ARCADIUM *BREATHE AWHILE* LP 1969 MIDDLE EARTH UK 1ST PRESSING

VERY RARE ORIGINAL UK 1ST PRESSING ON MIDDLE EARTH RECORDS.

VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN ANY CONDITION!

AWESOME PROGRESSIVE / PSYCHEDELIC ALBUM NOT TO BE MISSED!!

CHECK THE LINK NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE TO LISTEN TO WHOLE ALBUM!!


CAT NO: MDLS 302 (STEREO)

LABEL: MIDDLE EARTH RECORDS

YEAR: 1969

PRESSING INFO: ORIGINAL UK 1ST PRESSING

MATRIX NO: side 1 (MDLS 302A2-0  H)  side 2 (MDLS 302B3-0  H) stamped but some of the digits are difficult to see.

OTHER STAMPERS: side 1 (A & 1 & KT)  side 2 (A & 1 & KT)

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION BELOW CAREFULLY

 

CONDITION

SLEEVE: (G+) FULLY LAMINATED UK SLEEVE HAS LOTS OF CREASING TO THE LAMINATE ON THE FRONT AND BACK WITH OBVIOUS SIGNS OF HANDLING. A COUPLE OF AREAS OF LAMINATE LIFTING NEXT TO THE SPINE (NEAR THE THE TOP ON FRONT AND BOTTOM ON BACK). THE BACK HAS SOME DISCOLOURATION IN PLACES FROM AGE. NO WRITING NO SPLITS NO RIPS AND NO STICKERS.  

SPINE: (VG-) VIRTUALLY ALL TEXT IS READABLE WITH JUST THE LETTER 'D' OF 'MDLS' MISSING AND SOME SCUFFING TO THE 'W' OF 'AWHILE'  WHERE THE SURFACE HAS LIFTED/RUBBED AWAY. THE SPINE IS FLATTENED BUT NO SPLITS AND NO RIPS.  

INNER: (VG-) ORIGINAL PAPER POLYLINED INNER HAS LIGHT WEAR/AGING FROM USE AND STORAGE. THE PAPER HAS RIPPED IN ONE AREA ON THE BACK AROUND THE CENTRE WHOLE. NO SPLITS.

LABELS: (VG-) BOTH LABELS ARE FREE FROM ANY UNWANTED WRITING & STICKERS WITH LOTS OF MILD SPINDLE MARKS AROUND THE CENTRE HOLE ON EACH SIDE. NO SPLITS NO RIPS AND NO STICKERS.

VINYL VISUALLY: (G+) BOTH SIDES ARE COMPLETELY FLAT & VERY GLOSSY. WHEN ANGLED UNDER BRIGHT LIGHT BOTH SIDES HAVE LOTS OF LIGHT/MILD PAPER SCUFFS AND LONG HAIRLINES WITH SEVERAL LIGHT SCRATCHES. MOST OF THE THESE MARKS CAN ONLY BE SEEN IN NORMAL. THE VINYL WAS PLAYED FREQUENTLY AT THE TIME OF RELEASE BUT HAS BEEN STORED FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

PLAYING GRADE: SIDE 1 (G+) SIDE 2 (G)  BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY LISTENED TO ON HEADPHONES ON A COUPLE OF SYSTEMS WITH A SHURE WHITE LABEL CARTRIDGE & STEREO NEEDLE & THE TREBLE TURNED UP FULL. THE SOUND QUALITY HAS NOT DETERIORATED BUT THERE IS FREQUENT BACKGROUND CRACKLE AND POPS IN PLACES THROUGHOUT BOTH SIDES WHICH ARE LOST IN THE LOUDER MUSIC BUT NOTICEABLE DURING THE QUIETER PARTS. SIDE 1 TRACK 1 PLAYS WITH LIGHT CRACKLE AND LIGHT POPS THAT COME AND GO EVER TURN UNTIL THE DRUMS COME IN, ALSO WHEN THE VOCALS FIRST COME IN HALF WAY THROUGH THE TRACK THERE IS A HISS NOISE FOR A FEW SECONDS (SEPARATE FROM THE MUSIC). SIDE 2 IS SIMILAR BUT HAS MORE POPS. NO SKIPS NO JUMPS NO STICKS. THIS VINYL HAS BEEN STORED UNTOUCHED FOR OVER 40 YEARS SO MAY BENEFIT FROM A PROFESSIONAL MACHINE CLEAN. I AM BEING HIGHLY CRITICAL AND MY PLAY GRADE IS ALWAYS BASED ON WHAT I CAN HEAR ON BEYER-DYNAMIC DT-150 HEADPHONES WITH THE TREBLE TURNED UP FULL! EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN ANY CONDITION ESPECIALLY AS A GENUINE UK 1ST PRESSING. THE PRODUCTION ON THIS ALBUM IS SIMPLY AWESOME AND IS FAR SUPERIOR TO ANY DIGITAL REMASTER OR VINYL REPRESSING. A PRESENTABLE AND PLAYABLE COPY OF AN INCREDIBLY RARE MIDDLE EARTH CLASSIC NOT TO BE MISSED!! JUDGE FOR YOURSELF AND LISTEN TO THE WHOLE ALBUM - CHECK THE LINK BELOW!!

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN ANY CONDITION!!

DON`T MISS OUT ON THIS!

COPY AND PASTE THE SOUNDCLOUD LINK BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE WHOLE ALBUM: 

https://soundcloud.com/style87recs/arcadium-breathe-awhile-lp-full-album-320kbps-mp3

THIS ALBUM HAS BEEN RECORDED AT A LOW LEVEL WITH ALL EQ SETTINGS AT 12 O'CLOCK ON A TECHNICS SL-1210MK2 TURNTABLE WITH A SHURE WHITE LABEL CARTRIDGE AND STEREO NEEDLE. THE AUDIO FILE HAS NOT BEEN BOOSTED, EDITED OR PROCESSED IN ANY WAY - I HAVE LITERALLY PUT THE NEEDLE ON THE RECORD AND RECORDED BOTH SIDES INCLUDING RUN-INS AND RUN-OUTS. IT WAS RECORDED ON CUBASE 6.5 AT 16BIT 44.1kHZ THEN EXPORTED AS MP3 FILE AT 320KBPS. WHAT YOU CAN HEAR IS WHAT THE VINYL SOUNDS LIKE!!

 

GRADING

All records are graded using the Record Collector Grading System with (+) or (-) to show a slightly higher or lower grade.

M (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 lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition.

EX (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.

VG (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.

G (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.

F (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.

POSTAGE & PACKAGING

I always charge less postage than what it actually costs me. If the actual cost of postage is less then I will refund the difference. All records are posted fully insured. In the UK they are sent via Royal Mail 1st Class Recorded delivery (Special Delivery at no extra charge if the record is £50 or over). Overseas all records are posted via Royal Mail International Tracked & Signed, tracked or signed depending on what options are available. All vinyl is posted using correct card record mailers/cruciform boxes with at least 5 cardboard stiffners. The sleeve is always sent in a new poly outer and the vinyl is put in a new polylined paper inner outside of the sleeve to avoid splits/damage during transit. 7" vinyls sleeves are sent in a new PVC outer and the vinyl is put in a new card inner outside of sleeve. I will always do everything I can to guarantee that your record arrives in the same condition it leaves me.

 

PLEASE SEE PICTURES ABOVE OF THE ACTUAL RECORD FOR SALE

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK