A Night At The Opera 4/4

This very early pressing plays to a standard that you so rarely find today.  The clarity and depth of the audio is stunning and apart from two seconds of interference on S2 there is barely any 'background' at all.  The iconic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is immaculate and is Mint from beginning to end and I am not sure I have ever heard a version as impressive as this.  I listen to every second of every album, quite often more than once, and grade with honesty as my regular customers know.  This is quite simply a pristine vinyl, that plays to near perfection.

The embossed gatefold is also in fantastic condition, it is so clean - just look at the photos!  Plus the original inner is just as good with no splits, how rare is that!

This has Blair's (not 'Blairs cut') etched onto the run out grooves as per all the first/early pressings.

EMTC 103 // YAX 5063 - 4 / YAX 5064 - 4 // MLR 3 / PD 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (track 1 intro Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (track 1 Near Mint- but Mint for 99%!)

 The gatefold is Near Mint

The picture inner is Near Mint-

The labels are Near Mint

This vinyl cannot be faulted it is absolutely pristine!  It has been beautifully preserved down the years and has obviously hardly ever seen a turntable.  There are only 2/3 short mega faint spindle traces on S1 and nothing on S2, played only 3/4 times maximum I would say and maybe even less.  It has a stunning mirror-like glossy sheen and there are no hairlines, scratches or marks at all.  In all honesty it looks 'as new' and the labels and run out grooves are also incredibly clean.

Play grading

'Death On Two Legs' begins in stunning style with a super clear piano intro that has only the lightest of background static.  The opening instrumental section plays with perfect clarity and the track then quite simply plays 'as new'.  There is no distortion on the top end and Freddie's vocals have never sounded clearer.  This is audio of the highest standard and to the end the power and depth could not be any more impressive.  I would grade the intro as Near Mint- but the remainder definitely grades as Mint the clarity is like that of a high quality vinyl pressed only yesterday.

'Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon' goes one better and grades as Mint as there is just no interference of any kind, not even a solitary dust tick.

This is unquestionably a 'high end' version of the underrated 'I'm In Love With My Car' and it plays with sublime clarity and power from start to finish.  It is so obvious this vinyl has hardly been played as the sonic quality and clarity here is of a standard you so rarely find.  The playback is immaculate and even fade out plays with perfect precision.  Wow!

'You're My Best Friend' and '39' both play to the same exacting standard and again I didn't even hear a dust tick.  Thus far on this early pressing I haven't heard any crackle and there are certainly no clicks or pops.  Every second of these two tracks play with stunning precision and Mint is a deserving grade.  The acoustic fade out on the latter is 100% perfect!

'Sweet Lady' again plays 'as new' and with such incredible power and depth.  The definition of the audio is 'crystal clear' with no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever.  This track could not play any better.  Perhaps not everyone's favourite but play it loud and it sounds fantastic!  There is also no distortion at all which is a rarity.

'Seaside Rendezvous' always has some inner groove distortion which any Queen collector will know and it is just a matter of how much.  I am delighted there is relatively little here and it is one of the 'cleanest' versions I have heard in a long time.  Again there is no interference of any kind, a superb end to a side that is almost Mint all the way through.  Almost :-)

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The intro on 'The Prophet's Song' is very impressive.  The opening 'wind' section and in fact the first 30 seconds are stunning and it is only just prior to the vocal that there are a couple of clicks.  From that point on the audio is so strong and power is immense!  The opening verses play with Mint quality and the clarity on the 'now I know...' acapella section is as you would want it to be.  So often it plays with static/crackle but this is just so clear and it plays 'as new' no exaggeration.  As Brian rejoins the scene the playback again cannot be faulted and there is no distortion whatsoever.  The final vocal section plays with sublime quality and the acoustic end section is the cleanest I have ever heard, it is absolutely stunning and as you can see I am running out of adjectives as per usual!  Apart from the two light clicks near the start this is audio of an impeccable standard and would impress even the most die-hard of fans.

'Love Of My Life' just has to be heard to be believed!  It is perhaps the most 'complete' version I have ever heard on vinyl and to say it plays with great clarity is an understatement!  There is no interference of any kind and as we all know that is such a rarity on such an early pressing.  This is Mint and is a final upgrade version without doubt and I am just amazed at the definition of the audio here.  This provides another example of a vinyl that has hardly ever seen a turntable.  Wow what a version!

'Good Company' is of the same exceptional standard and has no 'background' at all.  It plays with sublime clarity from start to finish with not a single click or pop and no static or crackle either.  Just a couple of dust ticks on the final note of the fade out.  Just one 'minor' track to go :-)

'Bohemian Rhapsody' plays with immaculate clarity on the intro and the opening verses continue to play as they did when first released back in '73.  I grade with honesty as my feedback and there is quite simply no 'background' on this opening section prior to John's bass coming in.  I can confidently say it continues to play to the same exacting standard with no interference whatsoever, this is pure Mint sound quality in all its glory!  The precision of the audio cannot be faulted and remarkably this standard is maintained throughout the entire 'operatic/rock' section.  It is phenomenal and you can turn it up to loud without fear of distortion.  The final verse is so powerful and the quiet emotive end section is again breathtaking, spine-tingling!  There is only a couple of the lightest dust ticks imaginable but this is Mint quality audio once more.  It is easy to get carried away when describing a classic that plays so well but of course I have to remain impartial but what a version!  I always adhere to Record Collector guidelines but you can dispense with the minus here!  This is Mint from start to finish and any collector would love to have this in their collection.

'God Save The Queen' closes the album in fine regal style with no interference at all.  This side is so close to being perfect and is a great example of a beautifully preserved vinyl.

In summary this is a FINAL UPGRADE ARCHIVE vinyl I am confident in saying.  The only obvious 'background' are the two light clicks on S2 but the remainder plays with a depth and precision that you hardly ever find on such an early pressing.  From the bombast of 'Death On Two Legs' to the iconic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' this is audio of an immaculate standard.  Admittedly it is not a first pressing but it is not far from it and the gatefold is also one of the finest I have ever seen, it is supremely clean as is the original unsplit inner.  A stunning 'package' overall.

The Gatefold

This is one stunning embossed G&L gatefold!  It is in near perfect condition and quite honestly it is difficult to find a negative.  It goes without saying that these are generally found in poor condition so to find one like this on such an early pressing is a genuine rarity.  The edges have no rubbing at all and the spine is also in lovely condition with no marking or wear.  Incredibly the corners have next to no wear, just one mega small corner crease but certainly nothing that is noticeable and the opening edge is in perfect shape with no handling wear at all.  It's the front and back cover that really stand out.  They have retained their original 'white' colour so well and have no discolouration/marking at all.  There are just a couple of tiny 'specks' on the back cover and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate and is 'as new'.  This truly is a beautiful example of this iconic cover and will disappoint.  Stunning!

Picture inner

The original inner is also in superb condition and has the three cropped corners as per all the first and early pressings.  There are no splits!  There are just two small areas of rubbing on the bottom edge and on the right side.  This is so clean and has none of the usual creasing that you so often see.

The labels

They are both in superb condition with no marking/writing and barely any spindle wear as stated.  The S2 label just has one very small 'nick' on one edge.  They have retained their original 'white' colour extremely well with no fading etc.  Great examples!

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 103 // YAX 5063 - 4 / YAX 5064 - 4 // MLR 3 / PD 2

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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