Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon, MINT A3 B3, Looks Unplayed, Fantastic AUDIO.

	£		194
	$		257

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Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

Original Release Year: 1973. Complete with original posters, stickers, and an Ultra Rare A3 B3 UK Pressing (Matrix Press - SHVL 804 - A 3 / B 3 – an early version). This UK press of 'Dark Side of The Moon', was released shortly after the Solid Blue triangle pressings in extremely limited numbers. 

Obtaining a Complete UK A3 B3 press in excellent condition offers a unique chance to own a genuinely rare collector's copy with superb audio.       CAT NO: Stereo 1973 Harvest Records SHVL 804   Label Press Details   This is a rare A3 B 3 matrix UK press of the great 'Dark Side of the Moon'. Obtaining a Complete press in such excellent condition is highly uncommon, offering a unique opportunity to own this genuinely rare early press.
Matrix Nos. On Run-Out Groove
Side 1. A 3  Side 2. B 3   Mother Stampers   Side 1: ''4 R P L''  Side 2: ''1 P P'' (extremely early press)   Track listing   1. Speak To Me 2. Breathe; 3. On The Run 4. Time 5. The Great Gig In The Sky 6. Money  7. Us And Them  8. Any Colour You Like  9. Brain Damage  10. Eclipse     

 

History

  'The Dark Side of the Moon,' the band's pinnacle, achieved unparalleled success, spending a record-breaking 741 consecutive weeks (14 years) on the USA-based Billboard 200 album chart. It holds the longest duration record of ANY album in history and has the highest total time spent on the Billboard charts, surpassing 1,500 weeks (almost 29 years). Globally, the album shares the title of the second-highest-selling album of all time, with over forty million units sold. 
Beyond its widespread commercial success, the album is celebrated as a definitive masterpiece and remains an influential work. With global sales exceeding forty million by 2004 and sustained popularity, it secured a notable position as the 200th best-selling album in 2002, nearly three decades after its debut. This unique pressing of 'The Dark Side of the Moon' stands out for its rare A3 B3 matrix, setting it apart as a fantastic collector's item. 
    Album Played For Grading   Yes – brilliant - GREAT AUDIO    ‘Dark Side of The Moon’, is a musical masterpiece and is also a famously sensitive piece of vinyl. Worn copies can exhibit considerable surface sound, especially on intricate tracks like 'On the Run. 
However, this rare pressing offers an exceptional listening experience with bright, undisturbed audio. It stands as a fantastic example with strong sound, free of any loud pops or clicks. The channels are clean and unstressed, devoid of any hint of distortion throughout the record. Occasional, very light static and tics are present but not prominent, repetitive, or noticeably intrusive. The audio delivers a stunning, clear sound, making it a remarkable listening pleasure.    An overall audio grading of NEAR MINT to MINT, detailed account below:              This exceptional record begins with surprisingly minimal static in the famous and lengthy heartbeat introduction.
'Speak to Me' plays superbly with hardly any detectable static—just two minor static tics commonly found on all vinyl records. Not a single loud pop disrupts the audio experience on either side.
'Breathe', is another delicate track that sounds extremely clear.
'On the Run,' often subject to heavy distortion and affected by clicks and hiss, plays with remarkable clarity and a bright, loud sound. There's hardly any detectable static, no pops, just a single static tic.
'Time' sounds excellent with clear sound, devoid of pops or clicks and barely any noticeable static. The track is bright and clear, the same holding true for 'Breathe (reprise),' a delicate track, often hard to find with clear sound.    'Great Gig in The Sky', a difficult track to find with clear sound, plays superbly. A bit of light static during the outro, just 2 static tics near the start, but nothing obtrusive.     'Money' kicks off side 2 with amazing clear, largely flawless audio. It plays with an incredibly bassy, 'sonic' feel - the original sound that is often lost on most pressings. While there is one light pop during the run-ins, not a single pop is found anywhere on this vinyl. 
'Us and Them' starts with great clarity, featuring only minimal light static and a couple of static tics. This faint static is low-level, infrequent and light - typical for all vinyls. The background static, if any, remains subtle, residing far in the background and not interfering with the music.  This track delivers a clean and bright sound. 
'Any Colour You Like' has excellent clear sound - no detectable static, pops or clicks.    'Brain Damage' sounds brilliant, with bright, clear sound leading to the album’s climax.  
'Eclipse', plays superbly, with brilliant, clear audio - no pops, clicks or any interference.

The vinyl delivers powerful and clear audio throughout, ensuring an immersive experience with minimal interference between tracks. Even during transitions, like the end of 'Time' and the run-in to 'Great Gig In the Sky,' the sound remains clean, crisp, and rich. While there are a couple of minor sound spots at the very start and end of Side 1., and occasional static tics, they are not obtrusive. The music stands out with incredible definition and clarity, especially on percussion instruments and vocals, showcasing tremendous power.              The Record – Visual Grading - NEAR MINT to MINT   This glossy vinyl, a rare second pressing, boasts a substantial and robust build with deep, crystal-clear grooves. Remarkably preserved, it has been gently played only twice, appearing virtually unplayed and mostly unmarked. There are only minor sleeve and removal marks, typical for vinyl from the 1960s and 1970s, further enhancing its overall condition.      Vinyl Tested For Any Signs Of Warping   Yes, none visible whatsoever when tested by sight and on a moving turntable.       The Labels - Graded at MINT   A great-looking set of labels with no spindle traces. These are a fantastic pair of labels, as close to being unmarked as labels can be.      The Cover - Graded at VERY GOOD PLUS to EXCELLENT
The initial 'blue' tint covers of the first pressings swiftly transitioned to the standard charcoal black covers. However, these unique 'blue' covers are distinct and stand apart from other UK pressings of DSOM. Highly valuable and sought after, they are particularly challenging to find in excellent condition, often showing heavy wear on edges, corners, and surfaces.
DSOM's matte finish covers, being black and without lamination, are susceptible to wear, with serious ring wear and scuffs along edges.  This press, featuring its original Matt BLUE Cover, is a rare find, with minimal wear on corners and edges, a rarity for any DSOM pressing, especially an original A3. The opening edges remain square and unfrayed, with minimal detectable ring wear. The back cover is unusually clean, exhibiting some creasing, as shown in the images. The gatefold interior is clean and unmarked, and the spine shows minimal wear.
The album's gatefold LP sleeve, designed by Hipgnosis and George Hardie, showcases Hardie's iconic dispersive prism on the cover. The design symbolises the band's stage lighting, album lyrics, and Richard Wright's preference for a "simple and bold" concept. The prism's light band, featuring six colours excluding indigo, extends to the gatefold sleeve. Posters and pyramid-themed stickers further complement this concept. VH1 and Planet Rock listeners recognized the album cover's greatness, ranking it among the best.                             The Inner   Original plain white inner sleeve in excellent condition. No tears, or stains, just some light creasing. Crisp and clean along the top edges and completely unworn. These are so rare now in any type of condition, making this a great example.      Posters - Graded at NEAR MINT   This rare pressing of ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ comes with both original posters, in great condition. Very 1st editions came with thicker flat matt posters that are extremely rare and different to all other variants.
No tears or stains. Nice crisp edges. NO tape marks or pin holes.     Stickers - Graded at EXCELLENT   The two original stickers are in excellent condition, with crisp edges, and no tears, tape marks, or pinholes. Shipped in a separate envelope for protection.                    Rarity   While 'Dark Side of the Moon' has seen mass reproduction as one of the 20th century's iconic albums, an original UK early press in excellent condition is exceedingly rare. The cover is particularly hard to find without significant wear, making this well-preserved example truly exceptional. 
Pressings of DSOM in this condition are scarce, given that vinyl copies are often heavily played, marked, and scratched, resulting in poor sound quality. 
Discovering an original immaculate cover, paired with a virtually unplayed vinyl, a rare black inner sleeve, and all the correct posters and stickers is extremely rare, making this an excellent opportunity for the shrewd collector.
      Terms And Conditions   Vinyl   Each of our records undergoes meticulous play-testing to provide an accurate representation of its sound quality. If the item description doesn't meet your expectations, we gladly offer a full refund upon return.   Vinyl Sound - Important Information   We strive for top-notch vinyl with excellent sound quality. Our records ensure a remarkable audio experience, featuring exceptionally clear sound without continuous hiss or interference. While minimal static or light tics may occur during playback, a result of dust in the grooves, this differs significantly from the distortions, loud pops, and clicks found in heavily played vinyl. Any static buildup usually diminishes during playback, and for optimal performance, a light clean between plays is recommended.   Images and Information   We aim to capture clear and accurate photographs of all our items for sale to provide you with the most authentic representation possible. If you have any questions or require additional information, feel free to ask.   Easy Returns    We offer a no-quibble return policy. Items must be returned within 12 days of receipt and in the same condition as when they were sent out. Return postage is the responsibility of the buyer, unless there is a specific fault with the item; in such cases, we will cover the full postage costs.   Record Grading System - (Based On Record Collector Magazine UK)   MINT: Virtually unplayed. The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. Cover is pristine.   EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.   V.G PLUS: The record will still be nice and shiny, but may have a few light marks, and will play well. Slight wear and tear on the cover.   V.G: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items.   GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, etc.   FAIR: Fair. It is noticeable that the record has been played so much that the sound quality has deteriorated very noticeably. The cover and contents are showing signs of folding, scuffing of edges etc.   Postage And Payment Details   All items will be meticulously sealed and securely wrapped. If you desire extra-fast delivery, records can be sent via Express Courier. Our commitment is to provide top-quality rare records to our buyers, keep postage costs reasonable and offer a premium service. Ensuring your records arrive in perfect condition is our absolute priority. Each record is removed from its main cover, placed in a new inner sleeve, and secured in extra-thick plastic sleeves. It is then further safeguarded with multiple layers of reinforced cardboard and padding, double-boxed in extra-strong, professional record containers to ensure safe arrival.   UK - First Class Signed For Recorded Delivery with Insurance: - £9.00 Europe - International Airmail Signed For Recorded Delivery with Insurance: - £9.95 International (non-Europe) e.g. USA, Japan, Russia, Australia etc., International Airmail Signed For Recorded Delivery with Insurance: - £19.95   Multiple Purchase Reduction   Reduced postage for multiple records - up to 30% off extra items.   Postage will be first class or the fastest and safest possible alternative - recorded with tracking and insurance. All items are fully insured and covered for the safest delivery possible at no extra cost to you. Postage receipts and proof of postage are always available.    Payments    Payments must be made within 3 days of purchasing unless an alternative arrangement has been agreed upon. 
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