GENESIS THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY 1st UK PRESS & INSERT, SUPERB EX+ AUDIO

	£		150
	$		199

This is a true (2U/2U/2U/2U) first pressing of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway with very-hard-to-find Ex+ audio. The rarity of finding audio like this on a first press of this album should not be underestimated. To find all four sides playing at this consistently high standard throughout is almost unheard-of for a first pressing of Lamb Lies Down, and I think it would be very hard to find a copy which plays better.

It is complete with the mega-rare Gold Chase insert, only found in the earliest copies. The insert features a competition with a closing date of 1st January 1975, so was only included in the very first copies.

Released on 18th November 1974, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was the first Genesis album to be released after Charisma changed to the smaller Mad Hatter design on its labels, but still with a B&C Records credit. (From May 1975 the B&C credit was replaced with a Phonogram credit.)

The early covers too have a B&C credit (which was later removed and replaced with a Phonogram credit) and were printed by Bruin B.V. in Holland.

This is also complete with the first press inner sleeves which were made of card (not paper) and had a protruding edge on one side. The card inner with a protruding edge is unique to the first press covers so watch out for copies where they have been swapped.

The original pressing of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway had numerous sound-quality issues, including extraneous noise, pops and clips, and even some pressed skips, most notably at the start of ‘Back in N.Y.C.’, which is the reason why most so-called first pressings actually have a 3U matrix on side two. This is a true first pressing with all four sides having the first press 2U matrix numbers as follows:

Side 1: CG 1 A-2U          

Side 2: CG 1 B-2U          

Side 3: CG 2 A-2U          

Side 4: CG 2 B-2U

The quality issues mean that you simply cannot rely on a visual grading for this album. Even copies which look immaculate are likely to have some sound issues. I have played this copy in full (all four sides from start to finish) and am happy to report that not only does this copy NOT have the pressed skip in 'Back in N.Y.C.', the four sides are among the best sounding first pressings that I have ever heard for this album.          

There are very few spindle marks on the labels, suggesting that the vinyl was hardly ever played, and the playing surfaces show few signs of use. There are a couple of visible hairlines but they are inaudible. Having played all four sides in full, and encountered only the most minor of sound issues I would play-grade all four sides as Excellent Plus (Ex+). It isn't quite Near Mint (but then, copies of this album never are), but to find all four sides playing at this consistently high standard throughout is almost unheard-of for a first pressing of Lamb Lies Down, and I think it would be very hard to find a copy which plays better.

The cover shows only very light signs of age, with some minor marking near the spine, and a hint of ring-marking, but there is nothing significant anywhere and this is one of the best I've seen. The original inner sleeves are virtually unmarked and the rare insert looks like it's never been out of the sleeve. All-in-all I think that this would be a very hard copy to improve on.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these based on the UK Record Collector Grading System.