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.

FINALLY: Late payers will now be blocked at my discretion. As will any bidder who cancels a bid. I do not like this practice as it is most often used to phish out the price to beat. Ebay does not approve and neither do I – so only bid on my items if you want them.

Artist or Band: FRANK ZAPPA

Album Title: Hot Rats.

Producer(s): Frank Zappa who composed and arranged all songs.

Engineer(s): Dick Kunc.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Peaches en Regalia; Willie the Pimp; Son of Mr Green Genes.

Side 2: Little Umbrellas; The Gumbo Variations; It Must Be a Camel.

Label/Format: Reprise – original 3-colour riverboat format with matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both clean, fresh and attractive with a few spindle marks seen more on side one. Although the record has been played a few times and has some surface marks, the sound quality is still very high and plays with very little unwanted. Be very clear, if it failed to do so, I will would offer what is one of my favourite albums of all-time.

Cat Number: RSLP 6356.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Weight of this Record: 145 grams. A more typical heavier pressing as the RSLP copies invaraibly were.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The actual album itself, moderate, this was Zappa’s most commercially successful album in the UK, although strangely it failed to sell well in his native US. But, and a huge BUT, when found as a very first UK pressed example on the tri-coloured Steamboat label it becomes a rarer album. This landmark classic was only available for a relatively brief time on this label before being repressed on the tan labels that still for a short time, had the RSLP number. It still urks me when tan label copies are offered as ‘Originals’ or ‘First Pressings’, such examples can be ‘first’ repressings, but they are not originals.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: RSLP 6356 A1 / RSLP 6356 B1.

Musicians: Frank Zappa - Guitar, octave bass, percussion; Ian Underwood - piano, organus maximus, flute, all clarinets, all saxes; Captain Beefheart - vocal on ‘Willie the Pimp’; Sugar Cane Harris - violin; Jean luc Ponty - violin; John Guerin - drums; Ron Selico - drums; Max Bennett - bass; Shuggy Otis - bass.

Brief Artist & Album Info: The greatest moustache in rock history and the album that proved to the world that Frank Zappa was one of the greatest guitarists of his generation – if not THE best ever. A point proven over many years of quality albums, not just a small few. At the end of 1968 Zappa’s contract with MGM expired, he and his manager Herb Cohen set up Bizarre Records. This gave them total control over their own packaging and music. Major distribution was needed, so they chose Reprise, Frank Sinatra’s label which had recently been acquired by Warner Brothers. Hot Rats was the second album to be just accredited to Frank Zappa, he used a 16-track recorder and state-of-the-art production techniques, making this a musicial extravaganza with truly phenomenal sound and detail. Indeed, Zappa was one of the first to utilise multi-track techniques to get real stereo effects from a drum kit on to a record. It proved a successful album in the UK, but mysteriously was a relative failure in his native US. This is a jazz-rock, predominately instrumental album and (for me anyway) one of the greatest ones ever made - I simply adore this album. To make it, Zappa called upon the services of some of the great musicians of the West Coast. Don ‘Sugarcane’ Harris features heavily on electric violin with some blistering solos as does French violin virtuoso Jean luc Ponty. Also featured are veteran bassist Max Bennett, John Guerin, a young drummer who had been working with Tom Scott on fusing rock and jazz, with Shuggy Otis, Ron Selico and Paul Humphrey. Zappa supplied himself with the finest rhythm section money could buy. The other hugely important presence was fellow-Mothers of Invention member Ian Underwood, who played keyboards and electric saxophones. This is one of Underwood’s finest moments recording with Zappa, his blistering electric saxophone solo on ‘The Gumbo Variations’ takes the breath away. Last but not least there is a cameo performance from Don van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart on vocals for ‘Willie the Pimp’ the lyrics of which are derived from an interview Zappa conducted with a New York-based groupie named Annie. Zappa himself plunges into an awe-inspiring guitar solo. His wah-wah pedal make the notes talk, but amongst the frenzy there remains a marvellous coherent melody throughout. Frank dubbed in percussion, chains, castanets that added that extra fizz and Underwood is credited for playing ‘organus maximus’ which was actually a pipe organ.

The cover is as famous as the music: it features Christine Frka (Miss Christine) of the infamous GTO’s lurking inside a disused swimming pool in Beverly Hills. A striking image that was seen under many an arm in the heady days of the late 1960s. She is often credited as the inspiration for the Alice Cooper look, both recorded on Zappa’s Straight label. A notably thin Czech girl, she sadly she died in 1972. ‘Hot Rats’ charted at 9 in the UK and a miserly 173 in the US. A work of genius that must have opened many eyes, ears and minds on issue. Even non-Zappa fans who simply never understood his music often appreciated this album. Anyone who likes the sound of the electric guitar cannot fail to be impressed by this blistering set. Some rock guitarists have been quoted as saying Hot Rats contains impossible to play guitar chords, well this great man played them, and how. This easily ranks in my top 10 greatest albums ever made, I never tire listening to it and this very fine copy does it strong justice. It plays with hardly anything unwanted, even with some surface marks, with all the detail, warmth and dynamics of a master-recording, this is a gateway into Zappa’s recording studio itself and no other formats will better it. The great feeling of holding and playing a first-pressed ‘Hot Rats’ is a pleasure in itself. The latest CD versions are very good but the basslines are far less forward on the silver disc and some details seem more muted, or even lost. There will never be a better way to enjoy the king of the bizarre than on record – a timeless excusion into Frank’s world of jazz-rock, the word ‘masterpiece’ is often overused, but not in this case. If you have not experienced the wonderful world of Zappa, there is no better place to start – but be warned – this man’s music is highly addictive and he has a vast catalogue.

Cover Cosmetic Improvements: None Apparent.

Cover Grade and Format: NEAR EXCELLENT: an unlaminated gatefold format with a matt, smooth finish. Printed and made in England by MacNeill, it of course has the RSLP 6356 catalogue number, beware of Kinney covers being offered as ‘Original’, they look practically the same, but with the later catalogue number.

Cover Front: One of rock’s most famous and well-known fronts – it has little real wear with just a little mild grubbiness near the white edges. Being honest, so very few avoid this as a bare minimum and I have seen many considerably more affected. Any marks or creases light and minor, thte lack of rubbing on the main graphic area always a positive.

Cover Back: A cover often seen with significant ring wear as the thicker earlier record pushes into the very deeply coloured card. This has a little dulling, faint rubbing near the top and bottom edges, but viewed more full-on, it shows less. Very slight edge rubbing, mild burring, but overall quite similar to the front. Gatefold backs are always more vulnerable than the fronts due to the storage area, overall, this has faired well with any general ageing fairly modest.

Cover Inner Gatefold: This has little to fault at all. Note the close-up of the great Captain Beefheart circa his classic 1969 Trout Mask Replica era. Two of the greatest musical minds of the 20th century, now both sadly gone.

Top Edges: Both straight with only light and very patchy surface rubbing, more near the very right corner tips.

Bottom Edges: Light to moderate less patchy rubbing, hardly unusual on these traditional storage edges.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly quite sharp with any wear traces quite light, a little thickening as seen viewed end-on.The front edge is closed and very neat and generally crisp.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with any compression minimal. Folded squarely, so the edges meet up flush and parallel. This has a few small surface chips and a natural central hairline crease from opening. The text has avoided any major wear or clipping, the natural central line apart that is nigh-on unavoidable unless opened all these years – hardly likely really.

Cover Summary: One of rock’s most famous covers and this is a highly respectable example giving only modest hints of it’s considerable age. No disputing the vintage of this one: RSLP covers were gone by 1971. It should please many collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: NEAR EXCELLENT: this album came in a plain white, polylined, inner. It has gently aged with a little minor discolouration. Natural crinkle and the odd light crease but no damage. Two immaculate window circles and very clear lining. All edges unsplit with no repairs. UK patented with ‘Foreign Patents Pending’ text.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: VERY GOOD(+): with some surface marks, but no penetrating scratches – and it plays superbly with very little, if anything really unwanted (or again) I would not offer it. Clean with fine shine and very solidly pressed. It opens the studio door and this is for me, is one of rock’s most amazing experiences that pushed sound and engineering technology at the time to it’s limits. For the ‘early-bird’ Zappa fans who bought this from the early days, most played it into submission – imagine the thrill of hearing this masterpiece for the first time. Although recently reissued, NOTHING gives the thrill of a tri-coloured first pressing. Hardly any surprise it has acquired ‘Classic Album’ status and it remains (for me) one of the greatest ever made. This contains musicianship, composition and sound of the highest possible standard and few would have even known the calibre of this man’s brilliance at this time. Even with mostly minor surface marks that are purely superficial and non-penetrating, this record still gives a splendid performance. These first issues were thicker with deeper grooves and minor visual blemishes are so often, as is the case here, of no concern.

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 snippets 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 & Audio Grading – The Hot Rats Hi-Fi Experience: This copy plays very well indeed with very little at all to fault – crank this up loud and prepare to be entertained. Well pressed on robust thick vinyl, any surface sounds are minimal, few and faint. Both channels are clear and the sound and production are up there with the very best from this period. Zappa spared no expense in recording this and was a sound perfectionist himself. His ‘solo’ masterpiece and the sonic delivery of the music defies it’s substantial age. With the highest possible technology of the day utilised, this has not aged at all and will better anything the digital age has to offer. It makes worthy systems sing with high quality and beautifully produced sound. The delicate high frequencies of the electric violins, percussion and winds are unclipped and simply rasp and fizz from the speakers. Zappa’s frenzied and blistering guitar work is heard to maximum effect and this will leave fans wanting more. Played loudly enough, Underwood’s electric sax solo on ‘The Gumbo Variations’ is almost capable of ripping off the speaker cloth. What set’s this analogue recording apart are the bass-lines which are warm and deep and fully focused, and more importantly – present! The CD versions are leaner and lack that vital depth, grace and power. My LP12 gave this record real pace and rhythm and noting of any real note spoil the experience. Beefheart’s cameo role on ‘Willie the Pimp’ is famous as he shrieks Hot Meat, Hot Raaaaattttzzzzz, Hot Zitz, Hot Wrists, Hot Ritz, Hot Roots, Hot Sooooottts… this is the album’s only vocal track and it Fizzzessssss, the man’s voice totally unique and rarely sounding better. Nothing beats an original copy – a stepping-stone to his more challenging works. They do not make records like this anymore and the spirit of this much-missed musical genius lives on in this monumental work. My musical world has never been quite the same since his sad and untimely death. Visually not unblemished, but the audio clean and very enjoyable.

His Legacy: Frank Zappa issued over 60+ official albums in his own lifetime and most I consider essential. Sadly leaving us all too young, it’s such a shame his work, music and talent was only recognised by many after his untimely death, but not unusual for a genius in the arts. But for lifelong fans, his name was known from his early years and lives on forever. With more and more music fans even now discovering the master guitarist and musician’s work, this is the ideal place to start. It simply emphasises the mundane mediocrity around these days, the greatest entertainer in rock will always live on.

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.

Equipment Used for Play-Grading: I now play-grade ALL the records I offer (unless clearly stated to the contrary) on the following equipment:

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’.