FRANK ZAPPA CRUISING with RUEBEN and the JETS 1st UK Press +VERY RARE PRESS CUTTINGS EX

First U.K. Pressing

Matrix: V6 5055 A1 / B1

Catalogue number Verve UK VLP 9237

Originally released 1968

Overall condition is EXCELLENT

Cruising with Ruben & the Jets was the fourth studio album by FRANK ZAPPA and the MOTHERS OF INVENTION. Released on December 2, 1968 on Verve Records in the UK and distributed by MGM Records. Featuring, in Zappa’s words, “greasy love songs and cretin simplicity” influenced by 1950s doo wop and rock and roll. Some of the lyrics reflect Zappa’s feel for satire and irony, as well as some that are downright filthy – if you decipher the double entendres. There are also some flashes of brilliant musicianship and high production values for its time. The album's concept deals with a fictitious Chicano doo wop band called Ruben & the Jets, represented by the cover illustration by Cal Schenkel, showing the Mothers of Invention as anthropomorphic dogs. It was conceived as part of a project called No Commercial Potential, which produced three other albums: Lumpy Gravy, We're Only in It for the Money and Uncle Meat.

Sleeve EXCELLENT

The laminated front flipback sleeve is still very bright and glossy. It has some very light wear to the open edge and barely discernable ringware to the front, but otherwise is in EXCELLENT condition and there isn’t any writing, taping or stickers. The back cover is clean and undamaged apart from a very small one and a half cm dark line just above the track listing. I’m not sure if it’s pen pencil or something else but I don’t want to risk trying to remove it. See photo.

Spine EXCELLENT there’s only minimal edge wear and the spine is firm and totally legible but has some slight creasing. The original poly lined plain inner paper sleeve is still in EXCELLENT condition. I will also include the original plastic outer that I bought with it still fits tightly and has successfully kept the dust off for all these years.

Record EXCELLENT It’s pressed on heavyweight vinyl The record itself is clean and glossy and the disc retains its deep, black vinyl sheen.

Labels EXCELLENT The classic UK 1st Press black & silver Verve labels show minimal signs of use, have no writing and are clean with no discernable spindle marking.

Audio Quality EXCELLENT It plays really well apart from the lightest of surface noise between tracks, which doesn’t detract from the overall sound, which is still amazing. It lays flat on the turntable and plays well without the needle sticking or jumping.

Until 1970 I only ever played my albums on a Garrard Sp25 Mk11 with a Sonotone 9TAHC cartridge and from 1970 onwards on a Pioneer PL12D with a Shure N75 ED-T2 cartridge and stylus, tracking at 1.5 grams which I continue to use today – although the stylus has been replaced regularly

SIDE 1. 1. Cheap Thrills 2. Love Of My Life 3.How Could I Be Such A Fool
4. Desiri 5. I'm Not Satisfied 6. Jelly Roll Gum Drop 7. Anything
SIDE 2. 1. Later That Night 2. You Didn't Try To Call Me 3. Fountain Of Love
4. "No.No.No." 5. Anyway The Wind Blows 6. Stuff Up The Cracks

Musicians Ray Collins –lead vocals, Frank Zappa – low grumbles, oo-wah and lead guitar (also drums, piano, bass) Roy Estrada – high weazlings, dwaedy-doop & electric bass Jimmy Carl Black and/or Arthur Dyer Tripp III – lewd pulsating rhythm Ian Underwood or Don Preston – redundant piano triplets Motorhead Sherwood – baritone sax & tambourine Bunk Gardner and Ian Underwood – tenor and alto saxes

PRESS CUTTINGS I’m also including a few press cuttings from Melody Maker from the same period, I think they are all very rare, as I’ve never seen them referred to in books or on the web.

Summary: this ICONIC, progressive rock masterwork album is a lovely piece of genuine memorabilia from a bygone time that changed the world, as well as the way that music is made, and would grace any collection. If you haven’t heard it on vinyl this could be for you. It certainly doesn’t sound 53 years old.

I’m starting at a sensible price so a genuine fan or collector can enjoy it and the press cuttings without paying rip off prices.

If you check my feedback you will see many people think my grading is spot on.

I’m not a dealer of any sort, but am just downsizing and having to clear things out and trying to survive on a poxy pension. Good luck with your bidding and feel free to ask any question.

A Word About Payment and Postage Sorry but I accept Paypal only and it will be posted as soon as payment has cleared, which must be paid within 24 hours of the end of the auction. This may seem harsh but I’m fed up with time wasters!

I use 12" Vinyl LP Record Cruciform postal mailers and protect them with an additional layer of bubblewrap. In the UK I use Royal Mail Signed For.

Price for postage is for 2nd class and reflects the fact that eBay & PayPal take a combined total fee of 13.4% on shipping charges. If you are outside the UK, I will use Ebay’s Global Shipping Program and you are therefore accepting their shipping terms and charges over which I have no control.

Record Collector grading system used

MINT: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and / or creasing.

VERY GOOD: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

FAIR: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and / or defaced.

POOR: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

As well as the above grades, Near Mint is often used as well; this is really for a record that appears new but is known to have been played because the label has light spindle marks or because it has come from a previous owner and is assumed to have been played by them. For records which appear to fall between the accepted grades, + and - are also often added to the grading.