The Game (MFSL - Original Master Recording 1995)

These records were pressed on 200g super heavyweight vinyl and mastered from the original master tapes so as to provide a greater depth, warmth and clarity.  This particular pressing plays with stunning audio and there is not a single click or pop, the playback could not be any 'cleaner'.  It is a limited edition and numbered 2186.

MFSL 1-211 // A-3 / B2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Ex+

The MFSL sleeve is Ex

Visual grading

This is a visually stunning vinyl and retains a beautiful jet-black glossy sheen.  It has no hairlines, scratches or marks and only a couple of barely visible spindle traces on each label.  This has scarcely been played and the 'high end' quality of the audio reflects that.s only ever been lightly played.  The most impressive MFSL vinyl I have ever seen or heard.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Play The Game' plays with stunning quality from the very first groove.  A couple of mega light dust ticks only this is a sublime start to this MFSL pressing.  This is audio of the highest calibre and the remainder plays 'as new' and that is no exaggeration.  There are no clicks or pops, no interference at all basically and the fade out also plays with perfect precision.  I am confident in grading this as Mint- the playback is that good.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Dragon Attack' then plays with the same immaculate quality.  This is a bass 'heavy' album of course and is no more obvious than on this track.  The definition of the audio could not be any better and again there is no interference.  Anyone that knows MFSL will know that their vinyls play with incredible depth, more warmth and an even greater clarity than standard vinyl and on a beautifully preserved vinyl such as this it is further enhanced.

This is also the case with 'Another One Bites The Dust' and there is no decrease in quality whatsoever.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound, it is 'crystal clear' and the bass is so strong again.  A perfect version.

What follows is quite simply the 'cleanest' version of 'Need Your Loving Tonight' that I have heard in a long time.  This track will regularly have some distortion but not here.  It is pure Mint- audio from start to finish and the minus is only used so as to adhere to Record Collector Guidelines!  Audio does not get better than this!

The classic 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' also deserves special mention as there is just no 'background' and impresses with high quality Mint- audio from the first note to the last although a Mint grading would be more suitable!  Every second plays with perfect precision and and the hand clapping sequence and long fade out are fine examples of this.  Yes I do play every second of every album!

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The quiet intro on 'Rock It' is always susceptible to interference but the clarity is nigh on perfect.  With only a couple of mega light dust ticks only this is as good as you would want it to be!  The remainder is of the same standard plays with that familiar MFSL depth and warmth again.  Stunning.

The mega quiet intro on 'Don't Try Suicide' also plays with impeccable clarity and continues in the same way.  There is one very faint 'tick' further in but that is the only 'background' across the entire track.  It is most definitely not a click!  The long fade out is stunning and gives you a good idea of the wonderful clarity on offer here.

'Sail Away Sweet Sister' plays with fantastic clarity from the very first note and the quality does not diminish as you progress.  This is another Mint- track and again the fade out plays perfectly.

'Coming Soon' is so impressive and plays with superb power and depth through and yes, you guessed it, plays to a Mint- standard.

'Save Me' so often has interference on the intro but it is nigh on perfect here with only a couple of barely audible dust ticks.  The playback is incredibly good and the first chorus is 'as new' without doubt.  The remainder plays with a depth and definition that is so rarely heard today.  The audio is so 'clean' and there is not a single click or pop and no static or crackle either.  It plays with breathtaking quality to the very end with only 3/4 mega quiet dust ticks on the fade out.  I cannot emphasise enough just how 'new' this audio is!  A stunning end to the album.

In summary this MFSL pressing cannot be faulted and plays to a final upgrade standard.  There is absolutely nothing that intrudes on the quality of the listen and the overall depth and sonic quality of this 200 gram vinyl cannot be beaten by any other medium.  During playback it's easy to forget this record is now nearly 25 years old and judging by the immaculate quality of the audio I would say it has only ever been played twice, three times at most.

The Cover

This is in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear.  The edges have no rubbing/marking at all and it is only the right hand corners that have a small amount of wear.  The wide spine is in fantastic shape with only minimal rubbing top and bottom.  The opening edge has barely any handling, just a miniscule amount of 'crimping' towards the top.  The front cover is very clean although there are a few small indent marks just below the title.  The back has just the one faint scratch mark and a couple of creases near the bottom edge.  Overall an impressive MFSL cover, not perfect but it nevertheless remains in excellent condition.

The MFSL sleeve and Inner Sleeve

The MFSL fold out sleeve is in great condition with only one very small but barely noticeable split on the spine.  The original anti-static sleeve has no splits and only minor creasing.

The Labels

The white MFSL labels are immaculate with no marking/writing and only a tiny hint of spindle wear.

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

MFSL 1-211 // A-3 / B2

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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