QUEEN II 1st UK ISSUE TOP LOADER NeAr MiNt ArChIvE CoPy

	£		143
	$		189

QUEEN II THIS IS THE ORIGINAL 1st PRESS 1st UK ISSUE\ RELEASE CAT NO.EMA 767 WITH THE ORIGINAL TOP LOADING GATEFOLD COVER NEAR PRISTINE! EARLIEST POSSIBLE  -4U -4U MATRIX ENDINGS!  (NOT A REISSUE)!      COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL LYRIC SLEEVE.!     EXTREEMELY RARE WITH (CROSSED OUT\CORRECTED MATRIX 'BOTH SIDES')  (ONLY EARLIEST PRESSINGS) VERY RARE VERY COLLECTABLE!!!!!!!!1974 LOOKS  UNPLAYED!    AWESOME AUDIO PLAYS LIKE NEW!

AN ARCHIVE COPY NEVER NEED TO UPGRADE!!

! WITH CROSSED OUT and CORRECTED MOTHER STAMPER ON BOTH SIDES SIDE   (VERY RARE AND COLLECTABLE)!!!!!! EARLY STAMPERS!

See My  Video of this album (in full screen mode) for a sample of the track ''The March Of The Black Queen'' from this album Recorded in digital at 44100 hz in stereo  (Please Click Below)

Another from my personal collection. Purchased from new ORDERED THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO RELEASE and initially only ever played to record to tape! This was then stored in a case with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve and cover for protection. This is how I have always stored my records! The audio is the best that I have heard graded near mint quality! The 1st issue Garrod & Lofthouse  top loading cover is also superbe, complete with the original textured lyric inner sleeve in excellent condition! The vinyl has only ever been played by me no more than two times ever! Try to find better after 35 years! Never need to upgrade from this copy  An archive copy!! 

QUEEN II is the second album by English rock band Queen, originally released in 1974. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London, England in August 1973, and engineered by Mike Stone!.

 The two sides of the original LP were labelled "Side White" and "Side Black" (instead of the conventional sides "A" and "B"), with corresponding photos of the band dressed in white or in black on either side of the record's label face. The album is also a loose concept album, with the white side having songs about lost love, longing, family secrets and the black side almost only about fantasy, often with quite dark themes!!.

Mick Rock's album cover photograph was frequently re-used by the band throughout its career, most notably in the music video for the song Bohemian Rhapsody (1975). There are two versions of this photograph, one with black for the background and foreground (right), the other with a brown foreground!!.

Numerous problems beset the album's release. Its completion coincided with the 1973 oil crisis and consequently, government-enforced measures for energy conservation delayed its manufacture by several months. Once the long-overdue first pressing arrived in record shops, the band noticed a spelling error on the sleeve, and had to complain persistently to correct it!!!.

The lead-vocalist Freddie Mercury composed the entire "Black" side, contributing virtuosic piano and harpsichord pieces and a wide range of distinctive vocal performances. The "White" side is very diverse: four of the five numbers were composed by Brian May, where one is instrumental, one is sung by Mercury and Taylor (with May at the piano), the next is sung by Mercury, and the last by May.

 The closing track of The "White" Side is Taylor's only composition in the album. John Deacon played acoustic guitar as well as bass on most of the album, except the songs "White Queen" and "Some Day One Day", which were performed by May — partly on an inexpensive Hairfred guitar that he had owned since his childhood!!.

Side White

1. "Procession" (May) - 1:12
2. "Father to Son" (May) - 6:14
3. "White Queen (As It Began)" (May) - 4:33
4. "Some Day One Day" (May) - 4:21
5. "The Loser in the End" (Taylor) - 4:01

Side Black

1. "Ogre Battle" (Mercury) - 4:08
2. "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke" (Mercury) - 2:41
3. "Nevermore" (Mercury) - 1:17
4. "The March of the Black Queen" (Mercury) - 6:33
5. "Funny How Love Is" (Mercury) - 2:48
6. "Seven Seas of Rhye" (Mercury) - 2:48

The matrix

side 1.a ''yax  4535-4U'' ( crossed out and corrected matrix)

side 2. ''yax 4536-4U'' ( crossed out and corrected matrix) 

The Mother Stampers

side white. ''4'' ''PH''

side black. ''1'' ''PR''

 

 

The vinyl.

Visualy this still retains its original sheen from new And looks like new!!!This lays perfectly flat on the turntable and is free of any warping.! Absolutely (no)Needle scratches on this vinyl any marks can only be seen under strong light caused by the vinyl been slid in and out of its cover (TO BE HONEST I CAN'T EVEN SEE A BLEMISH) at least none audio sounding that I heard. Looks as close to near mint !!!!! 

 

The Audio Quality

I have played the vinyl through track for track at very loud volume on a top system prior to listing !!!The audio is cristal clear and vibrant through out as good as it gets almost cd quality on my system in my opinion!!!This vinyl is graded as awesome  audio on this vinyl will be hard to surpass certainly one of the best that I have heard unbeleivable audio seperation on all frequencies!!!!! Please note! It is easy to be criticle about these early seventies pressings, many are found that suffer from static crackle. Importantly, it is not hard to tell that this has been hardly played there were (no) signs of grooveware or any distortion or background noise and no loud clicks or pops that is so common on this pressing, unbeleivable to find like this, in fact I heard no more than two or three isolated ticks throughout the whole album, the audio was as crisp and vibrant  as it gets. Please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber and you will see that I normally get it right. I would class myself as highly criticle when it comes down to describing these pressings, as this is one of my favourite a true classic and one of queens best!!!!!! AUDIO GRADED AT THE VERY TOP! THIS WILL BE HARD TO SURPASS! Audio graded as near mint on my systems!!

Please note! I always add this disclamer! That I have honestly described this vinyl to the best of my ability and have taken the time to play this through track for track for any problems.  Please allow for the odd isolated static,tick not consistant through out the audio. This is a genuine original pressing (not a reissue) that is 34 years old and would have been played on a 34 year old system.!!!!

A constant clean before each play is recomended. This vinyl has been stored in a case with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve for over 30 years. A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static, and a constant cleaning would reduce this and will enhance the audio quality!!

The labels

Visualy near perfect I can see barely one whispy spider mark,, this has hardly been played at all !! IN FACT THIS LOOKS LIKE IT HAS ONLY BEEN PLAYED ONE TIME EVER IN MY OPINION!!!!! Unbeleivable for 34 years old!!!!!

Please look at my other completed listings sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!!!!!

The cover

This is the original fully laminated Garrod & Lofthouse cover (TOP LOADER) (only 1st press)!!!!! There are no splits or tares The spine is superbe, the writing can clearly be seen. The laminate is still rich and glossy as the day this was released with amaizingly, no real creasings to speak of  (see photos)Being primarily black in colour these are almost impossible to find with lovely sharp corners and crisp edges, rarely seen with no real ringware to talk of, any rubbing or marks are only noticable if scrutinised!  This is superbe !!!! I have taken a few photos so all aspects of this exceptional album can clearly be seen!!! This cover is graded at least excellent plus in my opinion!!

 

 

The record sleeve

The original white lyric sleeve has no tares (no) fading with age hardly any  creasings! The edges are becoming fragile with age and a split beginning, slight spotting\foxing only noticable if looked for!! original 1st press lyric sleeve with the original miss spellings!!!!This is stored seperately from the record Which is the way that I always store my records!!!!!!!!

Vurtually unplayed!!!

 

See My  Video of this album (in full screen mode) for a sample of the track ''The March Of The Black Queen'' from this album Recorded in digital at 44100 hz in stereo  (Please Click Below)

 

 

  

 

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 7.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

See My  Video of this album (in full screen mode) for a sample of the track ''The March Of The Black Queen'' from this album Recorded in digital at 44100 hz in stereo  (Please Click Below)

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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