I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.

The Smashing Pumpkins : Adore A/B/C 1st Press USA 1998

This first pressing plays with superb audio and 'as new' sums up 98% to 99% of the sonic quality across the three sides.  However, there are two 'interruptions' - as is common with this LP the 'pressing' was not perfect and due to that there are two sticks, one on 'Once Upon A Time' and another on 'Shame'.  I have done a little research and this does seem to be a regular 'fault' with this album.  It is unfortunate but the quality control on 90s vinyl was never the best as we all know!  In saying the rest of this underrated LP plays with a clarity, depth and power that is amazing!  A more 'toned down' approach by their standards of course and the quieter sections do play with incredible clarity throughout.  It is clear the records have hardly been played based on the audio and that there is barely any spindle wear.  You get an honest grading from me so if you can accept the two 'sticks' then I am sure you will be hugely impressed with the rest of the album!

The gatefold is in superb condition with only very minimal shelf wear and again has been very well looked after over the last 25 years...nearly!  This version has no 'Printed in the USA' on the back cover and has an alternative barcode sticker on top of the original printed barcode.

CAR-7559-A V1-7243-8-45879-1-8-A Masterdisk

CAR-7559-B V1-7243-8-45879-1-8-B Masterdisk

CAR-7559-C V1-7243-8-45879-1-8-C Masterdisk

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Poor for 1/2 seconds / T5 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T6 Poor for 1/2 seconds)

The audio on S3 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex++

The labels are Mint-

Visual description

The vinyls are in excellent condition and still have a very impressive glossy sheen with no scratches.  S1 does have 3/4 hairlines in one area that are a little more obvious but they have no affect on the audio.  Aside from they are all very clean with only a small number of faint hairlines and only S2 has minimal spindle wear.  The labels are unmarked and there is even a little vinyl 'flecking' around the S1 label.

Play grading

The album begins with a sublime version of 'To Sheila' that has a clarity of sound that is out of this world!  A quiet acoustic track and yet there is no intrusion on the audio whatsoever, 100% stunning!  A handful of dust ticks at most this has to be graded as Mint the playback is faultless.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Ava Adore' then plays to the same high end standard.  The depth and warmth of the audio here is very impressive.  I picked up just three mega light ticks and Mint- is very much deserved.

Both 'Perfect' and 'Daphne Descends' then play 'as new' with no intrusion of any kind.  Just pure clean Mint audio from start to finish.

The sonic quality on 'Once Upon A Time' is just as good although the stylus does stick on the second line of the first verse.  There is no needle drop mark or scratch and having cleaned the record twice it's still there.  Someone has posted a review on Discogs where their copy has a jump in the same place so it is clearly a pressing fault with this record.  Once you move the stylus along slightly the remainder plays with superb audio and no interference.  Difficult to grade in a sense because 99% is 'as new' - let's say Mint- for the vast majority and Poor for two seconds.

The intro on 'Tear' is perfect and the first quiet vocal has only a small number of light ticks that are very much in the background, totally non-intrusive.  From then on it plays with tremendous power and depth and the quieter passage towards the end has no intrusion at all.  A Near Mint grade is fair but again the majority is better than that.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The piano intro on 'Crestfallen' plays with impeccable clarity and Corgan's first vocal has only 3/4 mega light ticks, blink and you miss them!!  A personal favourite this great track continues to play with stunning precision to the very end and easily qualifies as Mint-

'Appels + Oranjes' just has three static type ticks on the fade out so I will grade as Mint-

'Pug' has just one light tick on the intro and then plays with STUNNING quality from then onwards.  Not a guitar driven track of course but it nonetheless deserves to be played loud, the playback is fantastic!  Another Mint- track, what a version!

'The Tale Of Dusty and Pistol Pete' plays with imperious quality from start to finish with no interference.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is equal to that of an un-played record.  Mint

The quiet piano intro on 'Annie-Dog' plays beautifully with only a couple of dust ticks and the opening vocal has no 'background'.  From then on it plays with a clarity that we have come to expect now i.e. perfectly!  Outstanding sound quality for a relatively quiet track and Mint is more than deserved.

'Shame' ends S2 with near perfect audio.  I say 'near' because as seems to be common with this pressing there is another 'stick' on the second line - again no reason for it other than a pressing issue.  The only other 'background' is one brief static sound and a light tick near the end so again I will say Mint- for the majority and Poor for that brief interruption.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Behold! The Night Mare' plays with stunning clarity and depth with no intrusion of any kind.  The quiet acoustic mid section is a prime example of that with not even one solitary dust tick, the playback is so clean and precise.  This is audio of the highest calibre and from start to finish it is 'as new' as it just could not play any better, the sonic quality is immense!  Mint

'For Martha' plays beautifully - there is no background static and only a handful of barely audible dust ticks on the piano intro and then the opening vocal is faultless.  It continues to play with exceptional clarity for such a quiet track, for the majority anyway.  Indeed the powerful section towards the end plays with superb power and definition and the final piano section could not play with any greater precision either.  The end instrumental is just as good also.  So much better than a CD this I can confidently grade this as Mint such is the quality.

The piano intro 'Blank Page' gives further evidence of a vinyl hardly played.  I heard only a small number of mega light dust ticks and a couple of minor static ticks, the playback is stunning!  The vocal sections then keep up this standard with no interference.  This is such an atmospheric track and ends this album in fine style with a clarity that surely cannot be easy to find today.  One light static near the end so overall I will grade as Mint- but this is a stunning version in every way.

In summary this first pressing plays with outstanding audio for the vast majority with only two 'interruptions' shall we say.  Yes there are two 'sticks' but aside from that you cannot fault the clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio.  As you can see all the other tracks grade as Mint apart from one which is Near Mint!  So if you can accept the two sticks - remember this is common for this pressing - then this would be a great addition to any collection.

The Gatefold

The cover is in lovely condition with only very minimal shelf wear.  The edges have no rubbing and the wide spine is in superb shape with barely any wear on the corners.  The right hand corners are just as impressive also and the opening edge have no handling wear.  The front cover is so close to perfect with just tiny corner crease which is very faint in the lower left corner.  This can also be seen on the back cover where it is a little more obvious but still small.  The inside of the gatefold is super clean with no marking and has just a little 'lifting' on the right panel just to the right of the inner spine, this is relatively common and is only a minor thing.  Some minor creasing at the foot of the inner spine also.  A superb example overall.

The records are contained within generic poly-lined plain white inner sleeves.  One has a couple of 'window' tears so I will replace that one.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

The records have been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

CAR-7559-A V1-7243-8-45879-1-8-A Masterdisk

CAR-7559-B V1-7243-8-45879-1-8-B Masterdisk

CAR-7559-C V1-7243-8-45879-1-8-C Masterdisk

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you

100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++

Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!

Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.

Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.

Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!

Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!

Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!