PINK FLOYD "DARK SIDE OF THE MOON" A3 B3 + LIVE ALBUM.

	£		70
	$		93

THIS IS  PINK FLOYDS 1973 ALBUM, "THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON". THIS IS A VERY GENUINE MEGA EARLY PRESS IN QUITE SUPERB CONDITION. THIS HAS SOME DETAILS THAT MAKE IT A VERY RARE AND UNUSUAL EXAMPLE, WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN IN DETAIL. I AM ALSO INCLUDING A LIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE ALBUM RECORDED AT SOUTHAMPTON ON THE 23rd JANUARY 1972. THIS IS MINT AND UNPLAYED!
THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ALBUM. THE COVER IS IN A QUITE SUPERB CONDITION, WITH BARELY A FAULT TO NOTE. THE VINYL IS EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY AND THICK (IT ACTUALLY WEIGHS THE SAME AS A SOLID BLUE LABEL FIRST PRESS THAT I OWN!). PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POINT OF NOTE IS THE MATRIX/MOTHER/STAMPER COMBINATION. IT IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED (CHECK OUT THE QUITE WONDERFUL "PINK FLOYD ARCHIVE DISCOGRAPHY" WEBSITE) THAT THE ALLEGED "HOLY GRAIL" SOLID BLUE LABEL FIRST ISSUE HAVE THE MATRIX NUMBERS A2 AND B2, YES, TRUE. THEY ALSO HAVE MOTHERS THAT GO AS HIGH AS 7!! MOST SELLERS WILL NOT ADVERTISE THE FACT THAT THE MOTHERS ARE SO HIGH, OF COURSE, THIS WOULD GREATLY AFFECT RESALE VALUE! THIS COPY HAS THE MATRIX NUMBERS A3 AND B3, WHICH ARE INDICATIVE OF A VERY EARLY PRESSING. IT GETS MUCH BETTER THOUGH. THE MOTHER STAMPERS ARE (SIDE 1) "2" AND (SIDE 2) "1". THE STAMPERS ARE (SIDE 1) "ALG" AND (SIDE 2) "GPR". THIS IS SUCH AN EARLY PRESSING THAT IT ACTUALLY PRECEDES SOME OF THE SOLID BLUE LABEL COPIES! IT JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE A LATER CENTER LABEL STUCK TO IT. IT IS FAIRLY UNUSUAL TO FIND A SOLID BLUE WITH MOTHERS THIS EARLY. THIS IS A RARE SECOND PRESSING, WITH BEAUTIFUL COVER, AND OF COURSE, HAS BOTH OF ITS ORIGINAL POSTERS AND STICKERS. THESE ARE ALL IN SUPERB CONDITION TOO.
SIDE ONE:   MATRIX  A3.    MOTHER  2.   STAMPER  ALG  (THE 381st USED). SIDE TWO:  MATRIX  B3.    MOTHER  1.   STAMPER  GPR  (THE 162nd USED).
AS USUAL, I AM NOT GOING TO WAFFLE ON FOR PAGES GIVING YOU POINTLESS DETAILS ABOUT THE BAND, THEIR LIVES, LIKES AND DISLIKES AS SOME SELLERS SEEM TO ENJOY DOING! THIS IS FACTUAL INFORMATION ON THE RECORD FOR SALE. 
FIRST, A COUPLE OF FACTS ABOUT THIS ALBUM. THERE HAS PROBABLY BEEN MORE INFORMATION WRITTEN ABOUT THIS ALBUM THAN ANY OTHER IN HISTORY. WHAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW IS THAT THE FAMED A2 B2 FIRST PRESSING IS ACTUALLY FLAWED IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. IT IS SAID TO RUN SLIGHTLY SLOW, AND I HAVE TO SAY MY COPY PLAYS AROUND 7 SECONDS SHORTER PER SIDE THAN THIS A3 B3 COPY. ALSO, THE FIRST ISSUE WAS PRESSED WITH MINOR SOUND QUALITY ISSUES, PARTICULARLY DURING THE TRACK "MONEY". SOME COPIES ALSO HAVE A "SKIP" PRESSED INTO THEM ALSO DURING THIS SONG, AND ACCORDING TO THE SUPERB "PINK FLOYD ARCHIVE DISCOGRAPHY" PAGES FROM THE FONT OF KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THINGS PINK, VERNON FITCH, THESE FAULTS WERE ONLY REMEDIED ON THE A3 B3 SECOND PRESSING!!
SO, ONTO A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ALBUM:-

THE COVER: GRADED AS EXCELLENT PLUS (EX+). VERY HARD TO FAULT, BUT BEING PICKY, I FEEL I SHOULD MENTION THE FOLLOWING SMALL POINTS. THERE IS A 25mm RUB AREA TO THE TOP EDGE NEAR THE OPENING. THIS HAS REMOVED A LITTLE OF THE BLACK PAPER IN THIS SMALL AREA. THE VERY EXTREME TIPS OF EACH CORNER HAVE SOME COLOUR LOSS TOO. ASIDE OF THESE MINOR ISSUES, THE COVER IS PROBABLY AS NEAR PERFECT AS YOU WILL FIND.
THE INNER SLEEVE (+ INSERTS): THE INNER IS A GENERIC WHITE ONE WITH PATENT NUMBER AND MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN TEXT. THIS IS LIGHTLY CREASED, AND HAS A COUPLE OF SMALL MARKS TO ONE SIDE. NO EDGE DAMAGE, WRITING, SLITS OR RIPS. A VERY CLEAN EXAMPLE, AND GRADED EASILY AS EXCELLENT. THE DISC WILL TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE COVER, AND IN A NEW POLY-LINED INNER SLEEVE.THE 2 POSTERS ARE LOVELY. UNUSED (THAT IS TO SAY, NEVER HUNG). THE ONLY CREASES ARE FROM FOLDING TO SIT INSIDE THE COVER. THESE ARE ON A SLIGHTLY MATT PAPER AS OPPOSED TO THE LATER HIGH GLOSS FINISH. BOTH STICKERS ARE SUPERB, AND FREE FROM ANY CREASES. POSTERS AND STICKERS GRADE AT EXCELLENT.
LABELS AND VINYL (VISUAL): THE LABELS ARE IN LOVELY CONDITION, WITH PERHAPS 4-6 SPINDLE MARKS PER SIDE. THERE IS VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE OF PLAY. THIS COPY HAS NOT HAD TOO MUCH AIRTIME. BOTH ARE CLEAN AND DOODLE FREE. THE VINYLS LOOK GREAT. VERY FEW LIGHT HAIRLINES FROM SLEEVE REMOVAL VISIBLE UNDER STRONG ANGLED LIGHT. SCRATCH FREE, AND THIS SHOWS ITSELF IN THE AUDIO PERFORMANCE. THIS IS A NICE HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL AND RETAINS MUCH OF ITS ORIGINAL SHINE AND LUSTRE. VISUALLY GRADED AS EXCELLENT.
AUDIO PERFORMANCE: I PLAY MY RECORDS ON A HIGHLY REVEALING LINN SONDEK LP12 THROUGH NAIM AMPLIFICATION. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS PLAYS THROUGH SUPERBLY. THERE ARE NO STICKS OR JUMPS (ON MY SYSTEM). THE DETAIL EXTRACTED FROM THE GROOVES IS QUITE SUBLIME. THIS GAINS SO MUCH FROM BEING A VERY EARLY PRESSING. ALTHOUGH NOT SILENT, THIS IS STILL REMARKABLY QUIET, WITH JUST THE ODD SOFT POP OR CLICK, BUT NONE BEING REPETITIVE. VERY LITTLE WORTHY OF NOTE HERE. NO DISTORTION, NEAR SILENT LEAD-INS AND OUTS. THIS IS A GORGEOUS PIECE OF CARED FOR VINYL. THE HEAVY VINYL AND DEEP CUT GROOVES ENSURE A GREAT AUDIO REPRODUCTION. THIS IS CRISP, DETAILED AND DYNAMIC AND CAN ONLY IMPROVE WITH REGULAR PLAY AND CLEANING. I DARE SAY THIS WOULD RUN ANY FIRST PRESSING VERY CLOSE. SOUND QUALITY IS HAPPILY GRADED AS EXCELLENT.
THE LIVE ALBUM: ENTITLED "HOW SHALL WE SING IN A FOREIGN LAND", THIS WAS RECORDED IN JANUARY OF 1972 IN SOUTHAMPTON, AS THE BAND WERE PERFECTING THE TRACKS ON THE ROAD THAT WERE TO BE RECORDED IN THE STUDIO IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR. EACH TRACK IS DIFFERENT FROM THE STUDIO VERSION. I HAVE 2 COPIES OF THIS. THE ONE FOR SALE IS MINT AND UNPLAYED. I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE SOUND QUALITY IS EXCELLENT (FROM MY OTHER COPY). THIS IS A SOUND-BOARD MASTER RECORDING, HENCE THE QUALITY OF THE RECORDING. A GREAT ADDITION TO ANY SERIOUS COLLECTION.
SO THIS IS A TRULY MAGNIFICENT GENUINE VERY EARLY PRESSING WITH THE EARLY MATRIX NUMBERS, AND UNUSUALLY EARLY MOTHERS AND STAMPERS (AS I HAVE ALREADY SAID, EARLIER THAN SOME SOLID BLUE TRIANGLE VERSIONS) . IT HAS BEEN VERY WELL CARED FOR SINCE THE DAY OF RELEASE. COPIES OF THIS QUALITY RARELY COME INTO THE MARKET PLACE. DON'T MISS THIS ONE. 
PLEASE NOTE:  
I POST VERY QUICKLY UPON RECEIPT OF FUNDS, USUALLY THE SAME DAY, BUT NO LATER THAN THE FOLLOWING DAY. ANY EXCESS POSTAGE CHARGED WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL JUST AS SOON AS I KNOW THE EXACT TOTAL. THIS APPLIES TO UK AND OVERSEAS BUYERS. I DO NOT CHARGE FOR PACKING MATERIALS OR MY TIME. I USE RECYCLED MATERIALS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND IF NOT UP TO MY HIGH STANDARDS, I SOURCE NEW MATERIAL AT MY COST, NOT YOURS.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS. I WILL ANSWER EVERY ONE JUST AS SOON AS I SEE IT.
I OFFER A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL REFUND IF THE ITEM DOES NOT MATCH MY DESCRIPTION. I WILL NOT REFUND IF YOU JUST DECIDE YOU DON'T WANT IT!!
I AM WELL KNOWN FOR SUPERB PACKING. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING DAMAGED IN TRANSIT.

I WILL BE LISTING SEVERAL FLOYD RARITIES OVER THE COMING WEEKS, AS WELL AS SOME GREAT ITEMS FROM OTHER BANDS OF THE SAME GENRE. 
I AM ALSO SELLING SOME GREAT LIVE FLOYD ALBUMS IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE A LIST OF THEM. JUST DROP ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, AND I WILL SEND YOU THE LIST. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT I HAVE AN EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD ON EBAY. NO NEGATIVES EVER. I ASSURE YOU OF THE VERY HIGHEST QUALITY AND SERVICE.