Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On," 1st Superior Press, Excellent & Complete!

If you're looking for a great keeper copy of this masterpiece by Marvin Gaye that Rolling Stone recently named "the Greatest Album of All-time," then look no further. It comes complete with the original inner sleeve, and each part of the package is outstanding.

The L.P. was produced at the Superior Pressing Plant in New Jersey. It is in fantastic shape. Side #1 has only a few superficial sleeve streaks and spots, while side #2 is even nicer! It retains almost all of its original luster and shine. The labels, likewise, are beyond excellent. They have no discernable spindle marks, stains, or scuffs, and have their shiny, vibrant yellow color still in tact.

The cover is also excellent. The only flaw is a tiny set of initials on the inner gatefold (see pics). Otherwise, there is very little ring wear on a cover that is notorious for discoloration and fading. But not this copy! It is a great specimen, as is the original inner sleeve that is in very sold condition, as well.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Stay classy, and thanks for stopping by!

Condition

L.P.: Side #1 = Excellent - / Side #2 = Excellent +

Cover: Excellent

Labels: Excellent ++

Grading Scale (Albums graded visually. Will gladly play-grade upon request.)

Mint (M): Sealed only, with no signs of handling, damage, or wear to the cover. Such vintage albums hardly exist in my opinion.

Near Mint (NM): Virtually flawless, appearing mirror-like in unplayed condition and with no damage to the cover.  Labels will likewise be free of spindle marks. (Unplayed records cannot, by definition, have spindle marks!!!!)  There will be virtually no background noise, like loud pops or ticks, and will have a “just opened” sound. Although nearly all vintage records have some degree of insignificant warpage, NM L.P.'s will display only minimal amounts.

Excellent (EX): Still free of any significant defects, with only superficial flaws.  Such albums will show some minor signs of play and storage, but minimal wear, plenty of shine, and will still be considered in “collectible” condition. Background noise will only be audible during quieter portions of the album, if at all, and will not be prominent to the point of affecting sound quality.  Labels may have none, to only a few, spindle marks and covers will have only minor edge and corner wear, or discoloration.

Very Good (VG): An album that has obvious signs of wear, perhaps slight warpage, but plays through without skips, jumps, or long repetitive ticks.  It will be entirely playable with moderate background noise.  Covers might have small stains, edge, spine and/or corner wear.  Vinyl will have surface level scuffs that may affect playback but still allows the music to shine through.  Unlike most sellers, a grade from me of VG does NOT mean that the album is trash.  It will still be a “very good” listen.  

Good (G): An album that has had a full life but is still worth listening to.  Sound quality will be diminished by background noise, and perhaps some loud pops and skips.  Covers and inner sleeves will have stains, tears, or other signs of damage, but will still adequately protect the vinyl and acceptably present the original artwork. Labels will be diminished by spindle marks and other forms of damage.

Poor (P): An album on which the surface noise and skipping is too distracting to listen too enjoyably, and that has a cover with major stains, tears, or other significant defects.  I will sell an album in this condition ONLY when it is highly collectible because of its age and/or rarity.

(+/-): I will use plus or minus designations freely to nuance the grading of each album, and to bridge the gap in describing albums that fall in between grades.

 PLEASE NOTE:

I seek to grade ACCURATELY and strictly according to the grading scale above. Proper grading is my top priority. I am a grading “literalist,” and I strive to be as precise as possible. My ultimate goal is to be among the best record graders on eBay. All records are cleaned on a VPI 16.5 using a 3-step, enzyme-based process. All L.P.'s will be shipped separately from their cover's and placed in a replacement sleeve. They will also be well protected in an outer poly sleeve and safely packaged with more than adequate cardboard reinforcement. (No worries here, I promise.) Sealed albums cannot be returned if opened, partially or completely. I am not a wholesale collector or a large-scale seller. I’m just an average dude who loves vintage vinyl and has been collecting for many years. Be assured that I will always strive to be as accurate as I can with the grades I assign. I know how important that is to us vinyl enthusiasts, and how frustrating it is when albums come over-graded! If you disagree with my grading upon receipt, please contact me immediately for a resolution before leaving negative or neutral feedback.