The Beatles : Abbey Road 2/1 1st Stereo Press (Misaligned Apple)
This first pressing plays to a wonderful standard with no obvious interference at all.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is stunning and there are no clicks or pops.  There are so many quiet sections and yet they all play with immaculate precision and during the louder passages there is only the absolute minimum of light distortion here and there which is totally non-intrusive.  It has been played a number of times but has lost none of its original sonic quality and has been brilliantly well preserved down the years.
As can be seen this has the 'misaligned apple' on the back cover and no 'Her Majesty' credit on the S2 label.  This is how you can tell it is a genuine first press.
The cover is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and the plain white inner has very little wear also.
PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // MLP 4 / AHR 4
The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 5 & 6 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / T9 Near Mint-)  
The cover is a very strong Ex
The inner sleeve is Ex+
The labels are Ex+
Visual grading
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only some very light sleeve removal hairlines on each side and there is certainly nothing that stands out.  It has been played a number of times as there is some spindle wear but that also shows just how well the record has been looked after.  Obviously very carefully handled over the last 50 years and only played on 'high end' equipment, the sonic quality has not suffered in any way.  Visually it is very impressive and the run out grooves and labels are also very clean.
Play grading
That familiar bass heavy intro on 'Come Together' is 'as new' and the first verse has no 'background' either.  It continues to play in the same precise way with no interference of any kind and is such a strong start to the album.  Whilst it has been played a number of times it's good to see that it has always been so well looked after resulting in no loss of clarity, depth or warmth.  There is not a single dust tick let alone anything more!  Every section plays with stunning quality and that includes the fade out that has no 'background' at all.  I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint as it just could not play any better.
'Something' is almost of the same quality.  Almost.  Again you cannot fault the clarity - there are no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either.  I heard just 3/4 light dust ticks and whilst I should not downgrade because of this I will nonetheless call it Mint- although it could be argued I am being too critical!  In essence it is a perfect version.
'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' plays with incredible clarity from start to finish and again has no 'background'.  'As new' is no exaggeration and Mint is well deserved here.
'Oh ! Darling' provides yet another example of a beautifully preserved vinyl and the audio definition is outstanding.  There is no distortion on the top end and grades as Mint the playback could not be any more impressive.
'Octopus's Garden' is nigh on perfect with only a very light touch of vocal distortion here and there but honestly it is so minimal as to be totally insignificant.  Perhaps just a little more on Harrison's solo but in no way intrusive.  I only mention this to be 100% 'complete' in my grading and this is still a superb version.  Aside from that there is literally no interference and Near Mint is fair assessment.
The intro on 'I Want You' has just a little distortion and the first vocal then plays with perfect precision.  Thereafter it plays so well with no intrusion and I only detected one mega light tick on the first half and only a very very minimal inner groove distortion on the top end here and there.  Don't get me wrong it still plays with great clarity and power and nowhere is that more in evidence than on the classic final 'heavy' section.  It has only minimal light static at the start but is scarcely worth a mention as it is so minor.  It then plays so well with audio that is just so strong and deep and the more you get into it the better it gets, it is stunning!  From beginning to end there are no clicks, pops or crackle and barely any static and the 'high octane' end section is STUNNING in every way.  I will grade as Near Mint and is such an impressive end to the side.
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'Here Comes The Sun' plays beautifully from the very first groove with barely any static and as the vocal begins the playback is perfect.  Some say this album is somewhat 'over-produced' but I certainly don't think so!  I love the depth and warmth on the first pressings and that is very evident when you find a very 'clean' vinyl like this.  It has such a strong deep bass sound and this is without doubt one of the finest versions I have ever heard.  A classic track and so good to hear it playing with Mint- quality :-)
The intro on 'Because' is immaculate and from then on plays incredibly well for a relatively quiet track.  There is just the lightest of background static but as I often say I do sit very close to the speakers which is why I 'pick it up' a little more easily.  It is very quiet and non-intrusive and there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  It still plays with great clarity and Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio.
The piano intro on 'You Never Give Me Your Money' plays with stunning clarity and the first verse is of the same 'high end' standard.  As the tempo increases the next vocal section is perfect but during the instrumental section there is just a little distortion - only very minor and you can still play it loud!  Harrison's solo however is faultless and is not affected in any way and the same applies to the rest of the track.  The long fade out is stunning and has no 'background'.  Near Mint
The segue into 'Sun King' is so 'clean' and again makes you think you are listening to one seriously well preserved album!  The long quiet intro just has one mega light tick and from then on plays with near perfect clarity for the remainder.  A truly exceptional version with great depth...again.  I detected only a handful of barely audible dust ticks which you would find on a high quality vinyl pressed only yesterday let alone one that is 50 years old!  The clarity here is outstanding and Mint- is infinitely deserved.
The following 'trio' of songs starting with 'Mean Mr Mustard', followed by 'Polythene Pam' and ending with 'She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' all play with superb precision and, you guessed it, no interference.  There is perhaps just a minimal amount of distortion on the latter but again I have to emphasise it is only very minor and non-intrusive.  So the first two are Mint- and the final one Near Mint
There are a couple of very light dull clicks in the dead wax prior to 'Golden Slumbers' starting.  The intro then plays so well which is rarity as it is often affected by static or worse.  As the volume increases there is only a little distortion and just very minimal light static.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and remains a very impressive Near Mint listen.
'Carry That Weight' plays with real clarity and power from the get go and has only very minimal static in the background here and there.  I would grade this as as Near Mint-
'The End' ends the album (well almost!) with stunning clarity and power from start to finish.  The playback is STUNNING!  The opening instrumental/vocal section to Ringo's percussive section soon followed by the guitar solos are fantastic!  Not sure I've heard better.  The gentle vocal at the 'end' has no 'background' and only the finish has the lightest of static which you always find on this brief section anyway.  I am still more than happy to grade this as Mint-
The long 'silent' section has no interference and then 'Her Majesty' closes this classic album with perfect Mint audio.
In summary this first pressing is definitely one of the finest versions I have heard in a long time.  There are no clicks or pops, barely any static and only the bare minimum of distortion which is totally non-intrusive in my opinion anyway.  The sonic quality on both sides is exceptional and the clarity on the many quiet sections is so impressive also.  A stunning album.
The Cover
The laminated G & L cover with the 'misaligned apple' on the back is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear.  The edges and thin pinched spine are in near perfect condition with only one tiny 'rub' on the bottom edge.  The corners have very minimal wear and the opening edge is very clean with hardly any handling wear.  The front cover has no marking or laminate damage although at a certain angle you can see some light creasing on the right around John, nothing major though.  There are also some of the usual small laminate creases next to the spine.  The back cover is in lovely condition with only one minor laminate crease.  A fine example overall.
The Inner Sleeve
The plain white die-cut inner (Made In Great Britain and the Patent No printed on one side) is in excellent shape with Rarely seen with no side splits or tears and no marking either.  It just has a little creasing.
The Labels
The Apple labels have no marking or writing, just some spindle wear as stated.  No 'Her Majesty' on S2.
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
PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // MLP 4 / AHR 4

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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