Jethro Tull A PASSION PLAY UK 1ST COMPLETE NEAR MINT

	£		73
	$		97

JETHRO TULL -A PASSION PLAY

IN MAGNIFICENT BARELY PLAYED CONDITION

FIRST ISSUE

ABSOLUTELY MINT CONDITION SLEEVE!!!!

• CATALOGUE:CHRYSALIS CHR 1040
• MATRIX: CHR1040 A4 / B4
• FIRST PRESS MATRIX NUMBERS (NOTHING LOWER THAN THIS)
• MOTHERS/STAMPERS: 4 O / 2 PO 

THE RECORDS

THE LABELS

THE GREEN LABELS  ARE IN MINT CONDITION, THE PASTEL  GREEN COLOUR IS IMMACULATE. THE COLOUR 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 1 MINUSCULE SPIDER LINE 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.

THE VINYL

THIS FIRST PRESS HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL GLEAMS LIKE A POLISHED MIRROR, AND IN DAYLIGHT IS FLAWLESS. EVEN UNDER INTENSE ILLUMINATION THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE APART FROM A FEW BARELY VISIBLE WISPY HAIRLINES. A SUPERB VINYL IN EVERY WAY

PLAYING THE RECORD

I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON A FANTASTIC COLLECTIBLE VINYL, THAT YOU SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE BUYING. I HAVE THEREFORE INVESTED IN THE SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DO JUST THAT.

I HAVE RECORDED THE ENTIRE ALBUM FROM START TO FINISH AS I AM NOW DOING WITH ALL MY LISTINGS AS I AM CONVINCED THAT BIDDERS WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE RECORD BEFORE LAYING A BID. IT'S A SERVICE I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER MY CUSTOMERS.

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/CRYSALIS  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. HERE HOWEVER THE VINYL PLAYS MAGNIFICENTLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND APART THE BAREST TRACE OF VERY LIGHT VINYL NOISE IN FIRST MOMENT OF EACH SIDE.AND A FEW TINY DUST POPS THROUGH THE ENTIRE PLAY, THE VINYL PLAYS TO VIRTUAL PERFECTION

THE STEREO REPRODUCTION IS JUST FANTASTIC, AND EVERY NOTE IS HEARD TO PERFECTION, BUT PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS GREAT VINYL AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF

I WOULD GRADE THIS ALBUM NEAR MINT

THE SLEEVE

UNLAMINATED GATEFOLD  SLEEVE COMPLETE WITH  BOOKLET. IN THE MOST STUNNING CONDITION

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

ALL OF THE DELICATE BLACK COLOUR HAS BEEN RETAINED, AND IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS SLEEVE HAS BEEN HOUSED INSIDE A PLASTIC OUTER FROM NEW.

THERE ARE NO HEAVY CREASES NOR ARE THERE ANY CREASE LINES EITHER, AND INVREDIBLY THERE ARE NO SMALL LINES NEAR THE SPINE EITHER. THERE ARE JUST TWO SLIGHT THUMB INDENTS NEAR THE OPENING EDGE TOP AND BOTTOM.

THE COLOURS REMAIN PERFECT AND UNRUBBED.

AMAZINGLY BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES ARE 100% FREE FROM ANY RUBBING AND THUS COLOUR LOSS, AND THIS IS THE FIRST SLEEVE OF THIS ALBUM THAT I HAVE EVER MANAGED TO GET IN PRISTINE CONDITION LIKE THIS. ALSO THIS IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE SLEEVE WAS CAREFULLY PROTECTED FROM NEW

THE SPINE IS UNWORN AND ALL OF THE BLACK TYPEFACE IS PERFECTLY LEGIBLE. IT IS ALSO PERFECTLY FLAT AND ALL OF THE COLOURS HAVE BEEN RETAINED. NOT ONE IOTA OF SQUASHING ANYWHERE. JUST A MINT EXAMPLE

THE OPENING EDGE IS RAZOR SHARP AND UNBLEMISHED AND SHOWS WHY THIS LP HAS BARELY BEEN PLAYED

THE REAR SURFACE HAS A VERY DELICATE PASTEL PINK COLOUR WHICH IS IN MINT CONDITION AGAIN.NO SMALL LINES NEAR THE SPINE, AND LIKE THE FRONT NO COLOUR OSS

OPENING THE GATEFOLD REVEALS TWO PASTEL PINK INNER PANELS WHICH ARE BOTH PRISTINE. EACH SIDE HAS A POP UP FLAP WHICH THE BOOKLET SLIDES INTO. ON THIS COPY THE LEFT ONE HAS HAD THE PERFORATION OPENED SO THAT THE BOOK CAN SIT INSIDE, BUT THE RIGHT ONE IS STILL ATTACHED AND HASN'T BEEN POPPED OPEN. NEVER SEEN ONE LIKE THAT BEFORE. IT CAN EASILY BE POPPED OPEN IF THE NEW OWNER SO DESIRES.

THE PROGRAMME BOOKLET WHICH IS OFTEN MISSING IS UNTORN AND UNMARKED, AND IN MINT MINUS CONDITION

THE SLEEVE WITHOUT A DOUBT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE YOU ARE EVER LIKELY TO GET, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS UNUSUALLY GRADES A FULL MINT!!!!!

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BID IF YOU CHOSE TO GO FOR IT

GARRY