Description Earth, stream and tree encircled by sea, Waves sweep the sand from my island. My sunsets fade. Field and glade wait only for rain, Grain after grain,   Love erodes my high weathered walls, Which fend off the tide, Cradle the wind, To my island. Gaunt granite climbs, where gulls wheel and glide, Mournfully glide o'er my island. My dawn bride's veil, damp and pale, Dissolves in the sun. Love's web is spun - cats prowl, mice run, Wreathe snatch-hand briars where owls know my eyes, Violet skies, Touch my island, Touch me. Beneath the wind turned wave, Infinite peace, Islands join hands, 'Neathe heaven's sea. Dark harbour quays like fingers of stone, Hungrily reach from my island. Clutch sailor's words - pearls and gourds, Are strewn on my shore. Equal in love, bound in circles. Earth, stream and tree return to the sea, Waves sweep sand from my island, From me. KING CRIMSON: "Islands" LP.  EXTREMELY RARE UK VERY FIRST PRESSING, 3rd DECEMBER, 1971, WITH ALL EXCLUSIVE FEATURES.  ONLY A FEW OF THE VERY FIRST 'E JDay' COVERS HAD HORIZONTAL FLIPBACK EDGES ON THE BACK OF THE COVER, THIS IS AN ASTONISHING MINT- FLIPBACK EDGE COVER.   USUALLY LOST OR TOO DAMAGED TO CONSIDER, THIS HAS THE CREAM COLOUR 24" x 12" GATEFOLD TEXTURED PAPER INNER SLEEVE,   WITH THE TRACK  LISTING, FULL LYRICS, ALBUM CREDITS AND PETER SINFIELD'S COLOUR PAINTINGS AND BAND PICTURE COLLAGE. Not only was the incredible music on "Islands" the most inspired from King Crimson, the very first issue covers and the rare gatefold inner sleeve were unlike any other ever seen on album in any decade.  In my humble opinion, a complete UK "Islands" with all those features in top condition, is among the rarest albums I have ever bought and sold.  Including back in the late 1980's and through to to 2017, until now, I have only sold "Islands" once in all those decades. The cover had such a thin spine, it was impossible to print titles on, literally the same as an EP's straight single crease spine! Yet inside was a huge 24" x 12" gatefold inner sleeve with the right side double up as a record compartment, yes, made from easily split textured paper and the 1971 very first pressing records were as heavyweight and thick as EMI's 1960's vinyl.  The actual cardboard of the cover was flimsy and very thin with a matt top surface, without a standard spine the sheer pressure from the record wrecked the spine.  Even more crazy, the inner sleeve resembled a gatefold cover...but made from thin textured page, it opened with a single width front and the record was inserted into a really tight fitting internal storage, of course the top and bottom corners split and tore apart with constant use of the record, even the first factory insertion of the records created splits on those top and bottom corners. Even if inserting a wafer thin 7" Flexi Disc, still had to involve opening the left side of the right panel's record storage compartment, a poor design for a thick cardboard gatefold cover with the internal storage, for thin paper it was unbelievable with such a thin, flimsy actual single cover providing virtually any support.  This cannot be seriously considered to be an 'inner sleeve,' but an insert or even a poster because it simply was not strong enough to hold a heavyweight record. Then this 'inner sleeve' / 'insert' also doubled up as the album's printed spine! Yes, the ultra thin folded paper spine had the album title, the artist and the catalogue number, printed in black in the conventional top, middle and bottom position.  It was   not possible to print on such a non existing spine, so the titles etc, are on the back outside's edge.  Just to complete the very bizarre presentation, like "Lizard" very first edition, actual gatefold covers in 1970, all three sections here were printed upside down!  "Lizard" had a thick glossy laminated cover, I can only tell it as it happened and be delighted to be in a position to offer such an incredible condition very first pressing, so what else contributed to how did this survived? Well, this rare unplayed record was first placed inside one of Island's actual inner sleeves, the early 1970's blue type lined with thick, strong polythene, the strongest item out of the cover and  insert.  It was an insert, the cover did not have any form of printed details such as an album title, a track listing or any LP credits, so the 24" x12" insert was essential to the album. Ring wear?  The split open covers ended up with more of the ever widening white ring, than actual artwork, the blue Island inner sleeve, the fact the record was never played and 46 years storage of such extraordinary care, this very first edition flipback edges cover will never be equalled or bettered for the condition.   Yes, the first ever textured paper, gatefold inner sleeve or insert has the customary splits for the first couple of inches from that first insertion, which in this case included the record being inside a blue Island inner sleeve.  The splits have stopped and never worsened from when this brand new in late November, 1971, there is no form of ageing to the light cream, textured  paper, no creases either, just a few light ripples from the record impression.  The record, Island inner sleeve and triple thick gatefold inner sleeve had to be inside a flimsy cover without the room normally provided by a standard hollow spine.  Considering that, all of the items are in just incredible condition and I can only suggest checking out my pictures to see how this somehow avoided the usual horrendous damage to the printed items.  Also for  the rarity of immaculate labels and still unplayed after 46 years.  The front has the original 1971 record shop sticker, well not quite, 'Boots' was and still is a chemist, but like most stores in the 1960's and 1970's, Boots sold records and this comes with it's actual history and provence because the sticker does not have a price, just an easily removed sticker stating 'Boots' sold the album.  When I said, 'easily removed, I was referring to December, 1971, to attempt removing it in 2017 would be very foolish. It might come off cleanly but why risk tearing the thin top surface or leaving nasty glue residue when the sticker adds to the historical context of this one of a kind,  still be in this staggering all round condition. There is a close up picture of the small sticker, it shows the thick texturing of the era, I might as well give it's text now; Sold By              756 Boots The Chemist 7 High Street Hitchin, Herts. PINK RIM ISLAND LABEL: ILPS 9175. MAITRIX: ILPS 9175  A - 1U  /  ILPS 9175  B - 1U AS THE MAITRIX DEMONSTRATES, THE FIRST UK PRESSINGS WERE ONLY MADE BY EMI AND IN 1971, ALL MAITRIX ENDING DIGITS & LETTERS, WERE '- 1U' ON BOTH SIDES. EMI STAMPING CODES: GM  1   / GM  1   This record is the very  first UK pressing made as noted above, extremely low in the sequence with both sides sourced from the first mothers and also by sheer coincidence, both sides were No.14 in the pressing sequence. ORIGINAL LATE 1970, POLY-LINED ISLAND BLUE INNER SLEEVE, UNWORN, UNSPLIT & UNAGED, WITH ONLY A RECORD IMPRESSION AND RELATED LIGHT RIPPLES,  IT WOULD EASIER FOR ME TO SAY THIS HAS 'AGEING '  BUT NOT WHEN THE GLUE USED TO STICK THE POLY-LINING TO THE MATT, ABSORBENT PAPER,  AT MOST, THE SLIGHTEST ACTUAL AGEING.  ONCE USED, IT HAS TO BE MINT CONDITION. 1971,  FIRST EDITION CREAM COLOUR BACKGROUND 24" x 12" GATEFOLD TEXTURED PAPER INNER SLEEVE, OR I BELIEVE ANY STILL SURVIVING, MUST BE TREATED AS AN INSERT TO READ, NOT TO STORE THE RECORD IN. CONTAINING THE ALBUM'S ONLY TRACK  LISTING, FULL LYRICS, ALBUM CREDITS & PETER SINFIELD PAINTINGS IN COLOUR.  ALSO IN COLOUR IS A PICTURE COLLAGE OF KING CRIMSON. I have mentioned the unavoidable small splits / tears on the top and bottom positions of the intenal record storage, plus a record   impression and a few ripples just from being inside the single cover without a hollow spine to accommodate all that bulk. Grading is tricky but just being unused and unaged must command respect,or this becomes a farce, I kept a King Crimson section when trading at record fairs, but the only one copy I ever sold was directly to an old customer, who had nagged me for at least ten years to find him an undamged first issue. Knowing the rarity over thirty years ago, I should ignore the small splits / tears but that is not how I grade items. THE UNUSED GATEFOLD TEXTURED PAPER INNER SLEEVE IS IN EXCELLENT+++ / NEAR MINT CONDITION. EXTREMELY RARE VERY FIRST EDITION COVER, WITH TWO HORIZONTAL FLIPBACK EDGES, FINISHED AT 45 DEGREES OR MITERED. MADE FROM THIN FRAIL MATT CARDBOARD, THIS IS IN NOTHING LESS HAN SENSATIONAL CONDITION. "E J Day" EXCLUSIVELY MADE ALL THE "Islands" COVERS, REGARDLESS OF A FEW RARE FLIPBACK EDGE COVERS. Quite why the 1960's flipback edges were used in 1971 is unknown, covers were joined internally and not stuck on the outside of the back panel, then this King Crimson and just how it happened for a few of the covers, the majority had the joining card glued inside the covers.  Maybe it was connected to the flat spine, because they were also abandoned very early in manufacturing.   No ring wear or any wear to detail, the artwork is unfaded and the colours are still as bright as they were 46 years ago, the flat spine is like brand new, all the edges and corners are so close to naming'perfect', I can include any light brushing as standing in storage traits and just holding the record.  A record impression completes the condition, the sticker has been detailed and in a compiled picture to see, please see them for all items.  THE UNUSED COVER IS IN SENSATIONAL MINT- CONDITION. THE LABELS ARE IMMACULATE WITHOUT ANY SPINDLE ALIGNMENT TRACES, REFLECTED IN BOTH SIDES OF THE RECORD LITERALLY LOOKING LIKE BRAND NEW.  NO SCRATCHES OR MARKS, A TRULY BEAUTIFUL LOOKING, ULTRA GLOSSY TOP SURFACE. I STILL FEEL IT MY DUTY TO STATE RECORDS WERE HANDLED AT PRESSING PLANTS AND   THE ORIGINAL RECORD SHOPS, ANY TRACES OF THAT IS NEAR INVISIBLE. THE RECORD IS IN UNPLAYED,  MINT CONDITION. SIDE 1 "Formentera Lady" "Sailor's Tale" "The Letters" SIDE 2 "Ladies Of The Road" "Prelude: Song Of The Gulls" "Islands"   Untitled Hidden Track (begins one minute after "Islands" ends) KING CRIMSON: Robert Fripp - guitar, mellotron, harmonium & sundry implements Peter Sinfield - lyrics, sounds and visions Mel Collins- saxophones, flute, bass flute & backing vocals Boz Burrell - bass & lead vocals Ian Wallace - drums, percussion & backing vocals Keith Tippet - piano Paulina Lucas - soprano Robin Miller - oboe Mark Charig - cornet Harry Miller - string bass All Songs Written By Robert Fripp, All Lyrics Written By Peter Sinfield Peter Sinfield - cover design & painting Recorded October, 1971 At Command Studios, Piccadilly, London. Produced by King Crimson. During their time performing as 'Giles, Giles and Fripp', founder members Robert Fripp and Michael Giles planned to form a new band,'King Crimson' first arose in June, 1968 directly after the first incarnation had disbanded.  In 1968 they were joined by a versatile musician in Ian McDonald, the other two were the vocalist and guitarist Greg Lake along with lyricist Peter Sinfield. Even Peter Sinfield's role was unconventional because he was not playing an instrument, showing the importance of lyrics, if you just read the relatively my selection at the top of this page lyrics, the poetic contents was as inspired as Robert Fripp's music. One of the UK's most celebrated concerts in 1969 featured the Rolling Stones, who were paying their tributes to Brian Jones, it   took place in London's Hyde Park and continued the 'free concert' theme that become a regular summer event since the previous 1968.  On the bill with the Rolling Stones that day, the very first outing for King Crimson who in front of a massive audience of half a million, gave a live debut performance that instantly established their unique brand of music.  When their debut Island label "In The Court Of The Crimson King" album, was released in October, 969, unlike their same titled debut Island single the   album became a huge success and by the 1st November, it reached a peak at No.5 in the UK charts.  Quite why ebay presents the album with a big fuss about the pink label pressings escapes me, no, they are not at all rare, how could they be when pressed in such vast quantities?  I am not just discussing figures in chart books, I saw the  band in 1969, bought  "In The Court Of......" single and album on release.   Late in 1969, everyone you visited had a copy of "In The Court Of...." playing, it was as popular an album as it got in the final months of the 60's, 'rare' does not even enter the equation, check the figures for the later King Crimson albums to find out which albums are actually rare. In fact, the majority being offered on ebay are from 1970 and were not even pressed during  the 1960's decade!   I can easily tell those genuine October,1969 pink label pressings, apart from the later 1970 pink label variety that were being pressed right up to November,1970, I am going off at a tangent , this was supposed   to be brief.  The point is, King Crimson were one of the few Island bands to achieve immediate commercial acceptance and for a debut album, the success was phenomenal but ironically, because King Crimson were arguably the least commercial band on the   entire Island label.     After first touring the UK , they moved onto the USA and that was where the band developed internal stress and strains common to   most artists in the final chapter of the 1960's decade.   As ever, it concerned their musical direction, as a result Ian McDonald   and Michael  Giles left in December,1969, but they stayed with Island as a duo and released a self titled album in 1970. That was   the beginning of 'musical chairs' for King Crimson, the trio of Robert Fripp, Pete Sinfield and Greg Lake next released the single   "Cat Food", issued in a superb picture sleeve and paired with a non-album track, "Groon" and released in March, 1970. Both tracks   had been extracted from the recording sessions for their second LP, "In The Wake Of Poseidon."  Meanwhile, that merry-go-round   spun round once again and now sitting on it was Mel Collins, who played just about any wind instrument, plus now it was Peter   Giles who handled bass guitar duties on most of the album, only a month later in April, next to jump was Greg Lake who obviously was about to form "Emerson, Lake & Palmer", quite a loss there because Greg was their only vocalist.  Gordon Haskell was the next   to join the funfair ride, his vocals were supplemented by his ability to play the bass guitar on this, the third album, "Lizard."   Just one other addition saw Andy McCulloch taking over the drumming for "Lizard", also appearing on the album was Yes vocalist,   Jon Anderson for Side 2's opening track, "Prince Rupert Awakes."  Where the album's title originated from, I should mention two   departing musicians, Gordon Haskell (bass guitar and vocals) and Andy McCulloch (drums), both left before the release of the "Lizard"album, amazingly you had King Crimson left high and dry while an established band. Boz Burrell took over on bass and contributed lead vocals, Ian Wallace replaced Andy McCulloch on drums and percussion, like Boz   they also sang lead and backing vocals respectively.  "Lizard' was very much into improvisations and perhaps best described as a   jazz influenced album, a change in direction found King Crimson inspired when writing & recording "Islands," it can be described   as being influenced by classical music, the instruments are listed above.  The music was just incredible with soundscapes and very   engaging atmospheric's, right from Side 1, track 1 "Formentera Lady" set the intensive but beautiful feel to the "Islands"album, there   was a complete classical song and performance for the glorious "Song Of The Gulls."  The intense and inspired songs incorporated   superb folk music, in fact, it can be said this was the last of a kind for King Crimson,  Peter Sinfield left and the next three albums   formed a trilogy in "Larks' Tongues In Aspic", "Starless & Bible Black" and "Red."  "Islands" did chart in the UK, reaching No.30   on the 8th January, 972, but that only lasted for such a short period, after just seven days it dropped clean out of the charts as the   sales simply came to a sudden halt.  No reflection on the music, the early 70's was one of the most unstable periods unless they   were the Rolling Stones, artists like David Bowie had to literally invent new characters to get his music across. These late 1971   first pressing are most certainly rare, especially where the condition and the sound quality of the record are concerned.  This was   never played and due to the acute rarity of a true Mint first pressing, I feel it imperative to offer this without me playing it, resisting the urge to  hear the stunning sound of an EMI first pressing and the awesome first stereo mix in all of it's original glory. {Roy}   R & M RECORDS. My lifetime's love of music and records began at a very young age, the arrival of the Beatles and the 1960's decade   in general had a very profound effect. It was only natural to bring all my first hand experience of collecting vinyl   into becoming a professional record seller.  Nearly thirty years ago we entered into the wonderful atmosphere of record fairs with the highest possible standards set. When the Internet became the world's new market place for   vinyl, in 2001 it was time to join ebay. Those standards were rigidly adhered to as they will always continue to be, the basics of honesty and integrity were very much part of the era the music I love originated in, so here is our friendly and very efficient service we are proud to provide; EVERY RECORD IS FULLY PLAYED AND COMES WITH A 'NO ARGUMENT' MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.   I USE GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS A GLOBALLY ACCEPTED GRADING TERMINOLOGY   FROM THE U.K. "RECORD COLLECTOR PRICE GUIDE" BOOK. THERE IT CLEARLY STATES "Sound Quality" AFFECTS EVERY GRADING LEVEL AND THAT IS THE ONE AND ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO ACCURATELY GRADE RECORDS. i.e. COMBINING A STRICT VISUAL INSPECTION WITH VERY CLOSELY LISTENING TO EVERY SECOND, UNLESS PERHAPS IN THE CASE OF GENUINELY UNPLAYED VINYL.  EVEN THEN WE STILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RECORD WHEN A CUSTOMER RECEIVES EITHER A SEALED OR AN UNPLAYED RECORD.     We take 100% responsibility after an item has been posted and offer our fullest support in the event of any problems. "There Are No Problems, Only Solutions" (John Lennon) MY DESCRIPTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE 100% HONEST AND TOTALLY ACCURATE ON ALL GRADINGS FROM 'V.G.' ( VERY GOOD), TO THE ULTIMATE 'MINT' CONDITION. ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR ITEMS ARE WELCOMED AND WILL BE PROMPTLY REPLIED TO.   WE ARE FULLY EXPERIENCED AT SHIPPING WORLDWIDE AND NO EFFORT IS SPARED TO PROTECT RECORDS AND COVERS ETC.  WE WELCOME BIDDERS FROM ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. ALL RECORDS ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR SLEEVES AND PLACED INTO NEW PROTECTIVE CARD SLEEVES AND THEN PLACED INTO NEW, HEAVYWEIGHT PLASTIC OUTER SLEEVES. THE GREATEST ATTENTION IS PAID TO MAKING THE PACKAGING EXTREMELY STRONG & SECURE. EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE A SAFE DELIVERY AND WE ONLY USE THE VERY BEST QUALITY PACKAGING MATERIALS, THE COST OF THE ITEM IS IMMATERIAL, EVERY RECORD IS TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME. WE DO NOT TREAT POSTAGE AS A MONEY MAKING PROJECT, POSTAGE IS LESS THAN COST, USING ONLY PROFESSIONALLY PACKED BOXES WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTIVE PACKAGING THAT DOES WEIGH A LITTLE EXTRA. UNDER PAYPAL & EBAY'S GUIDELINES, ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA A FULLY INSURED TRACKABLE SERVICE. We have kept all our charges at the same level for years now, but due to the Post Office's new price increases, regretfully we will have to increase the cost of LP's, however, singles will remain unchanged.  Ebay were aware of that happening and have   increased their minimum postal cost for LP's to £7.00, that figure has been enforced by the UK Post Office and it will become our UK First Class, Recorded Delivery cost for albums up to the value of £46.  A temporary reduction this week means we can now post LP's for £5, but who knows how long before the Post Office return to £7? For LP's valued above £46, the cost will be £9, we are unhappy about either increase but our high standard of packaging has meant in 13 years of ebay trading, there has not been one record damaged, we are determined to maintain that in the present and future. IN THE UK RECORDS UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 WILL BE SENT RECORDED DELIVERY, OVER £46 WILL BE SENT SPECIAL DELIVERY.   FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA 'INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR.' POSTAGE  COST FOR LP's UK: UP TO VALUE OF £46, FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY  £5.00 UK: OVER VALUE OF £46, FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £9.00 EUROPE: FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR  £15.00 USA,JAPAN & REST OF THE WORLD FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £20.00 POSTAGE COST FOR EP's & 7" UK: UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY £3.00 UK: OVER THE VALUE OF £46 FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £6.00 EUROPE: AIR MAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £10.00 USA, JAPAN ETC. AIRMAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £12.00 PAYMENT DETAILS. WE WILL SEND ALL WINNING BIDDERS AN INVOICE WITH THE FULL PAYMENT AND POSTAL DETAILS, AS NEAR TO THE AUCTION ENDING AS POSSIBLE. OUR AIM IS TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE SMOOTH AND TROUBLE FREE. FOR UK BUYERS; WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, CHEQUES, POSTAL ORDERS & BANK WIRES. FOR OVERSEAS BUYERS; WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS IN POUNDS STERLING ONLY. OR BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFERS. WE WILL NOT MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS ON CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS AND WILL ALWAYS CONDUCT ALL OF OUR BUSINESS WITH TOTAL HONESTY. AS MUCH AS WE SYMPATHISE WITH THE WAY SOME COUNTRIES CHARGE SUCH HEAVY IMPORT DUTIES, WE WILL NOT LIE.   Pay me with PayPal. I don't charge my buyers extra!