Sold Date: November 17, 2023
Start Date: November 10, 2023
Final Price: $280.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 8
Seller Feedback: 2078
Buyer Feedback: 0

The Chocolate Watchband

The Inner Mystique

VG+/VG

US 1968

Tower Records - ST 5106

The Chocolate Watchband formed in San Jose, California by former members of The Topsiders, The Shandells and Early Morning Reign. They were a seamless covers band moving from one radio hit song to another without pausing or stopping in between. Band members were always changing. Preferring to play as a live band to an audience, they had already been featured in the film 'Riot On Sunset Strip'. 

Ed Cobb signed the band to Tower Records and they recorded their first LP. But they didn't like the controlled environment in the studio. It didn't help that many of the songs were written by the staff writers at the label. They were writing their own music at the time, but Ed Cobb was set on promoting them as a psych band and pushed them into playing the songs he wrote. An action he regretted until his dying day. A few members quit the band at that point and things didn't look good. Two other LPs were released with altered players from the original lineup. 

Musically very psychedelic with echoes, sitar, heavy reverb, electro-theremin, special studio effects and heavy guitar.

This was the second album. An original copy. The band as a whole wasn't really involved. Side one is comprised of studio musicians playing songs that Ed Cobb wrote with Don Bennett, a non-band member, singing vocals. Side two consists of cover songs and are outtakes from that first album session.

Cover has some general shelf, corner, edge and ring wear with upper and lower seams starting to split. The record has some visible marks, sleeve rubs and light hairline scratches. Record plays with some subtle ticks noticeable at the lead in and run off grooves and in the silent moments. But it's very low-level. Plastic inner sleeve. 

Highly collectible and pricey if you don't have one. Required for every psych collection. 

I was Ina-Gadda-Da-Records.

Long time buyer from E-bay and other record websites since the 90's.

Please bear with me. I'm selling off my entire record collection (about 40,000 LPs) listing them one at a time.

A long and arduous task. Lots of gems and rare stuff.

Check out The Psychedelic Digest.

GRADING DETAILS - SHIPPING DETAILS - RETURNS - FEEDBACK - ETC.

Auctions are listed for 7 days.  

All records are Graded to the best of my ability and are rated VINYL FIRST / THEN COVER. For Double LPs Vinyl / Vinyl / Cover. 

GRADING DETAILS – Everything I list will be at least VG+ or better, both visually and audibly, unless I state otherwise. 95% of what is offered and up for bid is very clean with maybe 1 or 2 minor flaws. If it’s very rare, it may be offered with obvious visual marks, scratches, warps and might make some low-level noise. But this would be a rare instance. I’ll describe any flaws as best I can. I ASK THAT YOU READ THE FULL DETAILS AS DESCRIBED BY ME ABOUT THE LOOKS AND SOUND OF THE RECORD. Don’t base everything on a simple grading rate M, EX, VG++, etc. I’m not that good at it.

AUDIBLE GRADING – All vinyl records are played before they are listed. Some records look bad and play good. Others look perfect but play badly. Any visual flaws that I see will be described and I will let you know if they make an audible noise. 95% of the records up for bid are very clean sounding. You may hear a minor tick or click as its spinning but typically light hairline scratches and sleeve marks Do Not Affect Play (DNAP) and should not detract from your overall listening pleasure.

VISUAL GRADING - PLEASE READ THIS!!!

COVERS - I'm a 72-year-old guy with Strabismus (an eye disorder). I try to visually describe every flaw that I can see, but sometimes I miss a small tear or a tiny seam split.

SHELF WEAR generally means that the cellophane was removed when the LP was new and it sat on a shelf or in a box without a plastic sleeve, before they were available, for several years, so there can be some rub blemishes, sticker residue if it was purchased used, tiny tears, slight seam splits and other defects.

EDGE WEAR usually means the picture wrap around the edge has been worn, sometimes into the cardboard itself. This usually happens on the top or bottom edge.

CORNER WEAR is the same as edge wear but sometimes there will be a dent or ding at the corner. All 4 sides are suspect for this occurrence.

RING WEAR occurs when a record was not stored in a protective sleeve for a very long time. Back in the day, plastic sleeves were not easily available. Most of us as teenagers, ripped off the cellophane and didn’t consider how the record cover was being stored. Most of the record covers laid on the floor or were stored in the closet or on a shelf for easy access. If they sat for a long time, earth movement, that nobody feels, causes vibration and the record sleeves would rub together and wear on the cover picture or illustration causing the ring wear and other flaws.

THE VINYL RECORD ITSELF - I will try to visually grade both sides of the vinyl record. There might be some sleeve rubs or marks on some of these. All of my records were played more than once, unless they are sealed. If I mention ticks and or clicks in the description, that means that you can visually see and sometimes hear the imperfection. Most of these Do Not Affect the Play (DNAP). I try my best to see any flaws but understand I don’t Inspect these LPs with a High Lumens Tactical Light and a Magnifying Glass. If the visual flaws are obvious or severe, I try and describe these as best as I can. If there are a lot of visual scratches, it won’t be listed. The exception is if the LP is very rare. I will list a rare record that looks bad but plays pretty good.

INNER SLEEVES - Most of the inner sleeves are simple paper sleeves and have slight splits, bends and tears on older LPs. If they’re really bad or split in half, I replace them with a newer paper or plastic sleeve. GENERIC means a blank paper sleeve.

HIGH END RECORDS - There will be a few more pictures for any records that are high end items. I will give a more critical inspection and description of both cover and vinyl. Ask for more pictures if you need them and I can send them to you.

PACKAGING - LPs will be packaged in the proper corrugated cardboard box, we all know about, with extra cardboard pads. Each LP will have a clear plastic sleeve. The record itself will be removed and shipped within the sleeve separate from the cover to prevent any seam splits. 

SEALED RECORDS - The vinyl record will NOT be removed from a sealed LP purchase for shipping. I would advise you to add additional insurance for all sealed LPs that are being shipped to high heat areas due to possible heat warping. No obligation, but it safeguards against some potential problems.

PAYMENT - Payment is only through PayPal and due within 7 days unless you let me know. If payment has NOT been received within the 7-day payment period and you have NOT contacted me, the record will be relisted.

I WILL SHIP WORLDWIDE, BUT INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS DETERMINED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE PACKAGE. DO NOT MAKE A PAYMENT UNTIL I SEND YOU AN INVOICE.

PAYMENT EXTENTION - If you have won an auction and see another item that ends beyond the 7-day maximum payment period, let me know and I will hold your item until that bid period ends. This would be a special circumstance that would not extend beyond 10 days. I will invoice you for the full amount and expect payment at that point.

POSTAGE COST - Typically, the minimum cost for USPS Media mail would be 1-2 LPs $5.00 USD. Canada 1-2 LPs around $23.00 USD. Europe, Japan and other countries around $33.00 USD for 1-2 LPs. Additional LPs as per total weight. I will send an invoice with the total postage cost. Everything is shipped via USPS. I don't use the E-Bay International shipping, because you and I have no control over the tariff costs, etc. Tracking for International shipping only covers destinations within the USA and only gives a Date Of Arrival for all countries outside of the US. Your record may have arrived, but it is probably sitting at your customs depot. (Sometimes for weeks) It would be up to you to call them for details about your package.

POSTAGE DISCOUNT - I combine the shipping for multiple record purchases but will only send a maximum of 10-12 records per package. Additional postage will be determined by the total weight of the package. An invoice will be sent to you.

ADDITIONAL COSTS - Priority Mail, Insurance, etc. is available at additional costs. Let me know and I will send an invoice.

REFUNDS - I will Refund for any item purchased and received that was not fully as described. Grading is difficult and is the usual cause of concern. We're talking used and 30-50 years old. THERE ARE NO PERFECT RECORDS. Even sealed records can have visual and audible flaws, ticks, clicks, skips and heat warps. If you open a sealed record and it is warped so badly it doesn't play, that usually means it was stored near or shipped in high heat. I have no way of knowing. All sealed records should be insured, just in case that happens. But with regard to a warped record, contact me anyway, I will try and make it right. Any other flaws found on a sealed record that was opened by you, deems the LP non-refundable. If there is a concern, please contact me. We can always work things out.

ANY RETURNS WILL BE POSTED AT BUYERS COST. If necessary, I will only refund the original purchase price.

Please message me through E-Bay to discuss any problems or concerns.

Positive Feedback is happily accepted and reciprocated.