TRAFFIC WINWOOD MR FANTASY (MONO) UK 1ST PRS MiNt AuDiO

	£		161
	$		213

TRAFFIC ''MR. FANTASY'' 1ST UK PRESSING THE EARLIEST AND RAREST TO EVER FIND!! CAT NO. ILP-961 (MONO) WITH (TEXTURED ISLAND LABELS) WITH THE ORANGE AND BLACK EYE LOGO!!!(ONLY ORIGINAL 1ST UK PRESSINGS)!!NEAR MINT AUDIO ON MY SYSTEM ABSOLUTELY STUNNING VINYL SOUNDS BARELY EVER PLAYED!!! ORIGINAL LAMINATED FRONT (MONO) 1ST PRESS GATEFOLD COVER !!!!

THE EARLIEST MATRIX EVER -A and -B ! WITH (NO) MOTHER STAMPERS ONLY FOUND ON THE EARLIEST PRESS!!!HIGHLY COLLECTABLE AND SOUGHT AFTER IN THIS AWESOME CONDITION!!!!

I am a huge fan of Steve Winwood and Traffic, and have all of the original Uk releases and this is from my personal collection!! There are actually four different versions of the album when taking into account both the UK and US track listings and the different stereo and mono mixes. All have recently been re-issued on CD. This is the rarest and most sought after and original MONO UK PRESSING with absolutely awsome sound production throughout and sounds in my opinion barely played!! truly unbeleivable for an original that is clocking 41 years old! You will find the audio on this album hard to surpass!!!!!!! 

Mr. Fantasy (not to be confused with "Dear Mr. Fantasy", the title song on this album) is the debut album by English rock band Traffic. It was released in 1967. For the recording, group members included Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, and Dave Mason, however Mason left the band before the album was released.!!

Considered by far the strangest and most art rock style album that Traffic released, Mr. Fantasy didn't gain much more than a cult following for Traffic at the time. Critics seemed to like the album, though, and most said it was clear that Steve Winwood and Traffic were good at putting together semi-mainstream psychedelic rock, except this album was not quite mainstream enough. By their next release, the eponymous Traffic, the band was said to have worked through that!!.

This album features even more horns, flutes, and less rock-style instruments than most of Traffic's future releases. The sitar was used much more in this album than any other later Traffic albums, undoubtedly because of Dave Mason's influence!!!!.

The first US version of the album on United Artists Records had a different title Heaven Is In Your Mind and a different cover that featured 3 members of the group without Dave Mason. The title was quickly changed back to Mr. Fantasy but the new cover remained until Island Records re-issued the UK version in the late 1970s!!!.

For the original US edition the group changed the album substantially. The song order was changed and a short snippet of the group's November 1967 single "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush" was added between most of the songs. The US LP also added three songs from the group's UK singles, "Paper Sun" and "Hole In My Shoe" and "Smiling Phases" (B-side) while deleting two Dave Mason songs "Hope I Never Find Me There" and "Utterly Simple." The final track on the US album "Were A Fade, You Missed This' is actually the ending of "Paper Sun" as it appeared in the earlier single. There are also many differences between the stereo and mono mixes for the album. Both the US and UK editions were released in stereo and mono!!.

The album was engineered by Phil Brown who when asked what was his favourite memory of engineering he responded: "Recording Dear Mr Fantasy, one o'clock in the morning, November 1967."!!!!!!!

Original UK album

1. "Heaven Is in Your Mind" (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood) – 4:16
2. "Berkshire Poppies" (Capaldi, Winwood, Wood) – 2:55
3. "House for Everyone" (Dave Mason) – 2:05
4. "No Face, No Name, No Number" (Capaldi, Winwood) – 3:35
5. "Dear Mr. Fantasy" (Capaldi, Winwood, Wood) – 5:44
6. "Dealer" (Capaldi, Winwood) – 3:34
7. "Utterly Simple" (Mason) – 3:16
8. "Coloured Rain" (Capaldi, Winwood, Wood) – 2:43
9. "Hope I Never Find Me There" (Mason) – 2:12
10. "Giving to You" (Capaldi, Mason, Winwood, Wood) – 4:20

The Matrix

side 1.''ILP-961-A'' (1ST PRESS)

side 2. ''ILP-961-B'' (1ST PRESS)

(NO) MOTHER STAMPERS AT 3 OCLOCK AND 9 OCLOCK TO THE MATRIX!!! (YOU WILL ONLY FIND THIS ON THE EARLIEST EVER UK PRESSINGS)!!!!

The Vinyl

This is the original thick heavy and chunky type of vinyl! Only found on early pressings, with deep grooves!!!! (later press are much more flimsier and less robust)

This vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable and there is no warping!

On initial inspection this vinyl looks absolutely awesome and i can hardly see a blemish! This retains its original sheen from new! Only when scrutinised in strong light can I barely see any feint surface scuffs. Please note! I cant see any needle scratches at least (no) audio sounding marks what so ever!!Outstanding \stunning for 41 years old!!

The Audio

I have played this vinyl track for track three times prior to listing at very loud volume on a top system! The audio is truly awesome throughout, (no) distortion or any signs of any grooveware or that this has been over played what so ever!!! Cristal clear and vibrant throughout! Truly unique MONO audio that can not be surpassed by the later stereo versions in my opinion. This is how it should sound!

Please note! I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd light static (not) consistant throughout the audio! Please remember that this is a genuine 41 year old vinyl, that would have originally been played on a 41 year old system!!! top top audio throughout!!

Points to note! This has been stored in a case for at least 25 years! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves from laying dormant causes static crackle\ticks ! A constant clean is recomended before each play!,, this will reduce this static and enhance the audio quality!!!!

The Labels

These are the earlist 1st press TEXTURED PINK ISLAND LABELS (WITH THE RED AND BLACK EYE LOGO) These look very near perfect and I can barely see very minimal spidering (even angled to the light)

The record sleeve

This is a plain white sleeve.

The Cover

This is the original 1ST PRESS (MONO) gatefold cover (laminated front with internal flipbacks) with mono featured at the spine!!(only 1st issues)  minimal ringware can only be seen angled to the light and super glossy laminate! There is storageware scuffing ware at the spine end corners only and just slight laminate lift at the spine (common on these original 40 year old covers due to the flimsy nature of the front flap on the cover)The top corner spine end has been cliped slightly  but this is strong and straight and rarely seen like this! There is no nasty names written on this! The internal is unlaminated with flipbacks (only 1st press) in truly superbe condition. This is original and rare! This must be at least excellent Superbe example!!!!

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA IS 10.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 7.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS 3.90 SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!!!

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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