Unreleased Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells CLARITY LP Test Pressing

$

634

SS: Still Sealed
Label: Virgin
Catalog Number: VS 2001

ULTRA RARE! HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE!

This auction is for a STILL SEALED, NUMBERED ( 1 of 1 ) LP Test Pressing of the Classic Records 200gram planned, but never released reissue of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" pressed on CLARITY Vinyl. Test pressings are highly collectible and are from the first stamper. Approximately less than 20 exist depending on each title. Test pressings reflect the closest you can get to the lacquers and hence have a special collectible value and store of value.

This test pressing was done in advance of the anticipated release off a Clarity Vinyl version of this title, which never transpired. Only this known test pressing exists making this an exceptional collectible. In addition to the collectibility of this pressing, the sound quality is superior to the black vinyl versions of the Classic Reissue in trims of detail, high and low frequency definition and overall musicality.

A quintessential ‘studio production’ in pop music lore, Mike Oldfield conceived an eclectic mix of both standard and odd instruments, along with classical and rock elements, to achieve a steadily building, layered texture, totally unheard of at the time. After being shopped and rejected at other labels, Richard Branson chose it as the first release for his Virgin Records in 1972. Originally tagged with the working title Opus 1, Oldfield, who had been playing and recording professional since his teens, oversaw the entire production and played most of the parts himself, eventually layering over thirty different instruments and sounds. Listeners had fun trying to identify each and remember the order they appeared, as the late Vivian Stanshall (Bonzo Dog Band) ceremoniously announced each as it joined the mix. The original LP eventually sold over 16 million copies and topped the UK charts for weeks. The eerie opening section was famously featured in the soundtrack to the motion-picture The Exorcist, winning the Grammy in 1974 for Best Instrumental Composition. The original master tapes were used to cut both the original issue and this reissue making the original issue hard to best.

Background on Clarity Vinyl Pressings
In 2008, Classic discovered that demagnetizing black vinyl records leads to better sound in playback.  The engineers at Furutech in Japan, makers of a commercial record demag machine, explained that the carbon black that was added to PVC record pellets contained trace metal that became randomly magnetized and while spinning below an electro-mechanical transducer (phono cartridge) caused electrical distortion inside a cartridge during LP playback.  Hence, demagnetizing a black vinyl record dramatically reduces the electrical distortion and leads to more "Clarity" in playback.  Michael Hobson, founder of Classic Records reasoned that if the carbon black were removed then the result should be more Clarity in playback.  Working closely with the PVC manufacturer Kenan, Classic developed its own proprietary "Clarity Vinyl" devoid of the problems with trace magnetic particles contained in black vinyl formulas.  Clarity Vinyl represents the ultimate in vinyl formulations because it is comprised of over 90% percentage of the highest quality co-polymer available - a key component in vinyl pellets used for manufacturing vinyl records.  Further, Clarity Vinyl has no carbon black additive, common in vinyl formulas for LP’s.  Carbon Black contains trace metals that become magnetized and cause “electrical distortions” in cartridges during playback that smears the sound. By taking out the Carbon Black, Classic Records is able to dramatically reduce the “electrical distortions” and thus bring more “Clarity” to the playback process, providing a more realistic musical experience to the listener and LP enthusiast.A Clarity vinyl pressing on a flat profile die is the absolute ultimate pressing possible and even a step above the JVC UHQR black vinyl pressings.  Not to be missed - you can hear the difference!

Good luck!
 
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