Sheer Heart Attack 3U / 4U

This classic album plays with a clarity and power that is second to none, the audio is just sensational!  As I always do I have listened to every second and a full grading is given below.  The laminated 'no Trident logo' cover is in fantastic condition and is very possibly the most impressive I have ever seen.  The lyric inner with the cut corners is also very clean and has no splits!

A 3U/4U matrix is often sold as a genuine first pressing and it may well be.  However, I have sold a small number of 3U/3U pressings over the years but I am led to believe that the 3U/4U was cut at the same time so could also be considered as a first pressing?  Regardless of that it would be nigh on impossible to find a better version than this.  It is practically Mint and stunning in every way.

EMC 3061 // YAX 4881 - 3U / YAX 4882 - 4U // LT 2 / LT 2

The audio on S1 is Mint- (track 5 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint-

The cover is Near Mint

The lyric inner is Ex+
The labels are Mint

Visual grading

This is a very special record.  It gleams as if only pressed yesterday and the glossy sheen is stunning.  Judging by the sound quality and the beautifully clean vinyl it has only been played once, maybe twice at most.  I can only detect one tiny spindle trace on the S2 label and you need a magnifying glass to spot it!  There are only a small number of mega faint sleeve removal hairlines only but again you need to look very closely in order to see them.  There are obviously no scratches and without doubt this is the cleanest, most impressive 3U/4U press I have seen in a long time.  I cannot stress enough just how visually perfect it is and the labels and run out grooves are also in pristine condition.  Absolutely spectacular!

Play grading  

'Brighton Rock' plays with stunning precision from the very first note of the 'circus' intro with only 2/3 dust ticks and as Brian's guitar comes in soon followed by Roger the sound is so deep and warm and plays with exceptional quality.  Often regarded as Queen's finest this album boasts superb production values and the bass sound is just so strong on a well preserved copy such as this.  Freddie's first vocal is immaculate and the guitar instrumental section that follows just has to be heard to be believed!  I got shivers down the spine listening to it!  It is so clean and powerful and with only a couple of mega quiet static sounds, it is nigh on perfect.  The quieter sections also play with sublime clarity and not a single click or pop.  This is audio of the highest standard and the final verse and instrumental end section play with a depth and power that is second to none.  Absolutely superb!  'Killer Queen' is Mint from start to finish with no interference of any kind.  The clarity and sonic quality is incredible and the playback could not be any better, there is just no interference at all.  The intro on 'Tenement Funster' is 'as new' as the day when released back in '74.  This immaculate quality remains as you progress and again there are just no negatives here.  The definition and clarity is just Mint there is no other way to describe it.  There is no distortion on the top end and any Queen collector would just be awestruck by the immaculate quality on offer here.  Everything I just wrote for the previous track you can copy and paste onto 'Flick Of The Wrist'!  It is stunning from start to finish, and again there is no interference whatsoever.  As Mint as it was 45 years ago!  'Lily Of The Valley' is the only track on the side that has any interference.  Don't get me wrong it still plays incredibly well but there is one click towards the end.  Apart from that it plays with perfect precision with no static or crackle and not even a single dust tick which is very impressive for this relatively quiet track.  The fade out also has no 'background'.  Despite the click I still think it deserves a Near Mint- grading as the rest of the track just plays perfectly.  'Now I'm Here' is breathtaking.  From the very first groove the audio is just perfect.  This final track is so often affected by distortion to the point that it can be unlistenable but this has to be the finest version I have heard in many a year and that is no exaggeration.  It is just stunning and has no obvious distortion and provides a fantastic end to the side.  Another point of note is the fade out has no 'background' at all, quite rare for any side let alone one of this age.

The intro on 'In The Lap Of The Gods' is totally 100% stunning!  It plays with a power and vibrancy that is just so impressive and quite honestly the clarity of sound is just the 'cleanest' I have ever heard.  It is patently obvious this vinyl has hardly ever been played before and I just cannot believe I am listening to a 3U/4U pressing.  The first verse is more than equal to this incredible sound and with only a couple of barely audible dust ticks this is Mint without question.  The remainder of this classic plays to the same immaculate standard.  The grooves are obviously so clean but this is just one reason why this vinyl has stood the test of time so well.  It has also been beautifully well preserved.  I may be getting repetitive now but 'Stone Cold Crazy' is 'as new' and 'rocks out' in sublime style.  There is no interference and the clarity and depth for such a powerful track could not be any better and there is no distortion either.  Wow I am running out of superlatives for this astounding LP!  The delicate 'Dear Friends' has a clarity that is amazing.  The cleanliness of the playback is like that of a CD but with the added warmth and depth that you only get with vinyl of course.  There was not even a single dust tick here let alone anything worse and how often can you say that with this very quiet track?  It is Mint from start to finish and the same can also be said for 'Misfire'.  Fantastic clarity from note one to the very end of the fade out.  This is audio sent from the audio Gods!  You will not be surprised to hear that 'Bring Back Leroy Brown' is of the same standard and all you can hear is the music in its purest form.  There is nothing to detract from the audio and it is Mint with a capital M!  The warmth and depth on the stunning 'She Makes Me...' comes through magnificently well on this beautifully preserved vinyl and again qualifies as Mint such is the clarity.  It is immaculate and again there is not one iota of interference.  The entire track is stunning but the end sequence in particular is super stunning!  I am praying 'In The Lap Of The Gods...revisited' is equal to the dynamic and perfect audio that has been displayed thus far on this side and...it does not disappoint!  With no clicks or pops, static or crackle this is a fantastic end to this classic album and the end section has no distortion whatsoever which is massive rarity.  I must reiterate the audio on this side is just sensational!  I think it must have been stored inside a hermetically sealed vault to remain as perfect as this!  The 'bomb' at the end is so powerful and there is no 'background' on the fade out either.  If you want a perfect mega early pressing then this is the one to own, well perfect accept for one second on S1!  Wow what an album....

In summary this 3U/4U pressing is without doubt a final upgrade archive vinyl.  As my regular customers know I do not exaggerate my gradings so if an album plays with perfect clarity and depth I will state that and if I hear a faint dust tick or worse I will state that also.  I often do say 'best I have ever heard' etc but in all honesty this is.  I have never heard this classic album play with such dexterity, with such delicate precision and with such stunning sonic quality it was a joy to listen to.  With only the one click on S1 this is an album that belongs in any near mint / mint collection and with a beautiful 'no Trident' logo cover and very clean lyric inner this will delight the most avid of Queen fans.  What a find!

The Cover

This has to be one of the best G&L laminated covers I have ever seen.  It retains a stunning glossy look and there is hardly any shelf wear, it is superb!  What makes this one of the earliest covers manufactured is that is does not have the Trident logo on the back.  The edges and thin pinched spine are 'as new' with no rubbing at all, how rare is that?!  Plus there is no corner wear either and that is practically unheard of.  The opening edge has no handling wear and the only minor discrepancy is one mega tiny 'ding' near the top but it really is barely visible.  The laminate on the front cover is in remarkable condition and has only one very small area of lift next to the spine.  The back cover is nigh on perfect with only a couple of very small creases next to the spine again.  This is a beautiful cover and I cannot underestimate just how good it looks!  For a 3U/4U 'no Trident' cover this is quite possibly the 'cleanest' you will ever see and so rarely found like this today.

The Lyric inner

This paper lyric inner has no splits or creasing which is such a rarity!  It has been extremely well preserved and as per the genuine first and early pressings it has the three cropped corners.  It is very clean with only very minor 'spotting' around the top edge and on one bottom corner.  A very impressive example without doubt.

The labels

The original EMI labels are 'as new' and have no marking or writing and as stated no obvious spindle wear at all.  They really are in pristine condition.

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 - 4U // LT 2 / LT 2

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 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.

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COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

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LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE (Standard)

LPs/12" singles : £8.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Standard)

LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!