Condition

Cover: 

Record: 

Pink Floyd's highly manic debut album is steeped in madness like most of their best work. But this is where the madness stems from; it's the catalyst, the reference point, the raison d'etre, and the focal point of their future, best known material.

This is mainly Syd Barrett's baby, and his masterpiece, recorded at a time when his now-legendary mental collapse was first starting. And the songs do indeed tell the tale of a man whose mind is beginning the long trek into darkness. Several of the songs here depict a child-like innocence, of fairy tales and bedtime stories. But the music, underscored by Rick Wright's farfisa organ, color the tales with nightmarish soundscapes that run a direct contrast to most of the lyrical content. And Barrett's scratchy, disjointed guitar punctuates the uneasiness running through each portrait. "Astronomy Domine" and "Interstellar Overdrive" are the among the first, and best, ventures into "space rock", with the latter taking on a free-form improvisational middle section that perfectly captures the motion and loneliness the piece attempts to convey. And as a word of caution, do not listen to "Pow R. Toc H." in the dark if you've never heard the song before.

Never again would Pink Floyd nor Syd Barrett create an album like this. Even their next album, on the few tracks Barrett is on, doesn't resemble anything here. This is the one album only Barrett could make, and as legend has it, it cost him his sanity. You could even draw parallels to Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker to the making of this album, if you want. Indeed, this is probably the greatest British psychedelic album ever made.

FIRST PRESS

Front Cover: Laminated, flip-back sleeve design.

Back Cover: The top right part of the flip-back is blank. It does NOT read "File under POPULAR : Pop Groups". A cover containing this is a repress. Back cover includes title, credits, and song listing.

Has inner Sleeve #2: Reddish brown printing on cream colored paper. On the front side is the EMI logo at the top center, with "Add these outstanding LPs to your collection" at the top, 16 LP covers pictured in the middle including The Beatles-Sgt. Peppers, and "Remember-the new Emitex cleans and preserves your records," and "Patents applied for" at the bottom. On the back side is the EMI logo at the top center, with " - the greatest recording organization in the world" at the top, 16 LP covers pictured in the middle including Pink Floyd-Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and "E.M.I. Records (The Gramophone Company Ltd.) Hayes - Middlesex - England, Made and Printed in Great Britain" at the bottom.

Catalog number in upper right corner. Un-laminated.

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, Variant 4, stamped): XAX 3419-2 G 1

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, Variant 4, stamped): XAX 3420-1 P 1

Note: All unsealed records are cleaned on a VPI machine.


Grading   Cover/Vinyl   (double LPs cover/vinyl/vinyl etc.)   All records are professionally cleaned and conservatively graded under a bright light bulb. Any questionable marks are play graded with 1.5 gram tracking weight. Time permitting, any high-end records will be play graded.

M: Sealed records

M-: Completely clean, no marks, plays clean. Rarely used

 

NM: Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, plays clean.

 

EX: May be faint scuff or superficial mark, Close to NM high gloss, plays clean

 

VG++: Glossy with minimal scuffing and/or a couple of light marks.  Will play very nice.

 

VG+: A bit more scuff or marks still plays well with very minimal occasional surface sound.

 

VG: A few more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep. No repetitive clicks or loud pops. 

 

VG-: Surface noise will be more prominent. Will not have skips or jumps.

G: Pervasive imperfections of varying degrees including both light scratches and scratches deep enough to be felt with a fingernail. G+ and G- are used to indicate stronger and weaker copies within this range.

 Note: LPs are graded visually and conservatively under bright lights. Those with questionable marks are play graded
 

Refund policy

 

Should a buyer feel the product received does not meet the stated item description, a full refund including return postage will be provided. However, please kindly describe the problem to me. Buyer must first contact me to make arrangement for return shipment. I will provide refunds after receipt of the record and re-inspection. I am not financially responsible for mishandling of parcels by the postal service.

 

  

  Please email me to discuss a problem before leaving negative or neutral feedback.

All LPs come boxed carefully in corrugated boxes made specifically for LPs, with a filler pad on top to protect the cover, plus the LPs are housed in clear plastic LP sleeves. LP is removed from cover (except for SEALED LPs)  for shipping to prevent seam splitting. 

I DO NOT DOUBLE BOX ITEMS

I ship to US, UK, Canada and Japan
United States: Media Mail: One LP - $4.50. Each additional LP - $0.50. Records sold in the Continental US over $100 will be sent priority mail for $4.50
Canada: 1 LP $20. All mailers with more than 1 LP will be weighed and the fee will be based on cost to Canada.


Rest Of World: This is 1st class international shipping. All fees will be based on country costs. Furthermore,  all mailers with more than 1 LP will be weighed and the fee will be based on cost to your country. Over 1 LP please email me for combined invoice with weighed shipping quote for your country. Mailers under 4 pounds are shipped 1st class international. All mailers over 4 pounds must be shipped Priority international. ***I do not refund international buyers' shipping costs for returned items***
***I do not refund international buyers' shipping costs for returned items***
Payment: I accept payment thru PayPal.  
Note: Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer?s responsibility. Please check with your country?s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.   



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On Jul-18-23 at 13:35:59 PDT, seller added the following information:

COVER IS A DECENT VG. SOME CREASES ON FRONT COVER SLICK. SMALL SCUFFED AREA ON BACK COVER. THE VINYL IS EX. JUST PURCHASED A HIGH-END RIGA TURNTABLE WHICH IS VERY AUDIO-SENSITIVE TO ANY IMPERFECTIONS AND THIS LP PLAYS FANTASTIC!!