The Wall (1st Press)

This iconic album has audio of the most incredible standard that I have ever heard on a first pressing and is a final upgrade archive copy of that I have no doubt.  It is so rare to find a first pressing with an A1 matrix playing with such breathtaking quality.  There is also no spindle wear so the vinyls have perhaps never been played prior to my play testing.  The gatefold and lyric inners are also in stunning condition.

 SHSP 4111/2 // A-2U / B-3U / A-1U / B-2U

The audio on S1 is Mint

The audio on S2 is Mint-

The audio on S3 is Mint

The audio on S4 is Mint

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The lyric sleeves are Mint

The labels are Mint

These vinyls are in pristine, immaculate condition and I have never seen a cleaner more glossy looking first pressing.  They are visually stunning and have a superb jet black mirror like surface and look as new.  Only S2 has a couple of tiny hairlines but to all intents and purposes these vinyls appear Mint and play Mint!  I cannot detect any spindle wear so they have perhaps only been played once, twice or maybe not at all and the stunning playback as detailed below would certainly support this.

Play grading  

The super quiet intro on 'In The Flesh' on S1 has no 'background' at all, the playback is stunning.  I rarely grade as Mint but there is no other grading for this opening track as there is just no interference whatsoever.  The same goes for the quiet intro on 'The Thin Ice', the clarity is absolutely astounding.  Indeed every track on this side has audio of the same breathtaking quality.  The depth and warmth is sublime and audio such as this is so rarely heard on a first pressing.  I am not exaggerating in saying this side plays as Mint, like a recently pressed reissue but with much better sonic quality.  'Mother' is another classic example of this, a couple of mega faint dust ticks, but I am perhaps doing it an injustice by even mentioning that.  There are no clicks, no pops, no static or crackle on this side, just pure unadulterated music of the highest standard possible.  I don't mind saying I had 'goosebumps' listening to this being an audiophile myself.  I think my pulse was running just a little bit faster than usual!

'Goodbye Blue Sky' has a very minor amount of very light static at the start but soon disappears and then has audio that equals that of S1, just a handful of mega faint dust ticks.  The clarity is still first class.  'Empty Spaces' is Mint as simple as that, no 'background' at all.  'Young Lust' is the same but with a two light clicks literally right at the end on the telephone operator section.  'One Of My Turns' has wonderful clarity again with only a handful of very light dust ticks on the intro, they are not intrusive as they are just so much in the background.  Remember my 'play grading' is listening out for any imperfection however minor and I will always write what I hear.  In my opinion it is not interference.  The long very quiet intro on 'Don't Leave Me Now' is immaculate with no 'background' of any kind and the remainder has Mint audio also.  The remainder of the side plays to near perfection with 'Goodbye Cruel World' having a couple of static sounds only.

I'm running out of superlatives for this stunning album!  This is probably the best version of 'Hey You' I have ever heard on any pressing let alone one with an A1 matrix!  From the very first groove the depth of the sound is sublime and again there are no clicks etc.  This is audio of an immaculate standard.  I wish I had enough words but S3 plays with a precision and clarity you so rarely hear and the whole 'Is There Anybody Out There?' / 'Nobody Home' is just 100% perfect, the audio is unbelievable!  This side has so many quiet sections and yet they all play with the same spellbinding quality.  Wow!  This stunning audio is prevalent throughout and 'Comfortably Numb' ends the side with Mint quality once more.  No static, crackle, clicks or pops it is sheer poetry in motion!  The iconic guitar solo is incredible and has none of the distortion which you often find.  What a fantastic finale to S3!

There is no need to go into detail defining the qualities of S4.  Suffice to say that from the very first note it displays audio of the highest standard again and there is no 'background' of any kind.  An indicator of any vinyl is how well the quiet tracks play and I pleased to report that 'Stop' and 'Outside The Wall' eplay with stunning Mint audio with not even one dust tick let alone a click etc.  Absolutely superb.  I can calm down now!

In summary this is without doubt the cleanest and most impressive first pressing I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.  To say the vinyls etc have been well preserved is an understatement!  This is the ultimate final upgrade, archive copy if ever there was one.  I never say 'impossible to find one like this' etc but I will use the grading Mint when I think the vinyl deserves it.  My own grading guidelines are strict and whilst I know grading can often be a subjective process I do not over-grade as my feedback testifies.  The audio across all four sides is of such an impeccable standard that you so rarely hear, if ever, and it 'knocks spots' off the more recent reissues.  I can honestly say it plays better than any reissue with absolutely no intrusive interference whatsoever.  This is a stunning first press and I reiterate it is the best I have ever heard and I've heard a lot!    

The Gatefold

For a gatefold approaching 40 years old this is as good as it gets.  The edges and wide spine are in superlative condition and only the two right hand corners have any rubbing and it is only very very minor to say the least.  It is hardly noticeable.  This cover is obviously notoriously difficult to keep clean due to its 'white' nature but here the front cover is in great shape with only a couple of minor indentations and no marking.  The back cover is near perfect with only a handful of mega small blue print type marks and one small crease near the opening edge.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate.  The opening edges are in superb shape with no handling wear.

Being a first press the gatefold is cream coloured and has the misaligned bricks and no band members listed on the inside.  Overall this is a beautifully preserved gatefold, the likes of which are rarely seen and has none of the staining that is so often prevalent.

Lyric sleeves

They are both in impeccable condition with no wear and no splits or marking at all.  Two of the best I have ever seen.

The labels

They are in fantastic condition with no marking and I cannot detect any spindle wear.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

SHSP 4111/2 // A-2U / B-3U / A-1U / B-2U

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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Postage & Packaging

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