PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON A4/B3 SUPERB FINAL UPGRADE (COMPLETE) NM/MINT-
£
185
$
245
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Description
Pink Floyd : The Dark Side Of The Moon A4/B3 + Posters & Stickers
This is without question one of the finest 'Dark Sides...' I have ever played and as described below it is easily in my top 3! The clarity, depth and power of the audio is sublime and this only results from a vinyl that has been so well preserved down the years and hardly played. The sonic quality is phenomenal there are just so many highlights! 'Great Gig', 'Brain Damage' and 'Eclipse' in a way stand out more as they so often play with some interference but that is not the case here, they all play with amazing clarity throughout. In fact there is no interference across the entire album! There is just a hint of light static at the start of 'Us And Them' but it does not last long. A relatively early pressing it is visually stunning also and a full grading is given below.
The iconic cover is in excellent condition with not very much shelf wear and it comes complete with the posters and stickers. I'm sure the former are original but I'm not sure if the stickers are if I'm honest. They are all in superb condition.
SHVL 804 // A-4 / B-3 // A 1 / RGO 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 intro Ex+ for a few seconds)
The gatefold is a very strong Ex-
The posters and stickers are Near Mint
The labels are Mint-
The inner is Ex+
Visual grading
As you would expect with a vinyl that plays with stunning quality it is also visually in superb condition with an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen. There are no marks or scratches and only a handful of very faint sleeve removal hairlines that are not easy to find! The run out grooves are super clean with no marks and the iconic labels are more or less perfect with only very minimal spindle wear.
Play grading
The 'heartbeat' intro on 'Speak To Me' is one of the cleanest I have heard in a long time. There is only the lightest of background static at the beginning and there are no clicks or pops. The actual heartbeat reverberates with great depth around the room and this is easily a Near Mint start to the album.
The segue into 'Breathe' is perfect and the opening instrumental is just as impressive. The first verse has only a couple of barely audible ticks (so quiet!) and the second verse then plays with sublime precision throughout. Mint-
'On The Run' is exceptional from start to finish with no interference at all. The clarity and definition of the audio is symptomatic of a vinyl that has hardly been played and the 'crash' at the end is a case in point. It is so powerful with no distortion and the 'running man' section is just unbelievable! There is just no 'background' and you hear things you often miss on other well played pressings. Every breath and you can easily 'pick up' each step as he runs into the distance. I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint it is that good.
The clock intro on 'Time' has no interference and I only detected a very small number of dust ticks on the metronome / instrumental section that follows. The opening two verses are faultless and Gilmour's iconic solo is as precise and powerful as you would want it to be. The final vocal section again plays with stunning accuracy and Mint- is an honest assessment of the audio.
'Breathe Reprise' is 'as new' with no sign of any interference. Mint
The quiet piano intro on 'The Great Gig In The Sky' plays beautifully with no intrusion (how rare is that!) and the 'spoken' section is of the same standard also. The first 'vocal' is so powerful and the depth of the audio cannot be faulted. It continues to play with a sonic quality that is second to none and the 'high octane' section is just phenomenal with no distortion on the top end. The 'quieter' final section leaves you shaking your head in disbelief at the clarity on offer here. Needless to say there are no ticks, clicks or pops and this truly is audio of the highest calibre where each vocal and musical note can be heard so clearly. It is perhaps even too harsh to say there are a small number of barely audible dust ticks. This is a STUNNING version of this classic and undoubtedly one of the finest I have ever heard. Even the long final note / fade out has no 'background'. I will grade as Mint- although I am sure many would grade higher!
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The 'cash register' intro on 'Money' has no interference and that first familiar classic bass riff is just as good. The opening two verses play with perfect clarity and the iconic instrumental section, starting with the sax solo, is stunning! Every section is 'as new' with a sound that is so dynamic and deep. This is one of those 'turn it up to max with no fear no fear of distortion' moments! Gilmour's solos are again mind-blowing! The last verse and the 'spoken' end section have no 'background' and this again deserves a Mint grading.
There is some very light static as you go into the 'Us And Them' intro but once the actual music starts you can barely hear any static. The playback is so 'clean' and as the sax comes in the audio is more or less perfect as if the first verse. The chorus then plays with incredible depth and power and it continues in the same precise way with no interference. The vocal and instrumental sections play with sublime clarity and this is relatively rare as this track often plays with static throughout I find. Yes a minimal amount right at the beginning but as stated it is so quiet - I will grade the intro as Ex+ but the remainder is Mint- as there is no intrusion at all.
'Any Colour You Like' then plays with wonderful clarity, definition and power and...no interference. No surprise I guess on such a clean vinyl and there is not even a single dust tick let alone anything worse. Mint
The intro on 'Brain Damage' is 'as new' and the opening two verses also play with sensational precision. 'As new' is no exaggeration believe me! As the volume increases there is no let up in quality and the sonic quality is so impressive. It proceeds in the same precise way - audio does not get any better than this! By now this album often has some inner groove distortion but that is not the case here, another sign it has only been very infrequently played. This is MINT in every single way! What a version!
Another perfect segue into 'Eclipse' which then plays with breathtaking quality. I cannot put into words how incredible this version is - I often get a little over-enthused when I hear such sonic quality but I can be forgiven! This is quite simply Mint on every level with a power and definition that is outstanding. Once more there is no distortion and even the super quiet 'heartbeat' ending plays with incredible clarity. I'm not sure I've ever heard a Mint version of this classic but we certainly have one here!
In summary this very early pressing plays with STUNNING quality on both sides with a clarity and definition that is 'shop fresh' you could say. It has to be a FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic with not one click or pop. Ok a modicum of very light static at the beginning of 'Us And Them' but it does not last long and as for the rest of the album? Simply awesome! This explains in so many ways why we listen to vinyl - the depth and warmth of the audio cannot be replicated by any other medium. I cannot put into numbers how many 'Dark Sides...' I have listened to over the years but this is easily in my top 3 and when you consider it is an A4/B3 pressing well that makes it even more impressive in a way. I almost want to keep it but I am sure the winning bidder will have this as pride of place in their collection. What an album!
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The black cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear. The top edges have barely any rubbing but there is more on bottom edges but certainly no damage. The spine is super clean with hardly any corner wear and the right hand corners again have only minimal wear. The opening edge is pristine and looks untouched. The front cover is very clean with only a couple of faint 'lines', a small corner crease bottom left and another small crease near the right hand edge. The back cover has only minimal fading/ringwear and a couple of minor creases. The inside of the gatefold is in excellent shape with only very little fading around a couple of edges and 3/4 very small white marks. A very commendable cover overall and not in poor condition like so many.
The original plain white die-cut inner is in great condition with no side splits, tears or marking and only very minimal creasing. It has 'Patent No. 1,125,555' and 'Made in Great Britain' printed on one side.
The Posters & Stickers
The posters are in superb shape with no marking or tears and the stickers are also in fine condition with no marking or creasing. I'm not sure if they are the original ones to this pressing as they have red PERMANENT lettering on the back.
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
SHVL 804 // A-4 / B-3 // A 1 / RGO 1
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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Postage & Packaging
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