Pink Floyd : Animals A2/B3

This is known as a second press as the A2/B2 was the first to be produced although I do think the A2/B3 was manufactured at the same time.  Regardless of that this is a FINAL UPGRADE vinyl as the audio is just so impressive.  The clarity and depth is incredible and visually it could not look any better.  This is one stunning vinyl!

The gatefold is also in superb condition as is the lyric inner which has no splits!

SHVL 815 // A - 2U / B - 3U // HO 1 / HH 3

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 2 intro Near Mint)

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The lyric inner is Mint-

The labels are Mint

I am confident in saying this stunning vinyl is visually 'as new'.  It has a pristine glossy sheen and there are no visible hairlines or scratches, it is immaculate.  I believe this was played only the once and then stored carefully ever since for there is no spindle wear to be seen.  It has been so well preserved and that reflects in the stunning quality of the audio as detailed below.  This is as good as it gets!  The run out grooves and labels are also in pristine condition.

Play grading  

'Pigs On The Wing (Part One)' plays with stunning clarity from the very first groove.  With only a couple of light dust ticks this is a sublime start to the album and easily grades as Near Mint although I am sure many would grade it higher.  There is no intrusive 'background' of any kind.  This is as near to a perfect start that you will find on such an early pressing.

The acoustic intro on 'Dogs' has no interference whatsoever and as the vocal begins the clarity is of the same fantastic standard.  Thus far the audio is 'as new' and the definition of each note could not be any 'cleaner'.  There is one faint click on the second verse but from then on the sound quality is 'high end' to say the least, the clarity is just immaculate!  Gilmour's first solo after the third verse is stunning and has no distortion at all.  The quiet section that follows is again so 'clean' and quite honestly any Floyd collector would be so impressed with the playback here.  It continues to play with audio that belies its 42 years of age.  It is patently obvious that this record has hardly ever been played, there is clarity and then there is Mint clarity and this is most definitely the latter!  The long instrumental section after the repeated 'stone' line is 100% immaculate and I have never heard it play with such distinction.  Wow this is good!  There is not even a dust tick!  This is pure Mint- audio and the minus is only there because the album is not sealed!  The acoustic section and the next two verses continue to play 'as new' with nothing to detract from the stunning quality of the audio.  The 'Who was...' end section always has some distortion but this is the 'cleanest' I have ever heard it play and that is no exaggeration.  There is barely any distortion and this all points to a vinyl that has only been played the once in my opinion.  It provides such a strong finish to the side and there is not even a dust tick on the short fade out.  Even with that one faint near the start I honestly believe this side is worthy of a Mint- grading.

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The quiet intro on 'Pigs (Three Different Ones)' is again so impressive.  With only a handful of mega quiet static ticks this is as close to a perfect intro that you will find.  This standard is maintained once the vocal begins and rarely there is just no 'background' to be heard.  The first two verses have a clarity that is second to none.  For some reason S2 hardly ever plays as well as S1 on the first/early pressings but that is certainly not the case here.  The clarity and depth here is 'high end' and cannot be improved upon.  The long instrumental section is another prime example of this as is the very quiet section that follows, just a small number of inconsequential dust ticks that you would find on new vinyl let alone one of this age.  The final verse, you guessed it, plays in immaculate style and the closing guitar solo performs with no distortion, it is stunning.  The long fade out has no 'background' and this is quite possibly the most best version of this track that I have ever heard.

 The super quiet intro on 'Sheep' always has some static it is just a matter of how much and I am glad to say there is very little here.  There are a handful of very light static ticks but they are sparse and non-intrusive.  This is still a super clean intro!  The first two verses have a depth and clarity that you so rarely hear and qualify as Mint- without doubt and I am not exaggerating.  The next quiet section has 3/4 light ticks only but they are not clicks I hasten to add!  As the volume increases the definition of the audio is sublime and quite honestly I am just running out of superlatives for the quality on offer here.  The quiet section that precedes the 'Lord is my shepherd...' rendition is just stunning and this verse then plays without fault also.  The remainder of the track is Mint- and I cannot quite believe it but there is no distortion on the end guitar section.  This may be a first!  The long fade out plays with immaculate precision.

'Pigs on The Wing P2' ends this album with superb clarity.  The acoustic intro plays faultlessly with no 'background', not even a dust tick and it continues in exactly the same way aside from one faint tick on the final note.  Final tracks regularly have some interference so for an album of this age to display such fine clarity on such a quiet track is a genuine rarity.

In summary this is a FINAL UPGADE ARCHIVE pressing without doubt.  Perhaps only played the once the clarity and precision of the audio is 'as new' for 99% I would say and to say I am impressed by the sound quality is an understatement!  The sonic quality is of an incredibly high standard and the lack of distortion is just so rarely found.  The word 'rarely' is banded about far too often but it certainly applies here.  The gatefold is also in stunning condition as is the lyric inner which has no splits - now that is rare!

The Gatefold

This G & L gatefold is in superb condition!  They are so prone to wear and yet this one has been so well preserved down the years and has hardly been handled I would say.  The edges have next to no 'rubbing' and the wide spine has retained its 'shape' incredibly well and has one very minor 'rub'.  There is also hardly any corner wear which is a rarity and the opening edge has no handling wear either.  What makes this cover really stand out is just how remarkably clean it is.  The front cover has just the one small 'white' sticker removal mark top right but apart from that is in exemplary condition.  The back cover has just one faint scratch line on the black background section and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate with none of the usual fading around the edges.  The inner spine also has none of the compression/creasing that you so often see, another indication that it has been hardly ever opened.  This truly is a hugely impressive cover and would please any avid Floyd fan.

Lyric Sleeve

Now this is a rarity!  It has no splits and no creasing either.  All it has are a handful of white 'rubs' around the edges but this is as close to perfect as you will find really.  It has the rounded corners as per the first/early pressings and is a superb example of its kind.

The Labels

They are in pristine condition with no marking/writing and no spindle wear.  Fantastic examples!

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

SHVL 815 // A - 2U / B - 3U // HO 1 / HH 3

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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