MusicStack has partnered with a vinyl to CD conversion service who will convert the LP to recordable CD for you. It will sound great with no annoying clicks, pops or background noise. All recordable CDs come in a standard jewel case with artwork printed on glossy paper.
How does this service work?
The seller will ship the LP to the digital conversion center in Arizona, USA where it will be format shifted onto a recordable CD directly from the LP only for your ears. The LP and the recordable CD will then be mailed to you. The digital conversion center will not retain any copies of the item.
What does it cost?
Price of the LP + $35 USD for the conversion to recordable CD + cost of shipping of the LP to Arizona + cost of shipping of the LP from Arizona to your location paid in advance.
On the surface Ramatam had an impressive musical heritage which should have seen them become a major act. - Lead guitarist April Lawton had both the looks and talent to become a megastar. Urban legend had it that she worked with Jimi Hendrix (no apparent truth to it). - Mitch Mitchell underscored the Hendrix relationship, having been the drummer for The Jimi Hendrix Experience. - Mike Pinera had stints with Blues Image and Iron Butterfly on his resume.
LP back cover left to right: Lawton - Mitchell - Pinera - Smith - Sullivan Signed by Atlantic, the band debuted with 1972's cleverly-titled "Ramatam". Produced by Tom Dowd, the album had it's moments, but ultimately was too diverse to make much of an impression. With stabs at blues, country-rock, hard rock, and jazz it was simply impossible to figure out who these guys were. Adding to the problems, horn arrangements sank several tracks, while Dowd gave the album a weird muddy sound (at least my copy of the album). "Ramatam" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Whiskey Place (April Lawton - Tom Sullivan - Mike Pinera - Russ Smith - Mitch Mitchell) - 3:23 rating: *** stars The group penned 'Whiskey Place' wasn't a bad rocker. Nothing particularly original, but energetic with the highlight being Lawton's tasty lead guitar (easy to see where the Hendrix comparisons came from). Unfortunately much of her work was largely drown out by the needlessly fussy horn arrangement which almost seemed like it had been written for a different song. 2.) Heart Song (Mike Pinera - Les Sampson) - 4:57 rating: *** stars Mike Pinera's 'Heart Song' started out as a mellow, almost new age piece, before picking up some steam. The good news was that Pinera's husky voice was far better than Sullivan and he showcased it to good effect on this one. While Tom Sullivan's flute solos didn't do much for me, the song gave Lawton an opportunity to showcase some nice jazzy runs. 3.) Ask Brother Ask (Mike Pinera) - 5:04 rating: *** stars 'Ask Brother Ask' could have been a killer song. Buried in this mess were what sounded like at least two great tunes and one crappy effort that somehow got smashed together into one seemingly endless mess. While the group vocals sucked, the mid-section of the song was surprisingly funky with Lawton and Pinera turning in some real guitar pyrotechnics. Unfortunately, the last part of the track degenerated into discordant horns. 4.) What I Dream I Am (April Lawton - Tom Sullivan) - 4:00 rating: **** stars 'What I Dream I Am' was a pretty country-rocker. The most conventional and commercial track on the first side, it's always reminded me of a mixture of Poco and Brewer and Shipley. The vocals were a bit shrill, but it was pretty, if not particularly original. 5.) Wayso (April Lawton - Tom Sullivan - Mike Pinera - Russ Smith - Mitch Mitchell) - 3:25 rating: ** stars 'Wayso' was seemingly a stab at showcasing their blues roots. Unfortunately whatever energy the song had was quickly lost to the crappy horn arrangement and Lawton's flaying leads. Sometimes less is more and this was one of those cases where the song would have benefited from less lead guitar. (side 2) 1.) Changing Days (April Lawton - Tom Sullivan) - 3:28 rating: *** stars 'Changing Days' was another pretty country rocker. The song also served to showcase some beautiful harmony vocals. Shame they didn't incorporate more of this talent into their catalog. The track was also tapped as a single.
- 1972's 'Changing Days' b/w 'Wild Like Wine' (Atlantic catalog number 45-2916) 2.) Strange Place (Mike Pinera0 - 6:06 rating: ** stars 'Strange Place' sounded like a cross between a Jim Morrison solo effort and a Blood, Sweat and Tears outtake. Yeah, it was that bad and happened to be the album's longest song. On a positive note, Lawton got to showcase her wah-wah skills. 3.) Wild Like Wine (Russ Smith) - 3:48
Payment Accepted: PayPal, Cash (USD - at your risk), Personal Check (USD made out to Scott Blackerby), Certified Check (USD made out to Scott Blackerby), Postal (USD made out to Scott Blackerby), PayPal (make payment to )
I've used the Goldmine Grading Guide in grading the collection. Most of the catalog is graded VG or slightly higher. To me that reflects an LP that's been played, but with care and attention. Neither the cover nor the vinyl are pristine, but the cover will be intact without substantial flaw and the vinyl will play without substantial hiss and without skips. Exceptions are noted for each offering. Since I buy music 'cause it's stuff I want to hear, virtually everything I sell is play graded - in other words, I've actually listened to the item. Finally, albums are graded cover first, vinyl second, i.e. VG/NM means a very good cover and near mint vinyl.
Goldmine Grading Standard:
Mint [M]: Absolutely perfect in every way - certainly never played, possibly even still sealed. (More on still sealed below). Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.
------------------------------------------------------------ Near Mint [NM or M-]: A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record shows no obvious sign of wear. A 45 rpm sleeve has no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.
An LP jacket has no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable similar defect. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same is true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, and the like. Basically, Near Mint looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.
------------------------------------------------------------ Very Good Plus [VG+]: Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK.
The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but is should be barely noticeable. The center hole is not misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turn-up corners, or a slight seam-split. An LP jacket my have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.
In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.
------------------------------------------------------------ Very Good [VG]: Many of the defects found in a VG+ record are more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise is evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during the song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.
------------------------------------------------------------ Good [G], Good Plus [G+]: Good does not mean bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear.
A jacket or sleeve has seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. If it's a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it.
------------------------------------------------------------- Poor [P], Fair [F]: The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and/or writing. The LP jacket barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, and written upon.
Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.
Payment Methods Accepted
PayPal, Cash (US Dollars - at your risk), Personal Check (US Dollars made out to Scott Blackerby), Certified Check (US Dollars made out to Scott Blackerby), Postal (US Dollars made out to Scott Blackerby), PayPal (make payment to )
Shipping Costs
I ship domestic orders via USPS media mail. Typical delivery is in 3 - 5 days.
I can usually pack 2 - 3 LPs into a mailer
Rates may change as USPS seems to modify their rate structure on a regular basis.
Currently I am limiting sales to the US.U
I ship via USPS media mail which has proven dependable and the most economical delivery for buyers
I can normally pack 1 to 3 LPs in an LP mailer $6.00. $1.00 for each additional LP.
Return Policy
Obviously, grading is subjective and there are bound to be cases where someone disagrees with the way we've graded an album. In cases where you feel I'm way off the mark, let me know and I'll work to reach a mutually agreeable solution. I've sold several hundred albums over the last couple of years, including many on eBay. During that timeframe I've run into two disagreements. I sold a Tommy Boyce solo album which noted the cover had a tiny tear where someone had taken a price sticker off. The buyer was upset since she had known Boyce and wanted to frame the LP for display purposes. Even though the description clearly noted the tiny tear (and it was visible in the picture we posted), I offered her a refund, or a price adjustment to what she thought was fair. I never got a response. I sold a Richard Wright LP. The buyer told me it was a misprint sporting the same track listing on both sides. I provided a full refund and let the buyer keep the LP (he was in South America and it wasn't worth the hassle to get the LP back). Curiously, as a Pink Floyd fan I'd listened to the LP a couple of times and had no recollection of the mispressing. Oh well ...
Seller Information
Reserving items: If you contact me in advance, I'll reserve items for up to 3 weeks. If I reserve something, make sure you honor your commitment to purchase the item, otherwise I'm unlikely to continue doing business with you. Packaging information: I pack items in new record mailers with filler pads for additional protection. So far I haven't had any problems ... Unless you're buying some exceedingly expensive items, or your order totals more than $100.00 I'd suggest not bothering with insurance. If you want insurance, let me know ...
Shipping to United States
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No Insurance, No Tracking, No Signature, - days Estimated Delivery
