QUEEN “A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” - ORIGINAL 1ST PRESSING – 1975 UK ALBUM – EMI LABEL

	£		34
	$		45

This album is from my private collection, which I am now selling off, all of which I bought new back in the 60's, and onwards. Some of them have not been played for at least 30 years, after I got rid of my record player in the mid 80's. I've recently bought some new kit purely to digitise my collection, which I am now selling.

I have therefore play-graded this vinyl, as well as visually grading it under LED lighting. I consider that the grading and description of both vinyl and sleeve is as realistic as possible, and I don't think I've over-graded them.

I grade my records using the Goldmine Grading Guide (see below).

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Check out my other Queen album listings, plus other albums from my collection.

I am happy to combine postage for multi buys.

Please check out the photos for more detail, as they form part of the description, and highlight the main features, good and not so good(if any).

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This is the fourth studio album from Queen, released in November 1975, on EMI records in the UK. The album title takes its name from the 1935 Marx Brothers film of the same name, which also influenced the ideas and style of some of the tracks.

Track List …..

A2 Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon

A3 I'm In Love With My Car

A4 You're My Best Friend

A5 '39

A6 Sweet Lady

A7 Seaside Rendezvous

B1 The Prophet's Song

B2 Love Of My Life

B3 Good Company

B4 Bohemian Rhapsody

B5 God Save The Queen

Catalogue Nos.

Labels EMTC 103

Sleeve EMTC 103 (boxed) OC 066 o 97176

Matrix/Runouts

Side A (stamped) YAX 5063-3 A G L

Side B (stamped) YAX 5063-3 (etched) BLAIR'S

The Vinyl

I am grading this as VG+. There are just a few scuffs and light non-audible hairline scratches on this superb quality vinyl, when viewed under LED lighting. The overall sound is super clear, even though there's just a little static crackle, which is only really noticeable between tracks. There are no skips, jumps, or sticking. The vinyl overall is very clean, and still has a very good gloss finish.

The labels are in great condition, with only a little spindle scuffing, and no hole wear. There's no stickers or writing anywhere.

The Sleeve

I am grading this as VG+. This sleeve is in excellent condition, very clean white surfaces, and the colours and printed lyrics are nice and clear. There are hardly any creases anywhere, just a tiny bit of bruising to the spine corners. There is a small split at the bottom on the inner surface of the spine. The outer spine is clean and clear, with sharp text. There's no writing or stickers anywhere.

The printed thin card inner sleeve has the 3 die cut corners. It has just a few light creases, and a little record ring pressure markings, and the bottom edge and one side edge have splits in them. The print and colours are still strong.

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The album will be sent out in a sturdy purpose made LP album packaging, with added card stiffeners, and marked 'FRAGILE' and 'DO NOT BEND'. The vinyl will be sent in a new inner polylined paper sleeve, but separate to the main outer sleeve, to avoid damage from movement in transit. The album's original inner sleeve will be included. The whole album will then be enclosed in a polythene album outer sleeve.

Please Note:- I use eBay's Global Shipping Program for posting outside the UK.

Thanks for looking, and good luck.

Goldmine Grading System

Mint [M]: Absolutely perfect in every way - certainly never played, possibly even still sealed. (More on still sealed below). Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.

Near Mint [NM or M-]: A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record shows no obvious sign of wear. A 45 rpm sleeve has no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.

An LP jacket has no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable similar defect. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same is true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, and the like. Basically, Near Mint looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

Very Good Plus [VG+]: Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK.

The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turn-up corners, or a slight seam-split. An LP jacket my have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good [VG]: Many of the defects found in a VG+ record are more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise is evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during the song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.

Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Good [G], Good Plus [G+]: Good does not mean bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear.

A jacket or sleeve has seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. If it's a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it.

Poor [P], Fair [F]: The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and/or writing. The LP jacket barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, and written upon.

Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

Still Sealed [SS] : Let the buyer beware, unless it's a U.S. pressing from the last 10-15 years or so. It's too easy to reseal on. Yes, some legitimately never-opened LPs from the 1960s still exist. But if you're looking for a specific pressing, the only way you can know for sure is to open the record. Also, European imports are not factory-sealed, so if you see them advertised as sealed, someone other than the manufacturer sealed them.