MusicStack has partnered with a vinyl to CD conversion service who will convert the LP Gatefold 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 Gatefold to the digital conversion center in Arizona, USA where it will be format shifted onto a recordable CD directly from the LP Gatefold only for your ears. The LP Gatefold 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 Gatefold + $35 USD for the conversion to recordable CD + cost of shipping of the LP Gatefold to Arizona + cost of shipping of the LP Gatefold from Arizona to your location paid in advance.
The release of 1973's "For Girls Who Grow Plump In the Night" came on the heels of major personnel chances that saw Steve Miller replaced by keyboardist Dave Sinclair (returning for his second tour of duty with the band after a short stint with Robert Wyatt and Matching Mole), Richard Sinclair replaced by former Spreadeagle bassist John Perry and the addition of viola player Geoff Richardson to the line up. Produced by David Hitchcock, the album saw another change in musical direction with singer/lead guitarist Pye Hastings stepping back into the creative forefront. With Hastings responsible for 90% of the album, tracks like 'Memory Lain, Hugh'' and 'Surprise, Surprise' saw the band moving away from the previous set's jazz-rock moves to a more mainstream rock attack. That shift in direction was tempered to some degree by Richardson's cello and violin which occasionally recalled the "Waterloo Lily" jazz moves (check out the ten minute closing suite 'L'auberge du Sanglier'). Still, this made for one of the band's most accessible collections which probably ticked off loads of prog heads.
full cover "For Girls Who Grow Plump In the Night" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss (Pye Hastings) - 9:14 rating: **** stars For anyone who thought these guys were just a bunch of shaggy-haired pretentious blowhards, I suggest they check out the stunningly commercial 'Memory Lain, Hugh'. Penned by Hastings, this song managed to blend a surprisingly commercial melody, some of the prettiest progressive moves you've ever heard, and some meaty rock moves - kudos to new bassist Perry and long time drummer Richard Coughlan for their pounding performances on the track. Actually the second part of the opening medley, 'Headloss' was even more commercial, complete with harmony vocals, one of Hasting's best lead solos, and a distinctive top-40 flavored sheen. Hum, imagining Caravan on the top-40 play list was certainly an odd picture. 2.) Hoedown (Pye Hastings) - 3:18 rating: **** stars - Opening up with an immediately arresting Pye guitar riff and cowbell percussion courtesy of Rank Ricotti, 'Hoedown' was about as close to an outright pop number as these guys could come without exploding. Surprisingly Richardson's country-tinged violin solo made the song even better. 3.) Surprise, Surprise (Pye Hastings) - 4:05 rating: **** stars With bassist Perry handling lead vocal (?) 'Surprise Surprise' was a pretty, breezy mid-tempo number with some amazingly chirpy vocal harmonies. Every time I hear it I have to scratch myself to make sure I'm listening to a Caravan performance. 4.) C'thlu (Pye Hastings) - 6:12 rating: **** stars Apparently based on the H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Call of Cthulhu", 'C'thlu' opened up with John Perry's bass giving the song a dark, ominous feel. David Sinclair's wailing ARP synthesizers underscored the weird feel. And then the song suddenly hit the upbeat, poppy chorus. Strange, but one of my favorite songs on the album. (side 2) 1.) The Dog, the Dog, He's At It Again (Pye Hastings) - 5:38 rating: ***** stars I cant really explain it, but occasionally a song just sounds like it came out of a certain timeframe and that was definitely the case for 'The Dog, the Dog, He's At It Again'. It may have been recorded in 1973, but had a distinctive mid-1960s feel (at least until Sinclair's ARP kicked in), that recalled such perennial favorites as Brian Wilson and The Fab Four. Instantly engaging with some stunning layered vocals and another album highlight with a wonderfully quirky lyric. 2.) Be Alright / Chance of a Lifetime (Pye Hastings) - 6:35 rating: **** stars Kicked along by a first-rate Pye solo, 'Be Alright' was interesting for showing these guys could actually belt out a true rock song. Another performance that would probably shock anyone who came to the band through their jazz-rock, o
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
Payment by PayPal
:
No Insurance, No Tracking, No Signature, - days Estimated Delivery
