Queen : A Night At The Opera 2/2 1st Press

This first press plays with stunning clarity and definition and with only minimal interference on S2.  The sonic quality throughout is of the highest quality and there is no static or crackle to be heard.

As per the first pressings it has Blair's etched into the run out grooves as opposed to Mr Blair's Cut.

The gatefold is stunning and easily one of the best I have ever seen!  They are hardly ever seen this clean!  It is in beautiful condition and the original inner has no splits either which is so rare!

This album was on auction in February but I had to end the listing as the wrong matrix numbers were on there.

Please wait for the invoice before making payment thank you.

EMTC 103 3601 // YAX 5063 - 2 / YAX 5064 - 2 // GAP 1 / GPR 5

The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 2 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / T2 Near Mint- / T4 Ex++)

The gatefold is Near Mint

The lyric inner is Near Mint

The labels are Near Mint

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has an incredible glossy sheen and no marks or scratches.  S1 in particular is stunning, it is super clean and that is reflected in the 'as new' quality of the audio.  S2 is also extremely clean but does have three/four hairlines of which a couple are just a little more obvious, still very faint though as they are only haiirlines.  The run out grooves and labels are in great shape with no marking and there is not too much spindle wear either.

Play grading

The piano intro on 'Death On Two Legs' has no 'background' and for the opening few grooves to play so 'cleanly' is a rarity on a first pressing.  As the 'music' builds the quality remains and as the vocal comes in the playback could not be any better.  This is such an impressive opening track!  It is difficult sometimes to put into words the true audio experience i.e. the level of clarity and the definition of the audio.  This is clearly a record that has not been overplayed and there is no groove wear at all.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound and you can hear each note with perfect precision.  There is NO interference whatsoever!  This is an immaculate version that grades as Mint it is that good!

'Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon' is so near perfect aside from one light click on the third line.  I will grade as Near Mint- as there is no other 'background', not even a dust tick.

'I'm In Love With My Car' is 'as new' from start to finish.  The clarity and power of this classic is phenomenal and there is just nothing to fault.  This is Mint in every sense of the word.  I have honestly never heard it play with such incredible precision.

'You're My Best Friend' I am pleased to say is of the same 'high end' standard with no sign of any interference.  This is audio of the highest quality and I am already running out of superlatives!  The super clean fade out gives you idea of the fantastic clarity on offer here and I am confident in grading this as Mint once more.

With complete silence in the dead wax '39' is of the same quality with not so much as a dust tick.  This is beautiful version of this acoustic number and Mint is a fair reflection of the stunning audio.  It basically plays as well as you would want it to and it is no exaggeration to say this is as 'clean' as the day when first released in '75!

'Sweet Lady' is loud and true from the first note to the last with no interference in between!  It has no distortion which is rare for this 'rocker'.  The power and depth of the audio is again out of this world and that mega heavy section at the end is just so strong, never heard better.  A sublime version, you know the grade! 

'Seaside Rendezvous' as any Queen fan will know always has some inner groove distortion on the first/early pressings and it is just a matter of how much.  It is kept to a minimum here and plays so well.  It is certainly one of the 'cleanest' versions I have heard in a long time and...there are no clicks or pops and no static or crackle.  It ends this incredible side with Mint- audio I am delighted to say.  What a side!   

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The very quiet 'wind/acoustic' intro on 'The Prophet's Song' pays testament to how well this record has been looked after and plays with stunning precision and no 'background'.  As the vocal comes in there is no decrease in quality and it continues to play faultlessly.  The audio is so strong and deep and there is no distortion at all during the 'heavier' sections.  The 'acapella' section is nigh on perfect aside from one click near the end and that is the only intrusion across the entire track!  The sonic quality is so impressive and the closing verses are 'as new' and that is no exaggeration.  The playback is so powerful and the quiet acoustic section just has a small number of mega light dust ticks.  This would be Mint- but for that one click so I think a Near Mint- grade is an honest assessment of the 'high end' audio on offer here.

The intro on 'Love Of My Life' is as close to perfect as could be.  With only a couple of barely audible dust ticks the playback is so incredibly 'clean' and this standard is maintained during the first verse.  So often this classic has some static or crackle or worse (!) but there is none of that in evidence here and from start to finish this easily grades as Near Mint although I am sure many would grade higher!  There are a small number of light static ticks during the instrumental section near the end but in no way can they be classified as clicks.  They are non-intrusive and the final verse plays beautifully.  A fantastic version that plays with great clarity.  Just one click in the dead wax after the song finishes!

'Good Company' plays with superb Mint precision from start to finish with no sign of any interference.

The opening section on 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is again so 'clean' with no intrusive 'background' whatsoever and it provides a stunning start.  The second verse does have one pop on the 'life has just begun' line although I cannot see what is causing it, a pressing fault perhaps.  Aside from that this verse plays without fault and it continues in the same exact way.  The 'operatic' section is so strong apart from one click and the 'rock' section then plays with real power and depth and no interference or distortion at all.  The closing section is breathtaking!  Again there is no 'background' and it brings this all time classic to a very satisfying end.  This is difficult to grade because the vast majority plays with Mint- quality but then there are those two clicks.  I would say Ex++ is perhaps a fair grading.  

'God Save The Queen' ends the album with Mint audio as there is no interference of any kind.

In summary this genuine first pressing plays with stunning clarity and definition for 99% of it!  S1 could well be the most impressive I have ever heard and whilst S2 does have three clicks the remainder plays with wonderful precision and no underlying static or crackle.  There is so much to admire about this first press and the original embossed gatefold is absolutely stunning!

The Gatefold

One of the most stunning examples I have seen this G&L cover is in superb condition with no real wear.  The edges have no rubbing and the spine is in perfect order.  Only the bottom two corners have a minor amount of wear/crease - very minor!  The other corners are mega clean with no rubbing and the opening edge also looks untouched.  The front cover is brilliant white and rarely have I seen one this clean!  It has no staining with just one mega small 'speck' and the back cover is also in fantastic shape with no marking etc.  The inside is in immaculate condition - a wonderful first press embossed for certain.

The Picture Inner

The original inner with the three cut corners provides another example of an album so well cared for.  For once it has no split on the bottom edge (how rare is that!) and it remains perfectly clean with no marking or creasing.

The Labels

They are beautifully clean with no marking or writing, just some spindle wear as stated.  

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

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

EMTC 103 3601 // YAX 5063 - 2 / YAX 5064 - 2 // GAP 1 / GPR 5

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

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