TYRANNOSAURUS REX (T-Rex) My People Were Fair… UK Mono

	£		156
	$		207

Hi, I am Mike, I am 46 and have been a music collector and enthusiast for over 33 years now. We all wish we could turn back the clock and buy those wonderful brand new records from the 60s and 70s, but alas, this is not possible; so I always try to offer the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. No vinyl/music lover really would choose to buy second-hand, but this is only way now to own these valuable, prized and ellusive items now. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirity, not just bits to guess a grade (on a Rega 3 deck with Ortofon cartridge) - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story - I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested reader – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get. The only thing I cannot guarantee one hundred percent is exact colour matching - this depends on the lighting at the time and that is out of my control, but I feel sure most items will be very close to the actual real item. Variation can sometimes occur too in colour of the label scans and labels taken next to the sleeve with a digital camera, the scanned full label pictures should be the most accurate. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic , and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps or sticks or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Please Note: I will now offer any item to the runner-up after the mandatory Ebay 3 days if no contact is made by the winning bidder. The same applies if no payment is received within the mandatory 7 days so any bidder who has just lost out can still email me to reserve the item as priority second chance. Item wants are always welcome - email me with anything needed, you never know - I may just have a copy in stock. I by quality single items and collections also (Email me please if you have quality items for sale).

Debutant Bidders: Many sellers refuse first time buyers: I do not follow this practice (everybody has to start somewhere), but I would appreciate any first timer letting me know their intentions of their intended payment method and very prompt communication, preferably before any bid or soon after the auctions ends. This gives confidence that their intentions are honourable, and I in return guarantee extra special good feedbacks to get zero rated Ebayers off to a flying start to help them with future transactions. NOTE: I WILL NOT ACCEPT BIDS FROM UNREGISTERED USERS, I will cancel them immediately, and sorry, I cannot give valuations on people’s personal items just for their own curiosity, no item can be accurately valued blindly.

Please read all the information carefully - these adverts take an age to compile properly - so it’s well worth a few minutes of your time to read the details thoroughly. I really cannot take any responsibility if any bidder fails to read any facts that are clearly stated in the advert - Thankyou.

Artist or Band: TYRANNOSAURUS REX

Album Title: My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair… But Now They’re Content to Wear Stars on Their brows.

Track Listing: Hot Rod Mama; Scenescof; Child Star; Strange Orchestras; Chateau in Virginia Waters; Dwarish Trumpet Blues; Mustang Ford; Afghan Woman; Knight; Graceful Fat Sheba; Weilder of Words; Frowning Atahauallpa.

Label/Format: Regal Zonophone (Classic deep red and silver format).

Label Condition: Attractive and clean labels, a tiny blister on side one near the 1, but spindle marks are only light+ and any wear around the hole is virtually non-existent, and for a mono album this great age looks and plays to an astonishing standard. (Please see label scans for all information needed, again sorry if the label is not too clear, the silver ink always reflects and resolution will be lower than usual).

Cat Number: LRZ 1003.

Mono or Stereo: Mono (This was also issued in stereo).RANN

Country of Manufacture: Gt Britain.

Rarity: Rare, and easily, for me, the rarest of the Tyrannosaurus Rex albums, a mono copy that includes the lyric insert and looks and plays like this are rarer still and that should never be taken for granted. Even clean looking mono copies can play with horrible distortion and high frequency clipping that shatter the sound of Bolan’s incredible vocals. It’s almost perperative this delicate mono album is play-graded and lightly played to get full pleasure from this precious early Bolan recording - this passes all the criteria for offering a stunning record - and that’s rarer still! (Please read my mono vs stereo paragraph further down to put a record like into full perspective)

Original Year of Release: 1968

Matrix Nos: XCAFX 43-1G and XCAFX 44-1G. The tiny stampers are 1G / 1G. This must be a very first pressing.

Brief Artist & Album Info: Formed in 1967 by singer/guitarist Marc Bolan, Tyrannosaurus Rex was originally envisioned as an electric sextet until a hire purchase company repossessed their equipment. Bolan was joined by percussionist Steve ‘Peregrine’ Took in an acoustic-based venture that combined his love of classic rock n roll with an affection for faerie mythology. Fans of this legend will know of his unusual quivering vocal style which often rendered his lyrics incomprehensible, but the effect was captivating and enchanting and the duo were adopted by John Peel - he actually recites the ‘Children’s Story on this debut album which was brilliantly produced by Tony Visconti, at the time an underground ‘progressive’ music specialist. Peel tirelessly promoted the group and they had three minor hit singles. On this rare debut album Bolan sings and plays guitar, Steve Peregrine Took sings and plays bongos, Chinese gong, assorted percussion and a pixiephone (he was later replaced by Micky Finn). This is a predominately acoustic album, later they adopted a more electric sound which paved the way perfectly for the electric pop and glam sound that became T-Rex.

Cover Grade and Format: A slightly difficult one to grade overall so I will say the Front is only the merest fracton below Mint(-) - a absolute stunner with arguably one of the finest covers from the 60s (or ever). This is laminated. The Back is more EX(-), no damage but white and unlaminated it has some lightish discolouration and mild grubbiness - nothing at all heavy, dont get me wrong. I suppose an overall grading on average is EX, but that front is so very special and looks absolutely incredible (please take another look). This is the original mono cover, the back states ‘Also available on Stereo No SLRZ 1003’, so no late substitutions here. It was printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd and the original Patents Pending text too. The back has three large flipbacks which are all neat, untorn or frayed or damaged. Just some mild end of laminate discolour but not heavy. Also back text of ‘This mono record has been produced etc etc’ and reference to the new Emitex advert. This copy includes the highly prized and rare ‘Dinosaur’ lyric insert which apart from a few light toning marks is close to mint. Printed on thick card, its uncreased or torn and clean and attractive. This cover will better most around, its fast approaching 40 and this is a delicate one (and rare).

Lamination: Beautiful, solid 60s laminate that has retained a deep shine and almost no dulling. Creasing I am delighted to say is minimal and very light, this sublime front could have been destroyed by deep creasing but there are very few indeed and when present are very light and almost invisible. No peeling or dry areas, indentations and even surface traces are almost zero too. A very light ‘wave ripple’ can just be seen when scrutinised under light but under normal viewing conditions this front looks truly stunning and I can hardly imagine finding a much better original mono example.

Cover Front: Breathtaking artwork that I simply can hardly stop looking at even as I tap out this advert. The richness and depth of the colour under the superb laminate has to be seen for real to fully appreciate - I hope my picture does it near full justice but I would doubt it. This is very clean and almost devoid of any wear. This front is worthy of the highest praise and fully justifies its near top grading.

Cover Back: Not as wonderful as the front but let’s be fair how could it be? Being this great age and white with no protection this has some almost mandatory discolour, but only relatively mild really. A few light toning hints and light handling wear but no damage and still looking generally nice and appealing. How many original mono back covers will remain looking much better will be few and will they ever show up - you decide.

Top Edge: Unworn.

Bottom Edge: Unworn.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with little wear. Record entered on right outside edge.

Spine and Text: Solid and square with no wear, text is perfect and unworn under the uncracked laminate.

Corners: All four show little wear, just the very tips have tiny rubs. All still nicely shaped.

Cover Summary: A lovely all round example of this fragile early 70’s cover - the front is sublime, one that could prove hard to find much better, even the blemished back will beat most around these days. This strong item should please most collectors.

The Insert: Ellusive and rare, this is the icing on what is already a rich cake. A beautiful item, does the T-Rex show up on my pictures? As stated this has only some small and faint toning spots, those apart, this is near perfect. No original copy can ever be complete without this vital part.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EX++/EX+ A superb visual copy . Super clean, shiny, jet black and very heavily pressed. Barely a mark to be seen other than faint and light surface traces, this looks really lovely. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence, so essential for a mono record. Visually a super copy that should please most collectors again.

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This super record plays up to its high visual grading and even beyond with little to fault. Strong, undistorted sound, a fact that will please the serious collectors, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a massive dynamic range and very full sound - Bolan could almost be in the room with you - (we wish). Any surface sounds are minimal indeed, and few copies will play better than this, mono albums this great age so rarely plays this clean and when they do they are to be treasured. Both channels are clean and sharp, I feel very sure this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and looked after, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Little, if anything spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this very scarce gem. This copy could prove near impossible to find significantly better.

Mono vs Stereo, an overview: Always a matter of opinion which is better or more important. For any serious collector where there is a choice e.g. Beatles, Stones, Hendrix etc. both are essential. True Stereo albums give great imagery and presence whereas mono albums usually are more dynamic, louder and present the detail more clearly. Mono albums are far harder to find in genuinely top playing condition. Most were heavily played, particularly the truly great bands and artists, often covered in mark and scratches, many severe and labels that were a mass of spindle marks. The majority were played on vintage and unsubtle decks with heavy tonearms and thick styli (often sapphire, not diamond, that chipped more easily) that rendered heavy wear in a very short time to many a fine classic record. Wear to the delicate groove walls, particularly the innermost tracks to the labels were most vulnerable where the tracking angle became more severe and the backdrag actually stripped the delicate groove walls. This resulted in surface noise and mild/moderate distortion or worse. These old decks tracked by sheer weight and little of any refined engineering. Next time you see such a deck at a local record fayre, feel the weight of the arm, it almost makes you wonder how any records survived at all. The point of this paragraph is emphasise that when a truly clean, lightly played and great sounding 60s mono album (or stereo come to that) is offered, treasure it, because for sure they are truly getting vary rare and precious - beware - demand only play-graded records. As a general guide to rarity, mono was the far more common format from 61–65; Around 66–67 the balance was roughly equal, then from 68-69 the balance swung more to stereo, making monos from these dates far scarcer, even rare - this guide is important and effects values greatly.

Album Played For Grading: Yes.

Final Summary: A treasure, a true gem. A beautifully musical album with Bolan sounding in stunning form, his clear expansive vocals flow and soar from the speakers, a very original band and sound and its uniqueness is embedded in these super clean unworn grooves forever. Bolan was a true original and his popularity is still as high as ever. This one is seldom seen as an original, mono T-Rex albums are extra special and I promise you will not find it much better. The sound and detail on this copy are priceless and even a modest deck will prove this. Even with the light back cover wear, I still unreservedly recommend this incredible copy. – Mike.

Having the Powerseller Logo: This is recognition from Ebay for the highest possible customer services, satisfaction and quality, it should reassure any potential bidder that all items are described, graded and shipped to the highest standards possible. Customer care of the highest order is a standard feature here and I am proud to have achieved this recognised standard of excellence from Ebay with help from collectors and buyers from all over the World - I thank you all.

Payment Details please read carefully - I know its boring but essential:

UK First Class: = £3.00; Recorded Delivery (Recommended) = £5.50 Special Delivery (Next day, insured up to £250), the best service available = £7.00

Europe Air Mail: = £4 Insured: £8.00

Overseas, non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Australia etc. Airmail:= £7; Insured with recorded delivery (where available) = £11.00

Singles: (Packed to the high standards of the LPs)

UK First class: = £2.00 Insured: £4

Europe Air Mail = £3.00 Insured: £5.50

Overseas, non-Europe (as above) Airmail £3.50 Insured: £6.00

Doubles add extra £1, triples add extra £2. Box sets add extra £3 (£4 overseas and Europe)

Any item that sells for over £85 will be sent Special Delivery in the UK at no extra cost. Items over £125 get the same service Overseas. This is gives peace of mind for the winning bidder and myself for valuable items. Reduced postage of course for multiple items.

The winner bidder chooses his/her posting method and if uninsured is chosen, its their decision and they have to stick with it, I can accept no responsibility if an item is lost in the post. I can only try to claim at standard levels if no enhancement is chosen (£28). PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT use surface mail, its too slow, with a higher risk of loss and damage.

Mailing Details: Please note I do NOTprofit on postage (my packing standards are high and the package weighs a little more and I often actually lose money on this part of service - I simply refuse to compromise with poor packing. All records are sent in plastic covers with the record taken OUT of the sleeve and sent in professional mailers with FOUR professional stiffners for extra protection (if space allows), I do NOT use old cardboard boxes or cereal packets for protection. More expensive items are also inserted into a de-luxe heavy duty padded bag AS WELL to give that extra protection. I truly want ALL my items to arrive to their destination in the same condition they leave me. I will also include in most cases a brand new lined inner, but will include the original inner if available and in a condition to be worthwhile.

I can accept cash for payments worldwide in UK Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars - but this at the senders OWN risk. Please send registered and insured if this method is chosen. I cannot accept responsibility if any cash payments do not turn up. This system is very reliable and rarely goes astray. The same goes for any shipped uninsured item, I can only try to claim for any undelivered or damaged article at basic insurance levels if no enhanced insurance is requested and paid for (unless the value threshold is high enough for me insure as standard, see above)

Overseas bidders please note conversion rates for Pounds to Dollars and Pounds to Euros will be charged at 1.7 to cover PayPal or cash conversion costs.

PLEASE NOTE: Any PayPal user can now pay me with UK Sterling if they wish with no need to convert to US dollars (although they still can if they wish to). Any instant PayPal transaction from anywhere in the world will mean the item will be sent immediately - it makes deals fast and very efficient.

Potential Bidders: Please do not bid if you have negative feedback unless checking first, I will cancel any bids I feel are timewasters. I now only accept PayPal, International money orders or cash from overseas bidders (UK Sterling, US dollars or Euros). Cash, cheques, postal orders and PayPal are fine from the UK. I allow maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if this does not happen I will relist the item and may send negative feedback unless an explanation is given. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask. Please keep watch on my Ebays, I have other interesting items coming very soon. Thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: As listening to every single record I offer all the way through is difficult timewise, can I make it clear if any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund minus the Posting and All Ebay costs as long as the item detail has been read and understood. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer. I still endeavour to play all the items in their entirity for grading if at all possible and is usually the case.