David Bowie : Diamond Dogs A-1 / B-1 1st Press (with Bewitched credit)

This first press plays with a clarity of sound that you so rarely find today and has obviously been hardly played.  The playback is stunning!  Yes there are a couple of light clicks and a little static at the start of S2 but that is really the only intrusion on an otherwise superb album!

This record has the 'Bewitched' credit on the S1 label.

The matt gatefold is in beautiful condition it is almost 'as new' and is easily the best I have ever seen.

APL1 0576 // ARL1-0576 A-1 oly / ARL1-0576 B-1 oly // A7H / A4AB - all hand etched

The audio on S1 is Mint- (track 4 intro VG+ due one second of interference! / track 6 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 1 intro Ex-)

The gatefold is Mint-

The inner is Ex

The S1 label is Near Mint and S2 Ex

Visual grading

This vinyl is visually stunning and has no obvious marking or scratches.  It shines with a beautiful glossy sheen and has not been played that often at all.  There is no groove wear and very little spindle wear.  Incredibly I cannot detect any hairlines and this is a stunning example of its kind, is it really 45 years old?!  The run out grooves are also in immaculate condition.

Play grading  

The lead in grooves on S1 are so clean with no static or crackle and the opening 'notes' on 'Future Legend' has no interference at all, not even a dust tick.  It continues in the same precise way and this one minute intro is Mint from start to finish.

I am delighted to say 'Diamond Dogs' is equal to that and plays with stunning depth and clarity.  There is no intrusion on the audio and I cannot put into words just how fantastic this version is!  The playback is 'high end' and one of my 'common' phrases - I know Mint when I hear it!  The music and vocals are so precise and there is no sign of any distortion either.  This is as good as it gets!

The long silence of the dead wax prior to 'Sweet Thing' is exactly that - totally silent with no 'background'.  The quiet intro is of the same immaculate standard as is Bowie's spoken intro.  The first verse is breathtaking and 'as new' is an honest appraisal.  The remainder is of the same wonderful quality, the music and vocals could not be any more impressive and the guitar solo at the end has no distortion at all.  Another Mint track in my opinion.

The segue into 'Candidate' is perfect but there is one click on the first line followed by one very soft tick.  This is maybe a tiny needle drop mark or a heat 'bump' it's difficult to tell!  There are certainly no scratches.  It's so small and took me over a minute to find it!  The remainder is without fault and that applies to the 'high octane' end section which has no distortion.  A stunning version apart from one second!

Again the segue into 'Sweet Thing (Reprise)' plays with superb precision and it carries on in the same way.  The vocals are so strong and the instrumental section has a great depth and power to it, such a powerful deep bass sound.  No interference either.  This is easily deserving of a Mint grading.

The iconic 'Rebel Rebel' intro is stunning as the vocal comes in there is no decrease in quality.  There is a little inner groove distortion as you get further into the track but this is vinyl and to be expected.  It remains a highly creditable version with no static or crackle and not one single click or pop.

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'Rock 'n' Roll With Me' has only a little static on the piano intro and by the time the vocal begins it has disappeared.  From then on it plays with superb audio and only a couple of light ticks but they are very much in the background.  Overall though it plays with great depth and power and the vast majority plays with incredible clarity.  An example of this is on the guitar end section which has no 'background' at all.

There is complete silence in the dead wax and then what follows is perhaps the most impressive version of 'We Are The Dead' I have ever heard on a first pressing.  There is one light click during the first verse but aside from that the clarity is absolutely stunning!  There are so many quiet sections and yet there is no irritating static and certainly no crackle and the louder end second does not disappoint either.  It is obvious the vinyl has been hardly played judging by the playback here and I cannot overstate how well it plays.  Wow!  There is impressive clarity and then there is clarity like this!  I will still grade as Near Mint due to the one light click but in all honesty 99% is 'as new'!

'1984' from start to finish plays with stunning precision and no interference.  Again I cannot believe the definition of the audio it could not play any better.  It is Mint without question and even the fade out plays beautifully.

The intro on 'Big Brother' is faultless and this impeccable audio continues as the vocal begins.  Without wishing to sound repetitive the entire track is faultless!  The clarity and sonic quality is of a vinyl pressed this year not 45 years ago!

The segue into 'Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family' is perfect and then plays with age defying clarity and depth.  I am confident in grading it as Mint which as anyone knows is so rare for any final track.  No distortion - no 'background' of any kind and again the fade out is 100% perfect.  What an ending to the album!

In summary it would be very difficult to find a first pressing playing with such clean and clinical audio like this.  Yes there are a couple of clicks but I have no hesitation in saying the majority of this album is 'as new' and as I said earlier it is patently obvious it has hardly ever seen a turntable.  The definition of the audio and the lack of spindle wear certainly suggests that.  A stunning album that any Bowie fan would be proud to own - a superb cover also.

The Cover

This matt cover is in fantastic condition!  I have never seen one so clean with such a complete lack of shelf wear.  Quite honestly there are no real negatives it is pristine!  There are only three tiny 'rubs' on the wide spine but aside from that the edges are in superb condition and the opening edge has no handling wear at all.  No obvious corner wear either.  The front and back cover are faultless and the inside is also in immaculate condition.  A stunning example of this iconic cover.

The Inner

The plain white inner has no side splits and only a small number of faint spots.  Light creasing also.

The Labels

The orange RCA labels have very little spindle wear although the S2 label does have four faint marks.  Apart from that they are in excellent order with no 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

APL1 0576 // ARL1-0576 A-1 oly / ARL1-0576 B-1 oly // A7H / A4AB - all hand etched

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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