Sold Date: September 9, 2020
Start Date: September 2, 2020
Final Price: £15.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 315
Buyer Feedback: 134

This is a superb-sounding copy of this album, which shows just light general wear all around but has suffered no real damage or injury. It's a great record, Holger's very much underappreciated follow up to Movies, following along in a pretty similar direction and with similarly enchanting results. It's just got such great detail, and so much air and space in it. It's a real pleasure from start to finish. This isn't a mint copy but it's an easy EX copy, in pretty great shape all around, with NM playback that really leaves nothing to be desired.

ARTIST:   Holger Czukay
TITLE:   On the Way to the Peak of Normal
YEAR:   1981
LABEL:    EMI Electrola
COUNTRY:   UK CAT. NO:   EMC 3394 DEAD WAX:   EMC 3394 A-4  46400-A4 F  6   //   EMC 3394 B-4  46400-B4 F  6 1
ALLMUSIC:   https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-way-to-the-peak-of-normal-mw0000598455 DISCOGS:   https://www.discogs.com/Holger-Czukay-On-The-Way-To-The-Peak-Of-Normal/release/1777869
SLEEVE:   EX VINYL:   EX
INNER:   EX
VINYL: This is a great-sounding disc with almost no noise interference. It just sounds beautiful – warm, detailed sound, rich mids and dub-deep bass, with *really* clean reproduction. The noise floor is so low you can't really hear the groove at all on the transitions or run-ins. Visually, it has a fair number of very light hairlines and sleeve wisps, some of which look like they might even sound on a more delicate disc. But they do not. It's clearly been handled some, but having just play-graded it from start to finish, I heard almost no ticks or crackles – far fewer than you'd hear on most new records – and those really only in the long, quiet fades and transitions on Side 2. Visually it's a little below EX for my taste, but with the near perfect playback I think it's a fair grade. You could find a better looking copy, but it's hard to imagine there are any better sounding ones out there.
  SLEEVE:    This lovely sleeve similarly has a little bit of handling wear but no real problems to speak of – there is a little ring rub to the shiny surface, one small corner snub, a hint of darkening rub at the rear top and bottom and a few of the light creases along the spine which you usually find on sleeves of this floppy build and vintage. Altogether its impression is not new, but it's very tidy. The spine is great, fully legible with just a little rumpling to it.
  LABELS / INNER:    Labels are clean with a fair few spindle marks concentrated within the inner ring – it was obviously played by someone with a very good deck and not very good aim. I believe I am its second owner, and I've had it since 1991. The inner is in great shape, with very little sign of handling, but the very beginning of push-through on the bottom seam. I don't think it's actually split, but you can see it's almost there. All my records come in fresh new polylined inners though, so the disc need never sit in the OIS again.

I grade conservatively under bright directional light, play-test everything from start to finish, pack very carefully, and guarantee my records. So bid with confidence.
Good luck and thanks for looking.

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BEFORE YOU BID:
I am happy to answer any questions, so please ask away. I will ship within two days of receipt of payment, and expect payment within three days. 
All records are from my own personal collection. I'm not a dealer, just an experienced collector, who's fussier than most. Images are of the exact object you are bidding on.
I offer a no-quibble return policy. If you are unhappy with the item, please just let me know as soon as possible and we can sort out a solution. If the item is as described but you decide you don't want it, the buyer pays return postage for full refund of item including original P&P. If you sincerely feel the item to have been misgraded or misdescribed, I will pay for the return postage too, provided it comes back in exactly the same condition in which it was originally sent out. I have yet to have an album returned though. 
Please do NOT leave negative or neutral feedback without giving me an opportunity to sort out any problem that might arise. Oversights and differences of opinion happen from time to time, but I try to be an honest grader and want all buyers to walk away happy.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Your records will arrive very securely packed against damage from both outside and in. They'll be clean and packed in fresh new inners and outers. No grubby old shit.

Each disc is removed from its original jacket and inner, and placed in a fresh new polylined inner sleeve. The disc and the paper parts are then placed in two separate HDPE outers, with a cardboard stiffener between them to keep the disc from impressing itself on the outside of the sleeve. Further stiffeners are then placed either side, and bundled together to secure the package against outside impact or crushing. I use either sturdy cruciform mailers or purpose-made wraparound mailers. I don't use card envelopes or old recycled cardboard sandwiches. I also use plenty of FRAGILE tape. 
I have never had any problem with this method, and I guarantee all sales against damage just in case. 

PACKING & POSTAGE RATES:
UK:   £5.00 first LP, 2nd Class Signed For.  EUROPE:   £12.50, Signed for
ALL OTHER COUNTRIES:   £16.00, Signed For

If you buy more than one album I will gladly combine postage, but please wait for an invoice from me before paying. It won't take me long. Combined postage: + £1.50 per additional LP. Double LPs always count as 2 when shipping internationally.

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GRADING:
I grade carefully and do my best to list every flaw that might be of concern. I do not use a thousand + signs or exclamation points. I also don't believe in grading anything M which is unsealed, so my highest grade for a used record is NM. Also, I won't tell you a record is in great shape "for its age", which is a hustle. Mint is mint, and wear is wear. Grading is subjective but not arbitrary or relative. 
NM Like new. The item shows next to no visible or audible signs of use. No scratches, bumps, splits, or creases beyond what you might find on a new record, with everything present and in nearly-new condition. Some natural ageing of materials may be allowed (such as overall yellowing of paper or laminate shrinkage), but not if it is the result of bad storage. This is what a record might look like after it's come home from the shop, been opened and played with great care a few times and stored away in a safe place without incident. 
EX+
This grading is for records which are NM but for one or two minor faults ? perhaps a few spindle traces, a hairline mark, a thumb crease, a little corner snub, light foxing spots, etc.

EX Vinyl retains its lustre, but may have a moderate amount of spindle wear or some very superficial marks (such as sleeve removal wisps), without any significant lessening of sound quality. Faint marks which are not obvious at a passing glance and which do not sound are allowed. Jackets or inners may have minor creasing, bumping, laminate lift or faint ring wear or edge wear, but are basically unmarred by any careless handling, abuse or neglect. No tears or splits or loss of legibility. A very small and unobtrusive bit of writing may be allowed. All items should be present (inners, inserts, etc.). This is the grade I myself am usually very happy with ? very well looked-after and a pleasure to behold. It's what a lot of dealers and collectors regard as NM.
VG+ Record has been mostly well looked after but suffered some visible or audible wear along the way. Some minor scuffs or scratches may be noticeable but not disruptive to the listening experience. Briefly repeating ticks or a light bit of intermittent crackle are allowed, but no ugly skips, jumps or persistent repeats. Spindle wear will likely be evident. Equally, wear to the jacket might include visible ring wear, laminate wear, very minor tearing, rubbing, edge wear, corner wear, some flaking, and moderate writing or staining, but nothing hideous. This grade I personally find acceptable for those older, rarer or sturdier-made items which have been around the block but are still a good listen and a pleasure to have around. They certainly aren't abused, just a little more loved on.
VG Record has seen a lot of use or a few damaging incidents, but is still in a usable and enjoyable state. It's just a degree further along in terms of general handling wear ? disc may have significant wisp wear or spindling, handling marks, or visible scratches which do not significantly disrupt play. It will likely have some audible groove wear, but will still play well and provide a good listening experience. There may be needle jumps or slight, inaudible warp, but these kinds of faults will always be noted. Sleeves at this point might have some staining, writing, sticker tears, laminate peel, significant creasing, ragging or edge splits, but will certainly not be wrecked or falling apart.

G This grade is for items that have suffered damage that affects listening pleasure, such as a serious repeating scratches, skips or jumps, or which have visible damage that is ugly to look at, such as serious staining damage, significant spine or edge wear, flaking or rubbing, ugly sticker tears or seam splits, water damage, etc. I would only offer very, very scarce and collectable items in this condition. The record is still playable and may be very enjoyable and acceptable to some. But usually not to me.
NEW TO THIS?  Please understand that even brand new vinyl usually has a little surface noise, it really is part of its character. But a well looked after record will also sound great after a ton of plays.