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Still Life : Still Life 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press 1971 Vertigo

This first pressing can definitely be termed as rare as it was only pressed in limited numbers and is very collectable album today which isn't surprising when you consider the quality of the music!  I am pleased to say it plays with stunning quality for the vast majority and S2 in particular is superb.  S1 does have some interference mainly at the start of the side and this is described in detail below.  The vinyl itself does have some marking but that pays testament to how strong these records are because the clarity, depth and power of the audio is so impressive across most of the album.

The gatefold is in very good condition with some shelf wear but this is mainly restricted to the edges and the spine.  The original Vertigo swirl inner has some wear also.

This rare album has a large Swirl logo on the S2 label and has a 1Y1/2Y1 matrix.

6360026  1Y//1▽ 420  1 1  3

6360026   2Y//1 ▽ 420  1 1  2

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T1 intro / opening vocal VG- then Ex / T2 VG one brief section)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T2 Near Mint-)

The gatefold is VG

The labels are Near Mint-

The original 'Plastic Bags...' inner is VG-

Visual description

The vinyl is in very good condition with no actual scratches.  On S1 you can see some hairlines and a couple of 'sweeping'

 bands of hairlines but they are relatively faint.  S2 has some hairlines and one scuff mark but this is superficial as it has no impact on the audio.  You can also a small 'heat' mark at the end of the side but this again has no affect on the audio.  The iconic Vertigo labels are very clean with no marking and not very much spindle wear.

Play grading

The intro on 'People In Black' does plays with some static / crackle once per revolution and then the majority of the opening vocal plays very clearly but does have a few louder crackles here and there.  The music still plays very clearly though.  There is some more crackle at the beginning of the instrumental for 3/4 seconds and then plays so well with only minimal intrusion.  As the volume increases the audio is stunning!  It is so strong and deep and the next vocal section plays with only minimal static at the beginning - a hint of light static on the next vocal and then the next instrumental plays with great clarity, depth and power - it builds with sublime quality and the next vocal has zero interference.  The quieter section that follows has some light static and then the final section plays with a superb dynamic quality and no intrusion.  I will grade the intro / opening vocal as VG- and from then on is Ex overall but with many sections even better than that.

The entire intro on 'Don't Go' plays with superb audio and again the clarity and power is so impressive.  The opening vocal is equal to that with only a couple of very quiet ticks and it proceeds in much the same way.  The vocals are so strong and there is no distortion on the top end.  The quieter section near the end has a little crackle but 'choral' finale plays very clearly with no interference.  This track is Near Mint with only that one brief section grading as VG

The intro on 'October Witches' plays perfectly and the opening vocal is of the same high end standard.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static.  From then on it plays with impeccable quality - the vocals are so clean and the mid instrumental plays with exceptional power and definition.  It blends into a quieter instrumental passage and that plays with great clarity and barely any static.  The next vocal section is stunning and you cannot fault the rest of the rest of the track either.  A high quality track that deserves a Near Mint grade as there is no intrusion on the audio basically.

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The acoustic intro on 'Love Song No.6...' plays beautifully and the first vocal is equal to that, the sonic quality is stunning.  It continues to play with genuine quality and unlike the opening section on S1 there is no interference here.  I cannot stress enough how strong and clear the audio is and nowhere is that more obvious than during the first instrumental section - wow!  Blast it loud the playback is phenomenal!  'As new' sums it up perfectly.  The next vocal has only one second of mega quiet static at the beginning and only and the following instrumental has just 3/4 seconds of very quiet static which is totally non-intrusive.  The rest of this classic track plays so clearly with barely any static and Near Mint is a fair assessment of the audio but it has to be said the majority is even better than that!

'Dreams' has only the bare minimum of light static on the intro and the spoken section plays with impeccable quality with only the lightest of static at the start.  As it builds the playback is superb and the crescendo 'piece' is 'as new' for sure.  As the pace picks up during the percussive section I cannot emphasise enough just how strong and deep the audio is and the next vocal is just as impressive.  It continues to play with stunning clarity and depth and I noticed just one mega light tick during the mid instrumental, so quiet you could easily miss it.  The quieter vocal section plays with wonderful clarity and there are only a handful of minor static ticks during the next instrumental but again they are not intrusive because they are not clicks!!  The percussive end section is more or less perfect and overall this has to grade as Near Mint- in my opinion.

The intro on 'Time' has no intrusion and again what strikes you is just how strong and deep the audio is, the original sonic quality has very much been retained.  The first vocal section is perfect and it then plays with imperious quality through every vocal and instrumental section.  The quieter mid vocal section impresses with no interference and the following instrumental is absolutely STUNNING just had to say that!  The power and definition of the audio is so good and there is no distortion on the top end and it just gets better as it builds and builds.  There is just a minor hint of light static at the start of the final 'choral' vocal but yep so quiet and it only lasts for 3/4 seconds.  It builds perfectly with no intrusion - this truly is a superb version of this classic track and I will grade as Near Mint although if I said Mint- I'm sure I would be forgiven!

In summary this very collectable first pressing plays with real quality for the vast majority.  I have graded every track as honestly as I possibly can and as you can see it is only the first track that has some obvious interference - a little crackle during the second track but as stated it does not last long.  As for the rest of the album?  Wow!  The clarity, depth and resonance of the audio is high end indeed and whilst it may not be the cleanest vinyl it does show how strong and robust records from this era are.  It can withstand some marks as long as there are no scratches basically.  It has to be said that most of this classic album does play with stunning quality and S2 in particular is superb with real interference at all.  So of you don't mind a little interference at the start then you will be very happy with this classic album!

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

Many aspects of this cover are in excellent condition and it's only really the spine and edges that have some obvious wear.  Some rubbing on the edges and some more noticeable wear on the spine but there are no actual splits on the surface.  The right hand corners do not have very much wear and the opening edge is very clean.  The front cover is in excellent order overall with just one minor white scratch type line and and a small sticker removal mark in the top left corner.  The back cover is very clean overall with only some rubbing around the edges and the inside of the gatefold is in great shape with very little fading around the edges.  Not a perfect cover but it is certainly not in poor condition.

The original Plastic Bags... inner (dated 1070) has seen better days with two side splits and some spotting / marking here and there.  A couple of small tears on the central aperture also and only minimal creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

6360026  1Y//1▽ 420  1 1  3

6360026   2Y//1 ▽ 420  1 1  2

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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