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Budgie : Budgie 1L/1L 1st Press Red/Pink 'Dogbone' Label 1971

This very collectable first pressing plays with high end audio for the vast majority and S1 in particular is stunning!  With only 4/5 static ticks on the intro the rest of the side is close to perfect and the classics 'The Author' and 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' could hardly play any better.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is incredible.  S2 is not far behind with only a handful of clicks but again the sonic quality is very impressive.  The vinyl is also very clean with only some hairlines.  A fine exponent of the greatest heavy rock debuts in my humble opinion.

The cover (the rare laminated version) is in excellent condition with only some creasing in the top left corner, there is no other obvious wear and has been very well preserved down the years.  The inner sleeve is also in excellent shape.

A first press is denoted by the red/pink 'dogbone' labels and the 1L/1L matrix.  As can be seen this is a very early first pressing with only a single stamper on each side.

MKPS 2018 // 7-LNMG-240-1L / 7-LNMG-241-1L // M 1 / G 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex- / T3 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint- (T2 Ex)

The laminated cover is Ex

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner is Ex+

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  There are some sleeve removal hairlines but of course they are faint and do not detract from the visual quality.  There are no scuffs, no dulling of the surface and has clearly been stored correctly.  The red/pink 'dogbone' labels are extremely clean with no marking / writing and have kept their original colour perfectly.  There is only a little faint spindle wear.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Guts' has 4/5 static ticks but no other 'background'.  Shelley's opening vocal is faultless and from then on it plays with that typical deep Budgie sound.  The audio has great definition and resonance and there is nothing that detracts from the sonic quality.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static the playback is superb.  I will grade the intro as Ex- and the rest as Mint the audio is that good.

The acoustic 'Everything In My Heart' plays beautifully with only a couple of very light and barely audible ticks.  This album is of course 52 years old this year and for such a quiet track to play with such clarity is very impressive.  Let's say Mint-

The quiet two minute intro on 'The Author' is close to perfect with only a handful of very light static ticks which are not intrusive in any way.  The vocals are crystal clear and then the first classic riff from Bourge could not play with any greater precision.  Shelley's first vocal on the higher register is stunning with just one mega light tick and it continues to play with outstanding power and depth with no distortion on the top end.  The 'heavy' instrumental section plays with perfect clarity despite being so 'busy' and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound quality.  A couple of light ticks near the end and the final vocal plays with no intrusion.  This classic track is Near Mint at the very least.

As I often say when selling this LP you can just picture Philips creating the percussive elements on the 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' intro way back in '71!  The famous Rockfield Studio is quite close to where I live and it would have been great to have been there during this era!  The clarity of sound on this intro is so 'clean' with only a couple of dust ticks - the playback is STUNNING!  Bourge first introduction is of the same high end standard and Shelley's opening vocal is more than equal to that.  It continues to play with great quality and the first up-tempo riff is superb!  One of the finest riffs in heavy rock if you ask me!  The clarity, power and depth is 'as new' and Shelley's brief bass solo has no interference at all.  The next part of the instrumental is nigh on perfect with only a couple of very quiet background ticks and the sonic quality is just so strong.  Of course the deep bass effect is such a vital part of the Budgie sound and I have never heard it play with such definition.  I cannot overstate just how well this entire section plays, it is phenomenal!  The end section including the final vocal is faultless and this classic has to grade as Mint- it truly is a sensational version.

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'Rape Of The Locks' plays with great clarity from the get go.  The intro has only a couple of minor static ticks and as Philips comes in soon followed by Shelley the playback is perfect.  There are a couple of static ticks/clicks at the beginning of the long instrumental but they are really not that intrusive, certainly not loud.  This section than plays so clearly with no interference, just that superb dynamic Budgie sound!  The final vocal section is 'as new' and the remainder is just as impressive.  Near Mint- overall.

The intro on 'All Night Petrol' has no 'background' and the opening vocal plays with the same clarity.  There are two clicks at the beginning of Bourge's solo section but aside from that this track plays with impeccable quality and no other intrusion.  It literally has only two seconds of interference so I think Ex is an honest assessment of audio.

The other acoustic number on the album 'You And I' plays with exceptional clarity and just one light click towards the end.  It's in the acoustic 'channel' not on the vocal and isn't loud so I will say Near Mint- is about right.

'Homicidal Suicidal' plays with awesome power from the very first note!  The intro is superb and the opening vocal has no 'background' either.  Another absolute classic it continues to play with great quality and just one tick and a light click during the mid instrumental section.  The depth of the audio here is fantastic!  It has the kind of definition that you only find on the first pressings and the first 'quieter' moment plays with superb clarity and the following 'heavy' bass solo from Shelley is 'as new' also.  The final vocal is of the same standard and the end percussive section ends the album on a high with no distortion etc.  Again I will grade as Near Mint- but as I often say the majority is better than that!

In summary this genuine first pressing plays to a superb standard for the vast majority.  Yes there are a small number of clicks on S2 but the tracks still play exceptionally well with no other intrusion and there is no background static to contend with.  S1 plays with stunning quality throughout and the two classics 'The Author' and 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' are real highlights.  What really stands out across both sides is the sheer depth and warmth of the music, something you would want on any Budgie album but especially this one.  This record has not been overplayed and in conjunction with the rare laminated cover it would add to any collection.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

I have sold a fair number of this first pressing down the years but this is definitely the first one I sold with a laminated front cover.  Rare I would like to think.  This edition is in excellent condition with only minimal wear.  The top edge is perfect and the bottom edge is close to that with just one tiny rub.  The spine is very clean and remains 100% legible and has just three small crease line marks.  Three of the corners are super clean and just the one top left has a little wear which I come on to in just a moment.  The opening edge has barely any handling wear.  The laminated front cover is in great condition overall but does have a little creasing top left and a small number of minor crease lines next to the spine that you so often find.  The back cover is in superb condition when you consider it isn't laminated and is unmarked.  A very respectable cover in my opinion.

The original poly-lined Stereo inner is in excellent order and has no side splits or tears, just a little creasing and minimal age related fading around the edges.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

MKPS 2018 // 7-LNMG-240-1L / 7-LNMG-241-1L // M 1 / G 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

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