NICK DRAKE FIVE LEAVES LEFT A3/B3 2nd PRESS PINK RIM *Stunning* AUDIO NM/MINT-
£
205
$
245
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Description
Nick Drake : Five Leaves Left A3/B3
This is an immaculate second pressing of Nick Drake's debut album on Island's pink rim label. This issue is the variant with the misprinted labels and cover where 'Day Is Done' is listed before 'Way To Blue' on S1 although is the reverse of what the record actually plays.
The audio is stunning and I have never heard clarity and depth like it. This is a record that has only received a handful of plays - there are only 3 - 4 very small spindle traces on each side and the vinyl itself is in beautiful condition.
The cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear. The inner is in great shape although not the original.
ILPS 9105 // A - 3U / B - 3U // M 1 / P 1
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / Track 2 intro Ex)
The cover is Ex-
The labels are Mint-
The inner sleeve is Ex+
Visual grading
This vinyl has the most stunning glossy sheen that I have ever seen on such an early pressing and aside from one hairline on S2 this looks 'as new'. It is not in my interests to over-grade my LPs and I have never seen a better 'Five Leaves Left'. There are no marks or scratches and there is barely any spindle wear. The run out grooves and labels are also in perfect condition.
Play grading
The acoustic intro on 'Time Has Told Me' plays beautifully with only a couple of dust ticks and it continues to play with sublime clarity. There is no interference of any kind, not one single click or pop. There are hardly any dust ticks even and for such a quiet opening track the audio is stunning. This is easily Near Mint although the majority is better than that!
'River Man' is immaculate from the very first groove and the intro and first verse could not play any better. Thereafter this classic plays with a clarity and definition that is phenomenal. It plays with such delicate precision and each note is crystal clear. With only a couple of mega light static ticks (not clicks!) this is a 'high end' Near Mint version without doubt.
'Three Hours' is of the same standard and is so close to a Mint- grade. There are just a small number of light dust ticks about four minutes in but obviously they are totally non-intrusive. How the needle can run over the grooves so 'cleanly' on a record of this age is beyond me! I cannot overstate just how incredible the audio is and on such a quiet track too. As I have already mentioned there is barely any spindle wear and this is clearly a record that has been hardly played. Near Mint for certain.
The intro on 'Way To Blue' is again so impressive with only a couple of inconsequential dust ticks. From then on it plays with stunning precision and no intrusive 'background'. The odd dust tick but in no way does this classify as interference! You will find them on new vinyl let alone one that is close to 50 years old! The 'strings' could not play with any better clarity and you won't be surprised to hear this also grades as Near Mint with not one click or pop.
'Day Is Done' ends the side with mesmeric audio once more. If I'm being super critical there is just a minimal touch of minor distortion on the vocal. It really is so minimal and I am still confident in grading this as Near Mint as there is just no interference whatsoever.
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'Cello Song' plays with immaculate clarity from the very first note and progresses in exactly the same way. The playback again belies its age and there is no intrusive 'background again. I'm running out of superlatives for the quality of the audio on offer here in case you hadn't noticed! Thee quieter end section is unbelievable! There is not so much as a dust tick, this is absolutely stunning! This is truly deserving of a Mint- grade.
'The Thoughts Of Mary Jane' begins perfectly but after a few seconds there are three very light static clicks - the first interference on the album! However, they are very quiet and hardly intrusive in my opinion. Normal service is soon resumed and the remainder plays with stunning quality bar one static tick near the end. The long fade out plays with stunning precision. The majority is definitely Near Mint if not better but I will grade the intro as Ex which is fair I believe.
The acoustic intro on 'Man In A Shed' is Mint there is no other way to describe it and it carries on in the same precise way. The clarity and depth is sensational and there is just nothing that detracts from the audio. Mint- again.
'Fruit Tree' is sublime from start to finish. There is just the odd light dust tick but this is unquestionably a beautiful version and grades as Near Mint.
The piano intro on 'Saturday Sun' is stunning! It is so 'clean' and this clarity continues. There are a couple of light static ticks but there is no doubt this classic ends this fine album in majestic style. There is perhaps just minimal touch of mega light static on a couple of sections but again it is so quiet and does not interfere with the music. A Near Mint finish I am delighted to say.
In summary you would have to travel far and wide and wide to find an early pressing as good as this. The clarity and definition of the audio is superb and aside from 2/3 seconds of minimal interference on S2 this is audio of the highest calibre. The vinyl is visually stunning and the majority plays 'as new' and that is no exaggeration. The sonic quality is so good and there cannot be many around as impressive as this!
The Cover
The 'Robor' cover is in excellent condition overall with only one obvious area of wear. Only the top and bottom edge of the front cover have a little rubbing, the edges on the back cover are very clean indeed. The wide spine is in superb shape with no marking and remains 100% legible, it has very little corner wear. The right hand corners do have a little more rubbing but certainly not an excessive amount and the opening edge is pristine with no handling wear at all. The front cover has just one small mark near the foot and a scratch line also but apart from that it is very clean. The back cover is in lovely condition with only a couple of tiny 'spots' and the inside is immaculate with no marking.
Inner Sleeve
This is not the original but it nonetheless remains in excellent condition with no side splits or marking and barely any creasing.
The Labels
The pink rim 'Island' labels are in fantastic condition! They have no marking or writing and have lost none of their original colour. As previously mentioned there is barely any spindle wear. Stunning examples!
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
ILPS 9105 // A - 3U / B - 3U // M 1 / P 1
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
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Postage & Packaging
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