The Game A4 /B7

This early pressing plays with a clarity that is so rarely found today.  There is only one light click on S2 and barely any static and it definitely plays with Mint audio for the vast majority.  There is only one faint spindle trace and I am confident in saying this record has hardly ever been played, it has been so fantastically well preserved.

The metallic 'silver foil' cover is stunning!  It may well be the most impressive I have ever seen.  It is so clean and has very little shelf wear and has no doubt been stored carefully in a pvc sleeve.  A sublime example as is the lyric inner which is in perfect shape.

EMA 795 // A - 4U / B - 7U // Mastered at Allen Zentz L.A. , Calif.

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) / track 2 Near Mint / track 5 Ex+ to Mint-)

The cover is Ex++

The lyric inner is Mint

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This is as near to visual perfection that you will find.  With only a couple of very small spindle traces on S2 this record has only been lightly played in my opinion.  It has a beautiful glossy sheen and I cannot detect any hairlines or scratches.  There is just one mega tiny faint mark on S1 but it has no affect on the stunning quality of the audio.  The labels and run out grooves are also in superb condition.

Play grading  

The synth intro on 'Play The Game' is a prime example of a hardly played vinyl.  There is no static etc and the playback is so 'clean'.  As the vocal comes in the audio is absolutely stunning!  There is no 'background' and it quite simply plays as Mint there is no other way to describe it.  The clarity is like that of a recently pressed vinyl not one from nearly 40 years ago!  The fade out also plays with perfect Mint precision.  I am confident in grading this as Mint- and the minus is only there because the album isn't sealed.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Dragon Attack' then plays to the same immaculate standard and what is so impressive here is the depth of the audio.  You can hear each note so clearly and of course the bass is so strong.  Again there is no interference of any kind.  I always adhere to Record Collector guidelines so will grade as Mint- but I know Mint when I hear it!

I do not wish to be repetitive but 'Another One Bites The Dust' again plays with crystal clear clarity.  There is not even a dust tick!  The definition of the audio is so strong and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever.  Another Mint track :-)

What sets this version of 'Need Your Loving Tonight' apart from so many others I have heard is the total lack of inner groove distortion.  This track is so prone to distortion but this is 'as new' and again there are no clicks or pops, static or crackle - just pure 'shop fresh' audio from start to finish.

'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' ends the side with stunning Mint precision and not one iota of interference.  The clarity is incredible and even the handclapping sequence plays perfectly!  The long fade out is also 'as new' which is so rare when you consider the final grooves on any record will often have some 'background'.  This is audio at its very best, the warmth and depth of the audio here is spectacular!

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The quiet intro on 'Rock It' plays with remarkable clarity but if I am being super critical there is just a minimal hint of mega light static here and there.  It is so minor and barely audible if I'm honest, I am only hearing it as I sit so close to the speakers!  The remainder plays with immaculate Mint quality.  No further description required!

As any collector knows 'Don't Try Suicide' is the one track on the album where there is no hiding place as there are so many quiet sections with barely any instrumentation.  It begins in sublime fashion with not even a dust tick and continues in exactly the same way.  The clarity is exceptional!  There are a small number of gentle ticks on the fade out but they are not particularly intrusive.  Overall this is still deserving of a Near Mint grading.

The super quiet intro on 'Sail Away Sweet Sister' has a couple of mega quiet dust ticks only and then plays with wonderful warmth and depth for the remainder.  The end section is nigh on perfect bar a couple of mega light static ticks - they are not clicks!  This is a sublime near perfect version and will impress any collector.

'Coming Soon' is Mint from start to finish.  When you find a vinyl as beautifully preserved as this one the definition of the audio on this track really stands out.  The percussion is so powerful and again you can hear each note so clearly.  100% stunning!

The quiet intro 'Save Me' is immaculate!  It often has some interference but there is none here whatsoever.  There is clarity and then there is clarity like this!  The first chorus is 'as new' and as it progresses the more you are impressed by this underrated classic.  The audio is so 'clean' and the only 'negative' is one light click in the acoustic section towards the end.  This is the only obvious interference on the entire album!  There is perhaps a minor touch of inner groove distortion near the end but in no way is it intrusive.  It's difficult to grade this one as apart from the one click it plays with very impressive audio.

In summary this early pressing plays with stunning quality and especially S1.  S2 has only the one click but the rest of the audio is nigh on perfect with only a 4/5 seconds of light static.  It is obvious this record has been hardly played and the clarity and warmth of the audio reflect that.  As stated the metallic 'silver foil' cover is one of the best I have ever seen and that is no exaggeration, it is superb!  The lyric inner is also in perfect Mint condition.

The Cover

This metallic 'silver foil' sleeve is without doubt one of the most impressive I have ever seen.  So difficult to keep in good condition this has been so well preserved with barely any shelf wear.  The edges and thin spine are immaculate with no wear of any kind and there is no corner wear either.  The opening edge is also nigh on perfect with only a couple of mega tiny 'dings' on the back.  The surprising thing is how 'clean' the front and back cover look as they are generally heavily marked.  They have hardly any scratching, just a few very faint lines, a minor hint of ringwear and a small number of light creases either side of the spine.  A superb example with none of the creasing/compressed edges that you so often see.

The Lyric Inner  

This thick card inner has the rounded corners as per all the first and early pressings and is in perfect Mint condition with no splits or marking.one small side split.

The Labels

The white labels are practically 'as new' with only two mega faint spindle traces.  It's rare for these labels to remain so clean and they have no marking/writing at all.

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

This record was professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S Cleaning Machine

EMA 795 // A - 4U / B - 7U // Mastered at Allen Zentz L.A. , Calif.

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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Postage and 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.

FOR ITEMS OVER £250.00 PLEASE CONTACT ME AS THERE WILL BE A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM AND WILL HAVE TO BE SENT VIA A COURIER SERVICE AND THE COSTS CAN VARY.  THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE UP TO £250.00 HENCE THE NEED FOR ANOTHER SERVICE.  PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THE EXACT AMOUNT AND THEN WAIT FOR THE INVOICE.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, 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 (Standard)

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

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

REST OF WORLD (Standard) 

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!!