I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.

Budgie : Never Turn Your Back On A Friend 2L/1L 1st Press Silver/Black Label 1973

This very collectable first pressing plays to a superb standard with barely any intrusion.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is fantastic and I cannot remember when I last heard this album playing with such stunning precision.  The only real interference is right at the end of S2 where there are a couple of light clicks and 3/4 light ticks but apart from that the sonic quality cannot be faulted.  The vinyl is also visually very impressive and has barely any spindle wear.

The iconic gatefold is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and the original inner is in superb condition.

A first press has the silver/black MCA label and the 2L/1L matrix.  This particular one has only a single stamper on each side so is certainly one of the earliest first pressings.

MDKS 8010 // 7-LNMG-277-2L / 7-LNMG-278-1L // A 1 / G 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Near Mint-)

The audio on S3 is Mint(-) (T3 end 'seagull' section VG+)

The gatefold is Ex-

The S1 label is Ex- & the S2 label Mint-

The original inner is Near Mint
Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen.  There is one very small hairline scratch at the end of S2 and aside from that only a small number of faint hairlines.  The S1 label does have a small scuff area just below MCA so I suspect there may have been a sticker there at one point and S2 is perfect.  I can only detect one short spindle trace on each side and has not been played that much at all.

Play grading  

The classic 'Breadfan' has only a small number of mega light ticks on the iconic intro - so quiet and non-intrusive and is very brief anyway.  As Phillips' comes in the playback is 'as new' and Shelley's opening vocal is of the same 'high end' standard.  From then on the sonic quality is STUNNING!  There is no interference and it just could not play with any greater precision.  As you would expect on a clean vinyl the audio is still so deep and rich and the sound really resonates around the room.  The quieter mid-section plays with amazing clarity with not even a single dust tick and as Bourge's classic riff returns the playback is again exceptional...to the final note.  So so close to the perfect start this is Near Mint- ofor a few seconds during the intro and then Mint for the remainder.

'Baby Please Don't Go' is a perfect platform for Shelley's bass and I have never heard it play with such depth and resonance than on this version.  Through every vocal and instrumental section the playback is so clean there are no negatives.  The clarity is so impressive and I only detected 4 or 5 very light background ticks.  Largely an instrumental track of course Mint- is very much deserved.

The acoustic 'You Know I'll Always Love You' plays beautifully with no intrusion on the audio.  There are no clicks, pops or static and only a small number of inconsequential dust ticks that are barely audible anyway.  I should not downgrade for mere dust ticks but I will say Mint- just to be a little cautious :-)

The long percussive intro on 'You're The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk' is 'as new' there is no need to elaborate.  Bourge's first introduction is just as good and the opening vocal has no 'background' either.  It continues to play with sensational audio with no sign of any interference and the mid guitar solo is again just out of this world!  The segue into the classic 'heavy' final section is faultless and it then plays with sublime power and depth - wow what a version!  This is clearly a vinyl that has been so well preserved and hardly played.  From the first note to the last, including the fade out, there is no interference and Mint is an easy grade to give.  Audio does not get any better than this!

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'In the Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand' on S2 plays with STUNNING quality and again there is no interference.  'As new' is no exaggeration and already I am running out of adjectives in which to describe each track!  The vocals are immaculate and each instrumental section plays as if the record was pressed yesterday not nearly 50 years ago!  This is the definitive version and I have no hesitation in grading it as Mint such is the quality.  The 'heavy' end section again plays with incredible power and depth

'Riding My Nightmare' has a couple of very light ticks on the first vocal, more like dust ticks really, and the chorus then plays with sublime clarity.  The rest of this acoustic number is of the same impressive standard with only a handful of dust ticks and Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

The long intro on the classic 'Parents' keeps up this fine standard and plays with outstanding clarity and power and...no interference.  Shelley's opening vocal is close to perfect with just one tick and from that point on it plays with STUNNING sonic quality.  Running at over ten minutes you would perhaps expect to find some interference and yet the clarity, depth and power of the audio is so impressive.  This is one track you want to play clearly and truly the audio is 'crystal clear'.  The long mid instrumental is a prime example of that, it could not play any better.  A couple of very light static ticks just before the vocal comes back in and then Bourge's final work is 'as new' - there are a couple of light clicks and some ticks in the final 'seagull' passage and this is basically the only interference across the entire album!  The vast majority of this epic track is Mint and only that final section grades as VG+ but of course the actual music has finished by this point anyway!

In summary this first pressing plays with a sonic quality that you rarely find today.  The clarity throughout is absolutely stunning and it's only the final few seconds that has a little interference but the rest of the album you cannot fault.  It is easily one of the 'cleanest' versions I have ever listened to - yes the clarity is so impressive but the power and definition of the audio is of the highest calibre also.  There is no distortion on the top end either and this would clearly add to any 'high end' collection.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear.  The edges have a little rubbing but not too much and the wide spine is near perfect with just one 'speck' and light wear on the corners.  It is at a slight angle so may have been compressed slightly at some point.  The other corners are very clean with just a little more wear top right and the opening edges have hardly any handling wear.  The front cover is in lovely condition and has only a couple of small white scuffs near the top edge and the back cover is super clean with just a couple of minor corner rubs and a small sticker top right saying 'Re-distributed by EMI'.  The inside of the gatefold is incredibly clean with hardly any of the spotting that you so often see around the edges.  A fine example overall.

The plain white die-cut inner has no side splits or tears and hardly any creasing or age related fading.  A top copy!

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

MDKS 8010 // 7-LNMG-277-2L / 7-LNMG-278-1L // A 1 / G 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.75 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!