"Tarkus" LP - Island pressing for $25. Is it the best version?

I saw it again yesterday at one of the shops. It looks to be M- / VG+. I'm just wondering if that's too much to pay. I need "Tarkus" on vinyl. It's been a few years.

Thanks!

 

The version I like the most is the original UK Pink Rim Island A-1U "Porky" / B1-U "Pecko" cut.


It can be surprisingly difficult to find in playable condition. Many copies were played hard, and my impression is that it was a budget pressing for Island. The vinyl quality can be hit or miss, sometimes crackly. I've also never seen an original UK without substantial ringwear on the cover.


Is that the version you see locally? If so, $25 seems quite reasonable if it plays well. That's less than you would likely spend if you bought a sight unseen copy from England, especially when considering Transatlantic shipping costs.

 

+1

Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

 

That's about what I paid for a very playable UK original copy with an Island aqua inner, and I haven't heard better, personally, for all ELP core titles in fact.

 

The audio quality on a good UK copy is in the demo disc league. It rocks pretty hard.

 

It is a very loud and powerful cut and seems very prone to mistracking. I'm pretty certain any crackle / distortion was added by use on bad turntables, not there from the start.

 

I may go ahead and buy it. The nice thing about this particular shop is, they sell nearly all of their used vinyl in outer plastic sleeves. And, I bet they buy the Diskkeeper brand from the local source, Sleeve City. I now have all my LPs in these, and have replaced all the paper inner sleeves with the Diskkeeper inner sleeves.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

If it comes with the original UK inner sleeve, don't discard that--in case you were planning to.

As noted by "chevvies", early pressings came in a cool aqua colored polylined inner, and it is collectible.

 

There is some powerful bass on there which I always attributed to Greg Lake's 'unorthodox' production style. I can't say I noticed a difference between the aforementioned vinyl issue, and previous cd listenings ie Atlanic, MFSL, Manticore WG and Sanctuary concerning 'loud bass', although maybe my tt is tracking properly, yay!

I'd like to hear a flat 24/96 from the original masters though .

 

Oh good, I must have the only one

Tim

 

I'm not discarding any of the inner sleeves that I am replacing with Diskeeper plastic sleeve. I'm simply sliding the original paper sleeves inside along with the record. Works like a charm.

 

Sorry....there were two left.

 

I did some checking, and found there is a 180 gram pressing of “Tarkus” by ‘Music on Vinyl’ available. $40.00. Anyone own this one? Before I go and spend $25.00 for a pre-owned (Island) copy, I thought I would ask.

Thanks!

 

I've never heard the new reissue, but I seriously doubt that it could top the sound of the early Island pink rim pressing. $25 for an original Island "Tarkus" LP in decent shape is a really nice deal.



Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

 

Tarkus has never sounded better than the original vinyl...
No CD or LP reissue has ever touched it...
Purchase it and be amazed~!

 

That is THE ONE, that is a great price !

 

This is the one the local shop has... (white inner - plastic lined sleeve) - pink rim label

Tarkus (LP, Album) Island Records, ILPS 9155, UK, 1971

 

I picked up a German pink rim Island at Half-Price Books for $8.00 a year or so back, so they are out there.

 

I think, I'm going to buy it if they still have it tomorrow.

Have to plan that drive just right though. The shop is in Midtown Memphis. My office is way out east. Going to require a long lunch. After work is no option. No way, I'll fight that traffic, then drive home the opposite direction 40 miles. Lol!!
I should have followed my instinct, and picked it up Saturday when I was there. I'm a Goof!

 

Anyone own UK and/or German Manticore copies of any ELP albums? Curious as to how those sound.

 

I have two different German pressings, one Island and one Manticore, can't really remember differences between the two. So I still need the UK?

 

Tarkus in the present.

 

Now; that is cool!

 

I drove across town at lunch and took delivery for $24.95. On the inside of the sleeve in the lower right corner..

Island Records Ltd
Basing Street London W11

The cover is pretty clean. I’d grade it a VG to VG+. No ring wear on the front. The vinyl looks to be M-. The white sleeve has the clear window. And, the pressing itself has the pink border on the label.
I’m going to listen to it tonight. I have no other reference, of course. Other than my CD. My original vinyl of “Tarkus” is long gone. And, I have no idea what pressing it was.

 

All well and good, but is "Porky" in the deadwax?