SAXON - WHEELS OF STEEL

Vinyl grading - Excellent-

Sleeve grading - Very Good++

Various pictures uploaded, sleeve close ups, front and rear, disc - apologies for the tripod reflection - and a view of the label details.

Use the 'Scroll Over' feature for meticulous scrutiny of the condition of the item.

What's all the fuss about?...

'Although not a flawless record by any means, "Wheels of Steel" is one of a handful of absolutely essential albums for anyone who wants to have a clear vision of what NWOBHM was all about and to understand how it came to influence almost everything done in heavy metal music ever since.

Learning from the problems faced while recording their first LP, Saxon found a good producer (Pete Hinton, a man whose role in forging the NWOBHM archetypal sound is never properly acknowledged) and captured in the studio the sheer intensity that was so evident in their live performances. Conjuring the biker spirit that lived in rock music since Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild", mixing it with the obligatory influences of '70s metal (most of all, Judas Priest) and adding loads of youthful energy, Saxon forged their own interpretation of what heavy metal should be to survive the '80s and created something that now is almost synonymous with heavy metal, period...'

Stereo

Released on - Carrere

Catalogue number - CAR 38-126

US issue.

Produced by - Pete Hinton

Duration - 38 minutes, approx.

Matrix numbers -

Side One - ST CAR 804503 B

Side Two - ST CAR 804504 B

...there are also stamped etchings on each side, Atlantic Studios DK, plus 0-1SM2-1 AND 0-1SM2-2.

Please read the record grading guide below and familiarize yourself with the grades used. Goldmine standards adhered to, plus full description in all aspects.

I strive to grade fairly, and have never sold a record without listening to it first.

Visual grading is not an option at all.

This LP I have graded as being in Excellent- condition. Both sides play through with no jumping, skipping or any other audio horrors.

You can see the sheen on the vinyl, by the fact that the tripod I use reflected so strongly during photography...

A perfectly acceptable vinyl-to-mp3 transfer, with a suitable turntable. Keep it real but in a digital way! 

The sleeve I have graded being in Very Good++ condition with light scuffing to the edges, minor bumps to the corners and very light 12" ring diameter wear marks front and rear, plus other small signs of storage and age.

The labels are in good condition, with no major defects, see close-up pictures uploaded.

The inner liner is an Atlantic-branded brown liner, with a seam split along the bottom edge.

Tracklisting - 

Side One -

1 - Motorcycle Man 2 - Stand Up And Be Counted 3 - 747 (Strangers In The Night) 4 - Wheels Of Steel

Side Two -

1 - Freeway Mad 2 - See The Light Shining 3 - Street Fighting Gang 4 - Suzie Hold On 5 - Machine Gun

Any questions, email and I'll help if I can.

Buy-it-Now, $17.99, shipping included.

Thanks for looking!

:o)

Postage - USA - Free Shipping...nice!

Overseas orders welcome - $20, wherever.

* Records are posted in dedicated record mailing boxes with 2 corrugated cardboard stiffeners.

GRADING GUIDE. (Goldmine Standard)

* Gradings range between - for example - VG, VG+ and VG++. In some cases, for example again, VG- may be used.

MINT (M) Absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, and if it is not just out of the pressing plant it is unlikely that, personally, I would ever use this grading.

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-) A good description of a NM record is “it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.” In other words, it’s nearly perfect. NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks” from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects will be absent. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) or EXCELLENT (E) A good description of a VG+ record is “except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.” VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.VG+ covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. VG++ is a step up from VG+ generally.

VERY GOOD (VG) Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record. VG records lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible. Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape.VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides, though it won’t be obvious upon looking. A small pen or ink mark, or an original price sticker may be noticeable.

GOOD (G), GOOD PLUS (G+) or VERY GOOD MINUS (VG–) Good does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious surface damage to the label. A Good to VG– cover has ring wear, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing.

POOR (P) and FAIR (F) Records that have obvious damage, they are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them.

Please note :-

A word about Shipping and Delivery times.

I offer Free Shipping on nearly all of my Buy-It-Now items, and on Auction items a fairly priced Shipping charge (which includes USPS service and the cost of a dedicated mailer suited to the particular item).

Items are shipped within 3 day of the order being placed. Sometimes they are shipped the same day, sometimes on the third day.

It's 'shipping within 3 days', end of.

CD's are shipped First Class, it's cheap and cheerful for them, no worries.

Records – all formats, 45's, vinyl LP's and 78's – plus books are all shipped by Media Mail, which is an Economy service and, in general, can take a few days longer.

However, if you want it delivered Priority or 1st Class, ask beforehand, it's not a problem and I can make the necessary adjustments.

Thank you for reading this.

:o)