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This is a TRUE 1st stereo UK press. Sadly, there are lots of later copies with yellow and black Parlophone labels being sold as '1st pressings' on ebay. This is a true first pressing and these are easy to identify and distinguish from later (1967 - 1969) copies. Please read on for details.

A Collection of Oldies but Goldies was first released in December 1966.  At this time, mono was still the predominant choice, and so the vast majority of first pressings are mono. Only a small percentage of the first pressing were pressed in stereo and they are incredibly hard to find, but because of the countless repressings which followed, the scarcity of the true first press stereo copies is often overlooked.

The album was repressed numerous times between 1967 and 1969 on the original yellow and black Parlophone labels, with the stereo pressings becoming increasingly more common during this period, until the mono pressings were stopped completely in 1970, by which time the labels had changed to the silver and black versions used throughout the 1970s. (The album was repressed on Parlophone silver and black labels almost every year throughout the 1970s, and then on the Fame label in the 1980s, until 1987 when it was deleted in the UK, although some other countries continued to press the record into the 1990s).

So, although there are lots and lots of stereo pressings of A Collection of Oldies but Goldies, true first pressings in stereo are very scarce. But, although they are hard to find, they are easy to identify because only the first stereo pressings* have an E.J. Day cover. All subsequent releases have Garrod and Lofthouse covers.

(*First, stereo pressing on yellow and black Parlophone labels. E.J. Day did briefly make covers for this album again in the early seventies, but those copies were for export and have silver and black labels and the sleeves are manufactured on thinner card and have different-shaped flipbacks).

A true first press stereo will have the following attributes:

·         An original 1966 E.J. Day cover (all subsequent Y&B stereo copies have G&L covers).

·         Times New Roman font and large STEREO on the labels (by 1968 this had changed to a sans serif font and narrow STEREO on the labels).

·         Early mothers and stampers.

This has the following 1st press matrix numbers, 1st mothers and early (2nd & 8th) stampers:

Side two: YEX 620-1G                           1                          R

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with a handful of light marks/hairlines visible in normal light and some additional ultra-fine hairlines and sleeve-removal marks when viewed under bright, direct light. I would grade this around Excellent (Ex) or just under.

Labels: See photos. No significant issues.

Sleeve: The E. J. Day sleeve has no seam splits, tears, writing, stickers etc, just some normal signs of age and use.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

 

P&P costs as follows:

 

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £4.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

 

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £11.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.

 

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £24.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.