QUEEN II (4U / 4U 1st Press)

This genuine first press plays with excellent audio and has a very clean gatefold also.  Only two stampers on each side so is quite an early first pressing.

EMA 767 // YAX 4736 (crossed) 4735 - 4U / YAX 4735 (crossed) 4736 - 4U // TA 3 & TD 4

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections)

The audio on S2 is Ex+ (Near Mint in many sections / track 4 Ex two short sections)

The gatefold is Ex+

The lyric inner is VG++
The EMI labels are Near Mint-

 Visual grading

  There are some fine hairlines and a little 'mottling' here and there but this has little or no affect on the audio which plays to an excellent standard.  There are no scratches and for a genuine first pressing it is a relatively clean copy.

Play grading

There is hardly any static on 'Procession' and there are certainly no clicks or pops.  It plays with great clarity and provides a very impressive start.  The fade out and then intro on 'Father To Son' is of an immaculate standard.  It then plays with immense power and no distortion at all.  A breathtaking version if ever there was one!  There is just a hint of quiet static in one of the brief quiet sections but aside from that this is superlative audio all the way.  The long fade out is stunning and has barely any 'background'.  The 'White Queen' intro has a minimal amount of static and it is in no way intrusive and there are no clicks or pops.  The first chorus plays in impeccable style and there is no distortion.  From then on it plays as Near Mint the clarity and depth of the sound is superb.  I did hear one click towards the end but the music at this point is so loud it is in the background anyway.  The end section has only a little 'background' static.  Both 'Some Day One Day' and 'Loser In The End' end S1 with immaculate sound and class as Near Mint if not better.  The long fade out on the latter has no 'background' at all which is rarity for a final track on any side. 

The long quiet build up on 'Ogre Battle' has hardly any static and then plays with stunning power and clarity to the end.  It is 'as new' and is the most impressive version of this classic I have heard in a long time.  Fabulous!  'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' is equally as good and again there is no 'background'.  'Nevermore' has only a couple of static sounds but still grades as Near Mint the quality of the recording is that good.  There is a little more static on the 'The March Of The Black Queen' intro but it is still quiet and non-intrusive.  Thereafter it plays with stunning clarity and no distortion and even the quiet mid section has barely any 'background', just the one faint click.  There are a couple of crackle sounds during the final quiet section but overall the final section plays powerfully and with great quality.  'Funny How Love Is' plays 100% perfectly with no interference and 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' ends this classic album with stunning sound with no obvious distortion which is a rarity for a first pressing.

The Gatefold

The G & L laminated cover is in excellent condition and has very little shelf wear.  The edges and spine have no rubbing and only a couple of the corners have a minimal amount of creasing.  The opening edge has no handling wear at all.  The laminate is in great order with no splits and has only a few small creases around the edges.  There are no markings on either side of the cover, it really is exceptionally clean.  The inside of the gatefold is in fantastic condition and the colours remain strong and vibrant.  The inner spine is often damaged or stained and the white background is regularly seen with some foxing but that certainly isn't the case here.  Overall this is an excellent example of this gatefold.

Lyric inner

The lyric inner one of the cleanest I have seen with no markings at all.  However, there is an 8cm side split on the left side and a very small 2cm one on the bottom edge.  A shame because other than that it is in great condition.

The labels

The original EMI labels have no writing on and are very clean.  Just one tiny white mark on the S2 label.  There is very little spindle wear also.

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

EMA 767 // YAX 4736 (crossed) 4735 - 4U / YAX 4735 (crossed) 4736 - 4U // TA 3 & TD 4

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

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 EXTRA INSURANCE IS NECESSARY AND COSTS AN EXTRA £2.50.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

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