PINK FLOYD ANIMALS UK CONTRACT PRES N.MINT ViNyL/AuDiO

	£		137
	$		182

Another from my personal collection, Incredibly rare to find like this! Rare UK contract (beleived to be Pye pressing?) with textured centers on the labels and no stampers at 3 oclock to the matrix)  Unbeleivably the vinyl looks and sounds barely ever played at all, in fact i find it very hard to see any spidering at all around the spindle hole, perhapes just one or two only!  Purchased from new and initially only ever played a few times and then stored in a case for more than 30 years, with the vinyl seperated from the cover and sleeve for protection, this is how I have always stored my records! With the original WIDE SPINED G& L gatefold cover and early UK press vinyl ! in awesome top  condition through out!! These very 1st Garrod & Lofthouse covers are the rarest and most sought after to find! Incredibly collectable like this! Absolutely top stunning cristal clear audio throughout, a real deep basey feel only found with earliest copies!! This is complete with the original lyric thick card record sleeve in superbe condition! Amaizingly 33 years old like this!

Animals is a concept album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released on 23 January 1977 in the UK and on 2 February 1977 in the U.S. The album proved a success in America, reaching #3 on the Billboard album charts. However, it was on the American charts for only six months even though it has continued to sell solidly, to the extent of its having gone quadruple platinum!

While singer and guitarist David Gilmour is only credited for the music of one track, the epic "Dogs", which was previously known as "You Gotta Be Crazy", was actually a band composition with Waters writing the lyrics. This song and "Raving and Drooling" which would later become "Sheep" was also a band composition from around 1974, originally destined for the Wish You Were Here album. The discrepancies with the credits and actual writing is directly related to the increasing tensions in the band!

Each song on the album reflects Waters' socialist beliefs about the class system found in capitalistic societies. The anthropomorphic symbols of the 'dog', the 'pig', and the 'sheep' are elaborated throughout the album, which often leads to some confusion as to Waters' intended meaning in the lyrics. The 'dog', for instance, changes from a symbol for the heartless businessman in "Dogs" to the object of an irrational fear put forward by the pigs (politicians) in the song "Sheep" to scare the sheep (common people). The meaning of the three symbols does not change from song to song. Roger Waters elaborates specific behavioral traits of each animal at different times throughout the album, depending on the content and theme of the song. Nevertheless, the lyrics of each song should be interpreted independently!!.

The three core songs are bookended by a pair of love songs written by Waters for his then-wife Caroline: "Pigs on the Wing, Part 1" and "Pigs on the Wing, Part 2". Both are in stark contrast to the misanthropic middle three songs, and suggest that companionship can help us overcome our flaws – though the final line suggests the singer admits he is/was once one of the dogs. For the 8-track cartridge release, which looped, Parts 1 and 2 were linked by a guitar bridge performed by Snowy White (subsequently available on White's 1996 album "Goldtop: Groups & Sessions"), and the 17:08 song "Dogs" was cut into two tracks!!!.

The giant, helium-filled pig seen on the cover was actually flown over Battersea Power Station for the photo shoot (under the direction of Storm Thorgerson). On the first day of shooting, a marksman was on hand in case the pig broke free. However, according to Thorgerson, this was considered an "insurance problem", and he was not hired for the second day of shooting. Ironically, on December 3, 1976, during the second day, a gust of wind broke the pig free of its moorings. Because there was no one to shoot the pig down, it sailed away into the morning sky. A passenger plane reported seeing the pig, causing all the flights at London Heathrow Airport to be delayed. A police helicopter was sent up to track the pig, but was forced to return after following the pig to an altitude of 5,000 feet. A warning was sent out to pilots that a giant, flying pink pig was loose in the area. The CAA lost radar contact on the pig near Chatham in Kent, at a height of 18,000 feet and flying East. It finally landed in a farmer's field (without much damage). They then repaired the pig, and flew it up for a third time. The resulting pictures were not deemed suitable on their own (as the clear, blue sky from day three was thought to be much less evocative), and the final image was made as a composite of the power station picture from day one and the pig from day three!!.

The album had custom picture labels, using drummer Nick Mason's handwriting as a typeface, as did the lyrics on the liner sleeve. Side one's label depicted a fish-eye lens view of a dog and the English countryside. Side two's was similar, but featured a pig and sheep instead of the dog!!!.

Originally released on Columbia Records in the U.S. and Harvest Records in the UK, Animals was then remastered in 1992 for its inclusion on the Shine On box set. The remaster was subsequently released on its own by EMI in 1994. In 1997, Columbia Records issued an updated remaster in the United States, Canada, Australia, South America and Japan. Animals was again re-released in April 2000 by Capitol Records in the U.S. and EMI in Canada, Australia, South America and Japan, using the 1992 Shine On remaster along with the artwork from the 1994 EMI reissue!!!!!!.

1. "Pigs on the Wing 1" (Waters) – 1:24
2. "Dogs" (Gilmour, Waters) – 17:06

1. "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" (Waters) – 11:28
2. "Sheep" (Waters) – 10:21
3. "Pigs on the Wing 2" (Waters) – 1:27

The Matrix

side 1 ''SHVL 815 A-4U''

side 2 ''SHVL 815 B-4U

The Mother Stampers

side 1 ''1'' ''No Stampers'' side 2 ''x 3'' ''No Stampers'' impossibly rare to find, no stampers at 3 oclock to the matrix only contract pressings ) 

The vinyl

This lays perfectly flat on the turntable! On initial inspection this looks superb retaining its glossy apearance from new! Any marks that could possibly be seen under a strong light would  be sleeve removal, light whysy scuff marks only, no nasty needle scratches that would cause any loud clicks or pops what so ever!

The Audio

In my opinion this plays with true excellence! Having played many many of these pressings, It is all too easy to be critical about late 70s pressings but in my opinion this plays througth truly awesome cristal clear and vibrant any barest static interfearance only really evidant in some quieter places but isolated to just minor static ticks barely interfears and nothing too detrimental to this audio in my opinion! I have played this vinyl three times prior to listing on a top system at very loud volume! The audio is cristal clear and vibrant all the way through with (no) signs of grooveware or that this has been overplayed at all, in fact this vinyl has barely been played more than a dozen times only Unbeleivable to find like this after 33 years!! There is (no) loud clicks or pops during the play of the audio and certainly (no) jumps or skips, even in between tracks this is almost silent! Very Light static crackle\ticks may be evident during some of the quiet parts but nothing in my opinion that spoilt the overall enjoyment, also to note that I play these at very loud volume on a top system. Truely awesome seperation and a real bassey feel only found on these early pressings in my opinion  I would class myself as highly critical please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right! Must be at least excellent\explus!!

Points to note! This has been stored in a case all of its storagelife!,, with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve and cover! This is how i have always stored my records! A build up of dirt and dust over the years from laying dormant causes static crackle! A constant clean before each play is recomended!,, from my personal experiance this greatly reduces this static and subsequently enhances the audio quality!!

Please note! I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd light static tick\crackle (not consistant throughout the audio! Please remember that this is a genuine 1st press that is 31 years old and would have originally been played on a 31 year old system!!!

The labels

These are awesome! I find it very hard to even see a spider mark around the spindle hole, perhapes just one or two barely visable only when angled to the light!  no ware or marks! little if (no) spindleware the hole is perfectly round! (see photos) 

The record sleeve

Superbe condition  This is the original 1st press Thick card lyric sleeve (rounded corners only earliest press) Becoming slightly fragile at the edges, minor creases only! No edge splits or tares! The record is now stored seperately.

The cover

 THE RAREST AND MOST SOUGHT AFTER 1ST PRESS 'WIDE SPINED' GARROD AND LOFTHOUSE PRINTED!!! Only when scutinised to the light can very (very) light rubbing\storageware be seen at the edges and the spine (hardly noticable at all unless looked for) Spine is superbe and square and has not bee flattened with age! Light minor creases at the spine and edges only ! ! !Amaizingly (no) real  rubbing or ringware to talk of on the front! Any marks or indents are small and minor in my opinion. POINTS TO NOTE! THESE 1ST PRESS COVERS ONLY, HAVE ONE OPENING AT THE BACK OF THE GATEFOLD FOR THE VINYL TO SLIDE IN AND ONE OPENING AT THE FRONT IS SEALED WITH A FLAP, LATER PRESSINGS DO NOT HAVE THIS!, THEY FEATURE TWO OPENINGS. Must be at least excellent if not much better in my opinion !

Top example!  

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA,CANADA,JAPAN ,AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds! (NOT ON WEEKENDS)

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement!!!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

>>>>     <<<<

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

>>>>     <<<<