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, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for 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 if possible.

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.

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: QUINTESSENCE

Album Title: Quintessence

Producer(s): John Barham

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Gauranga; Sea of Immortality; High on Mt. Kailash; Burning Bush; Shiva’s Chant.

Side 2: Prisms; Twilight Zones; Maha Mantra; Only Love; St Pancras; Infinitum.

Label/Format: Island – original pink format with matt rough textured surfaces.

Label Conditions: Both in beautiful condition, fresh, clean with a lovely deep pastel-pink colour. Spindle marks are moderately light, very fine and faint seen mostly under light. This very challenging recording plays superbly with little unwanted, and that is somewhat unusual.

Cat Number: ILPS 9128

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: 156 grams. A more typical heavyweight first issue.

Country of Manufacture: England

Rarity / Info: Quite rare are a first issue. This one of the last new albums issued on the full pink Island label, and not one of Island’s bigger known acts and still underrated and under-valued in my opinion. Most are seen on the pink rim format. One of the more elusive Island records on this beautiful label and so hard to find with anything like a decent cover. This one is superb as seen. Even more challenging is finding this album without pressing or sound issues. At times the sound is complex and difficult, and finding one that will play anything like ‘perfect’ is beyond difficult. This is a Pye pressing, these are known to be variable as contract pressings. Overall, this copy offers very impressively and clean sound, the final song is one of the most difficult on this label, it will always test the tracking ability of any cartridge to its limit. All is described further down. Overall quite a rare original and a brilliant album.

Original Year of Release: 1970. This a very late album on this label, pressed in very small numbers just prior to the change to the pink rim format which most examples of this album are found on.

Matrix Nos: ILPS + 9128 + A2 / ILPS + 9128 + B2 (machine punched and very clear)

Musicians: Raja Ram – flute; Jake Milton – drums; Maha Dev – rhythm guitar; Shiva Shankar Jones – vocals; Allan Mostert – lead guitar; Shambhu Baba – bass guitar.

Brief Info: One of the earliest ‘progressive’ acts signed to Island records, they blended rock and jazz elements with a mystical Eastern influence. With a strong interest in Indian music, Quintessence were one of the most spiritual progressive acts of their era. Superb guitar improvisations with flute and vocals, this band’s music is simply superb and still probably not receiving the attention and credit it deserves. This second album includes one of the most beautiful covers within the Island catalogue. Fully laminated with stunning artwork with twin opening front flaps (doors) to reveal the magnificent inside graphic. This was so often damaged by creasing or manufactured off-square which ruins its beauty – this one has no such issues. Difficult to find on the original pink label, and even more so in high quality condition. I have always found this a very difficult album to find that plays anything like perfectly, especially originals. At times, this has intense and difficult to track sound, this complex information often destroyed by heavy-tracking basic record players of the time. And pressing quality is always a major factor. This is possibly the cleanest example I have had to date with most of the music playing superbly. The very intense sound near the album’s end will test the tracking ability of any turntable, arm and cartridge. Not so much for keep in contact with the grooves, but more for keeping the sound in focus. Any stressing to the complex sound and frequency range heard on my system was minimal with slight traces only for the brieft of time as the sound gets more and more complex. But this could prove more variable depending what it is played on. So please bear that in mind. My LP12 Sondek will track almost anything to the maximum advantage, that is why I paid a considerable price for it. Overall, a very fine example with two beautiful labels and clean playing surfaces. The cover exceptional and truly beautiful as-seen.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a fully laminated double opening fronted cover. First issues were printed and made in England by the E. J. Day Group, these are much rarer. The second printed version was by Robor. Includes a white polylined inner sleeve.

Lamination & Front: E. J. Day Group covers are significantly more elusive, the imprint apart, they look virtually the same, so be careful of substitutions. Apart from the lack of wear to either half-size flap, the most important factor is this one is perfectly folded, square and virtually parallel. So they close perfectly together with no overlap or misalignment, that is a crucial factor for this beautifully designed cover. The laminate retains deep fresh shine and clarity with barely any dulling and minimal creasing. A gentle half moon on the right flap near its edge hardly shows. The lack of any noteworthy lifting on this one is rarely seen, often large blisters are seen near the edges which spoil its effect. The inner edges of both have clear laminate ends and fine unprotected strips, both of which show barely any rubbing and no grubbiness. In terms of this cover front, I have seen very few better, and probably none as a first example.

Cover Back: Again impressive, with the laminate largely as per the front. Any rim impression little and very light. Again with minimal creasing at all. The intensely coloured artwork is fantastic, and note again the E. J. Day credit for the printing, seen in close-up.

Cover Inner Gatefold: Wow!! – open the two front doors to reveal a stunning near Mint graphic. Both folds retain FULL uncracked laminate that remains tight and rigid. These usually crack badly making the flaps floppy, but these are solid and lay perfectly flat to the back cover. A stunning piece of spiritual artwork that is an absolute delight to hold and view.

Top & Bottom Edges: All six edges are little short of immaculate and fully laminated with no chipping, scuffs or rubbing. All straight, flush and flat with no bowling whatsoever. I can hardly emphasise enough how hard these are to find like this. Cover protection over many years have ensured this classic cover has remained in this outstanding condition.

Edges – Left & Right: Both act as spine edges and include the same text. Both are solid, very straight with all text intact and easily read. Any loosening of the laminate minimal indeed, these on two working edge hinges where it makes adhesion all the more difficult.

Corners: A mere hint of a faint crease on the back left bottom, this being critical. All crisp, neat and very sharp with little wear and avoiding the usual knocks most covers of age acquire over time.

Cover Summary: Made at a time of quality and imagination, seeing this classic cover makes you wonder why Island did not laminate more of their covers – clearly cost was a factor, but they spared no expense on this artistic gem. This in age-defying condition and looking fantastic. It should please most-all collectors, and indeed could prove a huge upgrade for some – again remember, this is a genuine first issue printing by EJD.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(+): a plain white unlined inner with two perfect window circles. Hardly creased with no edge splits, tears or repairs. Any discolouration of the paper only light.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT: and arguably better. A very fine visual copy that is very clean with excellent shine and heavily pressed. Two fantastic pink Island labels and minimal surface marks, any mostly very fine and faint as seen under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room light, little even registers. Visually a super 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 rarer original plays for most above its high visual grading. I can hardly reiterate enough the challenging nature of this recording, especially towards the ends. Sound quality is very high with a full dynamic range and detailed sound with no tracking issues*. Any contact sounds minimal, this is very well pressed and lacking the usual crackle and pressing noises some have. At times the sound is intense and full-on, it will test the ability of all cartridges to remain focused – any stressing or clarity loss was minimal and brief on my Linn LP12 and all other equipment I use. In fact most plays superbly well, and I will never take that for granted on this difficult album. The two Island pink Quintessence albums are both very difficult and complex recordings and are highly prone to surface noise, often the earliest pressings the most guilty, some with inherent pressing faults or inherent distortions. A record that seems intolerant of over-playing or heavy tracking abuse from old record players, the likes of which this copy has never seen. Although not pristine ‘perfect’ at the very end (for the briefest of brief time only), few available copies will better this significantly I feel sure, and little spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful album. I rate this band highly, this arguably their finest set. My first original full pink label copy for ages, this merits high recommendation as few will better it, of that I am confident. For such a complex album, this was a joy to play with only the briefest and polite hint of what is being played – a 47+-year-old vinyl record, it will take a near remarkable one to better it significantly.

* 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. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish.

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 the item being offered with no digital enhancements. 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. 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 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. 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 17­ 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. 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’.