Sold Date: September 20, 2016
Start Date: September 13, 2016
Final Price: £97.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 7
Seller Feedback: 4264
Buyer Feedback: 54

"ANDY'S CHEST" (Lou Reed, 1969)

If I could be anything in the world that flew,
I would be a bat and come swooping after you,
And if the last time you were here, things were a bit askew,
Well, you know what happens after dark.
When rattlesnakes loose their skins and their hearts,
And all the missionaries loose their bark,
All the trees are calling after you,
And all the venom snipers after you,
Are all the mountains boulder after you.

If I could be anything of the things in this world that bite,
Instead of being a tethered ocelot on a leash,
I'd rather be your kite
And be tied to the end of your string,
And flying in the air, babe, at night.
Because you know what they say about honey bears,
When you shave off all their baby hair,
You've got a hairy minded big bare bear,
And all the bells are rolling out for you,
And stones are all erupting out for you,
And all the cheap blood suckers are flying after you.

Yesterday, Daisy Mae and Biff were grooving down the street,
And just like in a movie, her hands became her feet.
Her belly button was her mouth,
Which meant she tasted what she'd speak.
But the funny thing is what happened to her nose,
It grew until it reached all of her toes,
Now, when people say her feet smell, they mean her nose.
And curtains laced with diamonds, dear, for you,
And kingdom's Christian sailors (soldiers), dear, for you,
And melting ice cap mountains, dear, for you,
And knights in flaming silver robes for you,
And bats, that with a kiss, turn prince for you,
Swoop, swoop, oh, baby, rock, rock .....
 
"I watched it for a little while, I like to watch things on TV."
  LOU REED: "Transformer" LP, UK RARE TRANSITIONAL LATE 1973 PRESSING, STILL RETAINING THE
  FIRST PRESSING'S MACHINE STAMPED 'BPRS 7039 - 1E' ON SIDE 2.   THE FIRST UK PRESSING WAS
  ISSUED 7th APRIL, 1973, WITH BOTH SIDES MACHINE STAMPED WITH  '1E' ON BOTH SIDES.
Even the correct year of the release has been incorrectly taken from the USA release in November, 1972, yes, 1972 was printed on
  the early 1970's UK labels, but Chart Books should always be consulted.  Internet websites that state '1972' would be checking
  and discover "Transformer" reached at No.13 on the 21st April, 1973, in the UK charts, residing there for 25 weeks, which took the
  continuous pressing into August, 1973.   The May, 1973 release of the "Walk On The Wild Side" single boosted the sales when it
  reached No. 10 in the UK singles chart, the fact the single was issued after the "Transformer" album, should be reason enough to
  correct such glaring errors, 1972 RCA orange labels were different to 1973 labels and the confusion is understandable for those
  who never lived through the early 1970's.  This late 1973 pressing is being correctly named 'transitional' because after this small
  pressing batch, the maitrix was hand scribed and Side 2 still has the machine stamped 'BPRS 7039 - 1E'  found on first pressings.
  UK pressings of the incredible "Transformer" are extremely complex, because the very first pressings were either in a USA import
  matt cover, or a laminated UK 'Clout & Baker Ltd.' printed UK cover, then there was the dreaded wafer thin vinyl, 'Dynaflex' was
  also on the orange RCA label.  The worldwide oil shortage that threatened vinyl production due to a Middle East war, was in 1973,
  not 1972.   I know I should get on with pressing and condition items, but I have to comment about this extraordinary album, just
  about everyone is acquainted with the great Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" and "Perfect Day", but read the above lyrics of
  "Andy's Chest," what an album this is, I am delighted to offer an unplayed true Mint original record!


  SMOOTH / SHEEN ORANGE RCA LABEL: LSP 4807  (BPRS 7038 & BPRS 7039 Per Side)
'Stereo' is printed on the top next to the Side's digits and unlike the later 1970's orange RCA labels that were softly textured,
these are positively not.   I currently have a 1977 first pressing of David Bowie's "Low" listed on ebay yesterday, my pictures
show how the textured labels look very different.   I always include how important it is to check RCA labels to confirm the record
was pressed in England, this is from yesterday and the Bowie references apply to Lou Reed's RCA LP's in the 70's decade.
  The info about the RCA address on the bottom rim of the "Low" first issue cover also applies to this 1973 "Transformer" cover.

  "The same design and colour labels were used in just about every country in the world, like all Bowie's albums in the 1970's,
you do need to read them for which country the records were pressed in and also the covers/inserts for where they were
printed.  Another unusual event was the London based British RCA, were sending UK printed covers to European countries to
use for their own pressings, which does tend to make a complex period....complicated!  Over at Reprise and several other UK
record companies, particularly in the late 1970's , the reverse was happening with only a minimal records and covers were being
made here and imports were brought in very quickly, the imports were poised ready to replace the UK pressing and printing.
On ebay, so many David Bowie albums are being sold as UK originals, that are from countries as diverse as Canada and Greece,
  UK printed covers will always have RCA's 'Curzon Street, London, W1' address on the back cover's centre bottom rim."
  (I included a picture of that area's printing on this"Transformer" cover.
) 
The labels contain this essential information on the bottom rims in white printing on the top line;

"Manufactured By RCA Ltd. England From Master Recordings"


MAITRIX;  BPRS 7038 - 2E   (handscribed on a freshly prepared mother)  /  BPRS 7039 - 1E  (Machine stamped from a first mother)
Side 1 is only increased by one digit, '1E' endings on both sides exclusively belongs to many UK RCA first pressings in the early
1970's decade.


ORIGINAL 1972, UNPRINTED  RCA INNER SLEEVE, SQUARE SHAPED WITH A TOP OPENING AND DIE-CUT CENTRE, EXACTLY
THE SAME SHAPE  AS THE MENTIONED JUST LISTED "Low" INNER, THAT WAS PRINTED WITH RCA DETAILS ON ONE SIDE.
UNSPLIT, UNUSED AND UNAGED,  A RECORD IMPRESSION RELATED LIGHT CREASES, IN NEAR MINT- CONDITION.


LIKE THE VERY FIRST ISSUE  UK "Transformer" COVERS, THIS WAS ALSO PRINTED BY 'Clout & Baker Ltd.',
A SLIGHT THIN SHEEN TOP SURFACE BUT VIRTUALLY A MATT COVER.  
All to mention is the same minor standing in storage traits  for 43 years, a record impression and a few related tiny edge paper
lines, mostly next to the ridged spine and naturally formed.   Any light edge rubbing...is faint, with an unused cover involved,
I have to grade accordingly and as usual, my revealing pictures demonstrate what an outstanding cover this is.
THE COVER IS BEAUTIFUL NEAR MINT CONDITION.
 

THE IMMACULATE LABELS DO NOT SPINDLE ALIGNMENTS AND THE RECORD HAS NEVER BEEN PLAYED, THE FIRST
ORIGINAL 1973 "Transformer" I HAVE OFFERED FOR 10 YEARS ON EBAY, THAT IS HOW RARE A MINT RECORD AND
TOP CONDITION COVER ARE, I WILL NOT PLAY IT MYSELF DUE TO THAT.
THE RECORD IS IN UNPLAYED MINT CONDITION.
SIDE 1
"Vicious"
  "Andy's Chest"
"Perfect Day"
  "Hangin' Round"
"Walk On The Wild Side"

SIDE 2
"Make Up"
  "Satellite Of Love"
"Wagon Wheel"
"New York Telephone Conversation"
"I'm So Free"
"Goodnight Ladies"


Lou Reed - guitar, keyboards & vocals
David Bowie - backing vocals
   Mick Ronson - lead guitar, piano, recorder & backing vocals
  Herbie Flowers - bass & tuba
  Klaus Voormann - bass
  John Halzey - drums
Barry DeSouza - drums
  Ritchie Dharma - drums
   Ronnie Ross - baritone saxophone
  The Thunder Thighs - backing vocals
 
  All Songs Written By Lou Reed
  Song Arrangements - David Bowie & Mick Ronson
String & Bass Arrangements - Mick Ronson
Mixed By Ken Scott, Mike Stone, David Bowie & Mick Ronson, At Trident Studios, London, Where The Album Was Recorded.
Produced By David Bowie & Mick Ronson
  I missed out on Velvet Underground albums during the 1960's, but caught up with them in the 1970's, that including buying every
  Lou Reed album and of all Lou's inspired recording's,"Transformer" perfectly captured his genius.  Of course the Bowie and Ronson
  input had a great deal to do with that, but every song on the album was written by Lou.  As explained earlier "Transformer" was first
  pressed and issued in late 1972 in America, but the Spring of 1973 in the UK and you have to look to Lou Reed's debut solo RCA
  album, the self titled "Lou Reed."  That was released in June, 1972 and there were virtually no sales and it failed to chart in
  Britain.  In 1972, David Bowie was also starting to establish his own credentials and the slow sales of the December, 1971 album,
  "Hunky Dory" were indicative of how 'Ziggy' would finally hit commercial success around Britain and the rest of the world in July,
  1972.   I am fully aware anything I write about Bowie and Ronson during this era, and Lou Reed's extraordinary "Transformer" LP
   will be futile. While typing the album titles and recording details, I thought it might be a good idea to finish the description
simply with 'Produced By David Bowie and Mick Ronson.'  "Satellite Of Love" is just about my most loved Lou Reed song and
I have very fond memories of playing the album while Britain was on it's knees with strikes, rationed petrol, shortages of just
  about everything you can name, electricity cuts, militant pickets clashing violently with the police and army, anarchy in the UK?
  That happened in 1973 not 1976!   David Bowie and Mick Ronson involvement was so important to, Lou Reed because in the
  the UK he was an almost unknown figure, after all, none of the original 1960's Velvet Underground albums sold until well into the
  1970's decade here.  Lou Reed left Velvet Underground in 1970 and his first attempt at becoming a solo artist met with no interest.
  After David Bowie & Mick Ronson made their break through with Ziggy Stardust, they invited Lou to come to England and work with
  them, full album credits are given above.  There was an instant musical chemistry and Lou Reed had some amazing material, it was
  at this stage Lou had nearly given up on making records and had joined his father's accountancy business!  Bowie was a breath of
  fresh air, with Ronson's still vastly underrated musicianship, the scene was now set for recording what indeed turned out to be
  one of rock music's greatest ever albums. The track listing for "Transformer"is so immense, to the uninitiated it might appear to
  be 'Lou Reed Greatest Hits' LP with; "Viscous", "Satellite Of Love", "Perfect Day" and "New York Telephone Conversation".
Then you have the track that finally ended narrow minded censorship by radio stations, by being too stunning to ignore or ban,
"Walk On The Wild Side."  As mentioned, 21st April, 1973, Lou Reed entered the UK album charts for the first time and it reached
No.13,  late 1972 in America, it made Billboard's No. 29, Lou Reed never returned to accountancy again!  On the 12th May, 1973,
"Walk On The Wild Side" was sitting at No.10 in the UK singles charts and now "Transformer" spent 25 weeks in the album charts.
  I do check chart figures, but I witnessed all this happening and they only confirm why I know how rare a mint original pressing
actually is, removing any thoughts about  playing the record myself.
{Roy}
    R & M RECORDS.

My lifetime's love of music and records began at a very young age, the arrival of the Beatles and the 1960's decade
  in general had a very profound effect. It was only natural to bring all my first hand experience of collecting vinyl
  into becoming a professional record seller.  Nearly thirty years ago we entered into the wonderful atmosphere
of record fairs with the highest possible standards set. When the Internet became the world's new market place for
  vinyl, in 2001 it was time to join ebay. Those standards were rigidly adhered to as they will always continue to be,
the basics of honesty and integrity were very much part of the era the music I love originated in, so here is our friendly
and very efficient service we are proud to provide;

EVERY RECORD IS FULLY PLAYED AND COMES WITH A 'NO ARGUMENT' MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.
  I USE GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS A GLOBALLY ACCEPTED GRADING TERMINOLOGY
  FROM THE U.K. "RECORD COLLECTOR PRICE GUIDE" BOOK.
THERE IT CLEARLY STATES "Sound Quality" AFFECTS EVERY GRADING LEVEL AND THAT IS THE ONE
AND ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO ACCURATELY GRADE RECORDS. i.e. COMBINING A STRICT VISUAL
INSPECTION WITH VERY CLOSELY LISTENING TO EVERY SECOND, UNLESS PERHAPS IN THE CASE
OF GENUINELY UNPLAYED VINYL.  EVEN THEN WE STILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RECORD
WHEN A CUSTOMER RECEIVES EITHER A SEALED OR AN UNPLAYED RECORD.
 

  We take 100% responsibility after an item has been posted and offer our fullest support in the event of any problems.
"There Are No Problems, Only Solutions" (John Lennon)
MY DESCRIPTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE 100% HONEST AND TOTALLY ACCURATE ON ALL GRADINGS
FROM 'V.G.' ( VERY GOOD), TO THE ULTIMATE 'MINT' CONDITION.


ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR ITEMS ARE WELCOMED AND WILL BE PROMPTLY REPLIED TO.
 

WE ARE FULLY EXPERIENCED AT SHIPPING WORLDWIDE AND NO EFFORT IS SPARED TO PROTECT
RECORDS AND COVERS ETC.  WE WELCOME BIDDERS FROM ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

ALL RECORDS ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR SLEEVES AND PLACED INTO NEW PROTECTIVE CARD
SLEEVES AND THEN PLACED INTO NEW, HEAVYWEIGHT PLASTIC OUTER SLEEVES.
THE GREATEST ATTENTION IS PAID TO MAKING THE PACKAGING EXTREMELY STRONG & SECURE.
EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE A SAFE DELIVERY AND WE ONLY USE THE VERY BEST
QUALITY PACKAGING MATERIALS, THE COST OF THE ITEM IS IMMATERIAL, EVERY RECORD IS
TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME.

WE DO NOT TREAT POSTAGE AS A MONEY MAKING PROJECT, POSTAGE IS LESS THAN COST, USING
ONLY PROFESSIONALLY PACKED BOXES WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTIVE PACKAGING THAT DOES
WEIGH A LITTLE EXTRA.

UNDER PAYPAL & EBAY'S GUIDELINES, ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA A FULLY INSURED TRACKABLE
SERVICE.


We have kept all our charges at the same level for years now, but due to the Post Office's new price increases, regretfully we
will have to increase the cost of LP's, however, singles will remain unchanged.  Ebay were aware of that happening and have
  increased their minimum postal cost for LP's to £7.00, that figure has been enforced by the UK Post Office and it will become
our UK First Class, Recorded Delivery cost for albums up to the value of £46.  A temporary reduction this week means we can
now post LP's for £5, but who knows how long before the Post Office return to £7?

For LP's valued above £46, the cost will be £9, we are unhappy about either increase but our high standard of packaging has meant
in 13 years of ebay trading, there has not been one record damaged, we are determined to maintain that in the present and future.

IN THE UK RECORDS UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 WILL BE SENT RECORDED DELIVERY, OVER £46 WILL BE
SENT SPECIAL DELIVERY.
  FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA 'INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR.'

POSTAGE  COST FOR LP's
UK: UP TO VALUE OF £46, FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY  £5.00
UK: OVER VALUE OF £46, FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £9.00


EUROPE: FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR  £15.00


USA,JAPAN & REST OF THE WORLD FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £20.00


POSTAGE COST FOR EP's & 7"
UK: UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY £3.00
UK: OVER THE VALUE OF £46 FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £6.00
EUROPE: AIR MAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £10.00
USA, JAPAN ETC. AIRMAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £12.00


PAYMENT DETAILS.

WE WILL SEND ALL WINNING BIDDERS AN INVOICE WITH THE FULL PAYMENT AND POSTAL DETAILS,
AS NEAR TO THE AUCTION ENDING AS POSSIBLE.

OUR AIM IS TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE SMOOTH AND TROUBLE FREE.


FOR UK BUYERS;

WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, CHEQUES, POSTAL ORDERS & BANK WIRES.


FOR OVERSEAS BUYERS;

WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS IN POUNDS STERLING ONLY.
OR BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFERS.

WE WILL NOT MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS ON CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS AND WILL ALWAYS
CONDUCT ALL OF OUR BUSINESS WITH TOTAL HONESTY.
AS MUCH AS WE SYMPATHISE WITH THE WAY SOME COUNTRIES CHARGE SUCH HEAVY IMPORT
DUTIES, WE WILL NOT LIE.


  Pay me with PayPal.

I don't charge my buyers extra!