Seasons End A1 / B1

This final upgrade archive pressing plays with immaculate audio.  Having play tested every second I can vouch for the 'high end' quality and has only been played a couple of times at most.  The gatefold is also in superb condition.

EMD 1011 // A-1 / B-1 LOVE FROM THE MONTGOLFIER BROTHERS etched on S2

The audio on S1 is Mint

The audio on S2 is Mint (track 2 intro Ex for two seconds!) 

The gatefold is Near Mint

The inner is Mint

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This is a beautiful looking vinyl and is visually stunning.  I have looked under various lights and cannot detect any hairlines and there are certainly no scratches.  There is only one tiny barely visible spindle trace on the S1 label and only a little spindle wear on S2.  The vinyl retains a lovely glossy sheen and in all honesty looks 'as new'.  This record has been incredibly well preserved and is a superb example for a first pressing.

Play grading  

There is no lead in static on S1 and then the long build up on 'The King Of Sunset Town' plays with remarkable precision when you consider how quiet it is.  With only a couple of mega quiet dust ticks the clarity is stunning and this is obviously a record that has been hardly played.  The track then plays with what can only be described as Mint audio.  Having played every second I can safely say there is no interference whatsoever.  A breathtaking start and even the long fade out has no static etc!  'Easter' is 100% spectacular.  This so should've been Marillion's first single in the Hogarth era but sadly you can't re-write history!  The depth on this classic is incredible and it quite simply plays 'as new'.  I have never heard it play with such stunning precision on a genuine first pressing and again there is no 'background' at all.  I cannot adequately explain just how superbly it plays!  The bass is also so strong - the sonic quality just could not be any better.  'The Uninvited Guest' rocks out in sublime fashion and again grades as Mint the quality is astounding.  I do not use the grading 'Mint' lightly either and will only use it when I know the audio deserves it.  For example on the 'cuckoo' fade out there is just no 'background' giving you a prime example of how good the clarity is.  The classic 'Seasons End' is fabulous from beginning to end and could not play with greater clarity and precision.  Again I am running out of superlatives here - the audio is just awesome, I have never heard better.  No clicks, pops, static or crackle.  This is audio of the highest calibre.  The instrumental end section is just so clear and plays with superb definition.  S1 is Mint as simple as that!  

I am pleased to report that S2 is of the same quality.  The intro on 'Holloway Girl' has no interference and from then plays as an unplayed vinyl should, with wonderful clarity and depth.  'Berlin' does have a very quiet, gentle hiss on the intro but it doesn't even last two seconds!  Thereafter it plays stunning precision and whilst this may sound repetitive now there is no interference at all.  The quiet sections play perfectly and the louder ones impress with no distortion.  It is an absolutely fantastic version.  'Hooks In You' carries on in the same vein and plays loud and true and is 'as new' once more.  The audio is so powerful and again the bass is so strong.  Dynamic Mint audio without doubt.  The intro on 'The Space' is superb and on the keyboard arrangement I heard things I haven't heard in a long time.  This is why we listen to vinyl - when you get clarity as good as this you hear things that you just don't pick up on CD.  The quality on this classic is immense and I don't think I have ever heard a stronger more impressive version.  It is Mint in every way, the depth and power is incredible and the famous end section could not be any clearer and has none of the distortion that you so often find.

In summary this is without doubt a final upgrade archive first pressing.  I have never heard an A1/B1 play with such stunning clarity.  There are no clicks or pops or static for that matter and with barely two seconds of mega quiet 'hiss' this album is a classic 'high end' version.  It comes complete with a very impressive, clean gatefold also.

The Gatefold

This is another gatefold that has been superbly well looked after over the last 29 years.  The edges have no wear/rubbing and the wide spine has only a small number of 'rubs' near the bottom.  In fact this corner is the only one with any wear but it is very minimal.  The opening edge has no handling wear whatsoever as you would expect for a vinyl hardly played!  The glossy front cover is in lovely condition with only a couple of faint fingernail marks that you can see when held at a certain angle.  Both the back cover and inside are in immaculate condition.

The Inner

The original die-cut poly-lined inner is in superb shape with no splits or tears and no marking or creasing.

The labels

They are both super clean and the only the S2 label has some obvious spindle lines - just the two though.  There is no marking or writing to be seen.

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

EMD 1011 // A-1 / B-1 LOVE FROM THE MONTGOLFIER BROTHERS etched on S2

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

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

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