The Dark Side Of The Moon A3/B2 (Complete)

This very early A3/B2 pressing is in near immaculate condition.  It plays beautifully and is visually stunning with perhaps only one or two plays.  This is the first issue after the iconic solid blue A2/B2 press and was released just a month after that one in 1973 so you can see just how early a pressing it is.  It comes complete with a 'midnight blue' gatefold which does have some wear but the posters and stickers are in superb condition.

SHVL 804 // A - 3 / B - 2 // GHP 1 & GRD 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 1 intro Ex / track 5 end section Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 2 intro Ex+ / track 5 Ex+)

The gatefold is VG++

The labels are Mint

The inner sleeve is Ex+

The poster and stickers are Near Mint

Visual grading

Look no further for an immaculate A3/B2 vinyl!  There is only one mega tiny spindle trace on each side so it has been hardly played.  Visually stunning I can only detect one very small area of very faint radial type lines on S1 but you have to look very closely so as to see it.  I only did on my 3rd or 4th time of looking!  Nothing to worry about and there is no affect on the stunning audio.  It still has a jet black mirror like surface and to say this vinyl has been well preserved is an understatement!  Yes the gatefold may have some wear but that is probably from just being moved about, the vinyl has obviously hardly ever been removed.  It would be nigh on impossible to find a cleaner more glossy looking A3/B2 press than this one.

Play grading  

There is minimal crackle on the intro and it is soon replaced with very clear, precise sound.  'Breathe' then displays wonderful depth and clarity with only a very small number of static sounds that are so much in the background as to be totally negligible.  The audio is terrific!  This track easily grades as Near Mint and once the vocal begins the clarity is stunning.  I would go one better with 'On The Run' - it is Mint- in my opinion.  There is no 'background' of any kind and the 'running man' section at the end is stunning.  This is 'as new' audio and to think this an A3/B2 pressing!  'Time' is another highlight and the long intro is breathtaking.  Some very quiet dust ticks but remember I am listening out for any imperfection however minor.  Most would not even notice this mega quiet 'background' and the playback is of a superb standard.  The guitar solo has no distortion and plays very precisely indeed.  Not one single click or pop on this track whatsoever.  This incredible standard continues to the end and 'Breathe Reprise' is again faultless.  The quiet intro on 'The Great Gig In The Sky' plays so clearly, just one faint 'tick' on the spoken section but aside from that near perfect.  Once the 'vocal' begins the power is immense and the sonic quality is just stunning.  Wow!  Rarely have I heard this iconic track play so clearly and with such strength.  The extended quiet end section plays extremely well and with only a minor amount of non-intrusive background static.

'Money' plays with astounding depth and warmth from the get go.  With barely any static this is a stunning listen and the mid section guitar solo is stunning and has no distortion at all.  This is as close to Mint audio that you will find on an A3/B2 pressing and even the fade out also plays 100% perfectly.  I am beyond words, wow!  'Us And Them' has a couple of light clicks on the intro and the bare minimum of static but is still a 'high end' listen.  Believe me the static is so quiet it really is non-intrusive, it definitely isn't crackle.  It soon dissipates and then plays with very clear audio.  The remainder was a joy to listen to.  It displays amazing clarity and just no interference and it's worth repeating this is an A3/B2 vinyl!  Absolutely astounding, worth of a Mint- grading for sure and the same goes for 'Any Colour You like'.  'Brain Damage' plays with perfect precision also and the clarity is just stunning, no 'background' at all.  I am running out of superlatives for this album!  'Eclipse' has a little distortion which is common but remains a great listen and the 'heartbeat' ending has only the lightest of static in the background, a stunning finale to a stunning album.

In summary this is a final upgrade, archive copy by anyone's standards.  I have listened to many 'Dark Side' early pressings and this is without doubt the cleanest A3/B2 pressing I have heard.  With only a modicum of quiet static there are no loud clicks or pops.  I cannot stress enough just how good the audio is and I have listened to every second so as to provide a comprehensive grading and many sections indeed more than the once.

The Gatefold

The 'midnight blue' G&L gatefold does have some shelf wear but I believe it grades as a strong VG++.  The top edges have very little rubbing and there is just slightly more on the bottom edges.  There is some corner wear although not an excessive amount.  The spine has a 'line' running down it which is caused by opening the gatefold so can't be avoided but is certainly thicker in the middle section of the spine.  The opening edge is in superb condition and has no handling wear again providing further proof that the vinyl has rarely been removed from its sleeve.  The wear on the gatefold I imagine has just been caused by various house moves!  The front cover is very clean for its age and has only a little fading/white spotting and a couple of faint scratch marks.  The back is in similar condition and has some ringwear also.  The inside in in excellent shape and has only a little fading.  It is certainly not perfect but for one of the rarer very early 'midnight blue' gatefolds it is more than acceptable and remains in very good condition.  As can be seen it has the purple sticker on the front which is in superb condition still.

Inner sleeve

The original black die-cut poly-lined inner sleeve is in excellent shape with no splits and only mild creasing.  It has the patent numbers and Made in Great Britain printed on one side.

The Labels

They are in perfect condition with no writing/marking and as mentioned already only one tiny spindle trace on each side.

The Posters & Stickers

Both posters are in superb order with no splits or tears and there is no staining or marking either.  One has a matt finish and the other a glossy finish so may not have started life together.  Both are obviously very old though, definitely not a new reproduction.  The stickers are also in great condition - one has 'Crack Back Fasprint' on the reverse side and the other has 'Permanent' only so again may have been 'joined together' at some stage.  They have no creasing, marking etc.

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 804 // A - 3 / B - 2 // GHP 1 & GRD 1

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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