PINK FLOYD ATOM HEART MOTHER UK ORIG FIRST A1 B1 NO EMI

	£		23
	$		30

Album / Record Title: ATOM HEART MOTHER   Rarity: VERY RARE - Normally I would not refer to a Pink Floyd Atom Heart Mother album as very rare because it is hard to justify such a claim when referring to a popular album from one of the biggest selling progressive rock groups of all time. It reached #1 in the UK album charts, there were many pressed in 1970, and a lot more since then, so if you are not too concerned about variant or condition you can find plenty of examples. However, this one is clearly exceptional for a number of very good reasons. First, it is a FIRST ISSUE, VERY EARLY UK PRESSING with A-1G & B-1G MATRICES, and ‘MR’ & ‘MO’ stamper codes showing it was pressed from the 41st. & 45th. stampers and indicating that in the context of the overall production of this album it is a relatively early FIRST PRESSING. Secondly, it has an impressive 143 GRAMME HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL, first pressing vinyls for this album can range from about 130 grammes to 150 grammes later pressings and re-issues are noticeably lighter in the range 110-125 grammes. Thirdly, the Harvest labels do not have the boxed EMI logo at 9 o’clock, the absence of which is a characteristic of all early pressings of this album - later UK pressings and re-issues on the green Harvest label all had the boxed EMI logo. Fourthly, all of the earliest pressings, like this one, were issued with the Harvest Company inner sleeve displaying black & white advertisements for other albums from the Harvest catalogue, later ones had standard white inners. Last, but by no means least, this has the original Garrod & Lofthouse gatefold cover, non-laminated matt surface, front sealed with makers credit and 7010 date code bottom left corner of the centre spread and no barcode - later issues are not by G&L they have a glossier surface, no makers credit or date code where mentioned and many are bar coded.   If all that were not enough I maintain that one of the rarest Pink Floyd albums is any one of them with a vinyl which delivers top quality audio with a reasonable minimum of surface sound or interference. This is not perfect but it maintains a consistently high standard throughout and comfortably grades NEAR EXCELLENT; and I should not understate that because to find any example of this album with a vinyl that delivers ENJOYABLE SOUND, is a great rarity indeed.   The key features are listed below:   • COMPLETE ORIGINAL UK ALBUM EARLY PRESS & FIRST ISSUE • FIRST MATRICES, VERY EARLY MOTHERS & EARLY STAMPERS • SUPERB HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL EXCELLENT PLUS CONDITION • STEREO RECORDING FORMAT DELIVERING SENSATIONAL AUDIO • ORIGINAL HARVEST GREEN  LABELS - NO ‘BOXED’ EMI LOGO • ORIGINAL GARROD & LOFTHOUSE GATEFOLD FRONT SEALED • ORIGINAL STICKER • EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND A UK FIRST ISSUE OF THIS QUALITY   Artiste(s): PINK FLOYD - Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Rick Wright   Disc Format & Playing Speed: 12” LP & 33 1/3 r.p.m.   Recording Format: STEREO   Record label: ORIGINAL HARVEST TWO TONE GREEN - DARK GREEN LOGO ON LIGHT GREEN BACKGROUND - NO ‘BOXED’ EMI LOGO BUT WITH ‘THE GRAMOPHONE CO.’ TEXT TOP PERIMETER - OTHER PRINT IN BLACK   Catalogue Number: SHVL 781   Country of origin and first published date: Made in GREAT BRITAIN 1970   Vinyl ‘run off’ matrices side 1:     SHVL 781 A-1G Vinyl ‘run off’ matrices side 2:     SHVL 781 B-1G   Vinyl ‘run off’ initials / cryptic side 1:  none visible Vinyl ‘run off’ initials / cryptic side 2:  none visible   N.B. Please note that all matrices, mothers and stampers quoted in my listings are machine imprinted except where I state an alternative method next to them.   Track listing as per label: SIDE 1: (a) FATHERS SHOUT; (b) BREAST MILKY (c) MOTHER FORE; (d) FUNKY DUNG; (e) MIND YOUR THROAT’S PLEASE; (f) REMERGENCE / SIDE 2: IF / SUMMER 68 / FAT OLD SUN / ALANS PSYCHEDELIC BREAKFAST (a) RISE AND SHINE; (b) SUNNY SIDE UP; (c) MORNING GLORY   My opinion and summary of condition: This is a well known album in terms of the content, and if you’ve got this far in the listing you probably will not be seeking my opinion about the music so I will concentrate on the credentials. This is a VERY EARLY PRESSING FROM THE FIRST ISSUE with all the characteristics of a FIRST and it would be hard to find another one with such a clean vinyl delivering audio of such high quality. Normally used copies of this album are notorious for their ‘scratchy’ sound and unwanted interference but this is EXCELLENT. It is not without a little underlying surface sound in the quieter moments but overall the audio delivery is BEAUTIFUL. The gatefold is showing some of the signs of wear consistent with careful handling and storage over 38 years, but it maintains a very high standard. This is a FIRST RATE EXAMPLE; highly presentable, enjoyable and will meet the best expectations of most buyers.   MY GRADING OF THIS ALBUM based on Record Collector ‘Rare Record Price Guide 2008’ (**n.b. please note that I grade accurately backed up by a description. I neither over-exaggerate nor under-exaggerate. I see no point in grading an item with multiple ++++ marks, or under-grading it and then stating that it should be graded better - I consider these methods to be confusing. I use the Record Collector system with either a PLUS or a MINUS to indicate slight variations either side of a grade). I always include a full set of super-sized photographs to provide bidders with the best possible opportunity to make their own visual assessment of each album in conjunction with my detailed descriptions.   Vinyl Visual side 1: EXCELLENT, some superficial surface lines caused by movement in and out of the inner sleeve over time, and a few that are slightly more noticeable, no tangible depth and no significant audio consequence. Vinyl Visual side 2: EXCELLENT, some superficial surface lines caused by movement in and out of the inner sleeve over time, and a few that are slightly more noticeable, no tangible depth and no significant audio consequence.   Label Visual side 1: EXCELLENT PLUS, some light spindle lines but no marks, no scuffs, no tears, no visible spindle hole wear Label Visual side 2: EXCELLENT PLUS, some light spindle lines but no marks, no scuffs, no tears, no visible spindle hole wear   N.B. Please note that I make no adjustment or allowance in grading for minor marks, slight shrinkage marks / lines or minor misalignment on labels caused in original pressing; they are quite normal and in my opinion are individual characteristics – not defects.   Outer Cover: NEAR MINT, a classic fully surface printed side loading gatefold of mid-weight card construction Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. with front edge sealed by the manufacturer. A little edge and corner rub wear. This type of gatefold has a high potential to wear, but overall this has fared well over the years. Please take a look at the super-sized photographs and make your own assessment as well. Sticker: ORIGINAL STICKER. Cannot say if the record was sold in the United States as an import or if the record guy in UK just had a special price sticker in USD somewhere. Don’t really care about that, cause this is the very first copy I found with a sticker on that makes the cover PURE AMAZING ORIGINAL, but different, unique and special indeed.   Spine: EXCELLENT PLUS, generally in physically excellent shape with just the usual faint fold line down the centre from careful opening and closing over time, slight superficial separation of the surface on the shoulders at the bottom for a very short distance which is not detrimental,  but most importantly fully readable.   Inner Sleeve: anonymous non original brand new inner     Audio Performance: A TERRIFIC AUDIO DELIVERY, I LISTENED TO EVERY NOTE AND EVERY PIECE OF VINYL COVERED BY THE STYLUS AS USUAL AND DRIFTED EFFORTLESSLY INTO THE PINK FLOYD PARALLEL UNIVERSE. PLEASE DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND ME, ATOM HEART IS A VERY DIFFICULT ALBUM TO FIND AUDIO PERFECT ON VINYL AND THIS VINYL HAS BEEN PLAYED OVER THE YEARS SO THERE’S SOME UNDERLYING SURFACE SOUND AS LIGHT CRACKLE ON THE LEAD IN, LINKING GROOVES, QUIETER PARTS AND RUN OFF, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, BUT IT’S NOT INTRUSIVE AND THIS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE. AS REGULAR VISITORS TO MY LISTINGS WILL KNOW I ALWAYS SAY PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS SECTION AND THE GRADING IS BASED ENTIRELY ON MY PERSONAL OPINION AND AUDIO PERCEPTION BELONGS TO THE INDIVIDUAL. WITH VINYL CLARITY THERE IS ALWAYS LIGHT TRANSITIONAL SURFACE SOUND WHICH IS INEVITABLE FROM THIS MEDIUM, EVEN WHEN NEW, AND OCCASIONALLY A LITTLE LIGHT CRACKLE WHICH IS OFTEN STATIC; OR EVEN A RANDOM SOFT TICK - BUT THIS IS TOTALLY COMPELLING SOUND FROM A GREAT VINYL AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED - CLEAN. CLEAR & CAPTIVATING.   PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY OTHER LISTINGS BY CLICKING ON THE ‘VIEW SELLERS OTHER ITEMS’ IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER BOX OF THIS LISTING - THANKS