QUEEN A DAY AT THE RACES 1U/1U 1st PRESS FINAL UPGRADE *Stunning* AUDIO N/MINT
£
47
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62
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Description
Queen : A Day At The Races 1U / 1U 1st Press
This is about as good as it gets! This first pressing plays to a standard that is so rare to find today. I certainly have not found one as good as this for a long time! The clarity, warmth and depth of the audio can only be from a vinyl that has hardly been played and it has only minimal spindle wear and is visually stunning also. 'You Take My Breath Away' and 'The Millionaire Waltz' so often plays with interference and yet these versions play with incredible clarity! The remaining tracks do not disappoint either.
The gatefold again is so often found in poor condition and whilst this does have a little shelf wear it is certainly one of the better ones that you will find today. The picture inner is also in superb condition.
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EMTC 104 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // OM 4 / PM 3 // STERLING stamped on both
The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 1 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint- (T2 Near Mint / T5 intro Ex then Near Mint)
The gatefold is Ex-
The labels are Mint-
The picture inner is Mint-
Play grading
The opening section on 'Tie Your Mother Down' is so close to perfect. There is just one brief static sound at the end of the first guitar section. Aside from that you cannot fault it so Near Mint is a fair assessment of the intro. As that familiar riff begins there is minimal touch of static for the first second or so and thereafter plays with supreme clarity and power and no interference at all. This is such a strong version and there is no distortion on the top end. Near Mint overall but many would grade higher I am sure.
'You Take My Breath Away' as any Queen collector will know is often subject to a lot of static/crackle but this is the most stunning example I have ever heard! The acapella intro is just sublime! There is no 'background' and the piano intro is almost as good with only a couple of very light static sounds. The first verse plays beautifully with not one iota of interference and rarely have I heard such clarity. It continues in the same precise manner and I can honestly say this is the most perfect definitive version I have ever had the pleasure in listening to, it just could not play much better, and to think this is a first 1U/1U pressing! The final 'repetitive' section plays superbly and Mint- is easily deserved. What a version!
'Long Away' is equally as good and would be Mint but for very brief and quiet static in the quiet section near the end. So Mint- it is :-)
The piano intro on 'The Millionaire Waltz' is nigh on perfect, the clarity is stunning, and the first verse is of the same 'high end' standard. Having now played this classic track twice I am pleased to say from start to finish it plays with a rare quality. This is another track that often suffers from a fair amount of static/crackle and yet there is no interference here whatsoever. The odd mega light dust tick perhaps but they are barely audible! There are so many quiet sections and yet the clarity throughout is so impressive and the 'louder' middle section is superb with no distortion. The very quiet 'My fine friend...' section is 'as new' and I don't think I've been able to say that before! A couple of dust ticks again but then even new vinyl will have them. The remainder is without fault and I am confident in grading this as Mint- as I think (I know!) it just could not play any better!
'You And I' plays with wonderful audio once more. So often marred by distortion this plays with great precision and provides a Mint- finish to the side.
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The classic 'Somebody To Love' plays with sublime clarity from the very first groove and continues in the same precise way. The sonic quality on offer here is phenomenal, each note plays so clearly and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound. In essence this is 'as new' and even the 'Find me somebody to love...' section has no 'background'. Right to the very end this plays to a level that you rarely hear today and I more than happy to grade this as Mint it is a stunning version.
'White Man' provides further evidence of a record so well preserved. The quiet intro has no interference and the first chorus plays with tremendous power and clarity. There is no decrease in quality and there is also no distortion. I often think this track is underrated, it certainly never features highly on any polls! However, when you find a version as 'clean' and as strong as this you cannot help but admire the audio. It plays with a real sense of depth and power and the quiet end section has only a small number of very faint ticks and a static sound just before the final drum beat. Near Mint because of that but 999% Mint truth be told!
'Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy' is Mint from start to finish. Audio does not get better than this! Incredible to think this vinyl is 44 years of age!
'Drowse' plays without any 'background' and again grades as Mint I don't have to say anymore :-)
Now a real test for this vinyl as 'Let Us Cling Together' often has some static/crackle on the intro. I am pleased to say there is only a minimal amount of light static here and by the time the first verse begins it has virtually disappeared. The second verse also plays beautifully as does the first chorus. From then on there are no negatives and the emotive 'When I'm gone...' section near the end is stunning and for once the following 'choral' passage has barely any distortion. There is a little static on the final 'orchestral' section for a few seconds but it is quiet and non-intrusive. So...Ex on the intro for about 10 seconds but I do think Near Mint is more than deserved for the remainder. A fine version to end the album.
In summary this first pressing plays to a fantastic standard and the only obvious 'background' is a little static at the beginning of the final track but even then it is only quiet. This is a FINAL UPGRADE version with a clarity and depth that is second to none. The majority of tracks play to a Mint standard and any avid collector would be very impressed by this audio I am certain.
Visual grading
The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen. There are no marks or scratches and I can only detect a couple of very faint sleeve removal hairlines. It truly is a superb example and you would be mistaken for thinking this was 'as new'. There is no groove wear and the run out grooves are also super clean.
The Gatefold
This cover is one of the hardest from the Queen catalogue to find in decent condition. This is largely due to it not being laminated and whilst this one is not perfect it is still in excellent order with not too much shelf wear. The edges do have a little rubbing but the wide spine is very clean with only a couple of white 'specks'. The corners have only minimal wear, perhaps just a little more on the bottom ones, and opening edges are immaculate. The front cover is actually very clean with only minimal fading and a small number of small creases around the edges. You can also see a small crease near the lower left corner. The back cover is also relatively clean with only very minor white 'spotting'. The inside of the gatefold is very near perfect with only very minor fading around the edges. Overall an excellent example of this first press cover that has withstood the passage of time very well.
The Picture Inner
The original picture inner is almost 'as new' and I am sure many would say it is. It has no side splits or marking, just one mega tiny crease on the bottom edge.
The Labels
They are super clean with no marking or writing, no spindle wear on the S1 label and only minimal amount on the S2 label.
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
EMTC 104 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // OM 4 / PM 3 // STERLING stamped on both
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Postage & Packaging
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