1970s issue UK 6-track STEREO double 7" vinyl EP with 'Gramophone Co' text but without 'Sold In The UK' text on the labels, indicating an age between mid 1969 & 1976. This copy is housed in a superb gatefold laminated flipback picture sleeve with integral 24-page full colour illustrated booklet & PURPLE lyric sheets. Both sleeve & vinyl are MINT. A fantastic copy of the rarest variants of this EP.

LORD SUTCH Lord Sutch And Heavy Friends

Original 1970 US Cotillion label 12-track stereo vinyl LP featuring a veritable 'who's who' of UK classic rock heroes - Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, John Bonham, Nicky Hopkins, Noel Redding, etc and produced by Jimmy Page. Pasted picture sleeve with a small deletion cut in the opening edge and showing only a few areas of light edgewear/surface marks from storage with a small unobtrusive annotated original price detail on the reverse, remaining in great shape overall for its age- the vinyl is still in amazing near as new condition, a superb 40+ year old copy!

SIGUR ROS Hoppipolla

2006 UK limited edition 2-track 7" single pressed on Heavyweight Vinyl [originally released as a 12" vinyl single in November 2005] and is taken from their critically acclaimed 4th album 'Takk' as well as featuring onthe BBC 'Planet Earth' Documentary series and includes 'Heysátan', numbered card picture sleeve ** Limited to 3000 copies **

Very Rare 168-page paperback book by Jo Slee. A delight for any Smiths fans, with complete pictorial discography including anecdotes, photographs, artwork and lots more. Now long out of print and hard to find. This superb example has a great condition glossy picture cover with only the lightest traces of storage whilst its pristine contents beautifully present the comprehensive range of stunning images and artwork within - regarded by many fans as the Smiths Bible.

U2 Sweetest Thing

Rare and official 1998 UK promotional-only chocolate bar! Resembling in size the UK classic galaxy chocolate bar, the chocolate is still foil wrapped and is bound with a custom printed 'Sweetest Thing' outer wrapper, ingredients being the track listing and 'to be consumed on' date the release date of the single!

IRON MAIDEN Twilight Zone

1981 UK limited edition 7" single pressed on RED VINYL, includes 'Wrathchild' on the b-side. Housed in the original flipback paper picture sleeve which has only a few minor storage marks without any rips or tears, the vinyl is in near mint condition - a very respectable copy of this over 30 year old single.

The Demise and Resurrection of Vinyl

This is an amazing turnaround, since 20 years ago records were all but extinct. First, many independent music stores couldn't compete with larger music store retailers such as Tower Records. As a result, many local shops closed, which left people without anywhere to go to buy vinyl. Then, CDs came along, which created a dramatic shift in how people listened to music. More portable than records, people could listen to CDs at home, in the office, or in the car. Digital music, which has all but replaced CDs, allows people to download singles from their computer, tablet, and smartphones.

Digital music put most large music store retailers out of business. Independent stores that survived, did so by selling rare and used CDs and audio equipment.

Now, these stores sell vinyl and turntables to a new generation of record listeners. Over the last few years, celebrations like Record Store Day (April 21) have helped independent music stores in the US and UK increase awareness of vinyl.

Who's Listening to All this Vinyl?

With the sudden increase in the popularity of vinyl, the question is who's buying records and turntables? Record collecting, for the most part, was regulated to a small group of people that bought albums for their own enjoyment or those that wanted to make a little extra cash on the side. But thanks to the Internet, collectors have been able to connect with each other along with record companies, auction houses, antique shops, book and music stores and other businesses that sell vinyl recordings.

Nowadays, younger people, especially teens and young adults, can be found flipping through the record racks at local record and book shops. The reasons for the shift in listening to digitized music to vinyl vary depending on who you talk to. Some vinyl fans enjoy the sound quality (skips, pops, vibrations, and all); while others enjoy going to the store and spending time browsing through available titles. For shop owners, this means increased sales and the opportunity to talk with music fans one-on-one.

But it's not just music lovers that contribute to vinyl records increasing popularity. Solo artists like Katy Perry, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and bands including The White Stripes and The Misfits have all released singles on vinyl. With musicians offering new and old recordings on vinyl, there's even more music to choose from. This has definitely impacted the popularity of records.

The Future of Vinyl

No one knows for certain how long this trend will continue or if musicians will continue to crank out singles on vinyl. But for independent record stores, the resurgence of vinyl has helped these stores stay in business. And with online resources such as 991.com and vinylstall.com music fans and collectors now have options when it comes to shopping for records. Music stores can also use online resources to find vintage recordings for customers.

Article courtesy of Sylvia at Vinylstall

Rare *UNCUT* PICTURE DISC of the 1988 UK EMI limited edition 2-track 'bat' shaped vinyl single, backed with Prowler '88 with Bruce Dickinson on vocals instead of Paul Dianno! This incredible rarity has not been cut to the finished shape and retains a clear vinyl surround around the actual image, measuring 12" in diameter - a true gem!

HOOTENANNY SINGERS International

Rare 1965 Swedish only 12-track vinyl LP, including three English language songs recorded in London; 'No Time' and 'Time To Move Along' co-written by Björn Ulvaeus and a version of Donovan's 'In The Darkness Of My Night', fully laminated picture sleeve. The sleeve shows minimal shelfwear & the vinyl is immaculate - a superb copy!

PETE TOWNSHEND The Quadrophenia Demos

Rare 2012 UK 'Record Store Day' exclusive limited edition 2 x 10" vinyl set featuring a total of 11 tracks taken from the 2011 Quadrophenia' deluxe set releases spread over the 2 discs. The EPs are housed inindividually picture sleeves and all presented in a picture slipcase which is still sealed from new - limited to just 1,000 copies.

Watch the Producers play exclusive tracks for HolyMoly here

Speaking about the achievement, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson said: "We're astonished and delighted to hear 'The Number of the Beast' has been named Number One. Some of the most influential and classic albums from the past 60 years were in the running so it’s a testament to our incredibly loyal and ever-supportive fans who voted for us."

Article courtesy of NME

You can find these albums, by these artists, and more at 991.com

For the past fifty years, the Rolling Stones have made people dream. Through the images of a handful of great photographers, the Galerie de l’Instant pays tribute to the group’s half-century of rocking.

Photographer : Dominique Tarlé, Philip Townsend, Richard Dumas, Jerry Schatzberg, Gered Mankowitz, Ethan Russ ell, Ron Galella, Patrick Liechfield, Terry O’Neill, Peter Lindbergh, Albert Watson, Mark Seliger and Claude Gassian.

"Stoned and Respectable" - 50 years of the Rolling Stones
La Galerie de l'Instant
From May 25th to September 12th, 2012
46 rue de Poitou
Paris 75003
Tel : +33 (0) 1 44 54 94 09

Click here for the article source on La Lettre.

Original 1970 UK 7-track Harvest LP with 'Gramophone Co Ltd' label credit, no EMI logo and A2/B1 matrices, and original company inner, featuring the classic line-up and including Speed King and Child In Time. The laminated gatefold sleeve has only slight creasing to the laminate, yet the spine is clearly legible and the print unblemished. There are some very light signs of spindle wear to the label but nothing severe, has one or two light cosmetic marks, that willnot affect play of this timeless record, making this a very serviceable EX copy at a great price.

LED ZEPPELIN Led Zeppelin III

1970 UK first pressing 10-track stereo vinyl LP on the plum & red Atlantic label, with A5/B5 matrixes, 'Do What Thou Wilt' & 'So Mote It Be' scratched into the runoff area, superb fully laminated gatefold die cut picture sleeve with rotating picture wheel. Showing just a few light marks from storage the sleeve is in great shape. The labels have only the lightest of spindle marks and just a few cosmetic surface marks are evident on the vinyl. Overall a very nice EX copy of this rarity, 40+ years on!

TONY OXLEY QUINTET The Baptised Traveller

Rare 1969 UK CBS 'Realm Jazz Series' green label LP, featuring the Quintet with guitarist Derek Bailey, saxophonist Evan Parker, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and bassist Jeff Clyne, and contains four explosive free-jazz workouts! The front laminated sleeve shows just a little wear at the opening edge and the vinyl reveals only a couple of light surface marks but plays superb - an excellent copy and very hard to find!

Excerpts from this week's R.C. Weekly Newsletter, brought to you by 991.com

*****

Huzzah! Jolly good show! It’s here!

The new issue of Record Collector, that is. Some of you will have seen it already, should you subscribe. Gosh, it’s blue, the same colour as kids paint the sea. We know the little tykes are lying, but our cover really is that blue. The ingredients in this month’s recipe for musical obsession are The Small Faces, the first Ziggy pressing, Beatles books, Winston’s Fumbs, Atomic Forest (heard their version of Jethro Tull’s Locomotive Bread? And yes, I spelled that right), Led Zep (and others) at Chislehurst Caves, the superb Richard Hawley talking to our reviews editor, Jason Draper; Dion, the Nu Groove label by Kris Needs, plus Feeder, an unissued Leviathan LP offer, Madness albums to be won, Can, Dexys, Peter Hammill, Talk Talk and Damon Albarn CDs reviewed, and our Collector is a man who knows more about Marc Bolan than his own mother did. RC 402, in the shops today, pouting sexily and just waiting for your eyes to meet its own.

On a more serious note, there have been some terrible losses lately; Donna Summer and Robin Gibb in the past week. I don’t have much to add to the fulsome tributes we have seen in the media, except that I think both, despite the acclaim and hits and lasting careers, were perhaps under-appreciated. Donna may have seemed something of a puppet in the hands of her producer, Giorgio Moroder, but the work they did together transformed music in a way that might barely seem plausible, when you consider that they took electronic pop to places even Kraftwerk hadn’t thought of. As for Robin Gibb, I was not a fan of The Bee Gees. But their songs were phenomenal and they didn’t get the credit for this, perhaps because much of their 60s work was quite idiosyncratic and didn’t attract cover versions to the extent that Lennon & McCartney’s did. But here is one cover version – sounding like a prayer. Which seems appropriate now1 www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIegCsg4VtM&feature=related

Back to The Small Faces; you know about the deluxe editions that Universal have just released? They’re packed with gems and different versions. That ain’t all, folks. I am told there is a 5-CD box set coming, featuring demos, unissued stuff and things that have not seen the light of day since they were dreamt up in a haze in the studio. It’s some months off yet, but I can hardly wait. Meanwhile, Ronnie Lane’s old band, Slim Chance, are travelling again, with gigs all over the place and a launch party for their return album, The Show Must Go On, at London's Half Moon, Putney, on 9 June. The album is all Ronnie’s tunes, which is as it should be www.slim-chance.co.uk

Just a little nudge about two DJ spots for me this week: Friday 25 May (tomorrow), I am joining Tradition Records and Dave Blue Cat at Ska-Lip-Soul, The Grosvenor, 291, Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG5 2BY; 8pm-1am, admission £3. On Saturday 26 May, I’m spinning an early set at The Spread Eagle, 267, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6NE, alongside the Live Injection crew, 8pm-1am. Hope to see you at one or the other if you fancy a bit of retro reggae, ska and soul.

Thank you, as ever, for reading. Happy record hunting.

Best wishes,

Ian McCann, Record Collector Editor

In the new JUNE 2012 issue:-

To get the full unedited version of the Weekly R.C. Newsletter, please email:-

anna.bowen@metropolis.co.uk

and don't forget to mention 991!

Rare 1990 UK limited edition mail-order only picture box featuring 10 x double pack 12" singles. Containing 63 live and studio tracks including Sanctuary and Flight Of Icarus with live versionsof Running Free and Run To The Hills. Each double pack come in their own gatefold picture sleeve with the 'The First Ten Years/Up The Irons' motif and all individual stickered. All housed in a 12¾" x 12¾" x 3" picture box which is graded as EX+ as has some minor scuffing and and general storage wear to the front, while the contents themselves are all in outstanding condition with only a few minor storage marks on a couple of the sleeves, the vinyl is in near mint shop bought condition and looks barely, if at all played!!

TORI AMOS Little Earthquakes

Classic 1991 German-pressed 12-track vinyl LP, widely regarded as one of the standout debut albums of the last twenty years as it oozes quality and integrity. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl is flawless. A superb copy of one of the most essential albums of the nineties!

THE DAMNED The Best Of Damned

Original 1st press 1982 Japanese Chiswick label promo sample 12-track vinyl LP, full colour picture sleeve complete with 4-page illustrated Japanese text biography/lyric insert and red obi-strip

MARCIA GRIFFITHS Shimmering Star 

BUNNY WAILER Rise & Shine

THE UNTOUCHABLES Khaki

ROLAND ALPHONSO Mellow Mood

ALTON ELLIS Tumbling Tears

THE SOUL AGENTS Get Ready It's Rock Steady

THE UPSETTERS Yakety Yak

JACKIE MITTOO Gold Dust

Rare original 1961 9-track mono LP from the British jazz legend. This heavyweight vinyl album is in superb condition with just the very lightest of spindle marks to indicate play. The front laminated flipback picture sleeve isimmaculate, making this a real find in this condition - a gem!

PINK FLOYD A Collection Of Great Dance Songs

1981 Japanese CBS Sony 6-track vinyl LP including One Of These Days, Money and Another Brick In The Wall, pasted picture sleeve complete with original picture inner, 4-page insert with notes onthe recordings and lyrics, plus gold top obi-strip - still in original opened shrinkwrap.

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO Playing The Orchestra

Rare 1989 Japanese issue limited edition box set, includes the full 23-track CD album, 3-track 3" CD which is fitted into the box lid and bonus 3-track 3" CD. All housed inside a fabulous picture box including credits insert and unique care & rice paper insert with 'pebbles' in the bottom of the box. Complete with rare wraparound belly-band style obi strip - all in a fantastic near mint condition

Complete set of all TWENTY TWO UK limited edition 7" picture disc singles. Each of them were released precisely twenty years after the original release date, starting in 1982 with 'Love Me Do' and ending with 'Let It Be' in 1990. Each comes in a clear PVC sleeve & is complete with inserts where appropriate - hard to find as a set!

LORD SUTCH & HEAVY FRIENDS Hands Of Jack The Ripper

1972 Japanese 8-track vinyl LP, recorded live in London with such luminaries as Keith Moon, Ritchie Blackmore, Noel Redding & many others 'unable to be named for legal reasons'! Housed in a gatefold picture sleeve with Japanese/lyric insert and 'Rock Forever 1500' obi-strip, pristine copy!

THIRD EAR BAND Alchemy

1969 UK first press 8-track stereo vinyl LP with 'The Gramophone Co' label perimeter text, 'Sold In The UK' text on side two and no EMI boxed logo, front laminated gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows minimal shelfwear with only a little corner bumping & light scuffing from storage. The vinyl remains in excellent condition with just a few light surface scuffs to show for its forty years. A terrific copy of this rare album in superb condition.

Rare 1989 Australian strictly limited edition YELLOW VINYL /b> 11-track Waterfront label LP, picture sleeve with yellow titles on front. The sleeve has just a 1cm light split on the top edge, but is otherwise in near mint condition; the vinyl is flawless. Still a fabulously rare item, which is as rare as hens teeth!

ALAN SKIDMORE QUINTET TCB

Rare 1970 UK 7-track stereo LP, a free-jazz firestorm as performed by what you'd normally expect to be reserved Brits! No such thing here, with Malcolm Griffiths, John Taylor, Chris Lawrence, Tony Levin plus John Surmanand Mike Osborne causing havoc in the studio. The fully laminated sleeve shows minimal wear and despite a few spindle marks to the label the vinyl is clean with no blemishes - a nice example!

SEX PISTOLS God Save The Queen

Rare original 1977 Japanese Columbia 2-track 7" vinyl single, also including Did You No Wrong, housed in a record label paper sleeve and comes complete with the blue & silver 'blackmail' text picture insert with illustrated Japanese language biography printed on the reverse.

The record, which was delayed due to disputes between the two artists, went on to win five Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year.

Visit the past by viewing Simon & Garfunkel's back catalogue at 991.com

Read the full article here at the Telegraph.

Rare original 1959 UK 9-track mono LP on a dark blue & silver 'reel to reel' Riverside label, front laminated flipback picture sleeve. A key recording date early on in Evans' career during a key year in jazz, Portrait In Jazz is sublime from beginning to end. Pressed over fifty years ago and still in beautiful near mint condition with just a little shelfwear to the sleeve, still with the previous owner's receipt from his second hand purchase in 1964 &kept pristine since - a very nice item, indeed!

SEX PISTOLS Never Mind The Bollocks

Very rare original 1977 issue Japanese Columbia blue & silver label 11-track vinyl LP, housed in Jamie Reid's iconic picture sleeve complete with 4-page Japanese biog/lyric insert & wide picture obi.

ABBA The Singles - The First Ten Years

Rare 1982 UK 'A Special Limited Edition Commemorative Set' 23-track PICTURE DISC 2-LP album box set complete with 12-page chronology/discography booklet, replica 'Eurovision Song Contest' ticket from Brighton Dome on 6 April 1974 & 24" x 24" glossy full colour poster. Housed in a black 12" x 12" black textured box with silver embossed titles plus original sticker on the front. The lid of the box has only some very light signs of corner wear in the top left hand, and the front shows one mark where a sticker has been removed, however the vinyl shows no signs of being played and is a fantastic collectors item!