Description ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World in Quality, Safe Packing. Postage: UK £4.75 (£1 per extra record). Europe (including Russia) £12.50 (£2 per extra record). Rest of World (including ALL parts of the USA) £16.50 (£3 per extra record). All boxes signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes that offer virtually no protection at all, and records WILL arrive damaged in them at some time as most record buyers will already know. Here, you get what you pay for – SAFE PACKING in BOXES using 7mm DOUBLE-WALL STIFFENERS including full side protection and bubble wrap, the records removed from the covers of course. All this very safe packing means I lose money on every box I post, but safe delivery is, and will always be paramount. You WILL see the difference when my packet arrives. Also, I will pay for insurance on any record that sells for over £100 at NO extra cost – that is UK and abroad. Also I aim to post the very same day after payment is received if possible. PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT send any item, no matter what its value without a Royal Mail or courier tracking number. ALL my items must be signed and trackable to comply with Ebay delivery rules. Please do NOT ask me to make any exceptions to this rule as no country offers 100% reliable service without it. Posting to Russia: Yes, I do post to Russia. But delivery can take longer from the UK. So please be patient. I will submit a tracking number to the winning bidder, and when the packet arrives there it can be followed online using the Russian post website. ALSO: I now apply the Ebay ‘2-day’ rule for non-payment to keep things moving – cash-flow is important for any small business. ANY ITEM or ITEMS TO BE PAID WITHIN A MAXIMUM OF 6 DAYS or they will be cancelled – NO EXCEPTIONS. FINALLY: Late payers, non-payers and ‘0’ bidders will now be blocked or cancelled at my discretion, as will any bidder who cancels a bid. Please only bid on my items if you want them. Artist or Band: THE ROLLING STONES Album Title: Beggar’s Banquet Producer(s): Jimmy Miller TRACK LIST: Side 1: Sympathy for the Devil; No Expectations; Dear Doctor; Parachute Woman; Jigsaw Puzzle. Side 2: Street Fighting Man; Prodigal Son; Stray Cat Blues; Factory Girl; Salt of the Earth. Label/Format: Decca, unboxed format with matt, lightly textured surfaces. Label Conditions: Both in stunning condition, very clean, equally fresh and highly attractive with any of the tiny few spindle traces ultra light, fine and faint with no wear around the hole area. This amazing vintage original appears hardly played and offers sound to match. Catalogue Number: SKL 4955 Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm. Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks. Weight of this Record: 136 grams. Country of Manufacture: England Rarity: First unboxed issues are scarce, although it sold well, this format was to change the following year and few survive in really top condition. This is a beauty, and appears hardly even played with both playing surfaces and labels in fantastic hardly marked conditions. It plays beautifully with barely anything unwanted at all. Simply compare to most found these days. The cover is also very nice, yes a few press marks on the back from the ‘Sticky Fingers’ zip, but still very impressive, and being a white cover, these mild marks show little anyway. Such copies seldom surface now and this record sets the bar very high and are fast becoming rare as such. Original Year of Release: December 1968 Matrix Nos: XZAL-8476-2K / XZAL-8477-1K Mothers / Stampers: 1 BC / 1 BK Musicians: Mick Jagger – lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonica, maracas; Keith Richards – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitar, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on ‘Salt of the Earth’; Brian Jones – acoustic guitar, backing vocals, slide guitar, harmonica, Mellotron, sitar, tambura; Bill Wyman – backing vocals, maracas, bass guitar, double bass, synthesiser; Charlie Watts – drums, backing vocals, claves, tambourine, tabla. With: Nicky Hopkins – piano; Rocky Dijon – congas; Ric Grech – fiddle; Dave Mason – shehnai, Mellotron; Jimmy Miller – backing vocals; Watts Street Gospel Choir – backing vocals. Brief Info: Album number seven and back to the style they were best known for after the very psychedelic ‘Satanic Majesties Request’ (also on offer). Now back in favour with critics, this was very well received and many regard it as one of their very best. It was the last full album prior to the death of Brian Jones, it peaked at No 3 in the UK album charts. Two classic songs open each side in ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ and the hit single ‘Street Fighting Man’, but all songs are gems. It has quite a raw, full-on production by Jimmy Miller. This a lovely copy with few blemishes, it plays with fantastic stereo sound, and the cover is really clean and aged little. Stating the obvious, most who bought records at this time, did so to play them, and mostly many times, and few bands were more popular than The Rolling Stones. The one owner of this was an exception to the rule, and I doubt if this has hardly been played or even left its cover for decades. Clean hardly played examples of this are very elusive and this a rare opportunity. Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(+): even with a few marks near the top of the back, I cannot grade this fresh looking cover less. Although laminated front and back, it’s one that does not wear well, the spine especially is often seen tatty, mainly due to being a little wider than average and the internal fold hinge raised causing ridges, flattening and shedding of the laminate. A gatefold format, the inside faces are matt and smooth. Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse. Includes the 078 date-coded inner sleeve, so manufactured in July 1968. Lamination – Front & Back: Both sides retain fresh, shiny and clear laminate with no lifting and minimal traces of dulling. As stated, the back has a few press marks, almost certainly from the Sticky Fingers zip cover which still has a lot to answer for. A tiny laminate/surface chip on the back left edge is another tiny blemish. The lack of creasing on either side is a massive plus and in terms of ageing, hardly any really. One tiny tone spot only on the front and it is one of the very best front I have seen on this cover. So not pristine, but it will still better most seen these days. Cover Inner Gatefold: The inside is little short of as-made and looks fantastic as I hope my close-up pictures show. Top Edges: Both straight, flush and flat with full laminate retention which remains smooth, unpeeled or chipped. Bottom Edges: Same again, I have rarely seen these edges like this. Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly very sharp with any thickening tiny, little and light as seen viewed end-on. Record enters on the back edge, all are guaranteed untrimmed or enhanced. Spine and Text: This has to be the best spine I have seen on an original cover for many years, this is very rarely seen anything like this. Solid, straight with hardly any compression and totally unflattened or out-of-shape, this very rare indeed. Folded square and without tilt, the edges meet up very closely together and parallel. All text is perfect and unworn under the very solid and totally uncracked laminate that has no peeling at all. The surface still very smooth to the finger tip and that is something I have rarely ever stated for this area. Put into true perspective: this spine is little short of immaculate and truly exceptional. Corners: Any tip rubs tiny and light with better than excellent shape retained with no knocks. Cover Summary: A very strong and fresh looking all-round example of this quite unforgiving 1960’s cover, one that will prove difficult to find much better. Yes a few marks on the back, but little detracts from this lovely looking cover, not quite for purists or perfectionists, but this attractive item should please many collectors. The Inner Sleeve: MINT(–): with any discolouration or ageing minimal and faint. It has two pristine window circles and the polylining superb and still very fresh and clear. Hardly creased with all edges naturally, and solidly intact with no repairs. This is date-coded 078 (manufactured in July 1968). These vintage Decca inner sleeves are also rarely seen in this truly splendid condition. Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT(++): arguably better. A fantastic visual copy that is very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed on high-quality pure Decca vinyl. A copy appearing hardly played on all the evidence with any surface traces few, ultra light, sispy and faint as seen very critically under bright light. No penetrating stylus scratches, viewed in average room light, barely anything even registers. Visually an amazing 50+-year-old record that should please most collectors. Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing equipment, all listed further down.] Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This classic album plays even above it’s high visual grading with barely anything to fault. Offering strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear – sound quality is very high with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. The production a little raw and full-on that compliments the songs perfectly. Any surface sounds barely even registered and this is a typicall high-quality clean pressing from Decca with no tracking issues* or inherent pressing noises. Few available copies will match, let alone outperform this very early first pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I am certain this record has been played very lightly – hardly at all in fact – and has been generally well stored and carefully handled within a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. It will prove very difficult to find significantly better and can be strongly recommended. * As played-graded on a high-end Linn LP12 Sondek turntable with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge tracking at 2 grams. Records are a ‘contact’ format, and few will avoid the odd minor sound blemish. I am one of the most established sellers on Ebay, trading since 2001 and offering the finest records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty all elements of the items I offer for sale. You may notice I only submit records quite sparingly on Ebay as I Play-Grade every record I offer in their entirety – also on higher-end equipment – not just bits to guess a grade – visuals alone do not always tell a true story. I will try to mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same – just because an item is rare does not always mean it’s good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are the item being offered with no digital enhancements. Room light factors can make things vary sometimes, that is hard to control, especially in winter. I hope the item below is to your liking – any questions can be emailed and I will do my best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, major warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE. Equipment Used for Play-Grading: I now play-grade ALL the records I offer (unless clearly stated to the contrary) on the following equipment: Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Supernait 2 with Project USB phono stage and Tellerium Black interconnects. Speakers: B&W 805 Nautilus (bi-wired with Tellurium Black terminated cable) with REL subwoofer. All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional Nessie vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D7500 DSLR Camera. PACKING – THIS IS WHAT YOU GET. What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing. PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of TWO days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the bid, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site as will any suspicious bids or bid bid retractions. Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied. SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery: 1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.75 1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £1 per extra LP. Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only): 1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12.50 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £2 per extra LP. Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail): 1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16.50 (£17.50 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3) Payment Conditions: I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I only accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account. Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 2 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive – if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund if the item is returned in the same condition is was sent e.g. as per the listing pictures. SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.