Ahead Rings Out - 1969 UK Island label 2nd Issue 9-track LP - Rough Pink 'Block' Labels

Scarce 1969 UK Island Records 9-track vinyl LP - the 2nd issue of the dynamic and heavy British blues rock combos debut album - Allmusics Mike DeGagne describes the sound as '... a stellar concoction of gritty yet flamboyant blues-rock tunes and open-ended jazz centered around Mick Abrahams' cool-handed guitar playing, but it's the nonstop infusion of the other styles that makes the album such a solid listen..." - featuring the single 'Dear Jill'.

Vinyl is issued with the textured or rough pink company labels with black 'block' logo around centre hole stretching to lower label. Labels has uneven smooth perimeter.

Vinyl has machine stamped matrix information.
Side 1: ILPS + 9101X + A
Side 2: ILPS + 9101 + B2

Vinyl is housed in an Ernest J. day & Co manufactured gatefold picture cover with 'basing street' address on midlower back.

Condition: VG+ (Vinyl and Labels)/VG+ (Cover):

Vinyl is bright and shiny - has been used directly from the paper inner sleeve and has as a light degree of fine and inaudible surface marks of which the majority is sleeve inflicted - vinyl is graded close to near mint and plays great. Vinyl is visually graded nice upper VG+.

Labels has a light degree of spindletraces - hard to tell the exact amount but it seems like in the area of a handful on one side and less on the other - labels are graded close to mint.

Cover is very nice - has a touch of wear to front cover - more so to back cover - especially along vinyl outline.
Cover has a light degree of wrinkling from spine, a single light back thumbnail wrinkle - also a very light degree of fine and thin creasing?. all superficial except for a single one on top back which transcends the surface a couple of times, but just for a very thin to thin short stretch.

Inner spread is nice - a little rubbing from the picture panel to the lyrics panel, but otherwise very nice.

Seams have only very light wear - and no splits or pressure point - spine is easily readable - and only back opening edges have a very light degree of rubbing.

Lower spine corner has a not so tough dent - the remaining corners just a little rubbing at most. A simply very nice cover which displays a series of light signs of use? still highly enjoyable and attractive - graded straight VG+.

Tracklisting:

Side 1:
1. It's Only Love 3:23
2. Dear Jill 5:19
3. Sing Me a Song That I Know 3:08
4. The Modern Alchemist (Jack Lancaster) 5:38

Side 2:
1. Up and Coming (Mick Abrahams, Jack Lancaster, Andy Pyle, Ron Berg) 5:31
2. Leave It With Me (Jack Lancaster) 3:52
3. The Change Song 3:45
4. Backwash (Mick Abrahams, Jack Lancaster, Andy Pyle, Ron Berg) 0:53
5. Ain' Ya Coming Home, Babe? (Mick Abrahams, Jack Lancaster, Andy Pyle) 6:04

Songs written and coposed by Mick Abrahams unless otherwise noted

Recorded, produced and engineered at Morgan Studios, Willesden, England, April 1969
Cover pressed by Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd., London, W.11.

Credits:
Mick Abrahams - guitar, vocals, seven-string slide guitar
Jack Lancaster - flute, violin, tenor sax, baritone sax, soprano sax, brass arrangements
Andy Pyle - Electric bass, six-string bass
Ron Berg - drums

Technical Credits:
Andy Johns - Production
Robin Black - Assistant Engineer
John Peverett - Effects, Wind
Chris Wright - Executive Producer, Brass Arrangements

Artwork:
John Williams, Graham Waller - Design
Brian Ward - Photography