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.

Rare Amber : Rare Amber A1/B2 1st Press 1969

This rare first pressing plays to a very high standard with only very minimal interference, a couple of clicks and very light static on 'It Hurts Me Too' on S1 and just the one click one S2.  As detailed below the clarity, depth and warmth of the music is superb and the vast majority of this very collectable album does indeed play with stunning quality.  This is not surprising in a way as it is visually STUNNING with no marking and has clearly hardly ever been played.  I am basing this on the audio and that there is just one tiny spindle trace on the S2 label.

The laminated cover is in excellent condition and the original inner sleeve is also very clean with no side splits.

The word 'rare' certainly applies here and at time of writing there are no other ones listed on eBay.  It wasn't a big 'hit' back in '69 and was only pressed in limited numbers and there cannot be many around today as good as this one!

583046   A // 1 ▽ 420  1 4   // 583046   B // 2 ▽  420 1 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 VG+ for first few seconds / T3 & T5 Ex+ / T6 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint-)

The cover is Ex

The labels are Mint-

The original inner is Ex
Visual description

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  I can only locate a handful of small very faint sleeve removal hairlines and you would honestly be forgiven for thinking this vinyl was brand new!  The Polydor labels are unmarked and there is no spindle wear on S1 and just one very small faint trace on S2.  One stunning vinyl!

Play grading  

The build up intro on 'Malfunction Of The Engine' has a little background hiss but is quiet and only lasts for a few seconds.  The rest of the intro is superb and the opening guitar / vocal section could not play with better clarity.  It continues in the same precise with not even a dust tick for company.  Great depth on the audio also.  This is VG+ at the start and then Mint from then on.

Some hiss in dead wax for some reason but then 'You Ain't Made Yet' plays with sublime clarity from the very first note.  The first vocal is flawless and then every section thereafter plays with stunning quality and no interference.  Mint

The very quiet bluesy intro on 'It Hurts Me Too' is so close to perfect with just a hint of barely audible static towards the end and I do mean barely audible!  It then plays with very clearly with only a modicum of mega light background static every now and then.  This static is very quiet and does not impact on the quality of the audio although there is perhaps just a little more static on the second half but it is still quiet.  There is also one minor static just before the final vocal and overall Ex+ is still very much deserved.

'Paying The Cost To Be The Boss' plays with impeccable quality from the get go.  From start to finish there is nothing that detracts from the audio as there is no interference.  The clarity of sound for a 54 year old vinyl is amazing!  The guitar work is exemplary and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint it is a stunning version.

The super quiet intro on 'Night Life' once again shows how well this vinyl has been preserved.  So quiet and yet the clarity is incredible!  A couple of barely audible dust ticks that is all.  The opening vocal is of the same exact standard - just a hint of distortion on the first 'loud' vocal but so minimal and not intrusive.  I noticed one light tick and one dull sounding click in the middle section and the final vocal section in particular is stunning.  It plays with great power and depth with just one light click towards the end.  I will grade as Ex+ but this is a case of the majority being far better than that!

The harmonica intro on 'Custom Blues' plays so well with just one light click and no other background.  From that point on it plays with stunning precision with no sign of any interference.  Near Mint overall.

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'Popcorn Man' has barely any static on the first part of the intro and then that by now familiar bluesy sound plays with genuine quality i.e. no interference.  A Mint- start to S2.

'Heartbreaker' has just one light tick during the first vocal section and is 'as new' for the rest of track.  I still think it deserves to be graded as Mint- such is the quality.

The very quiet intro on 'Solution' is nigh on perfect with just one light tick, the clarity is superb.  Unfortunately there is one static click just as the vocal begins but hey this is vinyl!  It proceeds to play with stunning clarity which is all the more impressive when you consider how sparse this track is.  The warmth and definition of the audio is exceptional and aside from that one click the clarity cannot be faulted.  The long mid instrumental is STUNNING and the final vocal has no intrusion either.  A near perfect version and it would be Mint but for that one click.  A delicate number and yet you can hear all the subtleties behind the music it really is a superb version.  I believe Near Mint- is still fair.

'Amber Blues' plays with sensational audio from start to finish with a power and depth that delivers on so many levels.  I cannot praise it highly enough, this is 'as new' and only Mint will do :-)

The pianos intro on 'Blues Never Die' plays perfectly and the first vocal is just as good.  It continues in the same way and despite it being the final track the sonic quality is equal to that of the previous tracks.  Tremendous warmth and depth once more and Mint is again richly deserved.

In summary this first pressing plays to a superb standard with very little intrusion.  A couple of light clicks and minor static during one track on S1 and just the one click on S2 the clarity is very impressive throughout.  I mean S1 plays great but S2 is STUNNING!  I wasn't sure how I would take to this album but I have to say I was very impressed with the music and the sonic quality does not let it down I am pleased to say.  A number of great tracks and the warmth and depth of the audio is so strong and nowhere is that more obvious than with 'Solution' on S2.  Stunning audio on this track and so 'clean' for a relatively quiet track.  Pressed in very limited numbers and surely hard to find in this condition today.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with minimal shelf wear.  The edges and thin spine are in superb shape with no rubbing etc and the corners are also very clean - only the one bottom right has just a little more wear.  The opening edge has no obvious handling wear i.e. barely any.  The front cover is very clean with only a small number of laminate creases, mainly next to the spine, and the back cover is even better with just one obvious crease line and a handful of small creases next to the spine.  A fine example overall.

The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits or tears and only a little creasing.  There is no real marking just a little age related fading around the edges.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

583046   A // 1 ▽ 420  1 4   // 583046   B // 2 ▽  420 1 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!!

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