Sold Date: January 4, 2022
Start Date: January 3, 2022
Final Price: $29.95 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 198
Buyer Feedback: 0

Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key Of Life 2xLP Comes with Booklet (but not the bonus 7" record) T13-34062 Record Grade: VG+ Cover Grade: VG+ Year: 1976

I try my best to give an honest assessment of the condition or grade of the records I sell based on the Goldmine Grading Guide, but I do not claim to be an expert at grading. If you have any questions, please reach out to me. 

In addition to grading my records, I also try to show the quality as best I can in the photographs I take.  Please look at the photos to see the condition for yourself. Below I’ve included an abridged description of each “Grade” from the Goldmine Record Grading 101 post which you can find online.

If you buy a record and it doesn’t meet your expectations, let me know and I will happily refund your money. I offer a 30-day money-back return policy.

If you have any questions, please message me.

Grading Scale (See explanation of each grade below the listing of records)

MINT (M)

NEAR MINT (NM OR M-)

EXCELLENT (E) or VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+)

Very Good (VG)

Very Good Minus (VG–), Good Plus (G+) or Good (G)

POOR (P) and Fair (F)

Detailed Grading Descriptions:

MINT (M)

These are absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees that the record or sleeve truly is in this condition. 

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. Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect.

NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. (NM records don’t have to be “never played”; a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.)

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.” Most collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it toward the high end of the grade (sometimes called VG++ or E+).

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. Covers with cut-out markings can never be considered Near Mint.

VERY GOOD (VG)

Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record. 

VG records have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better shape. They 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, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise will not overpower the music otherwise.

Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. Many collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think twice. 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. Someone might have written or it or stamped a price tag on it, too.

VERY GOOD MINUS (VG–), GOOD PLUS (G+), or GOOD (G)

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 damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. A Good to VG– cover has ring wear to the point of distraction, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing, such as, for example, huge radio station letters written across the front to deter theft.

POOR (P) and FAIR (F)

Records are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them. Covers are so heavily damaged that you almost want to cry.