This image is a general representation of the item and the actual product may differ slightly in terms of color shading, logo placement, borders, or other small details. Used items may have various cosmetic differences as well.
Vinyl should be very clean, but can have less luster than near mint.
Should still shine under a light, but one or two marks may show up when tilted.
Can have a few small marks that may show up easily, but which do not affect play at all. Most marks of this quality will disappear when the record is tilted, and will not be felt with the back of a fingernail.
This is the kind of record that will play "near mint", but which will have
some signs of use (although not major ones).
May have slight surface noise when played.
Additional Marks & Notes
If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially
if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record.
This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip,
cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.
"Soul" is right – and "excellent" is also! Timi Yuro's early 60s work is fantastic – and is part diva bluesy soul, ala Etta James or Lorez Alexandria, and part country soul, ala Ray Charles or Brook Benton. Her voice is incredible, with a clear tone, yet ... LP, Vinyl record album
One of Carmen McRae's great 60s albums for Atlantic Records – a set that's still strongly jazz-based overall, but which seems to have an extra dose of soul at the bottom! The approach is a bit like the best late 60s sides by Nancy Wilson or Marlena Shaw – rooted in jazz, but hipper ... LP, Vinyl record album
An overlooked gems from the great Joe Williams – an excellent side featuring him singing in a classier and more laidback style than usual! Gone are the easy swinging blues of the Basie years, and in their place are a set of round, warm, and mellow tones that we really love – a genre-cro ... LP, Vinyl record album
One of Lou Rawls' best for Capitol – produced by David Axelrod, and arranged by HB Barnum with a joyous, leaping, sock-soulful groove! The drums get nice and hard on the set – especially on the classic break version of "For What It's Worth", and the rolling righteous cut ... LP, Vinyl record album
Here's a rare one from Carmen – a beautifully understated session recorded for the tiny Focus label, done with spare and soulful backings from Norman Simmons, who leads the album's small combo on the backing. Tracks are nice and mellow – very different than some of the later work ... LP, Vinyl record album
A rare vocal session from Jane Powell – a singer better known for her film performances, but who sounds pretty darn great here on an obscure 50s studio session for Verve! Jane's got a higher-voiced style than most of the other singers on Verve, but she's brought down to earth nicely by ... LP, Vinyl record album
A gorgeously and lush batch of material cut with arrangements by Peter Matz & Don Sebesky – with a surprisingly intimate feel! The strings soar, but the percussion is fairly spare and often a little bit off kilter – while Carmen emphasizes her phrasing and more earthy tendencies ... LP, Vinyl record album
A sweet little session of 50s vocal jazz – equally great not just for the singing by Joy Byran, but also for the arrangements by pianist Marty Paich! Paich's captured here at a great early point scoring for singers – and he gives Joy the same fluid jazzy approach that he used on the ... LP, Vinyl record album
A great Tony Bennett LP – very different than others from the time (or any time!) in that the format pairs the master vocalist with the "who's who" of drummers and percussionists of the late 50s – including Art Blakey, Jo Jones, Candido, and Sabu. The sound is as majestic and ... LP, Vinyl record album