The Beatles : Abbey Road 2/1 1st Press (Misaligned Apple / No 'Her Majesty')

This first pressing plays to a standard that you so rarely find today.  The clarity and definition of the audio is stunning and there is not one single click or pop and no intrusive static either.  Any static that can be found is barely audible anyway, this really is a fantastic first pressing.  It's incredible to think it plays so well at over 50 years of age!

This is a FINAL UPGRADE album, a time warp classic i.e. you will not need to find another as the audio quality is that impressive.  The vinyl is also visually stunning with no marks or scratches.

As this is a genuine first press it has the 2/1 matrix, the 'misaligned apple' and no 'Her Majesty' credit on the S2 label or back cover.  The cover is also in beautiful condition and is one of the finest I have ever seen, it is STUNNING just like the audio!

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // MOD 9 / ARL 7

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint- (Track 2 & 4 Near Mint+)

The cover is Mint-

The labels are Near Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex+

  This vinyl has been so well cared for down the years and still has a beautiful mirror-like glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and I could only detect one very short barely visible hairline on S2.  There is some spindle wear on both sides but having been so well preserved down the years there is no loss of the original audio quality.  The run out grooves are very clean and the labels have no marking at all.

Play grading

The quiet bass heavy intro on 'Come Together' has no 'background' and as the first vocal comes this same clarity is still there.  From then on it plays with stunning definition and no interference at all.  With only a handful of barely audible dust ticks this is as close to audio perfection that you will find for this opening track.  The fade out plays with perfect precision and Mint- is an honest appraisal of the quality here.

'Something' also plays with a clarity that defies the age of this classic album and from start to finish there is only one faint static tick.  There are of course so many quiet sections and yet they all play to the same 'high end' standard.  Another Mint-track for sure.

'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' more than keeps up the immaculate standard and plays with sublime clarity and depth throughout.  There are no clicks, pops, static or crackle and Mint- is again easily deserved.  As I often say I listen to every track in full so as to provide a comprehensive grading, it's only fair :-)

'Oh ! Darling' again plays superbly and on the top end there is no distortion.  On such a clean vinyl the high quality production really shines through and nowhere is that more in evidence than on this stunning version.  With only a couple of mega quiet ticks (not clicks!) near the beginning this is Mint- in every way.

The quirky Octopus's Garden' is nigh on perfect apart from a couple of barely audible ticks.  I just write what I hear and I may only notice them because I sit so close to the speakers!  Wonderful clarity and depth throughout and grades in the same way as the previous tracks.

The intro on 'I Want You...' is strong and has no distortion.  The first vocal is faultless and the more it progresses the more you are impressed by the stunning playback.  The power and depth of the audio is outstanding!  Once again the bass is so much to the fore and with only one light tick the audio could hardly be any better.  The vocals are so 'clean' and the instrumental sections plays with great sonic quality.  The classic 'heavy' section is a dynamic example of that, it is stunning!  It is so powerful and with no distortion you can turn it up to 'loud' no problem.  Wow what a version!  To the end it plays 'as new' and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint- and is quite simply one of the strongest versions I have ever heard.  Wow again!!

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'Here Comes The Sun' has only very minimal light static on the intro and as the vocal begins the audio is back to its imperious best.  I am delighted to say it then proceeds to play beautifully and with such depth and warmth.  Aside from the intro (which is still very impressive!) this classic is 'as new' the clarity cannot be faulted.  As it is such a 'clean' vinyl the melodies play with superb precision and the bass is again so much in evidence here.  Mint-

'Because' has barely any static on the intro and it then plays to a fantastic standard with no interference.  There are a small number of mega light ticks but in no way are they intrusive and they are more like dust ticks really, like you would find on a new vinyl let alone one pressed 50 years ago!  It is such a 'clean' version but I will grade as Near Mint+ just to be safe :-)

The intro on 'You Never Give Me Your Money' has only a small number of very light ticks and the clarity remains very impressive.  No clicks or pops.  The first verse has no interference and as the volume increases the audio is flawless and maintains this standard to the very end.  The long fade out has no 'background' and this is easily a Mint- track.

The segue into 'Sun King' could not be any 'cleaner' and the quiet intro is almost as good with only a small number of light dust ticks.  There is just one light tick on the first verse and it then plays to perfection.  Near Mint+ without doubt.

'Mean Mr Mustard' is 'as new' from start to finish and that is no exaggeration.  'Polythene Pam' is of the same standard and the final track of this trio, 'She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' also plays with sublime quality.  All three grade as Mint and that is a true reflection of the audio and not me over-selling it :-)

The quiet intro on the classic 'Golden Slumbers' has hardly any static and the clarity is stunning.  The first chorus is flawless and the remainder does not disappoint either.  With only a handful of dust ticks this is a stunning version and Mint- is deserved.

'Carry That Weight' begins very strongly with no interference or distortion.  It continues to impress and again there are no clicks or pops.  The mid instrumental section plays with great depth, power and such strong bass - it provides a fantastic end to the track.  A 'high end' Mint- version and for once there is no obvious inner groove distortion which is a rarity.

The segue into 'The End' could not be any clearer and then plays with great clarity and only a couple of dust ticks.  There is always some inner groove distortion here but it is kept to an absolute minimum here and Mint- is fair.

The 'silent' section into 'Her Majesty' for once has no intrusive static or crackle and only a couple of dust ticks.  This acoustic track can only be described 'as new' such is the quality.  A Mint end to this classic album for sure.

In summary this genuine first press qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE album in my humble opinion i.e. no need to buy another!  The sonic quality on both sides is of a standard so rarely found today - there is not one single click and the clarity is just exceptional.  The vinyl is also visually perfect and together with a superb 'Misaligned' Apple cover this really is a stunning 'package'.

The Cover

This is as close to a perfect laminated G & L cover that you will find.  It has been so well cared for and I imagine in a protective sleeve for most of its life.  The edges and thin pinched spine are 'as new' and there is no obvious corner wear either which is so rare!  There is just one mega small crease bottom left.  The opening edge has no handling wear and only a couple of minor 'waves'.  The front cover is in beautiful condition with no laminate wear or marking at all and the back cover is equally as good and of course it has the 'misaligned' Apple logo.  Amazingly there are no laminate creases on either side.  This is without question one of the finest examples of this famous covers that I have ever seen and there are just no negatives.  I honestly think Mint- is a fair assessment of this stunning cover.

The Labels

The Apple labels are in lovely condition with no marking or writing and only some spindle wear as stated, not too much though.

The Inner Sleeve

This album either had a black or white inner sleeve and this one has the latter.  It is a plain white die-cut sleeve and has only a couple of faint marks.  There are no side splits and very little creasing.

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

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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