Pink Floyd : The Dark Side Of The Moon A4 / B3 Early Pressing (Complete with Poster & Stickers)

This very early pressing plays to an exceptional standard with no obvious 'background'.  The clarity and depth of the audio is outstanding and there is not one click or pop, no crackle and barely any static either.  There is no real intrusion at all!  Not only that but this is without question one of the 'cleanest' looking vinyls I have seen, it really is in beautiful condition for such an early pressing.

It has hardly ever been played judging by the audio and only one of the labels has one tiny spindle trace. 

The iconic gatefold is stunning and the posters are also super clean.  Just one of the stickers has a tiny amount of wear.  A stunning FINAL UPGRADE version for certain!

SHVL 804 // A - 4 / B - 3 // MA 1 / GHO 2 3

The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 1 & T5 'The Great Gig...' Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (T2 & 4 Near Mint+ / T5 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Near Mint

The inner is Near Mint

The labels are Mint

The posters are Mint

One sticker is Mint the other is Ex+

Visual grading

It does not get much better than this!  Such an early pressing and yet the vinyl is visually stunning to say the least.  It has an immaculate glossy sheen and has no marks or scratches and I can only detect one faint hairline on S1, at first glance it looks 'as new'!  The S1 label has only one very small and barely visible spindle trace and there is no speindle wear on the S2 label at all.  This truly is a beautiful record and so rarely found in this condition today.  It has hardly been played and that is reflected in the audio quality.  This is a time warp classic and the run out grooves and labels are also in lovely condition.

Play grading  

The 'heartbeat' intro on 'Speak To Me' is so 'clean' and has only a couple of very light static ticks but is nigh on perfect basically.  The 'spoken' section is just as good and the instrumental section then plays beautifully with no interference.  This iconic intro easily grades as Near Mint in my opinion if not better.

The segue into 'Breathe' is flawless - no 'background' at all - and it then plays with sublime clarity and depth.  There are no clicks, pops, static or crackle and each verse plays so clearly.  A stunning Mint- version.

'On The Run' has to be heard to be believed!  The sonic quality is sensational and rarely do you hear this instrumental play so well on such an early pressing.  The 'crash' at the end has no distortion and the 'running man' section has such incredible clarity - you can hear him breathing so easily!  What a version!  Mint- without doubt.

The segue into 'Time' is 'as new' and the clocks then 'play' with great clarity and no reverb or distortion.  The metronome intro has only a couple of dust ticks and the instrumental opening then plays so clearly with no obvious 'background'.  If I am being super critical there is just a touch of mega light static but it is so quiet as to be negligible.  The first verse and chorus cannot be faulted and Gilmour's solo is 'as new' with no distortion.  The remainder of this classic is of the same 'high end' standard and again there is no 'background' of any kind.  I am still happy to grade this as Mint- the playback is exceptional.  

'Breathe Reprise' again plays with a clarity and precision that belies its age.  This record has obviously hardly ever seen a turntable!  This is Mint in every way.

The quiet piano intro on 'The Great Gig In The Sky' is so 'clean' and has only a very small number of mega light dust ticks which are totally non-intrusive.  Essentially there is no interference and as the infamous 'Clare Torry' vocal begins the audio is sensational!  It is so deep and powerful and there is no distortion on the top end.  As she takes a break (!) the clarity is still so impressive with only the odd dust tick and you could easily miss them they are that quiet.  There are no clicks or pops and this entire piano section plays with wonderful precision.  There is just a minimal amount of light static right at the end but it takes nothing away from what is unquestionably a stunning Near Mint version but with the majority being better than that.

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'Money' plays with superb precision from the opening groove, just a couple of dust ticks, and this intro continues to play as it did when first released back in '71.  The first verse is of the same standard and the iconic instrumental then plays with sublime quality all the way through.  A couple of minor ticks only this is as good as you would want it to be - the playback is awesome!  So powerful and each section could not play with any greater definition.  There is no distortion and the final verse is of the same standard and rarely there is no static on the 'spoken' outro and fade out.  This is Mint- with no interference at all.

The intro on 'Us And Them' has only one minor static at the start and only the lightest of static.  As the music comes in the audio has a warmth and depth that you only hear on the early pressings.  The 'sax' intro has only a couple of mega light ticks and is perfect apart from that.  The first vocal is so clear with barely any static and the first chorus is 'as new' and from point on there is drop in standard.  A couple more light ticks only this is audio of the highest order and there is no interference worthy of mention.  Not a single or click the clarity is superb - the verses and chorus' play with wonderful definition and that is more than matched by the instrumental sections.  This is Near Mint but in all honesty that may be underselling it so perhaps Near Mint+ is a more deserved grade.

'Any Colour You Like' plays with remarkable depth and clarity and, you guessed it, there is no interference.  With only a couple of just a shade off this 'high end' standard.  There are a couple of light ticks but blink and you miss them they are so quiet!  Mint-

The quiet intro on 'Brain Damage' has only the bare minimum of light static (barely audible!) and disappears during the first line of the first verse.  Thereafter it plays with superb precision and no 'background' and the 'chorus' sections are fantastic!  The audio is again so deep and powerful and none of its original quality has been lost over the intervening years.  To the end it plays in supreme style and Mint- is again fair.

The segue into 'Eclipse' is as 'clean' as could be and this classic then plays with great power and only very minimal inner groove distortion.  You can certainly turn it up to 'loud' and it still sounds great!  There is much less distortion than you so often find and the super quiet 'heartbeat' ending has no 'background' aside from a touch of light static literally at the end.  One of the 'cleanest' finishes I have heard in a long time.  I will grade this as Near Mint and is a superb version for sure.

In summary this classic early pressing is of a 'high end' standard that impresses on so many levels.  The clarity and sonic quality is so good and for an album of this age to have no clicks or pops is such a rarity.  There is no intrusive static either and when you can hear any (hardly at all!) it is so minor as to be insignificant.  This is a FINAL UPGRADE version and as stated has barely been played judging by how clean the vinyl is, the strength of the audio and that I can only detect one tiny spindle trace.  A stunning album.

The Gatefold

This is a stunning example of this G&L gatefold and it has been so well preserved down the decades, hardly touched in fact!  The edges are practically 'as new' with only a couple of tiny rubs and the spine is also in superb condition with no wear.  The corners have no shelf wear apart from a very minor amount on the bottom right corners but it really is very minimal.  The opening edges are pristine with no handling wear at all.  The front cover could not be any cleaner, it is stunning, and has only a couple of creases next to the spine.  The back cover is equally as good with just a two minor creases bottom right and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate.  The colours are so strong and vibrant throughout and there is no marking at all.  A beautiful version of this iconic cover.

The Inner

The die-cut plain white inner is in great condition with no side splits or marking and only minimal creasing.

The Labels

The labels have no marking or writing and as stated there is only one mega faint spindle trace.  It is obvious this record has hardly ever seen a turntable!

The Posters and Stickers

The posters are 'as new' and look as if they have never been unfolded.  Fantastic examples!

One of the 'Crack Back / FasPrint' sticker is in perfect condition and the other just has one small scuff in the centre.  They both have the dark brown diagonal stripes on the back.

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 - 4 / B - 3 // MA 1 / GHO 2 3

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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