Forest : The Full Circle (No EMI logo)

(1st press A-2G / B-2G / G1 Stampers!)

One of the rarest and most collectable prog/psych/folk albums of all time it would be extremely difficult to find a better one!  I have fully play tested it and a detailed grading is given below and it does not disappoint!  This has been so well preserved down the years - very carefully handled and no doubt stored in a clean cabinet with a protective sleeve.  It is visually very impressive as is the sound!

A highly collectable first pressing that was only issued in limited numbers, rumoured to be only 400 - 500, and there cannot be many that remain in this wonderful condition.  Not only that but it has the first ever EMI/Harvest stamper of G1 on each side, the holy grail of stampers to any avid collector!

The fully textured gatefold is also super clean and has stood the test of time fantastically well.  With only minor wear it would be difficult to find cleaner.  The original Harvest inner is also in great condition.

SHVL 784 // A - 2G / B - 2G // G1 / G1

The audio on Side One is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 3 intro Ex)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 4 Ex+)

The laminated cover is Ex+ (spine is Ex-)

The labels are Ex+

The original inner sleeve is Ex+

Visual grading

This vinyl retains a stunning glossy sheen and has no scratches.  There are some faint hairlines on each side as you would expect but there is only one that I would deem obvious and you have to look closely to see the others.  There are also a couple of tiny 'specks' but they have no affect on the audio quality.  There is very little spindle wear on the S1 label and just a little more on S2 and it patently obvious that this vinyl has only ever been lightly played.  That is supported by the stunning quality of the audio.  Overall this is visually very impressive first pressing and there cannot be many around like this today!

Play grading  

The acoustic intro on 'Hawk The Hawker' plays superbly with no interference of any kind, the clarity is astounding.  For such a rare and collectable vinyl you could not wish for a better start and as the vocal begins there is no decrease in quality at all.  As it continues you are quite simply blown away by the clarity and sonic quality of the recording.  You can hear each note with infinite precision and I am confident in grading this as Mint- such is the quality of the audio on offer here.  The only 'background' is a couple of minor static 'ticks' on the fade out.

'Bluebell Dance' carries on in the same immaculate way and with only a couple of minor dust ticks on the intro this is another super impressive start.  The first vocal section is stunning and there is no distortion on the top end.  The mid instrumental piece again plays with remarkable depth and clarity and there is just nothing that intrudes on the 'high end' quality of the listen.  There is a little static in the silent section that follows but it is only very minimal and there are no clicks or pops and no crackle either.  It plays in sublime fashion to the very end with only light static on the fade out.

'The Midnight Hanging Of A Runaway Serf' has a little more static on the intro but it is only minor, a couple of static clicks also but they are non-intrusive and not loud at all.  The track then plays with stunning precision and barely any static.  This is so impressive!  I always go on about clarity but that is how any vinyl should be judged regardless of age.  The playback throughout is of a wonderful standard and whilst there is the odd light static sound they are few and far between.  Even in the quiet section as you approach the end, just prior to the short piano solo, there is hardly any static!  It continues in the same way with no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever and the instrumental section that closes the track plays nigh on perfectly with only a little ubiquitous static on the last 2/3 notes.

The instrumental 'To Julie' plays with impeccable precision from the very first groove.  This of course is largely an 'acoustic' album and for it to play with such breathtaking clarity is such a rarity.  So often 'background' can be lost on louder records but there is no hiding place here!  There are a small number of dust ticks here but this is Mint- in my opinion.  The clarity is stunning and again not a single click or pop.

'Gypsy Girl & Rambleaway' impresses right from the start and has no interference.  As is common on 'final tracks' there is perhaps just a minimal touch of distortion on the top end of the vocal but it is in no way intrusive.  It still plays with great depth and warmth and the only static is on the final note.

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'Do Not Walk In The Rain' on S2 has no obvious static on the intro which is such a rarity for the opening grooves on a record approaching 50 years!  The sound is so clear, the clarity is superb!  The vocal then plays with stunning clarity and in all honesty plays 'as new'.  I cannot stress enough just how incredibly well this plays, I am running out of superlatives as per usual!  Every note can be heard perfectly and the vocal especially is absolutely stunning!  As I sometimes say when I hear quality of this 'ilk' I know Mint when I hear it and this is it!  For a very first G1/G1 first pressing to play with such spellbinding clarity is so rare and even the fade out here plays with fantastic precision.  Wow what a version!

'Much Ado About Nothing' again has barely any static on the intro.  About one minute in there are a small number of static ticks but they are so quiet and totally non-intrusive and could easily be missed.  The remainder of this 'mandolin' track plays so cleanly and without any clicks or pops.  It is worth reiterating just how 'clearly' this mega rare and collectable album is playing.  The 'sound' on this track is so clear and 'fresh' it is just incredible to think this first pressing is 49 years old!

'Graveyard' has a few mega light static ticks on the intro and the clarity is still there.  You expect some 'background' on a vinyl of this age and what there is on this intro is still only very minor.  There is no intrusive loud crackle and no loud clicks or pops at all.  As the vocal begins the audio is very impressive and it continues in the same way with great clarity and definition.  There is the odd light static sound here and there but for such a quiet acoustic track you won't find much better than this!  In fact the super quiet instrumental section in the middle where only the acoustic guitar plays is stunning!  The clarity could scarcely be any better and this quality prevails to the very end.  Another stunning track with only the lightest of intermittent static here and there.  Just a couple of crackle sounds right at the end.

For a track that is largely acapella 'Famine Song' plays very clearly with only a handful of crackle sounds and a minimal amount of distortion on the vocal and I mean minimal!  I do not wish this to sound worse than it is!  As all my regulars know I am nothing if not honest and my feedback reflects that.  It still plays incredibly well but on such a sparse track it is nigh on impossible to find one playing with 'perfect' precision.  The clarity and overall 'sound' is very impressive and any 'background' is minimal.

'Autumn Childhood' ends the album in fine style with exceptional clarity and there is no obvious interference whatsoever.  There is a little distortion on the vocal but as any audiophile knows this is extremely common on 'final tracks' and hardly worth a mention really.  This closing track plays superbly with no clicks or pops and no static or crackle either.  A fantastic end to a highly sought after and rare vinyl! 

In summary this musically haunting first pressing is rarely found in this condition.  This prog/psych/folk album is a collectors' gem and there cannot be many with the first known G1/G1 stampers like this today.  In all my years of collecting and selling this is without doubt the 'cleanest' version I have ever seen.  The clarity and warmth of the acoustic music and vocal harmonies is very impressive and as detailed above there is little 'background'.  Indeed the vast majority of this highly sought after classic plays with Near Mint quality and quite often better than that!  The fully textured gatefold is also in lovely condition, the best I have ever seen, and it comes complete with the original Harvest inner.

The Gatefold

The original fully textured E.J. Day gatefold is in lovely condition and has no marking at all.  The edges have only minor rubbing and the wide spine whilst not perfect is the cleanest I have seen.  There are a small number of rub marks and also a little wear at the top and bottom.  All the right hand corners are in excellent shape with very little wear and the opening edge has barely any handling wear.  Further evidence perhaps that the vinyl has not very often been removed from the sleeve?  The front cover really stands out and the colours remain and strong and vibrant and the back cover is the same.  There is no creasing or marking and the inside of the gatefold is also visually very impressive with no marking again.  This is a fine example of this rare cover and will not disappoint.

Inner sleeve

The original poly-lined Harvest inner is in great order with no splits and only very light creasing.  There is hardly any fading or marking which is a rarity.

The labels

The green/yellow Harvest labels are in excellent condition with no writing on them and the colours remain strong.  Each side does have a small faded area as if there was once perhaps a sticker on there.  Who knows!  As stated there is not very much spindle wear, barely any on S1 and only a little more on S2.  Being a genuine first press it has no EMI logo on either side.

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

SHVL 784 // A - 2G / B - 2G // G1 / G1

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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