Cinderella Night Songs LP Mercury VG+ Hard Rock Glam Metal Ultrasonic Clean
Cinderella Night Songs LP Mercury VG+ Hard Rock Glam Metal Ultrasonic Clean
Cinderella - Night Songs Mercury, Mercury 422-830 076-1 M-1, R 830 076-1 M-1 1986 US
This LP is from the seller's personal collection. It's been stored upright on shelves and/or in boxes and away from heat. I'm grading both the vinyl and cover VG+.
Note: any specks of dust showing on the surface of the LP in the photos were picked up due to static during the photo session. Prior to being photographed the LP was ultrasonically cleaned, play tested (sounds great) and placed in a new paper sleeve.
VINYL RECORD GRADING GUIDE
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. There is no set percentage of the Near Mint value these can bring; it is best negotiated between buyer and seller.
Near Mint (NM) or Mint Minus (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. Record: 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 also must be absent; a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint. 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.) Cover: NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.
Very Good Plus (VG+) or Excellent (E) Record: 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. Cover: 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) 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. Cover: 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.
Good (G), Good Plus (G+) or Very Good Minus (VG–) Record: 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 damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. Cover: 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) Record: Records are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them. Cover: Covers are so heavily damaged that you almost want to cry.
