Jethro Tull A PASSION PLAY UK LP 1ST COMPLETE NMINT

	£		25
	$		32

JETHRO TULL -A PASSION PLAY

IN MAGNIFICENT CONDITION

FIRST ISSUE

• CATALOGUE:CHRYSALIS CHR 1040
• MATRIX: CHR1040 A4 / B4
• FIRST PRESS MATRIX NUMBERS (NOTHING LOWER THAN THIS)
• MOTHERS/STAMPERS: 1 O / 1 A ( VERY EARLY FIRST PRESS)

THE RECORDS

THE LABELS

THE GREEN LABELS  ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, THE PASTEL  GREEN COLOUR DOES HAVE SOME BLOTCHES OF WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE GLUE RESIDUE FROM THE PRESS. I HAVE SSEN THIS MANY TIMES ON ALBUMS, AND WHILST IT IS CLEAR IT IS VISIBLE ON SIDE 2 IN PARTICULAR, WHILST ON SIDE ONE IT IS BARELY VISIBLE AS THERE ARE FAR LESS BLOTCHES. THE COLOUR FULLY STRETCHES INTO THE UNWORN SPINDLE HOLE. THE BLACK TYPEFACE IS ALSO CLEAR AND PERFECTLY LEGIBLE. A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE SPINDLE HOLE REVEALS JUST 2 TINY SPIDER LINES CLOSE TO THE HOLE, SHOWING JUST HOW LITTLE THIS LP HAS BEEN PLAYED, IN FACT NO MORE THAN A COUPLE OF TIMES SINCE NEW. THE A4/B4 MATRIX NUMBERS ARE THE LOWEST ON THIS ALBUM AND DENOTES IT AS A FIRST PRESS JULY 1973 RELEASE, AND THE 1A/1O MOTHERS AND STAMPERS INDICATE THE FIRST MOTHER PRESSING WITH THE 3RD AND 5TH STAMPER

THE VINYL

 THE VINYL HERE LOOKS MAGNIFICENT ON BOTH SIDES IN DAYLIGHT AND ONLY UNDER INTENSE ILLUMINATION CAN I SPOT SOME WISPY HAIRLINES.

PLAYING THE RECORD

I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON A FANTASTIC COLLECTIBLE VINYL, THAT YOU SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE BUYING. I HAVE THEREFORE INVESTED IN THE SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DO JUST THAT.

I HAVE RECORDED THE ENTIRE ALBUM FROM START TO FINISH AS I AM NOW DOING WITH ALL MY LISTINGS AS I AM CONVINCED THAT BIDDERS WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE RECORD BEFORE LAYING A BID. IT'S A SERVICE I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER MY CUSTOMERS.

THE FIRST THING TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE CLARITY OF REPRODUCTION IS SUPERB. THE CRYSTAL CLEAR INSTRUMENTATION AND VOCALS ARE PURE FIRST PRESS. THERE IS CERTAINLY NO GROOVE WEAR TO THIS RARE RECORDING WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SOME DISTORTION TO THE SOUND. THERE IS NONE. ISLAND/CRYSALIS  RECORDINGS HAVE LONG BEEN LAMBASTED FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF VINYL USED IN THEIR EARLY LP'S WHICH HAVE OFTEN RESULTED IN UNWANTED VINYL NOISE EVEN WHERE THERE ARE NO MARKS. HERE HOWEVER THE VINYL PLAYS MAGNIFICENTLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND APART THE BAREST TRACE OF VERY LIGHT VINYL NOISE IN THE QUIETEST OF PASSAGES.AND A FEW TINY DUST POPS THROUGH THE ENTIRE PLAY

THE STEREO REPRODUCTION IS JUST FANTASTIC, AND EVERY NOTE IS HEARD TO PERFECTION, BUT PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS GREAT VINYL AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF

I WOULD GRADE THIS ALBUM NEAR MINT

THE SLEEVE

UNLAMINATED GATEFOLD  SLEEVE COMPLETE WITH  BOOKLET

THE FRONT SURFACE IS CLEAN AND HAS NO MARKS OR STAINS ON IT WHATSOEVER. THERE ARE NO HEAVY CREASES NOR ARE THERE ANY CREASE LINES EITHER, AND EVEN THE TINY LINES THAT USUALLY FORM NEAR THE SPINE ARE RESTRICTED TO JUST THREE.

THE COLOURS REMAIN PERFECT AND UNRUBBED.

THE TOP EDGE IS PRISTINE AND FREE FROM ANY SHELF WEAR, WHILST THE BOTTOM EDGE HAS THE BAREST TRACE ( A COUPLE OF TINY RUBS TO THE BLACK EDGE)

THE SPINE IS UNWORN AND ALL OF THE BLACK TYPEFACE IS PERFECTLY LEGIBLE. IT IS ALSO PERFECTLY FLAT AND ALL OF THE COLOURS HAVE BEEN RETAINED

THE OPENING EDGE IS RAZOR SHARP AND UNBLEMISHED AND SHOWS WHY THIS LP HAS BARELY BEEN PLAYED

THE REAR SURFACE HAS A VERY DELICATE PASTEL PINK COLOUR WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT ORDER. THERE IS THE ABSOLUTE BAREST LIGHT SHADOW OF RECORD SHAPE, AND A COUPLE OF TINY BROWN SPOTS

OPENING THE GATEFOLD REVEALS TWO PASTEL PINK INNER PANELS WHICH ARE BOTH PRISTINE. EACH SIDE HAS A POP UP FLAP WHICH THE BOOKLET SLIDES INTO. ON THIS COPY THE RIGHT ONE HAS HAD THE PERFORATION OPENED SO THAT THE BOOK CAN SIT INSIDE, BUT THE LEFT ONE IS STILL ATTACHED AND HASN'T BEEN POPPED OPEN. NEVER SEEN ONE LIKE THAT BEFORE. IT CAN EASILY BE POPPED OPEN IF THE NEW OWNER SO DESIRES.

THE PROGRAMME BOOKLET WHICH IS OFTEN MISSING IS UNTORN AND UNMARKED, BUT DOES HAVE A CREASE LINE RUNNING DOWN FROM THE TOP EDGE TO THE LEFT SPINE

THE SLEEVE  GRADES NEAR MINT MINUS

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BID IF YOU CHOSE TO GO FOR IT

GARRY