Sheer Heart Attack 3U/3U (1st Press)

This classic album plays with stunning audio overall and with very little interference.  A 3U/4U matrix is often classed as a first pressing and it is relatively difficult to find a 3U/3U and especially in this condition.  The 3U/3U is the genuine first pressing!  They were far less 3U/3U vinyls pressed than the 3U/4U or 4U/4U for that matter hence the rarity and collectability.  I have certainly not seen many and this is why you only find them with one or two stampers on each side.  This is only the second I have sold in two years or so.  A real rarity :-)

The laminated cover is in great condition with only minor wear and as per the first pressings it does not have the Trident logo on the back.  The lyric inner has three cut corners, common to the first pressings again, and is rarely found in this condition.  It is superb with no marks or splits at all!

EMC 3061 // YAX 4881 - 3U / YAX 4882 - 3U // LA 1 / HH 1

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint / Mint- for the vast majority )

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the vast majority / track 1 first verse Ex-)

The cover is Ex+

The lyric inner is Near Mint
The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This is a very clean vinyl and it retains a healthy glossy sheen and in my opinion has not been played a great deal judging by the lack of spindle wear and the quality of the audio.  There are some faint hairlines on each side but that has no doubt been caused by sleeve removal and they have no affect on the sound quality.  There are no scratches or marks of any kind.  The labels and run out grooves are also in pristine condition.

Play grading  

'Brighton Rock' has only minimal light static on the 'circus' intro and as the music comes in the sound is so rich and deep and plays with exceptional quality.  The production values on this album are just so good and this is heightened on a vinyl that has been as well preserved as this one.  The rhythm section is stunning and the guitar work so clear and strong.  There is very little static during the long solo and the end section is superb with no 'background' at all.  'Killer Queen' is Mint from start to finish with no interference of any kind.  The clarity and sonic quality is of the highest standard possible, you could not find a better version, wow!  The intro on 'Tenement Funster' is very impressive with no static and only one light click.  There is no distortion on the top end and the audio throughout performs to a superb standard with a truly deep rich sound again.  The segue into 'Flick Of The Wrist' is perfect and then plays with immaculate quality from the first groove to the last.  The power here is incredible and again there is no hint of distortion, what a version!  No clicks or pops, no static or crackle just pure Mint audio all the way through.  'Lily Of The Valley' has only the odd very light static sound here and there but this is very much in the background and totally non-intrusive.  It plays very clearly and with great clarity.  'Now I'm Here' has very little static on the intro and as the volume increases the power is stunning!  As any Queen fan knows this track is often affected by distortion (common with any final track on a side) but there is only a minimal amount on the end section and it is certainly not intrusive.  A very powerful version to end the side, just a little crackle literally on the last 2/3 seconds of the fade out.

The intro on 'In The Lap Of The Gods' is superb and as 'clean' as when first released back in '74.  Let's not forget this is a genuine 3U/3U first press!  There is some intermittent static and crackle on the opening verse but from then on the audio is of a wonderful standard and is 'as new'.  In a word, stunning.  'Stone Cold Crazy' is 100% totally 'rock out' incredible!  There is no interference and the clarity and power for such a high octane track is hugely impressive.  here is no distortion and not one iota of interference and no distortion.  Mint all the way!  For such a quiet track 'Dear Friends' plays so clearly and with barely any 'background' and the clarity is again exceptional.  There is just one faint click towards the end.  'Misfire' is again Mint from start to finish with no interference whatsoever, not even a single dust tick and 'Bring Back Leroy Brown' is almost of the same immaculate standard with just the one faint 'tick'.  The audio on this side really is incredibly good!  'She Makes Me...' is another highlight and is without fault.  The depth and warmth of the audio here is obviously from a vinyl that has only been lightly played.  This is a stunning version and again there is not one iota of interference.  'In The Lap Of The Gods...revisited' ends this classic album with....immaculate quality.  No clicks or pops and no static or crackle either and quite rarely for this track there is no distortion on the final section.  The 'bomb' at the end is very powerful and there is only a little crackle on the fade out.  This final track provides a suitably superb end to a side that in the main plays with perfect audio.

In summary this rare 3U/3U pressing plays with very impressive audio for the vast majority.  There are only a couple of clicks across the entire album and there is very little static or crackle apart from a minor amount on the first track on S2.  The depth and sonic quality throughout is 'high end' and this is without doubt one of the cleanest 3U/3U pressings I have ever heard.  The cover and lyric inner complete what is a superb 'package'.

The Cover

The original G&L laminated cover (with no Trident logo on the back) is in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear. The edges and thin pinched spine are 'as new' apart from one mega tiny 'rub' on the top edge.  The corners are also very impressive with hardly any wear and the opening edge only has a little handling wear.  The laminate on the front cover has no splits and there is only one very small 'lift' in the top left corner.  There are a few small laminate creases around the edges but these are commonly found.  The laminate on the back cover is in similar condition with no markings or splits and just a few creases around the edges again.  For a 3U/3U 'no Trident' cover the condition is very impressive and rarely found like this today.

The Lyric inner

Wow this paper lyric inner is stunning and has no doubt hardly ever been outside of the cover!  It is incredibly clean and has been beautifully well preserved.  As per the genuine first and early pressings it has the three cropped corners.  It is so clean, just so brilliantly white it is impossible to find a negative!  Perhaps just a hint of light ringwear and one mega faint crease near the top.  There are no splits, no obvious creasing and certainly no marks it looks practically 'as new'.  An absolutely stunning example and quite possibly the best I have ever seen...and on a 3U/3U pressing!

The labels

The original EMI labels are extremely clean with no marking or writing and only minimal spindle wear.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

EMC 3061 // YAX 4881 - 3U / YAX 4882 - 3U // LA 1 / HH 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

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