SPIKE JONES 78rpm ~ CHRISTMAS FUN WITH SPIKE JONES ~ ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH / RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER Playtested, 100% Disc grading - VG Various pictures uploaded, disc front and rear - apologies for any tripod reflection - and a view of each of the label details, plus sleeve front and rear, with close ups. Check 'em out, they're part of the description, too. You are looking at a listing for an item that is approximately 70 years old. Surface noise and signs of antiquity, either visually or on playback are to be expected. Use the 'Scroll Over' feature for meticulous scrutiny of the condition of the item. From sometime around 1950, it's an early 'Unbreakable' 78rpm 10" disc, with Spike Jones, the City Slickers, plus various cohorts offering two Christmas standards, in the usual Spike style, albeit somewhat more restrained than usual, although the trademark bells and whistles are in evidence. Label pictures show who's involved. Also comes with the original brightly colored and graphically rendered picture sleeve, which makes it something of a collectible rarity... 'Unbreakable' disc, probably early vinyl format. Released on - RCA Victor Catalog number, taken from the label, 45-5285 US issue. Duration - 6 minutes in total, approx. Matrix numbers - Side One - 45-5285 A Side Two - 45-5285 B Please read the record grading guide below and familiarize yourself with the grades used and be aware of the full description in all aspects. I strive to grade fairly, and have never sold a record without listening to it first. Visual grading is not an option at all. This approx. 70 year old 78rpm disc I have graded as being in Very Good condition. Both sides play through with no jumping, skipping or any other audio horrors. There are the usual minor hairline surface marks that any 78 of this vintage would accumulate over the passage of time, but they are mainly visual and have no obtrusive impact on playback. There is the expected low-level and generally non-intrusive surface noise, typically common to any used shellac disc of this vintage, and which shouldn't spoil your authentic listening experience! The labels are in good condition, with no major defects, see close-up pictures uploaded. They each include a typically cheerful line drawing of the great man himself, Spike Jones, that is, not anyone Christmassy... The picture sleeve has been graded Good. There are no seam splits, although there is some vintage water / damp damage to the top corner, left front, right rear, see pictures. Colors are still nice and bright, 1950's style colorway and graphics. There's even a sub-section relating to Nipper the Dog, for RCA fans, front and rear references. The record is 'double' sleeved, which means that inside the color outer sleeve there is an original company standard RCA Victor sleeve housed inside. I haven't taken it out, it's fitted in quite tightly, so I left well alone. The double sleeve has probably stopped seam splits, to be fair. Tracklisting - Side One - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Side Two - All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. Any questions, email and I'll help if I can. Rare item, take a trip down Memory Lane... Thanks for looking! :o) Buy-it-Now, $34.50 Priority Mail service used for 78's, and this is included in the price, please note. Postage - USA - Free Shipping...nice! Overseas orders welcome - $35, wherever. * Records are posted in dedicated oversized record mailing boxes with 4 x corrugated cardboard stiffeners, and an abundance of large sized bubble wrap. GRADING GUIDE FOR 78rpm DISCS NM Nearly Mint, but has been played. No visible signs of wear or damage. EX+ Plays like new, with few signs of handling. Minor scuffs visible. EX Very shiny, nearly new looking. No visible signs of wear, inaudible scuffs and scratches. VG++ Still shiny, but without the lustre of a new record. A few light scratches. Light wear. No skipping or sticking passages. VG+ Above average, undeniably vintage condition 78 in which scuffs and general use have dulled the finish of the disc. Wear is moderate, but playback is not overly affected, and is free from distortion. Light surface noise, commensurate with age. No skipping or sticking passages. VG Moderate, even wear throughout, still very playable. Surface noise and scratches, audible but not intrusive. Good++ Quite playable still, distortion on playback due to surface noise. Music remains loud, in most passages, with scratches and surface noise evident but below music level. Good+ Serviceable and acceptable playback. Music may sound muffled in some sections. Noticeably heavier scratches and surface marks. Good Quite obviously worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise. Good- Music still prominent, with wear and scratches extensive. Fair Most of music remains audible over continual surface noise, although the vintage 78 experience is an uncomfortable affair. Collection filler material. Poor Unplayable, and most definitely of interest only to the most dedicated... |