Queen I (3U/3U)

This FINAL UPGRADE ARCHIVE first pressing plays with stunning audio and has hardly been played over the last 46 years, there is barely any spindle wear.  There is still some vinyl flecking around the spindle hole!  Every second of the album has been play tested and a full grading is given below.

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

The cover is also in great condition with only very minor shelf wear.

EMC 3006 // YAX 4623 - 3U / YAX 4624 - 3U // LR 3 KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY / PL 2 AGAIN!

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (track 2 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the vast majority)

The cover is Ex+

The original inner sleeve is Ex-

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

A vinyl record can hardly look any better than this one!  It is visually stunning and still has the most glossy jet-black glossy sheen that you could ever wish to see.  Even the run out grooves are super clean and the etched KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY and AGAIN! stand proud and look 'as new'.  As stated there is barely any spindle wear and this has only been played a small number of times and there is still some vinyl flecking clearly visible around the S1 spindle hole.  Both sides are immaculate and I can only detect a couple of mega faint barely visible hairlines and there are obviously no scratches or markings.  The labels are also in superb condition - this is a vinyl that has hardly been touched over the decades, a fantastic example of a first pressing.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Keep Yourself Alive' has no 'background', the clarity is stunning.  This is a Mint intro without question and as Freddie's vocal begins there is no let up in quality.  From beginning to end there is no interference of any kind and it quite simply plays 'as new'.  The drum solo is faultless and the fade out is of the same immaculate standard.  The production values are so impressive when you consider they could only 'grab' studio time when it was available!  And when you find a well preserved vinyl such as this level of production is further exemplified.

The super quiet piano intro on 'Doing All Right' has a clarity that is so rare - absolutely stunning!  There is not even a dust tick and that continues as the vocal comes in.  I heard a couple of the quietest dust ticks that you could imagine just prior to the second verse but to all intents and purposes this is perfect audio.  There is one faint click before the 'Should be waiting for the sun' line but that is the only interference.  The double bass section is faultless and the louder section that follows plays with sublime power and definition.  From then on there is no background and the crescendo section near the end has incredible depth and power, it is 'as new'.  The fade out also plays with sublime precision and even with that one light click this definitely deserves a Near Mint grading.

The guitar intro on 'Great King Rat' is so powerful and has no interference.  Thereafter the audio cannot be praised highly enough!  The depth, power and clarity is of a standard that is so rarely heard on a 3U/3U first pressing.  There is no interference or distortion and even during the one quiet acoustic section just after the half way mark there isn't even a dust tick.  It is obvious this vinyl has been hardly played and a Mint grading is an honest appraisal of the audio.  The bass is so strong and I never heard this 'heavy' track play with such breathtaking guitar work.  Wow!  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'!

'My Fairy King' plays to the same standard I am pleased to say.  The power and depth cannot be bettered and the quiet piano/vocal section prior to the end section has no interference of any kind.  The final crescendo build up has just a minor hint of distortion but it still plays impeccably well as does the end piano piece.  A stunning version to finish the side.

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'Liar' on S2 has no 'background' on the intro and then proceeds to play 'as new'.  Again the guitar work has such incredible power and the bass accompaniment is so strong.  The first vocal has no static etc and the remainder of the track is without fault.  This is Mint audio of the highest calibre and I just cannot believe the playback, this is a 3U/3U pressing!  There is nothing to detract from the immaculate quality of the audio and the guitar section that leads up to the final 'choral' section is breathtaking, it plays 'as new'.  A final upgrade version without doubt.

'The Night Comes Down' has one mega faint tick on the intro only and from then the audio plays with stunning precision.  So many quiet sections and yet they all play with the same stunning precision.  I have never heard another version that rivals this one and any Queen collector would be hugely impressed by the sound quality here.  Sheer audio perfection from start to finish.

'Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll' is stunning from the first note and 'rocks out' with incredible power and precision and grades as Mint such is the quality.  The depth and surround 'sound' is all encompassing and there is no distortion.

'Son And Daughter' plays nigh on perfectly apart from a minimal amount of vocal distortion.  There is a mild hint of static on the long fade out.

'Jesus' has one faint tick on the intro and then plays wonderfully well.  So often this track is affected by a fair amount of inner groove distortion but there is very little here and the playback is stunning.  The mega powerful instrumental section is awesome!  The definition of the audio could not be any better and the 'echo' end section is faultless.

The instrumental 'Seven Seas of Rhye' ends the album in fine style with no interference aside from some minor distortion on the top end.  The long fade out has no 'background' at all.

In summary this 3U/3U first pressing has a clarity and depth that is so rarely found today and is a FINAL UPGRADE ARCHIVE album in my opinion.  The audio definition and separation is so impressive and that is not surprising when you see how lightly it has been played.  The cover is also one of the cleanest I have seen in a long time.

The Cover

The G&L cover is very impressive and has only minimal shelf wear.  It is certainly one of the cleanest I have seen in quite a long time.  The edges and thin pinched spine are in great order with barely any 'rubbing' and the latter remains 100% legible.  There is only minimal corner wear with just a little more on the bottom two edges and the opening edge is in excellent condition with very little handling wear.  The front cover is very clean with only a few very small creases around the edges and is not marked in any way, there is just a mild hint of ringwear.  The back cover is in very similar condition and overall this cover is in lovely condition when you consider it has no laminate to protect it.

The Inner Sleeve

The 'Important Notice' original inner sleeve is in excellent condition with no splits or tears and only a little creasing.  There are also a couple of small age related spots.

The Labels

The original EMI labels are in superb condition with very little spindle wear and as stated some vinyl 'flecks' can still be seen around the spindle hole.  They have no marking or writing on them either.

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 // LR 3 KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY / PL 2 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

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