Queen I (3U/3U)

This genuine first pressing has been very well preserved and has only been played a handful of times judging by the visual quality and the vinyl flecks that can still be seen around the spindle hole!  I have fully play tested the record and I confirm the audio is of a superb standard overall with very little interference.

As can be seen this 3U/3U record has only two stampers on each side meaning that it is certainly one of the earlier first pressings.

EMC 3006 // YAX 4623 - 3U / YAX 4624 - 3U // MG 1 KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY / AA 1 AGAIN!

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 2 Ex- in a couple of brief sections)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the vast majority / track 2 Ex+ to Near Mint)

The cover is VG+

The original inner sleeve is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

Visual grading

The spindle hole can you believe still has some vinyl flecking visible on the S1 label showing that this record has only been lightly played down the years and indeed there is very little spindle wear.  S1 is very clean with only one band of faint hairlines and a couple of others but if anything S2 is even cleaner with only 2/3 very faint hairlines.  There are a couple of minor 'specks' on each side but they have no affect on the audio and this is a very impressive looking 3U/3U first press.  It retains a very healthy glossy sheen and there are no scratches.  The labels and run out grooves are also supremely clean and the matrix numbers and the etched KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY and AGAIN! can clearly be read.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Keep Yourself Alive' is stunning and has no 'background' at all, a perfect start.  The remainder does not disappoint either!  There are a couple of clicks prior to the drum solo but overall the clarity and depth here is very impressive.  The production values on this LP are incredibly good which is all the more impressive when you consider Freddie and co could only 'grab' studio time when it was available!  I cannot stress just how clean the audio is here and apart from the two clicks this is a superb version for a genuine first press.  There is no muddiness to the sound, no distortion on the top end and the bass is just so strong.  'Doing All Right' has only minimal static on the intro but no clicks or pops.  It then plays with great clarity although there is a little crackle just prior to the double bass section.  The powerful section that follows is astounding and plays with sublime power and definition.  From then on there is very little static and again the crescendo section near the end is incredible!  There is just a little crackle on the final 2/3 seconds of the fade out.  The intro on 'Great King Rat' is superb aside from a couple of crackle sounds literally at the start.  Thereafter the audio cannot be praised highly enough!  The depth, power and clarity is of a standard that is so rarely heard on 3U/3U first pressing.  Wow!  There is no interference and it is obvious this vinyl has been hardly played.  The audio is quite simply Mint- there is no other way to describe it and I cannot believe what I am hearing!  You can hear each note so clearly and even during the quiet acoustic section has no 'background'.  Whilst the entire track is nigh on perfect the guitar solo that then follows is totally mind-blowing and is Mint without doubt!  This is why we listen to vinyl - the depth and warmth that you get cannot be beaten by any other medium.  Even the 'drum' fade out has no 'background!  I am pleased to say the quality does not decrease with 'My Fairy King', the final track on the side.  With only a couple of barely audible 'ticks' on the intro the audio is so impressive throughout and again there are no clicks or pops.  The quiet piano/vocal section prior to the end section is just so clear and has no interference of any kind.  The final crescendo build up is absolutely stunning and has barely any distortion which is a rarity and again provides further evidence of a vinyl only lightly played.  The last few 'quiet' seconds play with wonderful clarity.  A stunning version to a side displaying stunning quality.

'Liar' on S2 has no 'background' on the intro and continues to play with stunning power and clarity.  The first vocal section has barely any static and there are certainly no clicks or pops.  The entire track plays with wonderful sound quality from beginning to end with only a minimal touch of quiet static in a couple of quieter sections, not many of those!  There is nothing to detract from the superb quality of the audio and the guitar section that leads up to the final 'choral' section is breathtaking, it plays 'as new'.  A fantastic version without doubt.  'The Night Comes Down' has no interference on the intro and there is just light static only before the first vocal section but it is not intrusive in any way.  From then the audio plays very clearly with only mega light static in the background here and there.  It is worth repeating this 3U/3U first pressing is now over 45 years old and for a relatively quiet track to have this kind of clarity is a rarity.  A lovely 'clean' version that will please any avid collector.  'Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll' is stunning from the first note and 'rocks out' with incredible power and precision and grades as Mint the quality could not be any better.  The depth and surround 'sound' is all encompassing and plays fantastically well!  'Son And Daughter' is of the same standard and I have never heard better.  There is no distortion and that is further evidence of a vinyl hardly played.  The long fade out is nigh on perfect with no obvious 'background'.  'Jesus' has one light click about 15 seconds in but apart from that it plays incredibly well.  So often this track is affected by distortion and I am delighted to say there is none here at all.  It plays so clearly and the powerful instrumental section is awesome!  The depth and strength of the audio could not be any better and the 'echo' sound end is stunning.  The instrumental 'Seven Seas of Rhye' has only a couple of light static sounds and ends the album with excellent sound quality and the long fade out has no 'background' at all apart from a hint of light static right at the end.

In summary this first pressing plays with wonderful quality with barely any interference.  The clarity and sonic quality is of a 'high end' standard and as stated this vinyl has only been lightly played down the years judging by the clarity and the minimal amount of spindle wear.  Vinyl flecking still obvious on the S1 label how rare is that!  The vinyl is so clean and has obviously been very well cared for down the years.

The Cover

The G&L cover is in very good condition with a little shelf wear but is certainly better than many you see today.  The edges are very clean with minimal 'rubbing' and the thin pinched spine remains 100% legible but does have a small number of 'crease' marks.  There is a some corner wear with just a little more on the bottom ones and the opening edge has hardly any handling wear at all.  The front cover is very clean apart from minor ring wear and one faint scratch and compression mark near the opening edge.  The back cover is in excellent order with no obvious wear, just a few faint creases next to the spine.  It may sound like I am listing a lot of negatives but I just prefer to be thorough in my grading and I would say the majority of the shelf wear is superficial.

The Inner sleeve

The 'Important Notice' original inner sleeve is in excellent condition with no splits or tears and very little creasing, just some age related fading around the edges.

The labels

They are in superb condition with only minimal spindle wear and as stated some vinyl 'flecks' can still be seen around the spindle hole.

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

EMC 3006 // YAX 4623 - 3U / YAX 4624 - 3U // MG 1 KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY / AA 1 AGAIN!

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

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £8.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be selling plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Genesis and Marillion items so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!