SPOOKY TOOTH Spooky Two original pink eye Island UK 1st pr LP GREAT EARLY COPY

$

85

This week I'm auctioning a batch of selected LPs. I have done my best to present and describe the albums accurately. I've spent several years doing a deep research dedicated to classic rock records so all the information collected about a particular album is listed below. I'm not going to call any record "megarareprereleaseearliestpossiblematrixnumberstamperscopy" just because it's the record I'm selling at the moment (like some sellers, sadly, do). Below you'll find just pure facts. 

A note for potential buyers: I guarantee shipping next day after payment has been received but I cannot guarantee delivery time. It's December and postal services are working slower than usually so please keep this in mind if you need delivery before Christmas. European buyers may expect delivery within 10-15 days but to other destinations it may take more.

There's a RESERVE PRICE set for this auction which is ABSOLUTELY REASONABLE, if you're serious about buying this item feel free to contact me if you wish to know the reserve amount.

SPOOKY TOOTH "Spooky Two" original "pink eye" Island UK first pressing LP early copy very close to Near Mint

The copy offered is an early pressing on the much collectable pink "eye" Island label, original first UK pressing. More, this is the ORIGINAL UK pressing, sonically it beats any other country pressing not talking about its highest collecting value.

Pressing details.

Record / label

Not many collectors know that three types of pink "eye" labels exist for this album. (I'm not talking about further "pink I", "pink rim", etc. pressings). The first version had 5 tracks listed on side A and 5 tracks on side B. The second version had still 5 tracks on side A but corrected 4 tracks on side B label. Finally, the third version has correctly listed 4 tracks on each side's label. I have not found any documented explanation for this anomaly but common logic suggests that most likely the album was initially intended to be released with different songs' listing . The songs' listing has been revised by the release date (as all the covers I've seen have them listed correctly) but the labels which have been produced (obviously) prior to release have been not revised. They did not pay much attention to that at Island and so we have different track listings on labels/covers  on the earliest copies. The most curious fact is existence of the second version (5/4 tracks) - either they detected the mistake only on the B side or just the stock of side A labels was larger than that of B-sides, both versions seem very strange but it's the fact and OFFERED HERE IS THE 2ND VERSION copy with corrected 4 tracks on side B but wrong 5 tracks on side A. Nobody will tell you for sure if this 2nd version was a pre-release one or it was pressed already after the initial release but anyway it is a very early version and definitely earlier that the common 4/4 version.

The first 5/5 track version is truly very rare, you won't even find complete pictures of it at discogs but it definitely exists as presented in the Yury Grishin's latest book. Rarity of the 2nd version offered here I estimate to be about 10 to 1 compared to the common 3rd version basing on analyses of the sold copies.

Matrix numbers, other run-out info

All the "pink  eye" copies of this album were pressed at Orlake. At the Orlake plant they did not indicate mothers' and stampers' numbers in the run-off so the aforementioned suggested pressing sequence is based on common sense and cannot be confirmed by stampers' analysis. Also for all pink label releases the same lacquers were used so the matrix numbers  as found on this copy are: ILPS+9098+A & ILPS+9098+B

Cover

 Covers of five different colours are known to exist. All the covers were printed by Ernest J. Day and are identical except for the colour. I can't speak for the mega rare 5/5 version but 2nd version records are usually found in grey or blue covers. No chance to tell which one is earlier (as both colours are found again with later 4/4 discs). The copy offered here comes in a blue cover.

Inner sleeve

The inner sleeve though usually overlooked by collectors is an integral part of a record album only which presence makes it fully complete not mentioning a lot of information which it carries by itself (if you know how to use this information). The inner sleeve for this copy  is guaranteed ORIGINAL, CORRECT authentic inner sleeve as supplied by the Orlake plant: die-cut one with all square corners and no print. The original owner pasted pictures of the band on it but if you look inside it you see the round holes on both sides.

Both cover and label side A have the date 31/7/69 so it's obvious that the actual record was pressed before that date. As the album was released in March 1969 we may be sure we have either a pre-release copy or a copy pressed within 4 months after the release. Considering the fact that the original owner was GERMAN (the pictures glued to the inner sleeve are taken from German papers) we may assume that this copy was pressed not within the first 4 months but definitely earlier - probably two months would be a good estimation.

Condition

The cover deserves a very solid and conservative EXCELLENT grading and it's on the highest side of excellent, would be called Near Mint with no doubt if sold by many dealers we know. Detected imperfections include the aforementioned writing inside and some natural yellowing at the top, spine and inside. All corners and seams are nearly perfect (the "worst" corner may be viewed on one of the pictures), the spine is fully intact and there's not a hint of ringwear whatsoever.

The record is just about Near Mint. Visually I can mention a couple of sleeve removal hairlines and only two surface marks seen under a definite angle only which are not deep and not affect play in any way.

Play testing shows some low natural "static" in the run-ins which disappears soon after the music starts. After that the record plays true Near Mint throughout, occasional  tiny clicks were heard once or twice which is natural for a record that's 47 years old. The gaps between tracks are as silent as they may be. EXCELLENT PLUS - that's my conclusion. 

Overall very close to being a TOP COPY considering its rarity discussed earlier.

Summary

Artist: SPOOKY TOOTH

Title: SPOOKY TWO

Country of origin: UK

Release and pressing year:  1969, March to May, possibly - pre-release copy

Label: ISLAND, "pink eye" design

Catalogue number: ILPS 9098

Pressing: ORIGINAL, FIRST

Pressing plant: Orlake

Grading cover/record: EXCELLENT / EXCELLENT PLUS

Inner sleeve: ORIGINAL, CORRECT

Matrix numbers ILPS+9098+A & ILPS+9098+B no mothers, stampers, etc.

Play-testing setup

Thorens 125 table, MC type cartridge Kuzma  KC-1 (OEM manufactured by ZYX), Luxman L-560 amp, Harbeth HL-7 speakers.

Treating records

I always treat vinyl records with the greatest care - just because I love them. All the records I sell have been cleaned professionally with the isopropyl alcohol based solution and placed in brand new deluxe German made poly-lined inner sleeves. Original inners are surely preserved. For further packing I use re-sealable outer sleeves, custom German made LP mailers with cardboard stiffeners and I add extra protection for corners for heavy parcels.

Shipping

Shipping cost for this item is 18 USD WORLDWIDE. I ship worldwide by Registered Air Mail and obtain an internationally valid tracking number. If the postal service of your country allows tracing of incoming overseas parcel you'll be able to use the tracking number. I'm happy to offer combined shipping for multiple purchases, this allows to save quite a lot on postage. Feel free to contact me if you need to know shipping price for several items.

Payment

Paypal.

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