Item Description
The Dark Side of the Moon A2 / B2 1st Pressing - Solid Blue Triangle This highly collectable first pressing plays to a superb standard for the vast majority.
However, please do read the grading carefully as Speak To Me on S1 does have some obvious interference.
In saying that much of this iconic album does play to a Near Mint standard and quite often better than that The midnight blue gatefold is very impressive and is one of the cleanest I have ever seen with only very minor wear.
The original posters and stickers all remain in superb condition.
SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // GRT 5 / GGG 4 The audio on Side One is Near Mint Mint- in many sections / track 1 G first 35 seconds / track 3 intro Ex The audio on Side Two is Near Mint Mint- in many sections / track 1 intro Ex / track 2 intro VG / track 5 Ex The gatefold cover is Ex The labels are Near Mint The original poly-lined inner is VG The posters and stickers are Near Mint Visual grading This solid blue vinyl is in lovely condition overall and has been very well preserved down the years.
There are a number of very faint hairlines on each side and a couple that are a little more obvious but there are no scratches.
I must emphasise that these are largely only sleeve removal hairlines and have no affect on the stunning audio.
It is still visually very impressive and retains a very impressive glossy sheen.
There cannot be many that look as good as this.
The run out grooves and labels are also extremely clean.
There is some spindle wear but not an excessive amount and what you can see is inside the centre ring and it has not been over-played.
An excellent example of this rare and very collectable album.
Play grading Firstly I will say that the vast majority of this classic album plays with wonderful audio.
However, the first 35 seconds on Speak To Me does have some interference.
There is a whoosh/swish type sound per revolution of the record plus some static.
I think it is caused by a couple of hairlines and the needle almost seems to move forward ever so slightly when it runs over this point.
It is all rather strange It is intrusive but it has to be said you can still hear the heartbeat very clearly and there are no clicks or pops.
Once the I ve always been mad...
line is spoken the clarity on the remainder of this instrumental is superb.
The spoken/laughing section could hardly be any better.
I would say the first 35 seconds grade as G so please only bid if you are ok with this.
If you can accept this then, like I say, the remainder of the album is very impressive.
Breathe then plays with superb sonic quality and no clicks or pops at all.
The clarity is stunning for a genuine first pressing and there is nothing that detracts from the fantastic quality of the audio.
A handful of mega quiet dust ticks maybe but there is certainly no static or crackle either.
This definitely grades as Near Mint the playback is stunning On The Run is another superb listen The definition of the audio is among the best I have ever heard and to think this is an A2/B2 press There is no obvious static and even when turned up loud there is no distortion.
The quiet running man ending has only a minimal amount of very light static and in no way is it intrusive.
This is also Near Mint with the vast majority being better than that Wow the clocks chime perfectly on the Time intro here, loud and true and with no distortion.
The following tick/tock section also plays with sublime clarity at the start and with just some light background static thereafter.
Again there are no clicks or pops and no crackle either.
Once the vocal begins the audio is so impressive and the separation is of the highest quality i.e.
there is no muddiness to the sound and you can hear each note with perfect precision.
There is just one faint click during the second verse but then on the audio plays to an impeccable standard.
The guitar solo in particular is incredible and again there is no distortion on the top end.
This is a high end version of this classic and not I haven t found many later pressings play as well as this The sonic quality is superb and the remainder of the track is Near Mint if not better.
Breathe Reprise is faultless and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint- the clarity is exceptional and plays as new - the minus is only there because the album isn t sealed The Great Gig In The Sky intro just has to be heard to be believed Such a quiet intro and yet there is barely any background .
There is just a minor amount of static during the spoken section but it is so quiet as to be negligible in my opinion.
Once the vocal begins the power and depth of this classic is astounding.
There is no distortion and it sounds as good as the day when it was first released.
It is fantastic and it knocks spots off the later pressings/recent reissues.
I have played it three times and I cannot believe how good it sounds, 100 stunning The quiet vocal section that follows again is just incredible and rarely have I heard it play with such immaculate clarity.
I am running out of superlatives for the quality on offer here There are just a small number of mega light dust ticks and there is no intrusive static, crackle, clicks or pops at all.
What a version Even the super quiet end sequence plays to near perfection.
The final long piano note has no obvious background of any kind and ends the side in stunning style.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The intro on Money on S2 has a very quiet hiss but this is very much in the background and does not intrude on the quality of the listen.
I might only be hearing it because I sit so close to the speakers The first couple of verses play very clearly with no static etc although that mega faint hiss is audible just about every now and then.
From the saxophone section onwards the audio is as close to perfection as is possible.
The depth of the bass really comes through on the A2/B2 pressings and this is no exception here.
The entire instrumental section plays with sensational quality and the guitar solos in particular are stunning, this whole section grades as Mint- for certain.
No interference and no distortion whatsoever.
Wow The remainder of the track plays to the same impressive standard and the long spoken fade out has only a couple of mega faint dust ticks.
Many of these first pressings had a skip pressed into the grooves but.
Us And Them has some light crackle on the intro and a handful of very light clicks but the music still plays very clearly.
Once you saxophone comes in the audio is back to its previous high standard.
The first two verses play with great clarity and barely any static.
The first chorus is stunning and resonates with incredible depth and power.
Thereafter the playback is stunning and there is no intrusive interference at all.
Whilst the intro grades as VG the rest of the track is sublime and is Mint- in my educated opinion I realise I mention clarity a lot but that is how any album should be judged and the clarity here is mega impressive and much of this track is as new .
Any Colour You Like is immaculate from the first note to the last and is Mint- without question.
You will not here a better version and there is no static or crackle to be heard and certainly no clicks or pops.
The quiet intro on Brain Damage is another example of a vinyl very well preserved.
There is no interference, just a couple of dust ticks, and this breathtaking quality continues to the end and the depth of the sound here is so strong.
You can turn it up loud without fear of distortion which is a rarity as this track is so often affected in this way.
Not here This is quite simply a stunning version.
Eclipse end this classic album with great sound and no obvious interference.
There is some distortion on the top end but it is in no way over-powering and there is definitely less here than on many other A2/B2 pressings I have heard.
It still plays with great power and depth and yes you can turn it up loud The heartbeat ending has only light static and a little crackle literally at the end but you can hear the heartbeat and spoken section very clearly indeed.
In summary the audio for the vast majority plays to a superb standard and the only intrusive interference really is at the start of the album.
It is a shame about the 30 seconds but if you can accept that then the remainder is so impressive and indeed much of it plays with near mint/mint quality.
So many of the quiet sections play to an impeccable standard which is such a rarity on this iconic album.
A touch of mega light static here and there but nothing that detracts from the high quality on offer.
The fact that it is housed in a stunning midnight blue gatefold makes it even more collectable.
The Gatefold This original G L midnight blue gatefold is one of the cleanest I have ever seen, it is in lovely condition and has been very carefully handled over the decades.
It has none of the fading that you so often see and has not doubt been safely stored inside a plastic sleeve for most of its life.
The front cover is remarkably clean with no obvious marking and only a handful of very small mega faint scratch lines that are only visible when held at a certain angle.
The back cover is also in excellent order with only minor ringwear and a couple of faint creases near the spine.
The top edge here has worn a little thin over a small 3cm area but it has not resulted in a split.
There are only a small number of rub marks on the edges with just a little more rubbing near the two bottom right hand corners.
The corners themselves are very clean with very little rubbing or creasing.
The spine is in superb condition with no marking and the opening edge has only light handling wear.
The inside of the gatefold is in great shape with only very faint spotting and again this is only visible when held under a certain light, it really is very clean.
Whilst it may sound that I have listed a lot of negatives I can assure you that the shelf wear is only very minor and this is without doubt one of the most impressive midnight blue covers I have seen in a long time and hopefully the photos do it justice.
A lovely example of this iconic gatefold.
Original Black inner sleeve The original die-cut black poly-lined inner sleeve has the patent numbers and Made in Great Britain in silver text on one side.
It has one small side split and the top corners have small splits as well.
There are also a couple of very small tears and some creasing so whilst it is not in perfect condition it is still more than acceptable and is original of course The Labels They are both in great condition with no writing or marking and only some spindle wear.
You won t find many better The Posters and Stickers The posters are in stunning condition and have no rips or tears, they are so clean.
The CrackBack / FasPrint stickers are also in superb shape with no wear.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B W 684 SpeakersThis record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // GRT 5 / GGG 4 I grade according to Record Collector guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to askPlease pay within 4 days of auction end Recent FeedbackVery happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing Fabulous - like new.
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A Everything perfect as usual Item in pristine condition and quick delivery Top seller Well packed record and great condition of item.Fast, safe post, packing comms.
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Thank you.Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him Best seller A always great collectible items in perfect condition Postage PackagingI SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL 5.00.WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN 50.00 AND 250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL 7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.FOR ITEMS OVER 250.00 PLEASE CONTACT ME AS THERE WILL BE A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM AND WILL HAVE TO BE SENT VIA A COURIER SERVICE AND THE COSTS CAN VARY.
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