VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR The Least We Can Do… UK ORIGINAL with NEAR MINT POSTER

	£		276
	$		366

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World in Quality, Safe Packing.

Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all – in fact I think these things should be banned as records WILL arrived damaged in them at some time. More details on my packing nearer the end of the listing.

Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take up to 4 to 6 weeks from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website.

ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important to any small business. I will always keep my P&P prices as low as possible, and even after yet another Royal Mail price hike from April this year, I have NOT raised my prices and will never compromise on solid, safe packing that is invariably heavier than most you will get. My P&P offers probably the best value-for-money for vinyl records available, and I even will pay for full insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives.

Artist or Band: VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR

Album Title: The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other.

Producer(s): John Anthony.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Darkness; Refugees; White Hammer.

Side 2: Whatever Would Robert Have Said; Out of My Book; After the Flood.

Label/Format: Charisma – Pink scroll matt format with deeply textured rough surface finish.

Label Condition: Two lovely intensely coloured examples with deep rich colour and spindle use looks modest – side one very light and few indeed especially. These deeply textured rough labels do not show spindle marks as freely as the later smooth types but they do chip easily, so the lack of this around the hole rim and general attractiveness is refreshing to see. A little age dulling spots only really lightly visible with angled viewing.

Cat Number: CAS.1007.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 167 grams. A very heavy pressing even by this labels standards at this time. .

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Scarce: and this copy includes the rare poster that only came with a select few very early issues. One of the most difficult and elusive posters to find in any prog-rock album, this the first I have seen for a long time.

Original Year of Release: 1970

Matrix Nos: CAS 1007 + A + G / CAS 1007 + B + G

Brief Artist & Album Info: Their first album issued in the UK, their first album proper was Aerosol Grey Machine that was issued in the US and some European countries only. For many these days, VDGG are the definitive UK prog band, for sure they were up there with the very best. A band now very much back vogue after reforming and recently touring, they seem more popular now than way back in the early 1970s when they did not even sell out my ‘local rock’ venue in Ipswich. Fronted by the eccentric and intense vocalist Peter Hammill, VDGG made some of the most complex and inspired sounds of the early 1970s. David Jackson, the saxophonist often played two simultaneously creating a mesmerising sound and often an amazing racket. With multiple pick-ups and treatments, these dual saxes often sounded more like eight. Musically complex using constantly changing time structures and like fellow progsters, King Crimson their albums have great highs and lows in volume. This album remains one of my real favourites in the prog-rock genre and a strong rival to King Crimson’s debut. An album of blistering real hi-fi sound with immense levels of volume and some very quiet passages too. I always feel it a shame it was not issued on Decca or a similar high quaility label where pressing issues were a major rarity. A marvellous original band that were under-appreciated at the time but adored by the few (myself included) – Hammill remains one of rock’s great exponents of originality and mildly extreme. This is real, exciting progressive rock for the connoisseur fan. This is not a flaw-free record with a few brief crackles on the first song, thereafter not too much else on what is a better than ‘average’ Charisma pressing. If silence is mandatory, well the latest CD remaster is impressive but still lacks the details and immense dynamics only the analogue format offers. I can truly state, I have never heard a perfect pressing of this album on the textured labels, a little mild surface sound or sporadic click is always expected at the very least. All considered, this is one of the better examples I have heard. As for the poster: it is in superb condition and only available with a few select copies for the briefest of time, thus seldom seen or offered. This one unmounted, clean and fresh, an integral part of this prog classic, most-all copies found fails to have it. So a rare chance to at last put that right.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(–) but arguably better for one of the most intolerant of covers, this is rarely seen devoid of heavy ring wear that often grinds right into the artwork. An unlaminated gatefold format with matt, smooth surfaces. Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd and it still has the Patents pending text and with B&C credits on the back proving it a genuine first and correct for the pink scroll copies. Beware of substitutions with the phonogram credits that at first glance look the same – they are NOT. This includes the very rare and elusive, and quite spectacular double-sided poster, this being one of the best I have seen.

Cover Front: The main issue on the front is a fairly fine crease near the bottom right corner. That apart, this is one of best fronts I have seen for this unforgiving cover I have seen for a long time. A light light rubbing near the bottom edge, but in terms of this one, quite minimal. No other noteworthy creases and no sticker marks or tears. Overall, one of the least rubbed or aged front I have seen, the colour retention is high and so is its visual appeal.

Cover Back: The back has the same crease which is a little more apparent on the same corner. A quite fine rim rub near the top edge, but in terms of ring wear for this one, this is very mild. Bare in mind, this has had a near 170 gram very thick and heavy record inside for around 44 years, hardly any wonder most are seen with deep penetrating white circle ring wear which this has somehow avoided. A few light surface marks and most of any rubbing very gentle and light, also the same for any of the few other creases. The corner crease apart, this is a very impressive back – and still is.

Cover Inner Gatefold: The corner creases again are present, but not reasonably light. One or two gentle traces of tone spots or mild grubbiness on the revealing white areas, but close to nit-picking for a cover of this considerable age and vulnerability.

Top Edges: Barely any wear and both straight.

Bottom Edges: Light to moderate patchy rubbing. Straight up the right corner with the crease that is slightly less so.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, quite sharp with little wear. Any thickening or burring minimal and light as seen viewed end-on. Record enters on the back edge, both guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced in any way.

Spine and Text: Solid, made quite thin with a rounded type finish, so this appears to have very little compression. Folded square, so the edges meet up closely and parallel. No text was printed, the graphic flows around and most still very much intact and neat. A little rubbing to the ends with any other light and little, unusually, both hinge folds retain practically all ink and have avoided scuffs or rubbing.

Corners: All corners have rubbed in context of their respective edge, most is only light and small with fine to very fine shape retained.

Cover Summary: Not putting to finer a point on this: a VERY difficult and challenging cover that very rarely withstands the test-of-time or poor storage well. Yes it has a corner crease, but that only around moderate on the back. In terms of lack of rubbing or damage, this is somewhat above average. Not for the perfectionists, but sometimes on ones like this, a little give-and-take has to be made sometimes. It will please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: NEAR EXCELLENT: a plain solid white unlined inner only gently aged with some mild darkening around the edge seams. Only one corner crease, any others very few and faint, all edges unsplit with no repairs.

The Poster: MINT(–): and a SUPERB example of one of rock’s genuine most rarest posters. This is little short of as made and 100% guaranteed original. Printed both sides and looking magnificent. This has NOT been mounted e.g. no pin holes, tape marks etc, indeed I doubt if this has been removed from the main cover for decades. It retains rich, deep and fresh colour and stunning good looks. All these were multi-folded by hand in the factory, and this is one of the neater ones of the tiny few I have ever seen. Not quite flush, but reasonably close. These folds remain strong with just one tiny nick on one end, but if anyone has one of these better, well please cherish it because they rarely come along this clean and attractive – indeed, they rarely show up at all.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: NEAR EXCELLENT to EXCELLENT: a very fine visual copy that is clean with fine shine, intense black and very heavily pressed as these textured label copies were. A few light surface marks seen under bright angled light but no penetrating scratches. This appears to be a ‘purer’ pressing than some I have seen – I am sure some of these early Charismas were pressed with less pure vinyl than some, hence they regularly suffer pressing issues in the form of crackle and even distortion. Most serious vinyl collectors will already know this of course. Visually a lovely record that just gives mild clues to age, but overall, this has not been mistreated or played too many times. It should again please many collectors.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippetts or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This is a very difficult record that I truly consider one of THE most challenging within this field-of-music, but a very rewarding listening experience if a fine copy can be found, I think I could search forever to find any copy that will play absolutely perfectly with the earlier original textured labels. Later ones were pressed by EMI and they were more reliable for cleaner sound (but even these far from guaranteed). A record of massive highs and lows and this mostly plays very well with not a great deal unwanted. A little sporadic surface sound on the first song, most light and brief with a couple or three crackles purely within the pressing which are so rarely avoided. Indeed I have heard some that can make you cringe with horrendous distortion – this not the fase on this copy. Thereafter, the odd gentle traces and the odd sporadic click here-and-there, but few. Overall, this is one of the best early-made copies I have heard. The sound for most-all remains sharp and focused, the pressing quality above average overall – I state again, I do not think I have ever heard a ‘perfect’ pressing with the textured labels for this album. And for sure, I have had many far, FAR worse than this one. Dave Jackson’s shrill electric reeds send a shiver down the spine and Hammills vocals have ‘in the room’ qualilty. The explosive bassline midway through ‘White Hammer’ has stomach wrenching depth and if played loud enough I am sure it could remove glass from windows. I have rarely heard such depth and power in sound and it shook my room when play-grading. Another noteworthy moment of hi-fi nirvana, amongst many moments is the blood-chilling distorted scream of ‘Anihilation’ on the brilliant final song ‘After the Flood’ – this never fails to generate that rare ‘tingle factor’ I experience with the real classic moments in sound. There is no distortion or groove pressing sounds on these crucial and very critical areas - believe me, they are common. Many inferior sound-systems can literally fall-apart playing this massive wall of sound. The last copy I offered that included the poster, had considerable distortion on the first song AND last song, but looking at the record gave no clues to this. So personally, I would not buy any copy of this album that has not been play-tested first. This I always do, and I will always mention any issues heard or present. Minor surface sound blemishes and the odd sporadic click is almost the least you expect and I regard it as normal. This is why I play-grade all my albums, at least you will know what is coming and not at the mercy of guesswork. So many examples of this album can disappoint in a huge way and on all the songs, this sets a high standard and plays up to and mostly above its visual grading. Not for the perfectionists who want nothing less than ultimate silence, but that I fear is close to impossible as it gets on the early originals. But a little-give-and-take has to be made sometimes, and this a case-in-point. With a very decent cover, mainly clean record, and a stunning near mint poster, this will please many collectors.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. 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, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - 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 collector – 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 and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. 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, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 10,000+ items sold in over 12 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.