Pretty Things : Parachute A2 / B2 1st Press

This first pressing plays with stunning clarity and depth on both sides with no obvious interference, no loud clicks or pops!  The audio is just so 'clean' and plays with incredible precision.  It is without doubt the finest example I have heard.

As this is a genuine first press there is no EMI boxed logo on the labels and it has an A2/B2 matrix.  This is one of the earliest of the press also as it has a single stamper on each side, not that it was pressed in vast numbers!

The cover is in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear and the original inner is also included.

Shipping costs to the US have increased recently so please wait for the invoice.  As an example I recently sent 3 LPs via tracked shipping and this cost just over £34.00 - packaging costs not included!

SHVL 774 // A - 2 / B - 2 // H1 / L1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint / T3 & T4 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T1 Near Mint- / T2 & T3 Mint-)

The gatefold is Ex+

The labels are Ex+

The inner sleeve is Ex

The vinyl is in excellent condition overall and there are no scratches.  This is one of those situations where the audio quality exceeds the visual quality.  It still has a very glossy sheen, there are no 'cloudy' areas, and there is no groove wear at all.  However, there are some hairlines and on S1 a couple of 'sweep' hairline area albeit faint.  I would say VG+ in appearance but for 50 years of age it remains in excellent condition and there are certainly not an excessive amount of hairlines.  At first 'look' it is quite impressive and you can only see some hairlines on closer inspection.  The run out grooves and labels are in great shape and are very clean.

Play grading  

The 'build up' intro on 'Scene One' plays superbly with barely any static, almost zero in fact!  The vocal is of the same standard and the powerful instrumental section is just as good.  A Mint- start to the album.

The acoustic 'The Good Mr. Square' has no clicks or pops and the clarity from start to finish is very impressive.  There is only very minimal static, the lightest static imaginable basically and it is totally non-intrusive.  I am sure many would grade this as Mint but I will err on the side of caution and grade as Near Mint

The segue into 'She Was Tall She Was High' is perfect and it continues to play with real quality.  There is no obvious static although I did detect one light click and a couple of static ticks right at the end, hardly intrusive though.  This certainly has a Beatles-esque flavour and overall deserves a Near Mint- grade.

'In The Square' has only minimal static on the intro, it is very quiet, and then plays so well for a 50+ year old record.  The vocal sections play very clearly with barely any 'background' and the instrumental sections also impress with great clarity.  No clicks or pops and only the lightest of static and a couple of very light ticks.  Near Mint- once again.

'The Letter' plays beautifully from the get go and I only detected a couple of minor ticks and there is no underlying static whatsoever.  It has to be said I wasn't expecting audio as good as this!  The clarity is exceptional and the audio has lost none of its original quality.  Mint- for sure.

The acoustic / bass intro on 'Rain' is STUNNING in every way!  'As new' is no exaggeration - I can't emphasise enough just how clear and precise the music is and because the audio is so clean the bass comes through so strongly and adds so much depth to the overall 'sound'.  Wow!  The vocals are of the same standard and even the 'rain' end piece has barely any static.  This is Mint- although the minus may be a little harsh!  Sonic quality does not get any better than this!

'Miss Fay Regrets' plays with wonderful clarity and depth from the opening groove and proceeds in the same way.  The playback is stunning once more and despite being a 'louder' more rock orientated track it has no distortion at all.  I played it twice and heard no interference at all.  Mint-

The quiet intro on 'Cries From The Midnight Circus' is 'as new' and the same applies to the first vocal.  The further you get into the track the more you are impressed!  The audio is superb and so far there is just no interference of any kind.  It continues to play with sublime quality and again it's the depth of the sound that is a real highlight apart from the amazing clarity that is!  This is an exceptional version and whilst it has been played a number of times it can only have been on 'high end' equipment such is the quality.  The long instrumental end section is just PHENOMENAL!  So powerful and yet there is zero inner groove distortion.  This is a fantastic listen and this 6 plus minute opus grades as Mint I am pleased to say.  What a finish to the side!

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'Grass' on S2 has only minimal light static on the intro and the first verse plays very clearly with only a couple of minor ticks.  The guitar solo is flawless and the quiet section that follows has barely any static.  From then on it plays so well with no obvious intrusion - one light tick and just a hint of mega light static but that is all.  The melodic end section is so 'clean' and ends the track with perfect clarity.  There is one static tick right at the end, almost in the dead wax!  Near Mint-

'Sickle Clowns' is stunning from the outset and every section plays with imperious quality with no interference.  Once again I just cannot believe the clarity and warmth of the audio here, it is breathtaking.  The lead guitar work in the mid section is just incredible as is the percussion that follows.  What sound!  To the end it plays with immaculate precision, there are no negatives.  A hint of static on the fade out that is all so will grade as Mint- accordingly :-)

'She's A Lover' also plays with stunning clarity from the first groove to the last.  The playback is STUNNING in every way and there is just no 'background' - is this this record really over 50 years old?!  You can hear each note so succinctly and the depth of the audio is so impressive also.  This is Mint with a capital M!

The very quiet piano intro on 'What's The Use' has only very minimal static and there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  The vocal then plays with superb precision and with no interference.  The fade out is nigh on perfect with only minor static at the end.  Great clarity again during this track.  Near Mint

The final track 'Parachute' plays so clearly which is very impressive when consider how quiet the first half is.  This vocal section plays beautifully with hardly any static and any you do detect is so so quiet.  The instrumental section then plays with exceptional clarity and again not a single click or pop.  The end section also 'plays' extremely well with only a modicum of mega light static.  A very strong Near Mint end to a criminally underrated album.

In summary this first pressing is absolutely stunning!  With barely any 'background' the sonic quality cannot be faulted and I would go so far as to say the vast majority is of a Mint standard.  The audio definition is so good and any Pretty Things collector would I am certain be as equally impressed by what is on offer here.

The Gatefold

The laminated cover has only very minimal wear, nothing stands out.  The edges are in perfect condition and the spine is unmarked with very clean corners.  The right hand corners are in great shape also with barely any wear and the opening edge has only very minimal handling wear.  The right hand edges are a little 'wavy' but that doesn't detract really from the overall appearance.  The front cover has no marking or laminate damage, there is just one small crease area near the bottom edge.  The back cover is just as clean with only a small number of faint laminate creases and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate.  A fine example overall.

The Inner Sleeve

The original poly-lined inner is in excellent condition with no side splits, tears or marking but does have creasing here and there.

The Labels

The yellow / green Harvest labels are super clean with no marking or writing.  There is some spindle wear so it has been played a number of times but there is certainly not an excessive amount.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

SHVL 774 // A - 2 / B - 2 // H1 / L1

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

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. THIS IS OFTEN 'BUILT' INTO THE SHIPPING CHARGE ALREADY.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

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UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.75 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE (Standard)

LPs/12" singles : £10.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £6.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Standard)  

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7" singles / CDs : £7.95 then £1.45 per extra

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