QUEEN II (4U/4U 1st Pressing)

This first pressing plays to a fantastic standard and having played every second of this classic album I can vouch for its stunning quality.  The clarity and depth of the audio is equal to that of a hardly played vinyl and it also has a stunning visual 'look' also.  With only very minimal light static this qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE album in my opinion i.e. no need to buy another in order to get 'better' sound!

The cover is a stunning example of its type and rarely will you see one as 'clean' as this, it is practically 'as new'!  The original lyric inner is also in superb shape with no marking (rare!) and just one small side split.

EMA 797 // YAX 4?7?3?6? 4735 - 4U / YAX 4?7?3?5 4736 - 4U // GRO 3 / GGP 4

The audio on S1 is Mint- ('Procession' Near Mint / 'White Queen' ranges between Ex and Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (Track 1 intro Ex+ / T4 Near Mint)

The cover is Near Mint

The lyric inner is Ex+

The labels are Mint

 Visual grading

This is one of the most visually stunning 4U/4U pressings I have ever seen.  There are no marks or scratches and retains a jet-black glossy sheen.  There is only one faint spindle trace on each label and this plus the visual and audio quality leads me to believe it has hardly been played over the last 46 years.  I can only detect a very small number of faint sleeve removal hairlines and believe me when I say they are not easy to find!  The run out grooves and labels are also in superb order.

Play grading

For once the quiet percussive intro on 'Procession' plays so well with barely any static and the remainder is very close to playing with perfect clarity.  With only the bare minimum of mega light static (hardly worth a mention) this a stunning Near Mint start to this classic album.  I am sure some would grade higher it is that good.

The segue into 'Father To Son' is perfect and the first verse then plays superbly with no 'background'.  From then on it plays with wonderful clarity and there are no clicks or pops at all.  As the volume really picks up the playback is so strong and the 'heavy' section just demands to be played loud!  It is stunning and has no interference or distortion at all.  I had to play it again it is just so good!  It is so powerful and you would have to search far and wide to find better!  The brief quiet section then has only the lightest of non-intrusive static and the rest of this classic track plays without fault.  This is such a dynamic version and the depth of the audio is so impressive.  The long fade out has no real 'background' and I am confident in grading this as Mint- it is a superb version.

The acoustic intro on 'White Queen' has some light static but when doesn't it?!  In saying that this is one of 'cleanest' intros I have heard in a long time.  Not perfect but the clarity is very impressive considering how it generally plays.  In all my years of selling I have never found a near mint / mint version of this track but this is certainly one of the best and the vast majority is stunning.  There are no clicks or pops either which makes a change.  The music and first vocal can still be heard very clearly and once the 'On such a breathless night as this...' verse begins the audio is very 'clean' with only lightest of non-intrusive static, the playback is superb.  As it gets louder the audio is so strong and the first 'chorus' is flawless.  Thereafter there is much to admire and the second verse is super clean with no obvious 'background'.  The instrumental section has a small number of very light ticks but as they are so quiet they they are not intrusive and again as the volume increases the audio is absolutely stunning!  The clarity and depth here is so good and the final quiet end section plays so well with only minimal light 'background'.  As I said there are no clicks or pops and with only a little static here and there I would say this classic ranges between Ex and Mint- which is very impressive in my educated opinion.  I repeat this is easily one of best examples I have heard on a genuine 4U/4U first pressing.

No such problem in grading 'Some Day One Day' as the clarity and definition of the audio is sublime from start to finish.  There is no interference and even the long fade out plays with great precision.  Mint in every way.

The underrated 'Loser In The End' is also superb from the first note to the last.  It plays with such sharp definition and there really are no negatives.  A powerhouse of a track with barely any inner groove distortion this is Mint- without a doubt.  

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The slow build up on 'Ogre Battle' plays exceptionally well with only the lightest of background static and then the first 'heavy' section is 'as new'.  The remainder is Mint there is no other way to describe it!  The power and definition is awesome and there is no interference at all.  The audio is so strong and deep and has clearly not been over-played - there is no groove wear and the playback is just sensational.

'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' is of the same immaculate standard with no sign of any interference.  It is Mint from start to finish.

The segue into 'Nevermore' is perfect and the two verses then play beautifully with only a very minimal touch of background static.  I am just being 100% complete in my appraisal - it can barely be heard and this deserving of a Mint- grade the playback is stunning.

The quiet intro on 'The March Of The Black Queen' again has only very light background static and as the vocal begins the audio cannot be faulted.  It continues in the same manner with wonderful clarity and power.  No clicks or pops - the audio can easily be described 'as new' once more.  There is no distortion on the top end and nowhere is that more obvious than on the section prior to the quieter verse.  This 'A voice from behind me...' section then plays with stunning clarity and barely any static, it's not often this passage plays so well!  From then on the audio is so 'clean' and powerful and the final brief quiet section has only a modicum of light static.  The final verse ends this classic with faultless precision.  I think Near Mint is a fair refection of the audio here.  Yes the majority is better than that but with just a minor hint of static in a couple of sections this grade is correct I believe.

'Funny How Love Is' is superb from the first groove to the last.  There is no distortion and the clarity is exceptional which is a rarity for this track.  The long fade out has no 'background' aside from one light click which is right at the very end so as the music has finished I am happy to call this Mint-

'Seven Seas Of Rhye...' ends the album with superb audio and...no interference.  There is no inner groove distortion again showing just how infrequently this record has been played.  It is a stunning version and worthy of a Mint- grade for sure.  Even the seaside 'singalong' plays with great clarity!

In summary this FINAL UPGRADE first pressing plays with wonderful quality on both sides which is hardly surprising in a way as it is such a 'clean' vinyl and has hardly been played since first purchased in '74.  I have given a thorough grading of 'White Queen' and whilst it has a little static it is only minor and has a lot less than almost all other first pressings I have heard.  As I said it always has some 'background' but it is for this reasoning that I can still confidently deem this as a FINAL UPGRADE pressing.  The warmth, clarity, depth and power of the audio is so impressive and the fact that there is no distortion either is such a rarity.  Plus no clicks or pops!  With a fantastic cover and super clean lyric inner this is a stunning 'package' for certain!

The Gatefold

 The laminated G & L gatefold is in superb condition with hardly any shelf wear.  The edges and spine are in perfect shape with no rubbing and the corners are almost as good.  I would say only one corner of the opening edge has a small amount of wear but even then it is very minor.  The opening edge itself has no handling wear at all.  The front cover is stunning it could not be better!  It remains so glossy with no marking and the and the back cover is almost as good with only one tiny corner crease.  The inside of the cover has no marking or staining (a rarity!) and the colours are still very strong and vivid.   The inner spine has no laminate splitting which is rare for this cover.  It sort of confirms that it has not often been opened.  A stunning example of a first press cover, it doesn't get much better than this!

The Lyric Inner

This has the four cut corners that only came with the first pressings and is so clean with no real marking - just one very faint mark top left on S1.  There is one small side split but it is a very 'clean' and not at all obvious.  It also has hardly any creasing, a fine example.

The Labels

The EMI labels are practically 'as new' with only one very small faint spindle trace on each and no marking or writing.

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

EMA 797 // YAX 4?7?3?6? 4735 - 4U / YAX 4?7?3?5 4736 - 4U // GRO 3 / GGP 4

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 SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

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COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN 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.

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LPs/12" singles : £5.75 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

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7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Standard)  

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7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

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