THE WHO, WHO'S NEXT, MINT- 1971 UK TRACK 1st PRESS, C/W HEAD HUNTERS INNER

	£		125
	$		166

betsy50 store

Hi, my name is Nick (aka cornerstonevinyl). I have been an avid record collector for many years, building up an extensive collection of mostly blues/rock, psych, progressive and classic rock 1st issue albums from the mid sixties to early seventies period. I have decided to sell off a few choice albums in either the Fixed Price or Auction formats. These offerings represent the crème de la crème of my 35 years of record collecting and are of the highest quality. My grading is strict and any significant defects will be mentioned. You can rest assured that a record that I grade as MINT- will be both visually and aurally as fine a copy as you are ever likely to find (hopefully my feedback and 4.9/5.0 "item as described" rating will bear this out). My descriptions are concise and in accordance with the GRADINGS detailed below. I will not bore you with the unnecessary duplication of song lyrics, and self-respect will not allow the use of ridiculous words like "awesome, mega, hyper", etc., or endless exclamation marks. Customer satisfaction is of the highest importance to me. In the unlikely event that you are not entirely happy with an LP bought from me for any reason, I will refund you in full upon return without any hassle.      

Here for auction is an exceptional MINT- example of the iconic studio album by THE WHO titled "WHO'S NEXT", Catalogue Number 2408 102 DELUXE. This is an ORIGINAL 1971 UK STEREO 1st PRESSING on the TRACK RECORD LABEL, with a superb 1st ISSUE MacNEILL PRESS LTD matt-finish single sleeve. This exceptional copy comes complete with the elusive HEAD HUNTERS INNER SLEEVE. [The sleeve is the earliest possible design with crimped spine ends and the "MacNeill Press Ltd." text running vertically down the right edge of the back cover. The stamped matrix numbers and stampers are 2408102 A//1  1  2   1 0 and 2408102 B//2 v 420  1 1   2 5. "MG 12888" is etched in the run-out of Side A. These are all characteristic 1st press features of Who's Next which are not present on Track re-issues].

The sleeve is in EX+ condition with only very light wear and minor creasing. The front and back covers are clean and unmarked with bright unfaded coloration and virtually no ringwear. The spine is square and solid with perfect text.   

The vinyl is in MINT- condition. It’s a solid 146g pressing which sits perfectly flat on the turntable. The matt black Track labels are like new with only a few faint spindle traces each side. There is virtually no wear to the spindle hole. It is clear that the record has only received a few careful plays. If you have not listened to a MINT- true 1st pressing of Who's Next before - you are in for a real treat. These were cut directly from the original master tapes and give a sound reproduction which you simply will not get from later pressings. The sound quality is truly staggering - very clear, vibrant and full-bodied with impressive driving bass. Audio playback is MINT- throughout. The record plays essentially as new. There is no deterioration in sound quality and virtually no unwanted noise at all. Lead-in and linking grooves play with near silence and the quiet synthesized introductions and passages play perfectly.  

The Head Hunters poly-lined inner sleeve is in unmarked EX+ condition. These strikingly attractive inner sleeves advertise other artists who were marketed by Polydor during the period. They were only issued with a few select albums during 1971.

Overall this is the finest complete 1st press copy of Who's Next that I have come across in the last 10 years.

GRADINGS

The records that I offer for sale have been critically play-graded, at loud volume, on a Rega P5 turntable fitted with an Elys 2 cartridge. I will only sell records that play to a high standard. My gradings are strict and in accordance with the following descriptions:

·         MINT- Record is superb, almost like new, with just a few sleeve removal type surface marks and no deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve is near perfect in all respects.

·         EX Record is a top quality example, with just a few very light surface marks which do not sound, and barely any discernable deterioration in sound quality. Sleeve has slight wear and/or creasing. 

·         VG Record has some visual surface marks, but still plays to a high standard without any major deterioration in sound quality – just a few clicks or light surface sound in places. Sleeve has normal wear and tear without any major defects but is still very presentable.

PACKAGING        

LPs are packaged with care and well protected to ensure that they arrive safely in the same condition as they leave me. Records are removed from both inner and outer sleeves in order to prevent seam-splits in transit.

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE

LPs posted outside of the UK will only be sent International Signed-For with insurance at the following additional cost:   

Europe - £5.95

Worldwide - £9.30