MISSION STATEMENT

To satisfy the buyer not only for this transaction but also for many to come. To describe goods for sale to the perspective buyer so he/she knows, to the highest degree, the actual condition of the item up for auction. Give fair shipping costs, and to send the package out in a safe and timely manor.

Each record is professionally cleaned with a Nitty Gritty vacuum machine using non-alcohol solution.
This improves the quality resulting in a cleaner, brighter, and more alive sound!

New International shipping; Two records for $27. See details below

 

Want to save on shipping on multiple items? Please use the shopping cart and request an invoice.

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND; BEFORE THESE CROWDED STREETS: ORIGINAL 1998 2LP US PRESSING ON RCA LABEL 07863 67600-1 GATEFOLD w/ORIGINAL COLOR PHOTO & LYRIC SLEEVES



THIS ALBUM WAS HARDLY PLAYED!

SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT



COVER//PLAY GRADE RECORD


NM-//NM/NM/NM/NM


All sides play clean with great punch. This is my last and personal copy! Great vinyl used in the pressing.
 


VISUAL GRADE: NM/NM/NM- to NM/NM



All sides clean except one faint light line on side three
 



SPINDLE: 1) 1 line     2)  zero          3) 1             4)  0    

 

PLAYED ONCE OR TWICE!
    

SLEEVES:  NM Thick sleeves .. Album with lyrics and photo of the band. Clean



GATEFOLD COVER: NM-

Shiny and glossy. New-like. Front and back is clean with three tiny creases at top seams. Seams and spine intact and perfect. Inside gatefold is completely clean except very top portions with light smudging, Not from handling. Cover is conducive to smudging from handling but easily wiped clean.


 
Cut-out upper seam near spine. Some people think a cut-out is actually a Promotional copy never reaching a record store, especially if pressing 1990 and newer, while very few make you believe it makes it essentially worthless.

 
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask..




PROFESSIONAL PACKING EXPERT WITH OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE

!!PLEASE SEE GRADING SCALE BELOW!!

 

U.S.A. SHIPPING AND HANDLING COSTS

Media Mail S&H: $5.05, and just 50 cents for each additional.

Media mail usually takes 4-7 days, but occasionally can take as long as 3 weeks.

Priority shipping and/or insurance arraigned upon request and is quite expensive

U.S.A. PAYMENT OPTIONS

 

 PAYPAL PREFERRED. IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS, PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE; I'M FLEXIBLE AS LONG AS YOU KEEP ME INFORMED.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

 

International shipping has changed significantly as of January 17, 2016 and could work in your favor!!

 

Will ship up to three albums for $27 as follows >>

1)   ONE SINGLE ALBUM = $27 INCLUDES TWO CARDBOARD FILLERS

 

2)   TWO SINGLE ALBUMS = $27 INCLUDES TWO CARDBOARD FILLERS

 

3)   ONE SINGLE & ONE GATEFOLD = $27 INCLUDES TWO CARDBOARD FILLERS

 

4)   THREE ALBUMS OR TWO GATEFOLDS = MAYBE $27 DEPENDING ON THE FOLLOWING:

 

A)   ONLY ONE PIECE OF CARDBOARD FILLER INSTEAD OF TWO! Possible album cover damage.

 

B)   MUST MESSAGE ME FIRST TO SEE IF IT WEIGHS TWO POUNDS OR LESS

 

C)   MUST AGREE TO THESE TERMS OR WILL CANCEL ORDER

 

5)   MUST BE ABLE TO SHIP USING USPS WEB SITE FOR THIS PRICE; for example a few countries in eastern Europe are not included

CANADA: $19.00 for first LP, AND SAME COMBINATIONS AS LISTED ABOVE

 

INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS

 

PAYPAL ONLY !!

 

If the winning bidder is not completely satisfied with their purchase, I offer a complete money back guarantee including S&H charges paid except return shipping. I use a strong, professionally made 12-inch vinyl record box; plus insulation material for added protection. Finally, when I receive payment, I'll send an e-mail to confirm that it has arrived. Please check my feedback and bid with confidence. Good Luck!!!

 

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. Best of luck with your bids and thanks a lot for your time and interest

 

 

My favorite beach as an adolescent was Zuma 1.

Up north a half-mile over a rocky trail was Freezuma, a place where free spirits could be just that.   RECORD GRADING BGN= BACK GROUND NOISE
DNAP= DOES NOT AFFECT PLAY
CLEANED= CLEANED WITH VACUUM CLEANER W/ NON-ALCOHOL SOLUTION


MINT OR SEALED:  Plays like newly opened. (NM+) Exceptionally playing record. An audiophile’s dream. Even the very edges play perfectly as if it has never been played.  A very rare grade!! 10 GRADE !!
    M-: This grade is only used in very rare cases where the listener cannot even detect it’s a record being played.

 

    NM: Near perfect record. May have been played a few times but nevertheless, plays near perfect. An acceptable audiophile’s copy.  9.5 GRADE !!

 

      NM-: Still in the category of Near Mint. Plays with only the slightest hint of surface noise or hiss and is hardly noticeable and is isolated and NOT distracting. An audiophile may choose this grade depending on his or her perfection needs. Still a keeper !! <9.0 GRADE !!

 

EX: Background noise or hiss that, at the most, could be slightly distracting. Low volume.  It could also be a record that has been played with an older heavier cartridge. ~8.0 GRADE !!

 

   VG+: It plays through and background noise is noticeable and could be distracting especially during quiet passages. Usually it will be an original pressing with superior sound. Thus, once the music plays, the imperfections are hardly noticeable. Not for audiophiles who seek perfection. ~7.0 GRADE !!

 

     VG: It plays like an old used up record. But may play this way for only a few of the tracks, which will be  noted. Will be a collector’s item. ~5.0 GRADE !!
SPINDLE GRADING

THERE WILL EITHER BE A COUNT OF LINES OR A SCALE AS PRESENTED BELOW

F = FEW
S = SOME
M = MANY

 

COVER GRADING

    Mint: Exactly as it came off the shelf. Still sealed and wrapped with   no imperfections.

 

  NM: Exactly as it came off the shelf, except the package has been opened.  Wrapping may or may not be on.  If sealed, then either there is a cut out or some minor imperfection. (has been meticulously cared)

 

 NM-:  Still in the NM grade but may have slight ring wear or other small imperfection. Still portrays a New look and feel, and well taken care of cover.

 

 EX: New-looking, but has a minor ding or two, light fading or ring wear, or some other cosmetic flaw. Could be sealed and not handled well.

 

VG+: Displays some obvious wear; dulled corners, creases, partial seam splits, and not new looking. Most covers will be in this grade.

 

VG: Serves its purpose, but has "major" flaws such as seam splits and/or heavily faded. Such a purchase is usually for a vinyl upgrade.

 

VG-: Used as an example of how not to treat an album cover.  Also, filling for a ship order.

Flaws on the covers, such as writing, cut-out marks, seam splits, etc., WILL BE NOTED

 

RECORD CARE AND STORAGE

Since I am a vinyl enthusiast, the albums are handled and stored with great care.

All the records have been stored in a climate-controlled environment free of smoke and moisture, and professionally handled.

 

GRADING PROCEDURE

Before grading a record, I may clean it with a maintained Nitty Gritty vacuum cleaning machine using non-alcoholic Record Research fluid. If it is noted, “cleaned,” you can add a dollar to its value, and expect a crisper, richer and cleaner play! I use a bright light and grade as accurately as possible, visually and sonically with each record.

1)    A bright light is on over the turntable

2)    Each side is viewed then determined whether it needs cleaning

3)    The record is tilted in the light to see if any mark is penetrating the grooves

4)    The record is play tested in the beginning, in-between tracks, and quiet passages, to listen for its quality

5)    If background noise is detected, further play is given to determine severity of deterioration, and then graded.

6)    A visual inspection is taken of the vinyl and labels using a halogen lamp, and noted

7)    Description of the record’s spindle is taken to give additional information of the use and quality of the record

This tedious and laborious process is done so we both have a better understanding of the item. 

Most of the Japanese pressings were purchased from Japan over the last 12 years. US Buyers have a unique advantage of not having to pay the exorbitant costs for shipping from Japan. I am aware of most of the sellers’ grading systems in Japan and what it means. For example, one seller will grade EX and mean it’s Near Mint, while another will mean it to be only VG+; quite a difference. However, I am not going to mention sellers by name. They have made their own reputation as I do for myself. I am simply, informing my buyers of this.

 

ABOUT WEAR OF VINYL RECORDS

Scratches that can penetrate the record’s groove is not the only problem when testing for quality. The needle or cartridge used can be a major culprit to hiss, pops, and clicks. Thus many records have deteriorating factors, without any visual scratches at all, especially the records used in the 60’s and 70’s. Audiophile technology had not yet been advanced with the invent of the lightweight cartridge.  In those days, pennies, nickels or even quarters were placed on top of the needle to make it play more efficient. This added weight wore down the grooves, and created a hissing and crackling sound.

 

ABOUT ORIGINAL FIRST PRESSINGS

Original first pressings are almost always the best pressing. The sound quality is deeper, richer, and bolder and thus, more enjoyable!

1)    The musicians were there first hand while it was being produced and engineered

2)    Reissues are produced by engineers not the artists, and do not have a stake in the quality, like the musicians do.

3)    The creative artists and sound engineers work together in collaboration to attain the best end result.

4) The original master tapes are brand new and never stored, thus there is no deterioration of sound.

5)   Because of the better quality sound, there is a much higher demand for these first pressings.

As a result, 1st pressing have the highest quality sound than most subsequent issues