There is a some minor background crackle in places. It doesn’t really interfere with the listening but it is certainly present. The vinyl looks great. The cover is a little scruffy around the edges and the back is stained and showing a brown tinge. There is a name ‘Susan Gregory’ written in red in the top left hand corner. Where is she now? The original picture of the three on a separate sheet is included inside the cover. Which must be pretty rare. And that is in great condition.

VINYL: VG+

LABEL: VG+

COVER: VG

Side 1

1. In my room
2. Saturday’s child
3. Just for a thrill
4. Hurting each other
5. Old folks
6. Summertime

Side 2

1. People get ready
2. I can see it now
3. Where’s the girl
4. Living above your head
5. Take it like a man
6. No sad songs for me

Whereas the Scott Walker debut LP (reviewed on this site) was laden with over dramatic ‘arrangements’ this is more mellow, more introspective and cries out to be noticed. Is there a better start to a song of this genre than on ‘Summertime’. A bedsit in Grimsby this was not. It preaches long cigarette holders, Aston Martin’s, sunsets in Monte Carlo. It is classy pop before the industry woke up to the teen movement that demanded outrage in ever increasing volume.

Not ever Radio 2 nowadays, more a pop variation of Radio 4, the arrangements on here are underpinned by the type of band that came out of the 50’s, much more orchestral,  rather than the bands which we came to recognise as being an early part of the pop phenomenon.

It’s a moment in time offering. An LP that was popular at the time but which faded out of popularity as the 60’s arrived in force, poignantly summed up by the lyrics of the final song on Side 2 – ‘No sad songs for me’ For that reason it’s a fantastic example of the music of the time, and there are some songs worthy of note on here. Give it a listen – it might be as close as you get to Monte Carlo whilst preserving your carbon footprint.