Roger Taylor : Happiness? A2 / B1 1st Press 1994 Numbered Limited Edition No 1627

This limited edition album plays to a fantastic standard and S2 in particular is incredible!  The clarity and warmth of the audio is so good it can only have been played two perhaps three times at most.  S1 is almost as good with only three light clicks but the remainder is 'as new' with no underlying static at all.

The vinyl has no spindle wear which lends further weight to the theory that it has hardly ever played.

The cover and lyric inner are both in superb condition and have been so carefully looked after down the years.  As can be seen it is numbered 1627 on the back.  A stunning album.

PCSD 157 // A - 1 / B - 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (Track 3 & 6 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Near Mint

The inner is Mint-

The labels are Mint

The vinyl is in superb condition and retains an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only a handful of faint sleeve removal hairlines and a small number of tiny barely visible 'specks'.  It could hardly look any better!  There is no spindle wear and the run out grooves are extremely clean also.

Play grading  

The percussive intro on 'Nazis 1994' is faultless and this standard is maintained once the vocal begins.  From then on the audio definition is equal to that of an un-played vinyl with no interference not even on the radiophonic end section.  A stunning Mint start to the album.

The piano intro on 'Happiness' plays beautifully with no 'background' and only a couple of mega light dust ticks.  There is some 'birdsong' at the end of the intro (how many know this?!) and it can be heard so clearly which gives you an insight into just how impressive the clarity is here!  It continues to play with superb precision and only on the final verse can you hear a small number of very faint ticks.  They are so quiet and totally non-intrusive and this title track still deserves a Mint- grade.

'Revelations' has a perfect 'clean' intro with a strong deep sound but there is one click just as the vocal begins.  However, that is the only negative as the remainder of this track is 'as new' with no other interference.  The clarity and depth of the audio throughout is so impressive and the fade out has no 'background' at all.  This still deserves a Near Mint- even with the one solitary click!

The emotive opening on 'Touch The Sky' is stunning and the clarity is outstanding.  Turn it up loud it plays incredibly well!  It continues to play with unrivalled power and depth and there is not one iota of interference.  This truly is an immaculate version and again it is so obvious this vinyl has only been played a couple of times at most.  This is Mint all the way!

The quiet intro on 'Foreign Sand' plays so clearly with only a couple of dust ticks, it could not play any better.  It progresses in the same precise way and there are no ticks, clicks or pops and no static or crackle either.  The depth and resonance here is something you just don't get with CDs - the warmth of the audio is tangible and even the quieter sections have no intrusion.  The powerful end section is 'as new' and the piano outro also plays with wonderful clarity.  I am confident in grading this as Mint and is the strongest version I have heard in many a year.

'Freedom Train' ends the side with near perfect audio.  The first two minutes are flawless and only during the first chorus are there a couple of light clicks.  From then on there is no other 'background' and 'as new' is no exaggeration.  As per the third track 99% of the audio here is perfect so it does not deserve to be downgraded too much so I think Near Mint- is a fair assessment of the quality.  The 'high octane' end section is just awesome, I can't think of any other description!

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'You Had To Be There' on S2 has 'high end' audio from the first note to the last.  There is no interference and Mint is richly deserved.  No more needs to be said :-)

'The Key' also plays to a wonderful standard and once more it's the depth of the audio that really stands out.  Clearly there is no groove wear which results in near perfect clarity from start to finish.  I say 'near' as there is just a very minor amount of light static on the end piano section.  Very minimal and Mint- is correct.

'Everybody Hurts Sometimes' goes one better and grades as Mint as there is no 'background' of any kind.  It has a clarity of sound that could not be improved upon.

I try hard not to be repetitive but it's difficult with audio such as this!  'Loneliness...' again plays with perfect clarity.  Mint

'Dear Mr Murdoch' is of the same standard with not even a dust tick to be heard.  It's hard to put into words the audio levels that are on offer here and it's hard to believe this record is now 26 years old!  Every note is so precise and 'as new' is an honest appraisal of the audio.  Even the quiet brief section that brings the track to a close has no 'background'.  Yet another Mint track.

'Old Friends' more than keeps up the standard with sublime clarity all the way through.  No guessing who this song is about, it is 'as new' and brings this superb album to a satisfying close.

In summary this first pressing is certainly up there as one of the most impressive I have listened to in recent years.  The clarity and definition of the audio cannot be underestimated.  A couple of clicks on S1 but that is it - the playback is exceptional and there is no underlying static whatsoever, it could hardly play any better.  In fact S2 could not it is that good!

The Cover

The cover is still very strong and robust as per one that has been hardly handled down the years.  The top edge just has one small 'rub' and an even smaller 'ding' and the bottom edge is close to perfect with just one barely visible 'rub'.  The spine is also near perfect with just a couple of mega small white 'specks' and for once all four corners are supremely clean with no wear.  The opening edge has no handling wear either.  The front and back cover are beautifully clean with no marking and it still has the original sticker on the front.  The limited edition number 1627 can clearly be seen on the back.  A superb example.

The Lyric Inner

I am sure many would grade the glossy inner as Mint such is the condition.  The bottom corners have a mega small crease (and when say small I mean barely visible!) so I will grade as Mint- but aside from that there is no marking or creasing.

The Labels

They are immaculate with no marking or writing and no spindle wear as stated.

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

PCSD 157 // A - 1 / B - 2

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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