Gentle Giant : Gentle Giant 1Y1/2Y1 1st Press 1970 Vertigo

This first pressing plays to a fantastic standard and the vast majority is Mint I can confidently say.  As always I have play tested each track in full and the clarity and definition is stunning.  Only the final track on S1 has two seconds of interference at the start and a few seconds right at the end when the 'actual' music has already finished.  Apart from that it is 'as new'.  S2 is absolutely incredible!  The sonic quality is amazing from start to finish with no sign of any interference.  Not only are there no clicks or pops but there is no underlying static either.  It really does play as if it has never been played before!

The gatefold is in excellent condition with only very minimal wear and the original inner although not poly-lined is also very clean with no side splits.

A first press is denoted by a large 'Swirl' logo above the spindle hole on Side B, and VERTIGO is written towards the bottom of the label.  'Alucard' is also incorrectly spelt as 'Alcard'.

6360020   1Y//1? 420  1 1 3 1

6360020   2Y//1 ? 420  1 1 3

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Near Mint / T4 intro for 2 seconds & final 10 seconds of track VG-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is a very strong Ex

The labels are Near Mint

The original swirl inner is Ex

Visual grading

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen.  It has clearly not been over-played judging by its visual look, the minimal spindle wear and the audio quality of course.  S1 has only a couple of obvious hairlines but is otherwise in superb condition.  One of these hairlines ends as a very faint scratch at the end of the final track resulting in a little interference as described below.  S2 is stunning and in all honesty looks brand new!  There are no 'cloudy' areas or 'mottling' on either side and the run out grooves and Vertigo labels are also in superb order.

Play grading  

As you set the stylus down the lead in grooves are so quiet which is such a rarity.  The intro on 'Giant' does not disappoint and plays with only a couple of minor static ticks, it is a very impressive start.  The 'high octane' opening section is 'as new' with no 'background' of any kind and it proceeds in the same way with stunning clarity and power.  I heard only a couple of dust ticks on the 'See the world...' line and thereafter there is so much to admire!  The mid instrumental has no interference either - I cannot overstate just how amazing the sonic quality is here and this is very much evident as the music builds during this passage.  The final verse is faultless and this truly is an exceptional version.  I would say the intro is Near Mint but the remainder easily grades as Mint such is the quality.

'Funny Ways' plays with impeccable precision from the opening note and it continues to play with STUNNING clarity and definition.  As always I have played every second and I can confidently say this is Mint in every sense of the word.  Every vocal and instrumental section is as 'clean' as it was when first released back in '70 there are just no negatives.  Even the quiet end section plays beautifully with no sign of any interference.  This is quite an impressive start to the album so far!

The intro on 'Alucard' is 'as new' and even the first 'silent' section is completely silent!  The opening vocal is of the same standard and the long instrumental that follows plays with wonderful clarity and power throughout.  This really is audio of the highest calibre.  The quiet section prior to the final section plays so clearly with only a handful of barely audible dust ticks and the remainder then plays with flawless audio.  The powerful finale is absolutely stunning and has no distortion on the top end.  This is Mint every day of the week :-)

There are then two pops in the dead wax and a couple more dull sounding pops right at the start of 'Isn't It Quiet And Cold' caused by one of those tiny white 'specks' that refuses to move!  So...two seconds of interference but this is even before the violin comes in.  It then plays beautifully with every vocal and instrumental section showing just how 'clean' and precise the audio is.  There are some dull clicks on the quiet 'fade out' section but this is after the actual music has finished.  An odd one to grade in a way as the vast majority plays to perfection.  Let's say VG- for the first two seconds and final 10 seconds but Mint for everything else in between.  I think that's an honest appraisal of the audio.  Overall though this side is superb to say the least!

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The acoustic intro on 'Nothing At All' has no 'background' not even one dust tick and it is relatively rare for the opening grooves on a 50+ year old record to be so 'clean'.  The first vocal section is breathtaking!  The clarity of sound is so impressive and there is literally no interference, 'as new' is once again the correct terminology.  The 'high octane' vocal is then equally as good as is the percussive section that follows.  I cannot stress enough just how well this entire instrumental section plays - there is no 'background' and again the precision of the audio is like you're back in 1970!  The final melodic section plays to perfection and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint no minus is required!  What a version!

'Why Not' has only a couple of mega light ticks on the intro that scarcely deserve a mention they are so quiet.  It then plays with sublime quality and...no interference.  The first 'high octane' vocal - no faults, the first quiet 'medieval' vocal - no faults just pure unadulterated Mint audio!  And the soaring instrumental that follows is of the same 'high end' standard.  It continues in the same way with no intrusion and for once there is no distortion.  The guitar work here is so strong and 'clean' and to the end it plays to perfection.  The sonic quality on this side is just on another level and it is clear this vinyl has only ever been lightly played.  Yes a couple of barely audible ticks on the intro so I will grade as Mint- just to be on the safe side!

'The Queen' ends this fine album with great power and clarity - no inner groove distortion - and Mint is very much deserved.  The 'silent' section at the end is indeed silent with no 'background' and the final quiet brass section has not even a single dust tick.  A stunning finish.

In summary this genuine first pressing plays to a sublime standard with only very minimal interference on the final track of S1 as stated.  As for the rest?  Well it could not simply any better - the clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is something you only find on the first/early Vertigo pressings as any audiophile knows.  No other medium compares quiet frankly and the sonic quality here is just stunning.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The cover has been very well looked after down the years and has only very minimal wear.  This is mainly on the top edge/opening edge of the front cover which has some light handling wear but apart from that it is very clean.  The other edges have only minor rubbing and the wide spine is in great shape with only a little corner wear.  The other corners have only minimal wear.  The front is in excellent condition with only one very small faint mark top left and the back cover is totally unmarked.  The inside of the gatefold is stunning when you consider it is so 'white' and has no marking at all.  It is also very strong and robust and has maintained it shape so well down the years.  Considering its age and that it isn't laminated this is a fine example of this iconic cover.

The original swirl inner (dated 1070) is no longer poly-lined but remains in excellent shape with no side splits or tears and only minimal creasing.  It is also very clean with only a very small amount of light age related fading around a couple of edges.

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

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

6360020   1Y//1? 420  1 1 3 1

6360020   2Y//1 ? 420  1 1 3

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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