I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.
Pink Floyd : A Saucerful Of Secrets 1/1 1st Stereo Press Blue COLUMBIA
This very collectable first pressing plays to a high end standard for the vast majority. The clarity, depth and power of the audio is superb and there is only a little interference on S2 during the title track but even then it is not that intrusive. It has not been played very much in my opinion based on the strength of the audio and by the fact that there is very little spindle wear, barely any on S2 and just a little more on S1 The vinyl is also visually very impressive with only some light marking on S2.
The laminated cover is in lovely condition with only a little wear in the bottom left corner and is easily one of the cleanest you will find today. It has retained its original shape so well and the original inner sleeve is also in great shape. This inner by the way was the first one issued with this album - it is the cream coloured one with The Beatles Revolver, Yardbirds and Manfred Man on there amongst others.
This is also one of the earliest first pressings released as it has an R stamper on S1 and an A stamper on S2. These are 2nd and 3rd on EMIs GRAMOPHLTD system i.e. very very early
SCX 6258 // YAX 3633 - 1 / YAX 3634 - 1 // R 1 / A 1
The audio on S1 is Near Mint T1 T2 Mint- / T3 brief mid section Ex-
The audio on S2 T1 ranges between Ex and NM but VG for 1.15 minutes / T2 Near Mint / T3 Mint-
The cover is Ex-
The labels are Near Mint
The original inner sleeve is Ex
Visual grading
The vinyl is in excellent condition overall with a very strong glossy sheen and only minimal marking. S1 in particular is in superb condition with only a few very faint hairlines - S2 does have a couple of longish hairlines that are a little more obvious, a small faint scuff and a very small light scratch but visually it is still impressive in my opinion and much better than many you see. It certainly is not riddled with marks There is no groove wear or dulling of the surface and the blue Columbia labels are in superb condition with no marking and very little spindle wear. This version does not have the KT tax stamp on either side.
The intro on Let There Be More Light has only a hint of very light static right at the start and then plays with superb audio for the remainder of this section. The opening vocal has no background and it continues to play with a clarity and depth you rarely find today. There is no static distortion, the vocals are so clean and the instrumental end section plays with very powerful audio with no intrusion not even on the fade out. I am confident in grading this as Mint- such is the quality.
Remember A Day has only a couple of very quiet static ticks on the intro and the first vocal is perfect as is the first quiet piano section. From then on it plays with a stunning clarity of sound and there are no ticks, clicks or pops. The audio definition is so impressive i.e. no muddiness to the sound and you can hear each note is so clean and sharply defined. Already you can tell this vinyl has not been overplayed as the original sonic quality is very much still there and again the fade out has no background . Another Mint- track in my opinion.
A real test for this vinyl is always Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun which is of course a very quiet track and overall it plays with very impressive audio. The intro is nigh on perfect with wonderful clarity and Waters opening vocal is just as good. From then on it plays so clearly with very little static and there are certainly no clicks or pops. At the half way point just after the heart of the sun repeated line there is perhaps just a little more static but the playback is still very strong and it hardly intrudes on the overall listen . The remainder plays with barely any static the clarity is stunning. I m going to say the vast majority is Near Mint if not better but with that brief mid section grading as Ex-
As is common Corporal Clegg does play with some inner groove distortion but when doesn t it? Aside from that it still plays very clearly and having listened to it twice now I can say it definitely has less distortion than many versions I have heard. The vast majority plays with great clarity and again there are no ticks, clicks or pops. The instrumental sections play with superb power and depth and this is very much in evidence on the final section. I honestly believe a Near Mint grade is deserved here. A fine end to the side.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The very quiet intro on A Saucerful Of Secrets plays with genuine clarity and only the bare minimum of light static i.e. hardly any This is easily one of the finest intros I have heard in a long time. As the volume builds the playback is stunning and for once there is no static distortion on the top end. Just before Mason comes in there are a couple of static ticks and then 4/5 soon after but they are not loud. This entire percussive section then plays with outstanding clarity with no sign of any interference. The next quiet passage has a light tick followed by a slightly louder one and then the first section of the organ recital plays very clearly with no intrusion and only during the second part do you hear some light ticks with only a few that are a little louder, quiet clicks you could say. This lasts for about 1.15 minutes but there is no background static and then the choral section plays with STUNNING clarity with only a couple of very light ticks right at the start. It continues like this to the very end with very strong audio and barely any static distortion on the top end. The majority of this 12 minute epic ranges between Ex and Near Mint and then I think at least VG for that section in the middle is a fair assessment of the audio.
See-Saw plays with very clean audio from the get go and this quality does not decrease the more you progress into it. There is barely any of the muddied sound that you so often get with this track and the playback is superb. Great clarity and definition here and Near Mint is again deserved. It is easily one of the finest versions I have ever listened to say and needless to say there are no clicks or pops.
This classic album ends with a sublime version of Barrett s Jugband Blues which put simply plays with a clarity, depth and warmth you rarely find on these first pressings. There is no interference not even during Barrett s final vocal. For once this track has no distortion and you could wish to find a more complete version. This has to grade as Mint- a superb finish.
In summary this first pressing plays with superb audio for the vast majority and it s only that mid section during the title track that is a little below par. It is still worth pointing out that this section is not overly intrusive, there are certainly no loud clicks or pops which would be annoying So overall the clarity, depth and resonance of the audio is very impressive and this record has clearly not been overplayed. The blue Columbia first pressings are of course very collectable today and this one would certainly add to any collection.
The Cover Inner Sleeve
