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Depeche Mode : Music For The Masses A1 / B1 1st Press 1987

This very collectable album plays with superb audio on both sides with barely any interference, just one light click on S2 and very minor brief static in a couple of places.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is among the best I have heard for this album and it has clearly not been overplayed.  There is only very minimal spindle wear and the vinyl is also very impressive visually.  Having play tested every track in full I can safely say it could hardly play any better!

The cover for once has also been very well looked after down the years with hardly any wear and the lyric inner and 6 page 'Mute' insert are also in superb condition.

There are various pressings of this album but based on my 'research' I am confident in saying this is one of the early first press variations.

Stumm-47  A-1 ✳ MT.1 The Exchange

Stumm-47  B-1 ✳ MT.1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint / T4 intro Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 & T3 Near Mint)

The cover is Ex++

The lyric inner is Near Mint-

The 6 page 'Mute' insert is inlay is Near Mint

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in great condition and still retains an impressive glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  I can only find a small number of faint hairlines and a few minor 'specks' but only under a strong unforgiving light and they obviously have no affect on the audio.  The labels are very clean with only minimal spindle wear on S2.

Play grading

'Never Let Me Down Again' plays with superb audio throughout and no interference.  In fact the only 'background' is one light static tick on the intro but that hardly qualifies as interference!  The power and depth of the audio is stunning and I am 100% confident in grading this as Mint it really could not play with any greater precision.

The segue into 'The Things You Said' is faultless and the opening vocal has only a handful of barely audible dust ticks.  It continues to play with great clarity and no intrusion on the audio - a couple of very light ticks but in no way intrusive.  The audio really is so clear and Near Mint is very much deserved.  Even Near Mint is perhaps a little harsh! 

The intro on 'Strangelove' is 'as new' and Gahan's first vocal is equally as good.  From then on this standard is very much maintained and again it's the clarity of sound that really stands out.  The power and depth of the audio is stunning and with only a couple of light ticks on the fade out section Mint- is more than fair.

The intro on 'Sacred' has only minimal light static for 3/4 seconds and the opening vocal is perfect.  It then plays with stunning quality for the remainder with no 'background' whatsoever.  Superb!  l will grade the intro as Ex+ but as Mint from then onwards.

'Little 15' plays with impeccable quality and there are no clicks, pops or static to be heard.  The more I listen to it the more I am impressed!  The clarity and warmth of the audio is absolutely stunning and Mint- is 100% deserved.

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The long intro on 'Behind The Wheel' has just one light click but otherwise plays perfectly with no other 'background'.  From then on every vocal and instrumental section is 'as new' so overall a Near Mint grade is about right.

'I Want You Now' is stunning from the get go.  A relatively 'sparse' track by Depeche Mode standards it plays with superb sonic quality from start to finish with no interference, 3/4 very light static ticks that is all.  Mint-

The atmospheric 'To Have And To Hold' has only a couple of minor static ticks on the intro and thereafter plays with great depth and resonance and no sign of any interference.  This needs to be played loud - the foreboding sound really envelops the room!  Just some very minor static on that final 'note' so will grade as Near Mint but the vast majority is Mint for sure.

'Nothing' plays with great quality throughout - a couple of insignificant light ticks on the intro and then perfect audio for the remainder.  Mint-

'Pimpf' ends the album with high end audio.  Just 3/4 dust ticks on the piano intro and from then on the playback is incredibly strong.  Perfect you could say!  A powerful 'instrumental' and yet there is no distortion despite being the final track on the album.  The 'silent' section is so clean with only a couple of minor ticks and then the final section has only a hint of barely audible static right at the end. A Mint- finish.

In summary this first pressing plays with stunning audio on both sides with barely any intrusion.  One light click on S2 that's about it.  Yes there are a small number of light ticks but this is vinyl - they are quiet and do not detract from the overall 'sound'.  This is easily one of the finest versions of this album that I have listened to in many a year - the clarity and definition of the audio is so impressive and it is clear it has not been over-played.  A superb version!

The Cover, Lyric Inner & 6 Page Insert

The rough textured cover is in lovely condition with very little wear.  The edges and corners are so clean and the spine has only one small 'rub' near the top.  The opening edge has next to no handling wear also.  The front cover is unmarked and has been so well preserved over the years and the back cover has only a small number of specks and a touch of ringwear.  A superb example!

The lyric inner has no marking or side splits and the only 'flaws' are a minor amount of ringwear and a little 'rippling' in one area, this is very faint.  The 'Mute/Documentary Evidence' 6 page insert is near perfect with only a couple of minor creases and 3/4 very faint spots on the front.

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

Stumm-47  A-1 ✳ MT.1 The Exchange

Stumm-47  B-1 ✳ MT.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

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO 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.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!