Made In Heaven A2/B2 UK 1st Press Cream Vinyl LP (Limited Edition)

This original 1995 cream/white coloured vinyl is stunning and plays to a standard that is so rarely heard today.  The vast majority plays as Mint the playback is astounding.  This is not altogether surprising as the previous owner assured me that it had never been played before and indeed there is no spindle wear to be seen.

The gatefold is also in wonderful condition, one of the cleanest I have ever seen with no real wear at all.  The lyric inner and three posters are also 'as new'.

PCSD 167 // A - 02 - 01 - 1 / B - 02 - 01 - 1 // Stampers D

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

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 6 intro Ex-)

The gatefold is Near Mint

The lyric inner is Mint

The labels are Mint

The posters are Mint

The advertising flyer is Mint

Visual grading

This is up there with the best I have ever seen!  It has a stunning glossy look and there are no scratches or marks at all and as per any unplayed vinyl there is no spindle wear.  There are only a couple of mega faint hairlines although it is extremely difficult to find them!  This is a beautiful example of this first pressing and the labels and run out grooves are also in pristine condition.

Play grading  

The album starts with one of the most impressive intros that I have heard on 'It's A Beautiful Day' for a long time.  It is so often affected by a fair amount of crackle which is generally very intrusive.  The clarity here is stunning with only a very small number of very light static 'ticks' that are totally in the background are there are obviously no clicks or pops.  As the vocal comes in the audio is even better and there is no interference whatsoever.  This is further proof that this vinyl has never been played before.  The remainder of the track is of the same standard and there are only a couple of light static 'ticks' on the fade out.  A superb Near Mint start although the vast majority is better than that!

'Made In Heaven' then grades as Mint the audio could not be improved upon.  As my regular customers know I listen to every second of every LP so as not to miss anything and the playback here is just breathtaking.  There is not even a solitary dust tick let alone anything worse!  The long quiet fade out also plays with 100% perfect precision.

'Let Me Live' from the very first groove plays with sublime quality and with great power and depth.  This 'high octane' track will often display some distortion but I am glad to say the definition of each note is not affected in any way.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound at all, just pure unadulterated Mint audio from start to finish.

The classic 'Mother Love' is 'as new' with wonderful clarity and warmth and again there is no 'background' of any kind.  This is such a powerful and emotive track and it's refreshing to hear it play with such 'high end' quality as on many other first pressings there will often be some interference.  Not here!

'My Life Has Been Saved' ends the side with incredible depth once more.  There is no 'background' and only a minimal hint of distortion.  Very minimal!  I only mention this to be complete in my grading although it is totally non-intrusive and perhaps not even worthy of mention!  The playback is still of a fantastic standard and is one of the finest and 'cleanest' versions I have ever heard.

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The super quiet but brief intro on 'I Was Born To Love You' plays with incredible clarity and then plays with exceptional quality for the remainder.  It plays as any unplayed should i.e. with no interference at all and again not even dust tick.

The quiet intro on 'Heaven For Everyone' also plays to an immaculate standard and again I cannot underestimate the quality of the audio here.  The clarity and depth is perfect and this is another example of a beautifully preserved vinyl.  This is Mint from the 'jangling' bells at the start to the very end of the final extended note.

I so often mention clarity but that is how any vinyl should be judged and 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' is a prime example of an unplayed vinyl again.  There is just no intrusive 'background' and all I heard was a handful of dust ticks towards the end of the first chorus.  They are barely audible and as I say do not detract from the stunning quality of the audio.  The guitar solo plays as clearly as it did when first released near 25 years ago and the quiet fade out plays with perfect precision...again!

'You Don't Fool Me' plays to a standard that you can only dream about!  I do know that there is often a 'skip' on this track as per 'Money' on the first pressings of 'Dark Side...' but that is not the case here.  I played every second (of course!) and I am delighted to say it plays with Mint quality from beginning to end.

'A Winter's Tale' is another test of this vinyl as it is a relatively quiet track and I am pleased it passes this test admirably!  The intro is 'as new' and it continues in the same way for the remainder.  There is just a minor amount of static literally at the end of the fade out.

This static is also prevalent per rotation of the record on the intro to 'It's A Beautiful Day (reprise)'.  It is quiet but yes it can be heard.  I cannot see what is causing it so could be a pressing fault.  The remainder of the track plays without fault and with very impressive power and depth.  The 'silent' fade out has barely any 'background'.

In summary the audio on this first pressing is of a standard rarely heard as quite rightly these coloured vinyls are generally played.  This 'unplayed' pressing exhibits a clarity and depth that is second to none and the only obvious 'background' is on the intro of the final track.  More or less sheer perfection otherwise!  The gatefold is also in fantastic condition as is the lyric inner and posters.  A stunning 'package' overall.

The Gatefold

The iconic cover is in immaculate condition and you could only find a better one if it was still sealed!  The edges are incredibly clean with only a couple of mega small and barely visible rubs and the wide spine is beautifully clean with no obvious wear at all, just a couple of tiny rubs at the top and bottom.  The other corners have no wear which is rarely seen.  What is not surprising for an unplayed vinyl is the fact that the opening edge has no handling wear at all.  The front and back cover are in superlative condition with no marking or creasing and the inside is also immaculate.  This is a supreme example of this cover and will not disappoint.  Included is the small advertising flyer and this is also in perfect condition.

The Lyric Inner and Posters

The lyric inner is 'shop fresh' and in pristine condition.  The posters are also Mint with no marking or staining.

The Labels

They are in pristine condition with no marking or writing and no spindle wear!

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

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

PCSD 167 // A - 02 - 01 - 1 / B - 02 - 01 - 1 // Stampers D

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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