Jethro Tull A PASSION PLAY 1973 UK LP 1st Press Green chrysalis A4/B4 EX+ AUDIO

	£		207
	$		274

I have come across a collection of records that defy time.

They belonged to a collector who was buying in the mid to late 60's through the 70's and 80's

However his family have said that he didn't own a record player until the mid 80's.

Very strange I know, but what it means is that the early records have in most cases never been played or at the most one play.

Naturally people's tastes in music change and that's why the 80's albums have had more play than the 60's

There are some incredible records in this collection

I aim to release one per day and will list them at 8pm UK time so that they don't get confused with my other listings

I will also be playing each record and recording IT. My very very careful test play will go undetected however

JETHRO TULL -A PASSION PLAY

IN MAGNIFICENT EX++CONDITION

FIRST PRESS - COMPLETE WITH BOOKLET 

NEAR MINT SLEEVE

• CATALOGUE:CHRYSALIS CHR 1040
• MATRIX: CHR1040 A4U / B4
• FIRST PRESS MATRIX NUMBERS (NOTHING LOWER THAN THIS)
• MOTHERS/STAMPERS: 1 ML /1 AA

THE RECORDS

THE LABELS

THE GREEN LABELS  ARE IN MAGNIFICENT CONDITION, THE PASTEL  GREEN COLOUR IS UNBLEMISHED AND FULLY STRETCHES INTO THE UNWORN SPINDLE HOLE. THE BLACK TYPEFACE IS ALSO CLEAR AND PERFECTLY LEGIBLE. A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE SPINDLE HOLE REVEALS JUST 2-3 TINY SPIDER LINES CLOSE TO THE HOLE, SHOWING JUST HOW LITTLE THIS LP HAS BEEN PLAYED, IN FACT NO MORE THAN A COUPLE OF TIMES SINCE NEW. THE A4/B4 MATRIX NUMBERS ARE THE LOWEST ON THIS ALBUM AND DENOTES IT AS A FIRST PRESS JULY 1973 RELEASE.

THERE WAS A REPRESS THAT HAD LOWER MATRIX NUMBERS BUT THIS CAN EASILY BE SPOTTED AS THERE IS RED TYPEFACE AROUND THE RIM, WHEREAS THE ORIGINAL FIRST PRESS HAS NO RIM WORDING AT ALL

THE VINYL

 THE VINYL HERE LOOKS MAGNIFICENT ON BOTH SIDES, AND IN DAYLIGHT IS ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS, AND ONLY UNDER INTENSE ILLUMINATION CAN I SPOT A FEW WISPY HAIRLINES. SUPERB LOOKING RECORD

THE TEST PLAY

THE FIRST THING TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE CLARITY OF REPRODUCTION IS SUPERB. THE CRYSTAL CLEAR INSTRUMENTATION AND VOCALS ARE PURE FIRST PRESS. 

THERE IS CERTAINLY NO GROOVE WEAR TO THIS RARE RECORDING WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SOME DISTORTION TO THE SOUND. THERE IS NONE.

ISLAND/CHRYSALIS  RECORDINGS HAVE LONG BEEN LAMBASTED FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF VINYL USED IN THEIR EARLY LP'S WHICH HAVE OFTEN RESULTED IN UNWANTED VINYL NOISE EVEN WHERE THERE ARE NO MARKS. 

 THE VINYL PLAYS WELL ALL THE WAY THROUGH  APART THE LIGHTEST TRACE OF VERY LIGHT STATIC LIKE VINYL NOISE IN SOME OF THE QUIETEST OF PASSAGES / LINKING GROOVES

THE STEREO REPRODUCTION IS JUST FANTASTIC, AND EVERY NOTE IS HEARD TO PERFECTION

I DIDN'T HEAR ANY MORE THAN A COUPLE OF TINY STATIC TICS

THE AUDIO PERFROMANCE GRADES EX+

THE SLEEVE

UNLAMINATED GATEFOLD  SLEEVE COMPLETE WITH MINT CONDITION BOOKLET

THE FRONT SURFACE IS CLEAN AND HAS NO MARKS OR STAINS ON IT WHATSOEVER. 

THERE ARE NO HEAVY CREASES , JUST A SMALL THUMB PRESSURE LINES NEAR THE OPENING EDGE AT THE TOP OF THE COVER

THE COLOURS REMAIN PERFECT AND UNRUBBED.USUALLY THE BLACK SURFACE RUBS REVEALING A GREY POWDERY FINISH UNDERNEATH, BUT THIS SLEEVE ONLY HAS A LIGHT SHADOW OVER THE BOTTOM EDGE

NO RING WEAR OR RECORD SHAPE

THERE ARE JUST OTWO TINY PRESSURE LINES NEAR THE SPINE

ONE ON THE TOP EDGE, ONE ON THE BOTTOM EDGE

 BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES ARE  FREE FROM ANY SHELF WEAR OR RUBBING, OTHER THAN A PIN PRICK ON THE CORNER TIP ENDS

THE SPINE IS TOTALLY FLAT AND UNSQUASHED.ALL OF THE DELICATE BLACK TYPEFACE IS PRESENT AND PERFECTLY LEGIBLE.  A DOT OF RUB TO THE BOTTOM TIP END

THE OPENING EDGE IS  SHARP WITH A COUPLE OF TINY THUMB NAIL NICKS

THE REAR SURFACE HAS A VERY DELICATE PASTEL PINK COLOUR WHICH IS IN SUPERB ORDER.USUALLY THIS SHOWS MARKS BECAUSE IT IS VERY EASILY STAINED. ALL THAT THERE IS ON THIS SURFACE ARE TWO LIGHT MARKS IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER

A SMALL DING TO THE TOP LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER TIPS

OPENING THE GATEFOLD REVEALS THE LINWELL THEATRE PROGRAMME PERFECTLY HOUSED INSIDE THE CARD INSERT NOTCHES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE GATEFOLD.THE PROGRAMME IS IN PERFECT FLAT AND CLEAN CONDITION.

THE TWO PASTEL PINK PANELS ARE ALSO IN PRISTINE CONDITION

THE SLEEVE  GRADES EX+