Queen : Innuendo 1st Press A2 / B2

This first pressing from 1991 is a FINAL UPGRADE album of that I have no doubt.  It plays 'as new' aside from one very minor tick/click on S1 and the clarity, depth and power of the audio is equal to that of an un-played vinyl!  There is actually quite a lot of vinyl 'flecking' around the S1 spindle hole which you only find on a record that has hardly been played, if at all!

When I purchased this vinyl it was still contained within a poly-lined inner inside the lyric sleeve which has helped preserve it so well over the last 29 years and that is reflected in the STUNNING audio!  All of the quieter sections play with perfect clarity and that is such a rarity for this album.  This is one of the finest first pressings I have ever heard! 

The cover is also in fantastic condition with no shelf wear and remains beautifully white - how rare is that?!  The lyric inner is also in superb condition with no side splits.  This is a time warp classic!

PCSD 215 // A - 2U / B - 2U

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (Track 1 Near Mint+)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover Mint-

The lyric inner is Mint-

The labels are Mint

This is one stunning vinyl!  It has a lovely jet-black glossy sheen and there are no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I cannot find any hairlines either!  There are only a couple of very minor 'fade' areas on S2 caused by the record being inside the sleeve for so long but this obviously has no affect on the audio.  There is just one very small spindle trace on the S2 label and some vinyl 'flecks' around the S1 centre hole something you only find on a record that has hardly been played.  The run out grooves and labels are super clean with no marking.

Play grading  

The 'percussive' intro on 'Innuendo' plays with stunning precision and as the vocal begins the quality is equally as good.  There is one light click a little further in on the 'Just passing our time...' line but due to the power and volume of the music it is easily missed and non-intrusive in my opinion.  From then on the audio is 'as new' and it would be difficult to find a better version.  The quiet opening on the Spanish guitar section plays beautifully with no dust ticks, static or crackle and I cannot overstate how rare that is!  So often this section is affected by some 'background' but not here!  This provides another example of a vinyl hardly played and so well preserved down the years.  The remainder of this classic track is faultless and even the long final note has no interference.  There may the one tick/click near the start but I am more than happy to grade this as Near Mint+ it really is a sublime version and 99% is Mint for sure!

'I'm Going Slightly Mad' plays with great definition from start to finish and there is no sign of any interference.  This is an outstanding Mint version, no more needs to be said :-)

'Headlong' is of the same 'high end' standard and plays with stunning power and depth throughout.  There is such depth to the music here - each note can be heard perfectly i.e. there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and the clarity could not be improved.  It's as if the record has never been played and Mint is an easy grade to give.

'I Can't Live With You' again plays as per an un-played vinyl!  The clarity is breathtaking and I am already running out of suitable superlatives in which to describe this album!  There is no interference unless you count a couple of mega light ticks right at the end of the fade out but will grade as Mint- just to be cautious!

'Ride The Wild Wind' ends the side with perfect Mint audio.  With no interference and such deep rich audio this is a fantastic example of this Taylor track.  There is no distortion and the fade out plays with stunning precision also.

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From the very first note 'All God's People' plays with great clarity and power.  The first 'quiet' section is nigh on perfect with only a couple of mega light dust ticks and from that point on the audio is STUNNING!  It may not be everyone's favourite track but there is no denying the quality here.  Every section plays so well and the 'gospel' sections in particular are so strong and dynamic, I'm not sure I've ever heard better.  And...yet another perfect fade out.  Mint all the way.

I am delighted to say the emotive classic 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' is of the same standard.  This is one track you want to play and it does not disappoint!  The clarity is exceptional and this truly is a beautiful version from the first note to the fade out.  It's rare to find a Mint version but we have one here!  I grade honestly and accurately as my regulars know and you just could not find a more complete example of this track.  In a word...stunning.

The quirky 'Delilah' plays with a clarity that you only find on a barely played vinyl.  No need to over elaborate here, this is Mint with not even a single dust tick.

'Don't Try So Hard' is a track where you often find some interference and yet the clarity here is incredible.  The opening quiet verse is 'as new' with no 'background' and it continues to play with immaculate audio.  You don't need me to tell you how rare it is to find this underrated track playing with such quality - I am just amazed by the sonic quality on offer here!  There is no intrusion on the audio whatsoever, not one dust tick even, and MINT is easily deserved.  Even the super quiet end section and fade out have no 'background' - what a version!

'The Hitman' is of the same standard and plays with immense power and depth throughout.  Loud and true with no distortion this is Mint 'as new' audio.

The delicate 'Bijou' plays with great precision and, you guessed it, no interference.  Again this is a track that often has some 'background' but this is pure Mint audio with not even a dust tick.  It's incredible to think this record is nearly 30 years old?!

'The Show Must Go On' ends this fine album with 'high end' audio I am pleased to say.  An absolute classic it plays with stunning power and clarity all the way through with no interference and no distortion which is a rarity for this first pressing.  This has to be one of the strongest versions of this classic that I have ever heard - I cannot stress enough just how fantastic it is - I turned it up to full blast and the sound just encompassed the entire room.  This is an immaculate 'high end' version the likes of which are rarely heard today and even the quiet 'Go on...' end section plays with wonderful precision.  This is again rare as so often the final grooves here have some static etc.  Not here!  This is a Mint finish to this stunning album and wow what a finish!

In summary this first pressing is without doubt one of the finest examples I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.  It has been so well preserved over the last 29 years as has the cover which is also in beautiful condition.  This has only been played once, perhaps twice at most and that is reflected in the clarity and definition of the audio.  With only one minor tick/click on S1, which as I said is easily missed, the playback is stunning.  90s vinyl was not renown for its quality and on this particular record you often find the quieter sections have some static or worse (!) but that is not the case here.  They all play with breathtaking quality - how often do '...Days Of Our Lives', 'Don't Try So Hard' and 'Bijou' grade as Mint - well they do here!  This is a FINAL UPGRADE album for sure and any avid collector would be so impressed by every aspect of this first pressing.

The Cover

This cover is a time warp classic!  It must have been kept inside a pvc sleeve such is the quality.  Of course it is so 'white' and yet it has retained its original colour perfectly with no marking or staining.  I am confident in saying this cover is practically 'as new' in fact it would not look out of place in a record shop!  The edges and spine have no rubbing and there is no corner wear either - all you can see is just one barely visible crease top right, a common feature anyway.  The opening edge is also nigh on perfect with no handling wear just a couple of minor 'dings' that are hardly worth a mention they are so small.  As I say the front cover is so 'clean' with no marking and the original sticker is still firmly attached.  The back cover is also in pristine condition and when you hold the cover you can tell it has hardly ever been handled as it is still so strong and robust with no creasing or bends.  A fantastic example and I hardly ever say this but it would be extremely difficult to find one as stunning as this!

The Lyric Inner

The glossy lyric inner is immaculate with no side splits or marking.  There is just one very small rub on one side but is nowhere near a split, it can hardly be seen really.

The Labels

They are in superb condition with only one very faint spindle trace on the S2 label.  They have no marking or writing and as stated there is still a fair amount of vinyl 'flecking' around the S1 centre hole confirming that it has hardly ever been on a turntable.

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

PCSD 115 // A - 2U / B - 2U

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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