This genuine first press plays to a fantastic standard and as always I have listened to every second so as to provide a 'complete' grading.  The clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio is stunning and it is practically Mint on both sides.  Two real highlights are the classics 'The Prophet's Song' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which both play with incredible precision from start to finish.  I'm not sure I've ever heard better not even on a later pressing!  'Love Of My Life' also plays with stunning clarity with just one light click but that really is the only intrusion across the entire album.  This truly is a spectacular first pressing!  A FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic you could say.

The embossed gatefold is in lovely condition with no obvious wear and has stayed very 'white' which is rare to see.  The original picture inner is also in superb shape with no splits!

As this is a genuine first press it has 2/2 matrix and Blair's is etched on the run out grooves as opposed to Mr. Blair's Cut which you find on later pressings.

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 and T5 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Ex+

The picture inner is Mint-

The labels are Near Mint

Visual grading

The vinyl is in excellent condition with a lovely glossy sheen and no scratches.  All I can locate under a strong light are some faint sleeve removal hairlines but as detailed they have no affect on the stunning audio.  This can only have been played on high end equipment judging by the audio and not too often I would say as there is only minimal spindle wear.  The matrix info can clearly be seen on the run out grooves and the iconic labels are also super clean with no marking or writing.

Play grading

The quiet piano intro on 'Death On Two Legs' plays with stunning clarity and as deep menacing audio comes in there is no let up in quality.  The rest of this opening instrumental again has no 'background' and the first verse and chorus are faultless.  It continues to play with impeccable audio and there is no interference at all not even a solitary dust tick.  This is as strong a version that you could wish for that has  lost none of its original menace or vitriol!  I am confident in grading this as Mint such is the sonic quality on offer here.

'Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon' is of the same 'high end' standard with no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  Just pure Mint audio from start to finish that provides further evidence of a vinyl that has been so well preserved down the years.

The classic 'I'm In Love With My Car' plays with genuine power and depth throughout with no interference.  The audio definition is up there with the best I have ever heard and there is no distortion on the top end.  Roger's voice has never sounded better!  A sensational Mint version.

The electric piano intro on 'You're My Best Friend' has no 'background' and from then plays with great clarity and precision.  I detected just one very light tick that you could easily miss it is so quiet.  So far this first pressing is playing with stunning audio and there are no negatives.  Let's say Mint- for this one.

It's not often the acoustic intro on '39' plays so clearly but it certainly does here.  With only a couple of dust ticks this is as close to perfect as is possible.  Brian's opening vocal is just as 'clean' and it progresses in the same exact way.  The mid vocal 'section' is 'as new' and this applies to the entire track if I'm honest.  Even the brief 'silent 'section near the end and the final acoustic note have no 'background'.  Another Mint track in every sense of the word.

'Sweet Lady' plays with exceptional power and depth from the first note to the last and again there is no distortion.  It may not be a fan favourite but it nonetheless plays with sublime quality with just one very dull sound right at the end.  Mint-

'Seaside Rendezvous' always has some inner groove distortion due to the way it was produced/recorded and it just a matter of how much.  I am pleased to say this version is very impressive with only very minimal distortion and of course there are no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  It does not deserve to be downgraded due to inherent production issues so Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.

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Rarely does the 'wind' / acoustic intro on 'The Prophet's Song' play as beautifully as this!  The clarity is outstanding and this continues into the first vocal.  Don't forget this vinyl is 50 in a couple of years!  The opening vocal sections are 'as new' and the sonic quality cannot be underestimated, the playback is phenomenal.  So far there has been zero intrusion!  The acapella 'Now I know/la la' section just has one tick at the beginning and a couple of barely audible dust ticks but again the audio is so 'clean'.  There is one mega light tick as Brian's classic 'sound' returns and the remainder then plays so powerfully with no interference.  The acoustic finish has only a couple of dust ticks and I am confident in grading this as Mint- it is a stunning version.

The intro on the timeless 'Love Of My Life' again so often has some 'background' but there is nothing intrusive here, the clarity is superb.  The first verse plays perfectly and there is just one light tick prior to the second.  From then on it plays with great precision and it is the overall clarity of sound that really stands out.  There is one light click during the instrumental passage before the final vocal but that is the only intrusion across the entire track.  It truly is a beautiful version and Near Mint has to be a fair grading.

'Good Company' once more plays with a clarity and definition that you could expect from a vinyl pressed yesterday not one of this age!  There is no interference and Mint is very much deserved.

The first verse on 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is fantastic!  I would go so far as to say it plays with 'as new' clarity and the next two verses are equally as impressive.  How often does this classic play as clearly as this on a genuine first pressing?!  This is audio of the highest calibre, I can find no fault, and Brian's solo more than keeps up the standard.  The 'operatic' section has no interference and again there is no distortion on the top end, the clarity is second to none. The iconic 'heavy section' plays with tremendous power and depth and of course no interference and the quiet end section ends this classic with amazing clarity.  This section again so often has some 'background' but not here!  I cannot overstate just how unbelievable this version is!  It has to be up there with the best I have ever heard as there is quite simply no interference of any kind.  A sensational Mint version for sure!

'God Save The Queen' ends the album with just one very light click near the beginning (might even be a tick!) and no other interference.  A Near Mint finish in my opinion.

In summary this album plays with superb audio on both sides with barely any intrusion and in the case of the classics 'The Prophet's Song' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' there is no interference, a rarity in itself.  There is only light click during 'Love Of My Life' but it still plays with outstanding clarity and warmth and S1 has no 'background' whatsoever.  Yes there are some light hairlines on the record but this just goes to show how superficial they are as they have no impact on the incredible quality of the audio.  I would say this is a FINAL UPGRADE first pressing as it would be virtually impossible to replicate sonic quality such as this.  In conjunction with a STUNNING cover this is an album that has been so well preserved down the years and I am sure the winning bidder will agree.

The Gatefold & Picture Inner

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