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 arrive damaged in them at some time. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS. Full details 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 ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for 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, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled 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: DAVID BOWIE

Album Title: Low

Producer(s): David Bowie & Tony Visconti

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Speed of Life; Breaking Glass; What in the World; Sound and Vision; Always Crashing in the Same Car; Be My Wife; A New Career in a New Town.

Side 2: Warszawa; Art Decade; Weeping Wall; Subterraneans.

Label/Format: RCA Victor with matt, smooth surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both practically as made: ultra clean, fresh and attractive, I am struggling to see a single spindle trace. Slight adhesion crinkle seen on side one purely in manufacture.

Cat Number: PL 12030

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: 125 grams. About average for it’s era.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity: Standard issues are moderately common. Copies totally complete are a different matter. This one includes the double-stickered cover. The front promotes the single ‘Sound & Vision’, the back has the larger rectangular sticker with the song titles. Later covers omit both. Also included is the song musician credits insert sheet. Lastly, and this the rarest piece of all, the David Bowie official international Fan Club mini booklet insert is included as well. This totally unused and complete, the fan club being in the United States, the insert, which is guaranteed original, was printed by Garrod & Lofthouse. Finding a copy of ‘Low’ with all these pieces included is immensely difficult making this example rare.

Original Year of Release: 1977

Matrix Nos: PL 12030-A-1 / PL 12030-B-2 [there are two struck-through error matrixes on both sides]

Mothers / Stampers: A1K / A1B

Run-Out Groove Etchings: ‘STERLING’ [on both sides]

Musicians: David Bowie – vocals, saxophones, guitar, pump bass, harmonica, vibraphone, xylophone, pre-arranged percussion, keyboards, ARP synthesiser, tape horn, brass, synthetic strings, tape cellos, tape sax section, piano; Brian Eno – keyboards, splinter Mini-moog, report ARP, rimmer E.M.I., piano, Chamberlin, other synthesisers, vocals, guitar treatments, synthetics; Carlos Alomar – rhythm guitars, guitar; Dennis Davis – percussion; George Murray – bass; Ricky Gardiner – rhythm guitar, guitar; Roy Young – pianos, Farfisa organ; Iggy Pop – backing vocals; Mary Visconti – backing vocals; Eduard Meyer – cellos.

Brief Info: The eleventh studio album now regarded as one of Bowie’s most influential ever. It was the first of the famed ‘Berlin Trilogy’ recorded with Brian Eno. Far more experimental, even avant-garde with inspiration from the Krautrock scene of the early 1970s. This sound was developed still further on ‘Heroes’ and then ‘Lodger’. There were hints of what to come in the previous album ‘Station to Station’. Initially opinion was somewhat divided on this new direction, many found the music difficult, even bleak. Some were disappointed by the lack of vocals on side two and felt disatissfied. But as the shock of this new sound subsided, this album is now regarded as a true classic and a brave issue. Personally, I regard it as one of his finest ever being less commercial and dark. A wonderful work as were the next two in the series. This is a lovely copy as well, minor hints of cover wear, but the record looks barely played – may be the owner was one of those who found this too difficult? The double-stickered cover is never easy to find, the insert often missing, and the Fan Club insert 4-page mini booklet rare and seldom seen. I have found over time this record can sometimes suffer pressing issues and unwanted sounds – well this copy plays superbly with no such issues. In fact it plays beautifully with even the quieter passages impressively clean and devoid of irritating crackle or pressing rasps. So a lovely and rare complete UK ‘Low’ that should delight this iconic artist’s fans.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT: a single unlaminated format with the scarce round promotional sticker for ‘Sound & Vision’ on the front, and the large rectangular sticker on the back listing the song titles. One or the other (or both) omitted quickly on even slightly later covers. Printed and made in England by Garrodprint Ltd, includes the RCA white inner sleeve, also the song credits insert sheet and the rare ‘Fan Club’ mini-booklet.

Cover Front: Little to fault on a wear-prone front. A couple or three small gentle surface creases show little, any marks or blemishes minimal and faint. Retaining deep colour and freshness with barely any hint of rubbing. The promotional single sticker has gentle traces of grubbiness and mild ageing, those that included it initially, many were removed often resulting in damage or leaving marks to the area. This is quite hard to even find on ‘Low’ at all. So an impressive front that will be difficult to beat.

Cover Back: Firstly the sticker that again only came with a select few very early covers: this has impressive with only a trace of darkening round the very edges, little else to fault. Both front and back stickers have never been picked at or any removal attempted, so both have neat crisp edges. The back cover itself, again immensely prone to rubbing and ringwear with a massive area of single intense colour. It has only a gentle rub trace near the 1 o’clock position with a slight pressure rub against the top inside flipback, any overall grubbiness very light. Any hint of ringwear also very faint indeed, this has fared well in that respect. Just a small tip crease to the top left, this also present on the front.

Top Edge: Very straight and unworn.

Bottom Edge: Almost the same, any friction traces or marks few and very light.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, impressively sharp with barely any wear. Any thickening or burring minuscule, even as seen viewed end-on. Record enters on this edge that is guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with barely any compression. The issue is it has faded due to natural room light exposure, probably as many stored in a rack.

Corners: Minimal tip rubbing with a small tip crease to the top right. Very fine and mostly excellent shape is retained.

Cover Summary: The spine fading apart, a very strong all-round example of this ‘complete’ stickered 1970’s cover, one that could prove very difficult to find much better that include both stickers. Still attractive, it should please many collectors, but not for the highly discerning or cover connoisseurs.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT: an RCA imprinted white inner sleeve, these were not lined. Two pristine window circles, just one corner crease and all edges unsplit with no repairs. This is date-coded and manufactured in December 1976.

The Song Credits Insert Sheet: EXCELLENT(++): practically as made. Printed on both sides, a natural manufacture gripper impression on one side. Barely any creasing and very clean and fresh, also guaranteed original. This is so often missing.

The Fan Club Mini Booklet: I have very rarely seen one of these and is the rarest element for this album. A small flyer mini black and white booklet with a single fold, thus 4-pages. It has the G&L imprint on the back. The inside promotes the early albums to date, including this ‘HIS LATEST ALBUM’ being ‘Low’. The owner urged to send $5 to the American Fab Club address, this is totally unused or marked with just a fine crease to the top right of the front. Clean, fresh and practically as made bar the fine crease. This will seldom be seen or offered, I doubt if many even survived being honest. Again, this guaranteed original, the fine print plate dots can be easily seen under a magnifying glass.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: a very fine visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed. A copy with minimal plays on all the evidence with any surface marks few, very light and faint as seen critically under bright angled light. Mostly ultra fine hairlines and no penetrating stylus scratches, visually a lovely record that should 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 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 minuscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This quality album plays even above it’s high visual grading with barely anything to fault. Offering strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds are minimal indeed and this is an exceptional clean pressing with no tracking issues*. Never, ever take that for granted on this, or any orange Bowie album. Popular artist records were more mass-produced and quality often suffered. Indeed, I have another copy of this album in stock (minus the extra), that looks equally fine, but plays horrible with inherent pressing rasps and distortion – that will never be offered. But that is not untypical, such issues are invisible only with a full play-check do they become apparent – sadly. But this is a really impressive clean pressing and one to be enjoyed to the near maximum. Few copies will outperform this it significantly I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly and has been generally well stored and carefully handled, almost certainly in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record, one of the post-Ziggy classics, the music dark and mysterious, a real favourite of mine. Especially including all the original packaging, all aspects will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended.

* As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2.2 grams.

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 as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – 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 it’s 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. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. 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 Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2.2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Tellurium 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, better quality packaging costs, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners 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 minuscule in over 14 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. Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE – they offer next-to-no-protection, and should be banned, no ‘professional’ should consider using them in my opinion. 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 TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, 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 as will any suspicious bids or bid withdrawals. 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] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 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 £2 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’.