Queen : The Miracle A1/B2 (1st Press)

This first pressing is of a standard that is so rarely heard today.  With some vinyl 'flecks' still visible around the spindle hole the record has hardly ever been played and that is confirmed by the stunning quality of the audio.  So many tracks play 'as new' but 'I Want It All' and 'Was It All Worth It' just have to be heard to be believed!

The iconic cover is also very impressive with minimal shelf wear and the lyric inner is practically pristine.

 PCSD 107 // A - 1U / B - 2U

The audio on S1 is Mint- (end of fade out on track 3 Ex)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 1 & 3 Near Mint-)

The cover is Ex+

The lyric inner is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

The vinyl is visually stunning with a lovely glossy sheen and no marks or scratches at all.  There are only a few mega faint sleeve removal hairlines that are very difficult to spot.  I would say it has only been lightly played, 3 or 4 times maybe, as there is only one tiny spindle trace on S1 and only three on S2.  There is actually still some vinyl 'flecking' around the spindle hole lending further weight to this theory.  The run out grooves and labels could not be any cleaner.  A fantastic example for a first pressing.

Play grading  

With barely any static on the run in grooves you know immeditaley this is one super clean vinyl!  'Party' then plays with superb power and definition and can only be described as Mint it is stunning!  This really is faultless and the depth of the bass is so impressive here.

The seque into 'Khashoggi's Ship' is perfect and it then plays to the same impeccable standard.  On certain well preserved records the clarity is 'off the scale' and thus far this is definitely one of those.  The separation is so good i.e. each note is so clean and there is no 'muddiness' to the audio, more 'sound' in a way if you understand what I mean.  This is Mint- and the minus is only there because there are a couple of minor static ticks on the fade out.

'The Miracle' has only a couple of mega quiet dust ticks on the intro and then plays with a depth and warmth that is 'as new' without a doubt.  There is no interference and again the depth of the audio deserves a special mention.  Wow!  May's guitar solo leading into the final section is so impressive as is the bass again.  The '...we can all be friends' section has a little crackle at the end of the fade out where of course it is very quiet.  It may only be momentary but I will grade this as Near Mint due to that.

'I Want It All' plays with wonderful power from the very first note.  This again has the wow factor!  With no 'background' this is audio of the highest calibre and there is no distortion on the top end.  It 'rocks out' loud and true and the guitar solo towards the end is just so strong!  From start to finish there are no clicks or pops and no static or crackle either, this is Mint to all intents and purposes.

'The Invisible Man' ends the side with imperious audio once more.  The bass is so prevalent on this track and when you find a vinyl as 'clean' as this there is no deterioration in quality whatsoever, the depth is so impressive.  There is just a very minor amount of distortion for 4/5 seconds after the 'edge of the world' line but this is the only 'background' on the entire track and would hardly deem it as interference.  A stunning version with not even a dust tick on the fade out.  How rare is that on any final track?!

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The intro on 'Breakthru' so often has a fair amount of 'background' but here it is so 'clean' with only 3/4 mega light static sounds.  A superb start and another example of a rarely played vinyl that has been very well preserved.  From then on it plays to a 'high end' standard with only faint click towards the end that is largely 'lost' in the music anyway.  I would grade this as Near Mint- but with 99% playing to a superb standard!

'Rain Must Fall' is immaculate from start to finish and qualifies as Mint- without question.  It has such a strong bass line and none of the depth of the song has been lost over the intervening years.  The only 'background' is a little static at the end of the fade out.

There is also a minimal amount of light static during the quiet intro on 'Scandal' intro but is only very brief and totally non-intrusive.  Thereafter it plays with stunning precision and the sonic quality could not be any better.  There is one click near the end but apart from that there are no dust ticks and no static or crackle.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'My Baby Does Me' then plays perfectly from the first groove to the last.  It is Mint the clarity is like that of a vinyl pressed yesterday not 30 years ago!  This is very impressive for a relatively quiet track.

The intro on 'Was It All Worth It' is again susceptible to interference being so quiet but I am pleased to say it plays with great clarity and only a couple of light static ticks.  The first guitar section is so powerful and plays with supreme power and depth and no distortion.  As the vocal comes in there is no let up in quality and provides a fantastic listen.  This is audio of the highest order!  Final tracks on any side regularly play with inner groove distortion, especially one as loud as this, but there is none to be found here and plays with devastating power and depth.  It continues to play in sublime fashion and May's solo followed by the 'orchestral' section could not play any better.  This is unquestionably one of the most 'complete' versions of this classic that I have ever heard and even the quiet keyboard section at the end is 'as new'.  From beginning to end there is nothing to detract from the Mint quality of the audio.  Wow what an end!

In summary this A1/B2 first pressing plays to a sublime standard with barely any interference.  There are a couple of clicks on S2 but aside from that there is next to no static, the playback is super clean to the least.  It is worth pointing out that many tracks play with perfect Mint precision.  As stated it has hardly been played and the clarity reflects that.  The cover is also in lovely condition with hardly any shelf wear and the lyric inner is nigh on perfect.

The Cover

This iconic cover is in superb condition with hardly any shelf wear and what there is is so minor anyway as to be negligible!  The top edge is perfect with no wear and the bottom edge just has a 1cm area of rubbing but it is not a split!  The spine is very clean with just the one small 'ding' and the opening edge has no handling wear whatsoever.  There is only the bare minimum of corner wear, they really are in exemplary condition.  The front cover is very clean aisde from one mega faint crease line running down the centre and is very easy to miss unless you are looking for it!  The back cover has no marking of any kind.  This is an excellent great example of this cover.

The Lyric Inner

This is as close to perfect that you will find.  There is a tiny barely noticeable hint of wear on the top left corner and only very minor creasing by the thumb notch but I am sure the majority of sellers would not mention this!  It has no marks and is supremely clean.

The Labels

They are wonderful condition with barely any spindle wear and no marking or writing to be seen.  As stated there are still some vinyl 'flecks' 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

PCSD 107 // A - 1U / B - 2U

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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