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Queen : A Day At The Races 1U / 1U 1st Press
This genuine first press plays to such a high standard and is easily one of the best examples I have ever found.  The clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio is exceptional and the tracks on S1 that are so often affected by static / crackle - 'You Take My Breath Away' and 'The Millionaire Waltz' - both play so clearly with only the bare minimum of light static.  Please read my audio grading below to see just how good they are!  S1 plays with great quality and S2 is even better!  In fact the only background is some light static on the organ section at the end of 'Let Us Cling Together'.  Based on the audio and STUNNING visual quality of the vinyl this has clearly not been played very much at all.  I cannot even find any obvious spindle wear!
The matt textured gatefold is in lovely condition, I do not think I have seen a better one.  It has no obvious wear and has retained its original shape and structure so well with no bending or creasing.  It is so rarely seen as 'clean' as this.  The original picture inner is also superb condition.
A fine example all round and it is also a very early example as it has just a single 'A' stamper on S2.
EMD 1003 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // MH 2 / A 1 // STERLING stamped on both
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T1 & T5 Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T5 closing organ section Ex+)
The gatefold is Near Mint-
The labels are Mint-
The picture inner is Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only detect a small number of the usual faint sleeve removal hairlines and there is nothing that stands out.  There is no groove wear or surface wear and the labels are practically perfect with no marking and no obvious spindle wear.  Stunning!
Play grading
The entire 'orchestral' intro on 'Tie Your Mother Down' plays with stunning quality, the audio is crystal clear, and as the classic riff kicks in the playback is so strong and deep.  The first verse and chorus are of the same high end standard and it continues in the same precise way.  Turning this classic up to max is obligatory and you lose none of the original sonic quality by doing so - the power, depth and resonance of the audio and the clarity of sound is second to none.  The mid instrumental is faultless and the final verse / chorus are 'as new' also, much like the rest of the track!  A superb Mint start to the album, what a version!
'You Take My Breath Away' so often plays with a fair amount of intrusive static / crackle but this is just STUNNING!  The 'choral' intro plays beautifully and brief piano section is just as 'clean'.  The opening two verses play with sensational clarity - no ticks, clicks or pops and rarely no static either.  The third verse is just as impressive and the instrumental that follows has only a couple of minor static ticks.  The next vocal is equal to that and the final multi-layered section has just two static ticks at the beginning.  This is easily one of the finest versions of this ballad that I have EVER listened to and has to grade as Near Mint it is that good.
'Long Away' plays with real quality from start to finish with only a couple of static ticks just after the third verse.  Aside from the clarity and depth of the audio is flawless but I will grade as Near Mint even though 99% plays perfectly!
Much like the second track 'The Millionaire Waltz' is another track that often suffers with static etc but this version impresses on every level!  The piano / bass intro and Freddie's opening vocal play with sublime clarity and only a couple of dust ticks.  The even quieter second verse is 'as new' I can pay it no higher compliment - incredible clarity.  There is a touch of very light static for 2/3 seconds only during Brian's brief instrumental and then the high octane 'Come back to me...' section is just breath-taking!  It is so powerful and has no distortion.  The next instrumental is just as good and the super quiet 'My fine friend...' verse plays so clearly with very little static and only a couple of dull type sounds, hardly intrusive.  The final verse ends this great track with impeccable quality and no intrusion.  This is closer to Near Mint than Near Mint- so I am going to grade it as Near Mint it really is a fine version.
'You And I' ends S1 with a clarity and depth we have kind of come to expect now.  From start to finish there is no interference, no inner groove distortion either, and is Mint in every way.
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The 'choral' / piano intro on the classic 'Somebody To Love' plays to perfection with not even a dust tick and the first verse has no intrusion either.  A superb start!  From then on it plays like it has never been on a turntable before such is the sonic quality, the playback is fantastic!  Each verse plays with a clarity and power that can only be described 'as new' and then the iconic 'Find me somebody to love...' section is just pure audio gold!  Once again the clarity and depth of the audio is flawless and you can clearly hear the 'echo' affect on the final 'love', that is a measure of the clarity on offer here.  The closing section is just as strong and I have no hesitation in saying this is Mint no need for a minus even.
The quiet opening section on 'White Man' plays with wonderful clarity which is a genuine rarity as it so often does not!  I heard just one one light static tick no more.  The first chorus is perfect and it continues to play with tremendous power and depth and... no interference.  The 'heavy' instrumental section elicits stunning power and definition and the quiet end section plays with great precision right up until the final 'beat'.  Another Mint track is a fair assessment of the audio.
The jaunty 'Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy' plays with exceptional clarity with nothing to detract from the audio.  A couple of dust ticks on the intro but in essence a Mint version.
'Drowse' once again shows just how infrequently this vinyl has been played and plays with sublime precision.  Roger's vocal is so clean and the accompanying music is just as impressive.  No dust ticks no background at all just impeccable Mint audio from start to finish.
The delicate piano intro on 'Let Us Cling Together' is nigh on perfect with just one light static tick and the opening two verses play with incredible clarity, just a hint of barely audible static.  The first chorus is 'as new' and it continues in the same way, nothing to report!  Each note is so clean and precise and the more powerful 'When I'm gone...' section for once has no distortion, you can really blast it up to loud!  The emotive 'choral' passage keeps up this fine standard and the closing organ section has just a minimal amount of light static which is in no way intrusive.  I will grade this section as Ex+ but the preceding audio is Mint- for sure.  A superb version overall. 
In summary this first pressing plays with superb audio on both sides.  S1 is superb and S2 is just superb and then some!  As you can see only the final organ section has a little static but the rest of the side is incredible!  S1 also impresses on so many levels and has only a minimal amount of light static and so much less than usual.  Across the album there are so many highlights too numerous to mention but it really is the clarity of sound that really stands out.  For a genuine 1U/1U first press to play as well as this is a rarity and in conjunction with a STUNNING cover this will add to any high end collection.
The Gatefold & Picture Inner
This may well be the finest example of this cover that I have ever seen!  It is so often found in poor condition and yet this one has been incredibly well preserved with barely any wear.  The top edges are so close to perfect with only 3/4 minor rubs and the bottom edges are just as impressive.  The wide spine is very strong and retains its original shape with only a couple of 'lines' running down it caused by the opening of the gatefold.  The corners are very clean with only a small rub at each 'end' and the right hand corners are if anything even better!  The opening edge is pristine and the front cover is beautifully clean with only a couple of minor creases next to the bottom edge.  The back cover has only a handful of even smaller creases next to the bottom edge.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and has none of the fading / spotting around the edges that you so often see.  This cover inside and out has kept its original 'black' colour so well and has clearly not been handled very much at all.  A stunning Near Mint- example and I honestly do not think I have graded one that highly before!
The original picture inner (with rounded corners) is near perfect with just one tiny rub on the bottom edge (not a split) and a couple of tiny faint spots.  It has no side splits, marking or creasing.   Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

EMD 1003 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // MH 2 / A 1 // STERLING stamped on both

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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Postage & Packaging

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