Budgie : Never Turn Your Back On A Friend 1st Press 2L/1L 1973 (Silver / Black MCA label)

This very collectable first pressing on the original silver & black MCA label plays with stunning quality and is so so close to being a final upgrade album.  I am sure many would grade it as such!  The clarity is so impressive and there is only the bare minimum of mega light static which is non-intrusive.  The record is visually in superb condition and has obviously been extremely well preserved over the decades.

S2 has only a single 'A' stamper denoting it as one of the earliest of the first pressings issued.

The gatefold is in excellent shape with only a little shelf wear and the original inner has no splits.

MCA // MDKS 8010 // 7 - LNMG - 277 - 2L / 7 - LNMG - 278 - 1L // BB 1 & A 1

The audio on S1 is Mint- (tracks 3 & 4 Near Mint)

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

The cover is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Ex-

Visual grading

The vinyl is in superb condition and retains a fabulous glossy sheen that belies its age.  There are no scratches and I can only detect a couple of mega faint sleeve removal hairlines but they were incredibly difficult to find!  There is one very tiny 'speck' on S2 but it has no affect on the stunning audio quality.  The record has definitely been played a few times but there is not too much spindle wear and the run out grooves and labels are super clean with no marking.

Play grading  

The classic 'Breadfan' plays with superb power and clarity from the very first groove.  The opening riff has no interference and as soon as the rhythm section 'kicks in' the definition of the audio is stunning - so deep and each note can be heard perfectly with no 'muddiness' on the sound whatsoever.  It 'rocks out' in fine style and even the quiet acoustic section plays beautifully with only a small number of barely audible dust ticks.  The final 'high octane' section ends the track with sublime power and depth once more with only a little static at the end of the fade out.  A very impressive start to the album and this track infinitely deserves a Mint- grading.  

'Baby Please Don't Go' is of the same 'high end' standard with and the only 'background' is a small number of mega light dust ticks.  This is a fantastic version and the depth and clarity during the long instrumental section is absolutely stunning!  The remainder plays with perfect precision and I am again confident in grading this as Mint- as there is no intrusion on the audio whatsoever.

The acoustic 'You Know I'll Always Love You' plays with wonderful clarity for a relatively quiet track with just a few more light dust ticks for company.  It is not static or crackle and certainly not intrusive!  The playback is very impressive and Near Mint is a fair assessment.

The percussive intro on 'You're The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk' could hardly play any better, it is stunning!  There is some very light static as Bourge's guitar comes in but very soon disappears.  From that point on the audio is so powerful and deep and there is no distortion.  The guitar solo in particular is breathtaking!  The next section 'What kind of a woman...' demands to be played loud!  The definition of the audio stands out and the power is immense and it continues like this to the very end with a mega clean fade out.  I will err on the side of caution and grade as Near Mint although the vast majority is better than that.  A stunning side of classic Budgie music!

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'In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand' is 'as new' on the intro and there is no decrease in quality as the vocal begins.  Thereafter it plays to the highest standard possible with no 'background' of any kind aside from a very small number of insignificant and barely audible dust ticks.  This is another Mint- track.  The 'high octane' ending is astounding and plays with amazing power.  Stunning!

'Riding My Nightmare' plays very clearly from the very first note with barely any static.  There are a couple of light static ticks as you approach the end but the clarity for a quiet track that is now 46 years old record is very impressive.  I would grade this as Near Mint- as there is no real intrusion on the audio.

The classic 'Parents' begins with very powerful audio and there is only the absolute minimum of light static on the following acoustic section.  It plays in a similar way as the vocal begins - very clear sound and only a small number of mega light dust ticks.  There is certainly nothing intrusive here and once again I must say there are no clicks or pops!  From then on it plays with great quality and much of it is 'as new'.  The clarity in the main cannot be faulted and this is rarely found on a genuine first pressing.  From the next familiar riff to the long guitar solo the audio is stunning and the final vocal section also plays with sublime clarity and depth.  There are very few dust ticks and any collector would be hugely impressed by the precision of the audio on this epic track.  The final solo is so strong and has no distortion and the fade out is so 'clean' with no 'background'.  A superb Near Mint- version I would say but I'm sure many would grade higher.

  In summary this highly collectable first pressing plays to a wonderful standard overall and there is very little that interrupts the clarity and flow of the music.   With only a minimal touch of light static it is clear this vinyl has been very well preserved over the years and as I say there are no clicks, pops or skips either.  A stunning record that is for certain.

The Gatefold

This iconic cover is in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear.  Only the top edge of the front cover has some rubbing and the other three have barely any, just a little towards the corners.  The actual corners do have some wear but as can be seen not too much.  The wide spine is in superb shape and is 100% legible and the opening edges do have a little 'feathering'.  The front cover is extremely clean with only a small number of tiny 'specks' and a very small faint stain top left.  The back cover is in fantastic order with no marking at all and the inside of the gatefold is exceptional.  It isn't perfect but there are many aspects of this iconic cover that are in superb condition.

Inner Sleeve

The original 'Stereo' poly-lined inner is in excellent shape with no side splits.  There is just one tiny tear on the central 'window'.  There is also a little age related fading and some minor creasing.

The Labels

The silver/black MCA labels are in great condition with no marking/writing and not very much spindle wear.

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

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

MCA // MDKS 8010 // 7 - LNMG - 277 - 2L / 7 - LNMG - 278 - 1L // BB 1 & A 1

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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