QUEEN II 4U/4U 1st Pressing

First I will say this is an absolute time warp classic!  A first pressing such as this hardly ever turn up these days and to say it plays well is an understatement!  The sonic quality on both sides is phenomenal and S2 is 'as new' I can confidently say.  I do not over-sell my listings as it is not in my interests and this I know my regular customers appreciate.  S1 would be the same but for two light clicks but the remainder of the side cannot be faulted.  This record has only been lightly played and the clarity, depth and warmth of the audio pays testament to that.  It would be nigh on impossible to find a better one!

The cover is in fantastic condition with no shelf and I would say it has always been kept inside a pvc sleeve all its life this maintaining its original quality, it is a stunning example of its type!  The original lyric inner (with the four cut corners as per all the first pressings) is also in superb condition.  What a stunning 'package'!

Royal Mail shipping costs have massively increased recently and these are shown below.  Please could you wait before making payment so I can calculate the exact cost.

EMA 797 // YAX 4?7?3?6? 4735 - 4U / YAX 4?7?3?5 4736 - 4U // GDO 3 / GRM 1

The audio on S1 is Mint- ('Father To Son' second verse VG for two seconds!)

The audio on S2 is Mint-

The gatefold is Mint-

The lyric inner is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

The quiet percussive intro on 'Procession' has no static (or worse!) and any Queen collector knows how rare that is!  It continues to play with impeccable audio and with only one very light static tick on the final note this could hardly play any better.  For a genuine 4U/4U first press to start as impressively is so rare and is deserving of a Mint- grade.

The segue into 'Father To Son' is perfect and the first verse is of the same 'high end' standard.  There are a couple of light clicks at the beginning of the second verse although there is nothing on the vinyl to suggest a reason, perhaps a pressing fault.  Believe me when I say this is the only interference on the entire album!  From then on it plays with incredible power and depth and the 'heavy' section is absolutely stunning!  It is 'as new' with no sign of any interference or distortion, Mint in every way!  The brief quiet section that follows has no static etc and the remainder of this classic track is faultless and the long fade out has no 'background' whatsoever.  This is a near perfect version and the only thing that stops it from being Mint are the two clicks near the start.  I will grade the intro as Ex as the interference is so brief and fleeting but the remainder is Mint- and that is an honest and true appraisal of the audio.

'White Queen' so often is affected by static/crackle on the intro so I am delighted to say this may well be the 'cleanest' example I have ever heard!  The actual intro has no interference and there is just one light static tick as the vocal begins.  This opening section has only a handful of barely audible dust ticks and the first verse plays beautifully with no intrusion.  As the volume builds into the first chorus the audio is STUNNING and it continues in the same precise way.  The mid section instrumental is 'as new' and I just cannot believe the audio definition here!  I sold one of these first pressings 2/3 months ago and I said then it is so difficult to find a Near Mint / Mint version of this track and yet I can confidently say we have found one here!  The 'high octane' verse near the end is spectacular and the final quiet section again has no interference.  The sonic quality is breathtaking and this is the finest version you are ever likely to hear on any pressing, not just a first pressing!  I have never graded this all time classic as Mint- but I am doing so now!  A FINAL UPGRADE version for sure!

'Some Day One Day' provides further evidence of a rarely played vinyl and one that has been so well preserved also.  The clarity from start to finish is sublime - there is no interference and even the long fade out plays with superb precision.  Mint all the way.

'Loser In The End' ends the side with Mint quality audio once more.  There is no interference to report and the power and definition cannot be bettered.  This is such a dynamic version and has no inner groove distortion which is a genuine rarity.  The fade out has no 'background', you just would not believe how 'clean' it is!

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The slow build up on 'Ogre Battle' plays so well with only the bare minimum of very light static, totally non-intrusive, and the first 'heavy' section is superb!  The first verse plays with perfect clarity and thereafter is of the same exact standard.  Yet another stunning version on this album!  The 'instrumental' section is so powerful and there are no negatives from start to finish.  A Mint- start to the side.

It's getting hard to describe the audio in an original way now!  Suffice to say 'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' is 'as new' with no interference to speak of.  There is not so much as a dust tick that is how good the audio is.  Mint

'Nevermore' is of a standard you just hardly ever find on a first pressing.  Both verses play with great precision and with no intrusion.  Perhaps a hint of static but you may not even detect it as it is so quiet!  Mint- the playback is stunning.

The piano intro on 'The March Of The Black Queen' is stunning, never heard better!  It has no 'background' and the same can be said for the first vocal.  It continues to play with a quality that is heaven sent!  There are no clicks or pops, no interference at all basically, and the opening up tempo section could not play with any greater distinction and the audio can easily be described 'as new' once more.  There is no distortion on the top end and the quiet 'A voice from behind me...' section then plays with a 1974 clarity i.e. like it would have sounded in that year!  From that point on there is nothing to fault - every note is so sharp and 'clean' and I am sorry if I am getting a little over-enthusiastic!  This is such a classic track and when you find one as SENSATIONAL as this it is understandable!  Yes I can get a little verbose but I grade honestly and with integrity and just write what I hear.  This is quite simply the most definitive version I have ever heard and the final verses more than maintain this fine standard with perfect clarity and no distortion.  I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint as it would be impossible to find a stronger version and that is a sentence I just never use...apart from now!  It may even be the case that this track has never been played such is the quality.

'Funny How Love Is' again plays with a depth and clarity that is second to none.  There is no interference which is a rarity and the long fade out has no 'background' either.  Mint

'Seven Seas Of Rhye...' ends the album with high quality audio once more.  If there is any inner groove distortion it is so minimal as to be totally insignificant.  Such a strong version that grades as Mint- for sure.  Even the seaside 'singalong' plays extremely well with only a light touch of static right at the end.

In summary this first pressing plays to an immaculate standard aside from two seconds on S1!  I have to say this is slightly frustrating as otherwise this is the perfect album.  The clarity and definition throughout is stunning and this is exemplified on the two classics 'White Queen' and 'The March Of The Black Queen'.  It is no exaggeration to say they are the finest examples I have heard on any pressing so to find them on a genuine 4U/4U first press is such a rarity!  Another point of note is that there is no distortion providing further proof of a vinyl barely played.  The winning bidder will be amazed by the audio here I cannot praise it highly enough!  Together with a superb gatefold and lyric inner this is a STUNNING 'package'.

Visual grading

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

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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.

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LPs/12" singles : £5.75 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

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

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7" singles / CDs : £6.45 then £0.95 per extra 

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LPs/12" singles : £18.95 then £1.95 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £7.95 then £1.45 per extra

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