmetic nature, surfaces may show slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences.

The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. Picture sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear, and may be marred by an indentation or sample distribution cut. In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. 

Very Good (VG)

Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches 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.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+)

In truth I wouldn’t usually bother listing vinyl in this condition, that is with ‘noticeable surface noise and ticks’ although I would consider listing an unusual record with a cover in this condition where ‘seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear, or other defects will be present’