Lionel Richie All Night Long 1983 Motown 12" Maxi-single Audiophile TAS List

Description: Lionel Richie. All Night Long. 12" Maxi-single, 33-1/3 rpm. Original Album Extended Version On Side 1. Instrumental-only With Backing Vocals On Side 2. Wider Groove Spacing For Audiophile Play Quality (see below). Awarded "SPECIAL MERIT: Singles" By The Absolute Sound audiophile magazine (TAS). Item Details Manufactured in: USA Recorded: March Thru September, 1983, at Sunset Sound and Ocean Way studios, LA Original Issue: 1983 This Issue: 1983 Label: Motown 4514MG Runout Deadwax Matrix Numbers: Side 1: (etch:) 4514MG ▩ -A-668670-15B #12 (▩ is cross-out of "PR132") Side 2: (etch:) 4514MG ▩ -B-668667-DI-15B3 #12 (▩ is cross-out of "PR132") Twelve inch "maxi-singles" have sonic advantages over full album versions. In this instance the 6-plus minute track length covers only the outer grooves. So the curvature of the groove never equals or exceeds the diameter of the playback stylus. Therefore, on the track's innermost grooves there is more high frequency extension and less distortion. More importantly, the mastering engineer can cut the grooves a greater distance apart. This minimizes or eliminates "adjacent groove pre-echo" that would bleed large low frequency peaks into the next grooves. The bass notes and kick drum transients don't have to be EQ'd down on the cutter feed and may have a lot more impact and clarity than the track's full album version. Additionally, there is more high frequency extension and less distortion. A long time ago I found 4 of these in a Target cut-out bin so I bought all of them. This one is my last copy. Was played once upon initial purchase to sort the four copies when choosing my personal reference play pressing. Has never been exposed to heat or tobacco smoke and always stored vertically in a specially designed record cabinet (Rackit) to prevent warpage. I have recently updated my VPI HW-16.0 record cleaner to a 16.5 and it now has much more positive suction (can remove all fluid in less than 3 rotations). I have also changed my choice of cleaning fluid to the Audio Intelligent "One-Step" formula that requires no rinsing and leaves no residue. It is alcohol free and uses enzyme agents to remove pressing mold-release compounds, fungi & bacteria, finger oils, and many other environmental contaminants. Made with laboratory-grade pure water(50X purer than distilled water). I neutralize residual static charge from both vinyl and new inner sleeve with a Milty Zerostat. I wear nitrile surgical gloves while cleaning and play testing to avoid any chance of transferring finger oils to the vinyl. Very sensitive play testing was performed straight off my Ayre P-5xe fully balanced phono preamp over Sennheiser HD 600 headphones using a Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 tube headphone amp fitted with NOS Soviet Voskhod matched tubes (see last photo). Track list For track listings, please see my attached record label photographs. I never take "distant" photos nor the so-prevalent type with the LP sticking halfway out of the jacket. I take close-ups under photo lamps so you can see nearly everything I describe in the jacket grading. It is virtually impossible to know the true vinyl condition from any photograph. That takes very bright and close visual inspection PLUS play testing with thorough coverage on high resolution equipment. Grading Details Note: Grading LPs by text characters is subjective and at best are only a guide as no two used records are of exactly the same quality. I do not use "EX" grades as my VG+ is right below "NM-." I never sell a "G" play grade and very rarely ever sell a "VG" play grade. Please, refer to both my photo evidence and detailed descriptions to judge by YOUR OWN grading standards. Questions are always welcome. Play quality is personally most important to me so vinyl visual qualities are separately graded and described in detail for your complete assessment. Outer Jacket Inspection/grading: VG++/VG++. That damn "saw cut" notch indicating it was a bargain bin cutout keeps the jacket from getting a deserved NM so I had to down-grade to a VG++. The only other thing worth noting is the rub wear on the rear face lower left corner and some very fine rub wear at the top edge of the backside jacket face. Vinyl visual inspection/grading: NM/VG++ Side 1 looked perfect, indistinguishable from brand new. The label was pressed off-center so that a portion of it was scuffed on a side of the spindle hole when pressed onto the TT platter on its first play. Side 2 initially looked perfect but then I noticed some curved and wavy reflective hairlines within the first 1" of grooves. These are not obvious when holding the side up to a strong light. They were most likely caused by an accidental tonearm miscue on its first play. Downgraded to VG+ pending play test results to see if any of these marks cause repeating ticks/clicks. The music on this side is not very interesting and one play is all a person needs. Side 1 is the real deal. Play Testing: NM/VG+ Extensive play testing was performed after visual inspection (continuous written notes were taken). I listened for a minute or 2 about once every 1/4" of groove radius until lead-out was reached. For Side 2, the first 1" of grooves were auditioned continuously. Here is rundown of each side from my notes. Side 1 Play I did notice a very mild and smooth warp on this side with no effects on play. The wider groove spacing and less aggressive Bass EQ on this 12" single really makes a difference in audio performance. Bass guitar and bass drums were very tight and powerful. Percussion is especially extended on high frequencies and very detailed with very fast transient edges. Play levels are hot, so that keeps the music well above the vinyl noise floor. Definitely "audiophile" signal quality. Super clean from start to finish with no audible vinyl noise on any play sample. An easy NM grade. Side 2 Play The warp I noticed on side 1 play was less noticeable when playing this side (I do use a record clamp on my spindle). Listening continuously from the start, I did hear 2-3 noticeable ticks that were isolated and not repeating per revolution. This was only in the first minute or so but all other play samples after that had no vinyl noise at all. The instruments and background singers are cut much hotter on this side. With those first few ticks, I think this side is somewhere between NM- and VG++ so I'll go with the more conservative grade. Again, Side 2 is not the prize, so grading is not as critical for enjoyment of the record. With the advantages of wider groove spacing, no inner grooves and less EQ compensation on bass drums and guitar, this is the ultimate version of a classic. Will sound terrific on your own system because of its high levels of preservation. This is my last prime copy so if you are seriously interested better grab it. Packaging Record will be placed outside the jacket to protect against seam splitting. Original inner sleeve is included separately. Record has been placed into a new MFSL-style "rice paper" plastic sleeve, as the original, because it is paper-only, may be holding onto some dust. This will keep vinyl surfaces clean and well protected during shipping and ultimate buyer usage. Outer jacket is contained in a new clear polyethylene protective sleeve. Sent in high quality record mailer with cardboard stiffeners and all corners double-taped. Shipping Shipping will be via USPS Media Mail for a flat charge of $4.75 per single album sale. eBay keeps raising the rates for Media Mail but I still don't pass all of that or any costs for shipping materials on to the buyer. I do try to reduce additional costs for my customers. A combined shipping discount is available on multiple sales completed on the same day ($4.75 plus $0.50 for each additional LP). If you do buy more than one LP on the same daydo not pay immediately but wait for my all-combined invoice.eBay does give you the option to "Request an invoice from the buyer," but this option is not available on the eBay mobile app. A discount for the combined items will show on that invoice. Then, once payment is received, the items will ship.

Price: 9.87 USD

Location: El Dorado Hills, California

End Time: 2025-01-09T15:23:43.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.75 USD