PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON A2/B2 1st PRESS Solid Blue SUPERB NM/M- AUDIO
  £   3,151
  $   4,175

 


£ 3151 Sold For
Mar 19, 2023 Sold Date
Mar 9, 2023 Start Date
42   Number Of Bids
  Great Britain Country Of Seller
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Description

I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.
Pink Floyd : The Dark Side Of The Moon A-2 / B-2 1st Press Solid Blue + Posters/Stickers
This first pressing plays to a fantastic standard with barely any intrusion.  The clarity on both sides is absolutely stunning and the highlights are just too numerous to mention really!  This is unequivocally one of the finest versions of this very collectable album that I have ever encountered, no exaggeration.  There are just 3/4 very light ticks on 'Breathe' and one click during 'On The Run' that about sums it up!  I cannot overstate just how clear and precise the audio is and nowhere is that more obvious than on the classic 'Great Gig...' which plays with phenomenal clarity from start to finish.  In fact the clarity of sound across the entire can hardly be faulted but the quieter sections are particularly impressive and 'Time' and 'Us And Them' are fine examples of that.  The power, depth and warmth of the audio is breath-taking - you do not find sonic quality such as this on any of the later pressings.  The vinyl is visually stunning and based on this, the audio and the minimal spindle wear this classic album has certainly not been played very much.
The iconic 'midnight blue' gatefold is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and the original black inner can't have been removed from the cover that much as it is in superb condition!  It comes complete with the posters and stickers although I am not entirely sure if both of the posters are original to this copy.  Regardless of that they both remain in great shape with no marking or splits.
As can be seen this first pressing is one of the earlier versions as it has only two stampers on each side.
SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // HL 3 / MG 3
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 & T3 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The gatefold is Ex
The labels are Near Mint-
The original black inner sleeve is Near Mint
The posters are Mint- and the stickers are Ex+ / Ex
Visual description
The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen.  It is so clean and has a remarkable lack of sleeve removal hairlines - even under a strong bright light I can hardly find any and even the ones I can see are so so faint.  S1 just has one hairline a few cms long but again it is faint and has zero impact on the audio.  S2 is also visually stunning with just one small faint blemish on the first track but again has no affect on the audio.  It goes without saying there are no scratches on either side.  The iconic solid blue labels are in lovely condition with only minimal spindle wear, just one longer dotted spindle trace on S2, and they have lost none of their original colour.  A superb example overall, one that would be difficult to beat.
Play grading
The 'heartbeat' intro on 'Speak To Me' plays so clearly and the sound really reverberates - there is great depth to the audio and this entire section plays with stunning clarity and only 3/4 mega light static ticks that are totally non-intrusive of course.  The spoken section is faultless and as the volume increases the playback cannot be faultless.  One of the finest intros I have heard in a long time and Mint- is very much deserved.
The segue into 'Breathe' is 'as new' and the opening instrumental again plays with great quality and just one very light tick.  The first verse is close to perfect with just three very quiet ticks and the second verse does indeed play with perfect clarity.  What really stands out here is the sheer depth of the music, the original sonic quality is still there and there is no background static getting in the way of the audio.  I will grade as Near Mint although the vast majority is better than that!
'On The Run' then plays with exceptional power and depth and with a clarity that is hard to beat.  There is one click around the one minute mark but that is the only intrusion here.  The playback is incredible and demands to be played loud!  The audio is so strong and deep and even the 'crash' / running man section is so clear and precise - you can easily hear each breath and step!  So 'as new' for 99% but I will grade as Near Mint due to that one click near the start. 
The segue into 'Time' has just one very light tick at the beginning (you can still hear the remnants of the crash) and then the loud chiming clocks 'play' perfectly.  The metronome section is flawless and the next part of this classic intro again demonstrates just how well this vinyl has been preserved.  There is no intrusion on the audio and the depth - wow!  Gilmour's opening vocal and Wright's first chorus play with sublime clarity and it continues in the same precise way.  Gilmour's first solo is as 'fresh' as it was back in '73 and the final verse/chorus again play with remarkable clarity, definition and warmth.  This truly is a stunning version and Mint- is no exaggeration.
'Breathe Reprise' just has one very light tick on the intro but I'll be honest I missed it on first listen!  It is very quiet.  The vocal has no 'background' and the overall sound quality is again so impressive.  Hard to believe you are listening to a genuine first press!  Mint-
The quiet piano intro on 'The Great Gig In The Sky' plays beautifully and that often isn't the case as it regularly plays with static or worse.  There is no 'background' here, amazing really!  The 'spoken' section is equally as good and Torry's opening 'vocal' is absolutely STUNNING!  So powerful and the depth is phenomenal, I don't think I have ever heard better.  There is no distortion and the high octane section is faultless.  The following quieter section then plays with wonderful clarity and right to the end there are no clicks, pops or static just a couple of barely audible dust ticks.  I cannot emphasise enough just how incredible the audio is - the final grooves are so clean and even that final 'note' has no 'background'.  I am totally confident in grading this classic number as Mint- although I am not entirely sure the minus is required!
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The cash register intro on 'Money' has no interference and the iconic bass line section is just as good.  The first two verses play with impeccable quality and then the instrumental beginning with the sax section plays with a clarity and power that is second to none, again I cannot put into words just how good it is!  As the volume increases the playback is STUNNING and throughout this entire section there is no interference of any kind and no skip either.  Gilmour's final vocal is as good as the first and the spoken end section has no 'background' either.  This has to grade as Mint such is the quality.
The segue into 'Us And Them' is near perfect with only a couple of very minor static ticks and as the music comes in the playback is superb.  This instrumental is 'as new' and the opening vocal is just as good - no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  The first chorus is of the same standard and it continues to play with sublime precision.  This classic often plays with some static but this is one of the cleanest versions you are ever likely to hear as there is just no intrusion on the audio.  Once again I cannot overstate just how impressive the depth and resonance on offer here - it's like you have been transported back to the early 70s!  The mid instrumental is flawless, the high octane end section in particular.  The final vocal keeps up the standard and to the end it plays with outstanding quality.  I am sure many would grade as Mint but I will say Mint- because I did notice a couple of very light ticks even though they were barely audible!  A STUNNING version from the first note to the last.   'Any Colour You Like' plays with outstanding sonic quality throughout with, you guessed it, no 'background'.  Great power and depth (again) and Mint is 100% deserved.
The intro on 'Brain Damage' has no ticks etc and Waters' opening vocal is just as 'clean'.  From then on it plays 'as new' with no sign of any interference.  In essence you could not wish to find a more 'complete' version as the clarity and depth of the audio could not be improved in any way.  The 'high octane' choruses have no distortion on the top end which is a rarity as you approach the end of the side and once more there is only one grade I can give.  Mint
The depth of the audio on the 'Eclipse' is amazing and the vocal sections then with STUNNING precision and for once there is no inner groove distortion.  I have just had to play it back it is just so darn good!  This is without question one of the strongest versions I have ever listened to - the clarity of sound is so affected but not here!  This is without question one of the finest versions you could ever wish to hear and to think it is on a genuine first pressing!  The power and definition of the audio is exceptional and even the quiet 'heartbeat' ending has no barely any 'background' and that is rare!  Mint- is a fair reflection of the audio and that is only because of the minimal (very minimal!) static right at then end.
In summary this first pressing plays to a standard apart not often found today.  To find a 'solid blue' in this condition is relatively rare and as stated it has clearly not been played very much.  The clarity of sound is sensational and as you can see from my grading above there is barely any intrusion on the audio.  The power, depth and warmth of the audio is just as impressive and you just don't get this level of sonic quality on the later pressings - this is another reason why this pressing is so collectable.  S1 is up there with the best I have ever heard and S2 is even better!  I have sold a number of the A2/B2 first pressings down the years and this is easily one of the finest examples I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.  A stunning example of this genuine prog classic.
The Gatefold, Inner Sleeve, Posters & Stickers
The 'midnight blue' cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear.  The only obvious wear is some rubbing on the bottom edge of the back cover towards the right corner.  Aside from that the edges are very clean with only a few light 'specks'.  The spine is close to perfect with just one white 'speck' and all corners are in great shape with only minimal wear.  The opening edge has very little handling wear, just 3/4 minor 'crimps'.  The front cover is incredibly clean with barely any of the fading you so often see around the edges and there are no edge creases either.  The back cover is just as impressive and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate with no marking etc.  A fine example overall and rarely seen as clean as this.
The original die-cut poly-lined black inner is in great condition with no side splits or tears and is unmarked on both sides.  With only minimal creasing it is one of the best I have seen.  It has the usual Patent Nos and 'Made in Great Britain' printed in silver on one side.
The two glossy posters are in pristine condition although I am not entirely sure if they started life together as the back of one does seem a little whiter/glossier and the borders are a different width.  They are definitely originals though.  The two stickers are in excellent shape with only minor faint spotting and the 'brown' one has a little creasing on one side.  They both have Crack Back / FasPrint / Permanent on the back although this is printed in green.  The both have the brown diagonal lines also.
Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // HL 3 / MG 3

I grade according to "Record Collecter'' guidelines.


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