Gentle Giant‎– Three Friends Label: Columbia ‎– PC 31649 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold Country: US Released: Jul 1972 Genre: Rock Style: Prog Rock Tracklist A1 Prologue 6:12 A2 Schooldays 7:35 A3 Working All Day 5:10 B1 Peel The Paint 7:28 B2 Mister Class And Quality 3:23 B3 Three Friends 5:30 Credits Bass, Violin, Twelve-string Guitar, Vocals– Ray Shulman Design [Sleeve]– Rick Breach Drums– Malcolm Mortimore Engineer– Martin Rushent Guitar, Percussion– Gary Green Keyboards, Vibraphone, Percussion, Synthesizer [Moog], Vocals– Kerry Minnear Producer– Gentle Giant Saxophone, Vocals– Philip Shulman Vocals– Derek Shulman Voice [Boy's]– Calvin Shulman (tracks: A2) Written-By– D. Shulman*, K. Minnear*, P. Shulman*, R. Shulman*

UK FIRST PRESSING VINYL LP IN GATEFOLD SLEEVE WITH ORIGINAL WHITE INNER SLEEVE.

Why buy a first or early pressing and not a re-issue or a ‘re-mastered’ vinyl album?

First pressings are made from first generation lacquers and stampers. They usually sound vastly superior to later issues and re-issues (which are often pressed from whatever tapes or digital sources are currently available).

Many recent vinyl pressings claim to be mastered from ‘original tapes’ and are pressed on expensive 180g vinyl. Sonically, they frequently sound disappointing when compared to a decent condition first pressing. All too often, they sound like a CD pressed onto vinyl.

If you want the best analogue reproduction possible from vinyl, it is always a better investment to seek out original pressings in clean playing condition. They nearly always have more immediacy, presence and dynamics. The sound staging is wider, and subtle nuances are better placed with more spacious textures. Balances are firmer in the bottom end with the bass far tighter. Upper-mids shine, and the overall depth is more immersive. Inner details are clearer, and the music tends to sound more ‘alive’.

MATRIX NUMBERS IN RUN-OFF GROOVES: SIDE A: P AL 31649-1H / SIDE B: P BL 31649-1E 1T.

SLEEVE: EXCELLENT MINUS, JUST LIGHT SHELF, CORNER, RING AND EDGE WEAR. INNER SLEEVE IS VERY GOOD+.

DISC: EXCELLENT MINUS. NO SCRATCHES AND NO NOTICEABLE SPINDLE WEAR, JUST A FEW LIGHT HAIRLINES. CLEAN LABELS. A SPLENDID PLAYING COPY WITH SUPERB AUDIO.

THIS ITEM SHIPS FROM THE USA (We can ship anywhere in the world EXCEPT to Connecticut, USA. Any Connecticut orders will be cancelled/refunded)

We ship the next working day after your payment is received. USA media mail can take up to two weeks to be delivered. International Air Mail takes an average of 12-28 days to arrive.

We regret that Paypal requires sellers to prove signature delivery confirmation for any international shipment in the event of a non-receipt claim. The only shipping option from the USA with signed-for delivery is Registered Mail, which costs a lot more than regular air mail. Whilst we would prefer not to have to use this service, we are simply no longer able to ship internationally at 'our' risk when a package is not delivered.

What we can offer international buyers is that if you DO NOT use Paypal we can ship by regular air mail, which is $14.00 cheaper than the two rates listed below for Canada or International. Please contact us for alternative payment methods if you are not using Paypal.

1. USA SHIPPING BY MEDIA MAIL IS $4.00

PRIORITY SIGNED-FOR MAIL IS $14.99
Add $2.00 for each additional LP purchased at the same time.

2. CANADA SHIPPING BY REGISTERED/SIGNED-FOR FIRST CLASS AIR MAIL IS $29.99
Add $5.00 for each additional LP purchased at the same time.

3. ALL INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING (EXCEPT CANADA) BY REGISTERED/SIGNED-FOR FIRST CLASS AIR MAIL IS $37.99
Add $5.00 for each additional LP purchased at the same time.