Greatest Hits I

This A1/B1 first pressing is a final upgrade 'time warp' classic I have no hesitation in saying.  I recently purchased this from a private seller at a record fair and he stated that he only played his records in order to 'tape' them and the astounding quality of the audio confirms that.  The vinyl is visually 'as new' and the cover is also very impressive with the picture inner being in pristine condition.

Of course it is easy to find a GH1 album but to find a genuine A1/B1 first pressing is certainly not so easy and especially in this condition.   The audio is immaculate and as always the record has been fully play tested.

EMTV30 // A-1 / B-1

The audio on S1 is Mint- (track 4 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 2 is Near Mint)

Visual grading

This is the cleanest most impressive looking Greatest Hits I have ever seen and this is an A1/B1 first press!  It is pristine and it is so rare to find one like this today.  It has an immaculate mirror-like glossy sheen and has no spindle wear at all and the audio quality would certainly suggest it has only been played once, maybe twice at most.  Nearing 40 years of age this has to be the best GH1 you are ever likely to find.  There are no hairlines or scratches and the labels and run out grooves are also in perfect condition.  A stunning final upgrade archive example.

Play grading  

This has to be the 'cleanest' and most impressive 'Bohemian Rhapsody' I have ever heard on a Greatest Hits and this is an A1/B1 first pressing!  From the very first note the clarity is astounding and there is no 'background' of any kind.  There is a minimal (very minimal!) amount of mega light static just prior to the third verse but without doubt this is a Mint- version of this classic.  The operatic/rock section just has to be heard to be believed!  The clarity and power is 100% perfect, it quite simply plays 'as new' and the quiet end section is again sublime with only one minor 'tick' and a little static right at the end.  An absolute fantastic start to S1.  'Another One Bites The Dust' is of the same standard and plays faultlessly.  The depth of the bass is very impressive, as it should be, and there was not one single click or pop during playback.  'Killer Queen' is another stunning highlight and quite honestly is Mint but I will grade as Mint- so as to adhere to Record Collector guidelines!  The intro on 'Fat Bottomed Girls' is superb although after this first chorus there are a couple of light static sounds and one louder click caused by a tiny speck which may even be a pressing fault.  Thereafter it plays with wonderful clarity with no other issues and even the fade out plays with stunning precision.  The remaining four tracks play with immaculate audio - 'Bicycle Race' has only a couple of light 'ticks' on the 'bell' section and 'You're My Best Friend' is 100% perfect from beginning to end.  I do not wish to repeat myself but 'Don't Stop Me Now' deserves a special mention as it is just Mint- from start to finish, you could not wish for a better version, and again the fade out is perfect giving you a great example of the clarity on offer here.  The very quiet 'Save Me' intro is as good as when first released back in '81 and I am delighted to say the remainder is of the same standard.  There is only a touch of minimal static on fade out but aside from that this is a stunning version.

'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' plays with remarkable clarity and again is worthy of a Mint- grading.  No clicks, ticks, pops, crackle or static just pure perfect audio, wow!  'Somebody To Love' has only a couple of non-intrusive light 'ticks' on the intro and then plays with impeccable audio with only 2/3 crackle sounds right at the end.  'Now I'm Here' has barely any static on the intro and then plays loud and true with no interference or distortion at all, a superb version.  'Good Old-Fashioned Loverboy' is Mint- and is the most impressive version I have heard for many a year.  The remaining tracks do not disappoint and even the quiet sections on 'Flash' play with near perfect audio, I heard just one faint 'tick'.  This is yet another track that plays to an impeccable standard and there is just nothing that detracts from the stunning quality of the listen and the same applies to 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' also.  The classics 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are The Champions' end this album with audio that cannot be beaten.  I cannot stress enough just how superbly they play!  The quiet intro on the latter is so good it is 'as new' and this clarity is prevalent throughout these two tracks.  They both grade as Mint- and what is so impressive is that there is no distortion, this is a rarity as it is so often found on these final two tracks.  The depth and clarity on this side is so incredible, absolutely stunning!

In summary this A1/B1 first press is without doubt a final upgrade archive copy of that I have no doubt.  As my regular customers know I do not over-exaggerate or over-grade and as I often say I listen to every second of every LP so as to provide a comprehensive description.  The overall 'sound' is of a vinyl hardly played and the sheen and 'look' of the vinyl confirms that.  I am confident in saying this is the 'cleanest' GH1 I have ever heard and I repeat it is an A1/B1 first pressing!  A superb example that comes with a super clean cover and a perfect picture inner also. 

The Cover

This is one of the cleanest 'first press' covers that you will and has only very minor shelf wear.  The edges have barely any 'rubbing' and there is minimal corner wear, just a little more on the two right hand ones.  The spine remains 100% legible and has only a handful of mega tiny 'specks'.  The opening edge has hardly any handling wear and has only a couple of tiny 'rubs' either side.  Both the front and back cover are incredibly clean with no marking.  A very impressive example of this famous cover.

Picture inner  

The thick card inner with the rounded corners (as per all the first and early pressings) is in perfect condition with no wear and easily grades as Mint it is that good!

The labels

I have never seen cleaner!  They have no spindle wear and no marking or writing at all and again suggests a vinyl that has only ever been played the once.  They are both 'as new'.  Absolutely Mint in every way!

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

This record was professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S Cleaning Machine

EMTV30 // A-1 / B-1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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