URCHIN - BLACK LEATHER FANTASY

TO DIE FOR PROMO 7" by PRE IRON MAIDEN GROUP!

DJM Records and Tapes, DJS 10776, 1997, UNITED KINGDOM

TRACKLIST:

1. Black Leather Fantasy
2. Rock & Roll Woman

It's difficult to put into words what this 7" represents and to give it it's true place in Rock history. In short Urchin were Adrian Smith and David Murray's first band, formed waaaaay back in 1974. Formed around the same time as Judas Priest, the band pioneered heavy metal picking up the baton from classic era Deep Purple. While David Murray left, Adrian Smith soldiered on with Urchin and in 1977 unlikely label DJM picked the band up. Now labelmates with Sir Elton John, the group were hyped amidst the punk rock onslaught which every label worth their moneyed salt tried to cash in on. The following is the promo blurb found on the front of this PROMO 7":

"London-based Urchin have now secured their first recording contract with DJM and make their debut with this self-penned single, 'Black Leather Fantasy'. Originally a four-piece outfit, the band went through a change of line-up soon after their formation three years ago and now consist of lead guitarists Maurice Coyne and Adrian Smith, lead singer David Hall, Alan Levett on bass and Barry Tyler on drums. With a powerful, driving rock sound reminiscent of the progressive rock bands of the late sixties, Urchin could prove to the be the forerunners of a new revival of heavy British rock music.'

Wow. First off, the 'change of line-up' of course relates to David Murray leaving to join Steve Harris' Iron Maiden (whom Smith later joined for the Killers album - the rest is history!). Second: to say that the band were to be 'forerunners of a new revival of heavy British rock music' is prophetic to say the least. With Adrian Smith's guitar process and friendship with Maiden leading to his joining THE NWOBHM band, this FIRST Urchin single is stone cold ESSENTIAL for any Maiden/metal collector.

Musically, the single is a killer. At the border between classic British Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, the twin lead guitars are blistering and intertwine with David Hall's lead vocals excellently. As an artifact, this 7" is unmissable and pretty hard to let go. Housed in the PROMO sleeve in the DJM black and yellow colours, it'll sure look pretty in on your wall/rack. DON'T LET IT GO!

CONDITION OF SLEEVE: VERY GOOD PLUS +. As you can see from the photographs, the PROMO sleeve is in nice shape. There are no rips, tears or stains on the front sleeve. The top edge is a little worn and creased, but is NOT that bad. Everyone has seen rare punk and metal singles with a lot more damage than this! I stress that there are NO RIPS OR TEARS on this top edge, just a little wear. This starts about a centimeter from the top and is definitely just the uppermost edge. All four corners are otherwise EXCELLENT and there is NO DOG-EARING!! The plain yellow rear of the sleeve is EXCELLENT, with only a tiny tiny spot of label wear near the center. This is not very visible and you really have to inspect it to see it. I have graded this sleeve VG+ solely because of the tiny bit or wear at the top... as you can see this is minimal and it gives you an indication of how seriously I take grading records!!

CONDITION OF VINYL: EXCELLENT + +. SIDE A is NEAR MINT. Please see below for my standards and definition of 'MINT.' There are absolutely NO MARKS, NO SCUFFS, NO NEEDLEWEAR, NO DETRITUS, on Side A. Visually and Aurally the side is MINT. The grooves have the sheen and creamy blackness associated with JUST PRESSED records. STUNNING. SIDE B is grade at EXCELLENT +. On first inspection the side is perfect, but close inspection under a strong light bulb reveals a very, very faint paper scuff which DOES NOT SOUND in any way. This is just a surface scuff from removing the disc from the inner and has not been caused by playing or carelessness. You see these paper scuffs all the time and they just come with the territory... I'm certain most sellers would still grade this disc NEAR MINT (or even MINT in the case of the more unscrupulous ones). As I've graded one side NEAR MINT and one EXCELLENT + I deem it more fair to round out the overall grading to EXCELLENT ++. A little complicated, I know, but you get a fairer depiction of the record you're bidding on and my conscious is clear!! YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

CHECK OUT MY OTHER LISTING FOR A TOP CLASS RARE METAL GEM!

I am an avid collector of many, many genres and keep my records in IMMACULATE condition. I grade according to the Record Collector Price Guide 'Ready Reckoner' and almost NEVER sell anything which is below EXCELLENT condition. Rest assured that my EXCELLENT is bloody EXCELLENT! Oh yeah and I NEVER GRADE ANYTHING MINT THAT IS NOT SEALED!! Near Mint is the highest grading I use for unsealed records.

All records will be sent within two days MAXIMUM of receipt of payment (usually within 4/5 hours of payment received). Your record will be expertly packed in a professional brown mailer, using one or two stiffeners and housed in a PVC 7" sleeve with the record in a paper inner placed outside the sleeve as is standard practice. I've always been lucky when buying records from ebay (save the odd occasion) and would like all buyers of my records to be 100% SATISFIED!

DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK QUESTIONS!!! I've included some photos of the reason I have graded the sleeve only VG+. I think you'll agree with this grading as spot on!