Syd Barrett : The Madcap Laughs A - 2G / B - 2G 1st Press No EMI / Single Stampers

This first pressing plays to an excellent standard and with only non-intrusive static here and there and a small number of light clicks.  There are no loud pops and no skips or jumps. The clarity of the actual audio on both sides is very impressive.

The stampers are some of the earliest you will find on a genuine first press and is in fact no 3 on the pinkfloydarchives list.  It may not be G1//G1 but R1/A1 is very early nonetheless.  As it is a first press there are no EMI logos on the labels.

The laminated gatefold is in very good order but does have some wear at the top of the back cover.  The original inner is in excellent condition with no side splits.

Please wait for the invoice before making payment as the item may have to sent via tracked shipping, conditions below.

SHVL 765 // A - 2G / B - 2G // R 1 / A 1

The audio on S1 ranges between Ex- and Near Mint (see below for details)

The audio on S2 ranges between VG+ and Near Mint- (see below for details)

The gatefold is VG+ (back cover VG-)

The original inner is Ex+

The S1 label is VG+ and S2 Ex+

The vinyl is very clean and retains a very strong glossy sheen.  There are no scratches and only a couple of faint marks that have no affect on the audio.  There are a few faint hairlines and for such an early first press it is in excellent condition, I have seen far worse!  There is some spindle wear but only around the inner ring.  The S1 label does unfortunately have some thick pen marking to left but the S2 one remains very clean.

Play grading  

The acoustic 'Terrapin' plays with very impressive audio overall.  There is only a minimal amount of light static here and there and in no way does it intrude on the quality of the 'listen'.  In fact the vast majority has no static and whilst there are a handful of static ticks there are no clicks or pops.  This deserves an Ex+ grade in my opinion, the music comes through very clearly indeed.

'No Good Trying' is stunning from the very first groove and plays with great clarity throughout.  There is just one light background click and aside from that there is no interference.  You can tell this has not been overplayed judging by how well the record is playing so far.  A Near Mint- version.

'Love You' has only very light static on the acoustic intro and thereafter plays very clearly with no intrusion.  Again there are no clicks or pops etc and I will grade as Near Mint- although I am sure many would grade higher.

The 'heavier' 'No Man's Land' has no interference and plays with great power and depth from start to finish.  A Near Mint version without doubt.  

'Dark Globe' has very clear audio again from the outset with only 3/4 light ticks near the beginning and a couple of light clicks towards the end.  So a little more 'background' on this track but still a very enjoyable listen with no 'loud' intrusion.  I would grade this as Ex-

'Here I Go' has only light static on the quiet intro and then has very 'clean' audio with only minimal 'background'.  For a relatively quiet track the clarity is very impressive and Ex is deserved - no clicks or pops :-)

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'Octopus' plays with superb precision from start to finish.  Gilmour and Waters produced every track on this side bar one and you can tell the difference immediately with this track.  There is a greater clarity somehow and this really is a very impressive version.  Barrett's vocal is higher in the mix and the acoustic 'sound' certainly plays with enhanced definition.  There are no clicks or pops and only a minimal amount of light intermittent static.  A highly commendable Near Mint- version.

The quiet intro on 'Golden Hair' does have some static but is not overpowering and you can still hear the music very clearly.  There are no clicks or pops but the static is there throughout but in the background.  This is Ex- and remains a very enjoyable listen.

'Long Gone' has barely any 'background' on the intro, just a couple of static ticks after 10 seconds, and the first chorus is 'as new'.  From then on it plays well with only minor static in the quieter sections and a couple of light clicks just before the final chorus.  VG+ although the majority is better than that.

'She Took A Long Cold Look' plays with excellent clarity and only the minimum of very light static in the background.  There is just one light click and yes you can clearly hear the page being turned!  This is a very impressive version for a relatively quiet track and Ex is easily deserved.

The segue into 'Feel' has one click but not very much static and as the vocal starts the audio is very strong indeed.  It plays with only light static here and there and again the music comes through very clearly.  Ex overall.

The aborted intro on 'If It's In You' has only minimal light static and once the track does get going the playback is excellent.  There is one light click but the clarity on this track cannot be faulted really and there is hardly any 'background'.  This is worthy of an Ex+ grade.

'Late Night' ends the album with superb Ex+ audio and no obvious intrusion apart from one light click at the end.   

In summary this very early first pressing plays to an excellent standard overall with only some light static here and there and the odd light click.  In a sense that makes it sound worse than it is!  Please be reassured that the audio is generally very 'clean' and there is not one section that makes you think 'hmmm that's not good'!!  The music and vocals are always very clear and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever.  Of course this is one of the earliest first pressings and when you consider how many of these were taken to parties etc in the early 70s this one has withstood the passage of time extremely well.

The Gatefold

The laminated E.J. Day cover does have some wear most obviously on the back where there are some scuffs next to the top edge.  Apart from that it is in pretty good order.  The top edge of the front cover has no wear and the bottom edges are also in excellent shape.  The spine has a little wear also but remains 100% legible and the opening edges have a little handling wear also, they also have a slightly wavy look.  The corners of the spine have some rubbing but not too much and the other corners are actually quite clean with minimal wear.  The front cover is in excellent condition with no marking and only a couple of faint laminate creases and the back cover is similar apart from the wear at the top of course.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with only one tiny white mark.  It is not the best copy I have seen but by no means is it wrecked and many aspects are in fact in excellent order.

The Inner

The original poly-lined Harvest inner is in excellent shape with no side splits or marking just some creasing here and there.

The Labels

They are both retain their original colours but as can be seen the S1 label does have some black pen on, looks like two initials.  Aside from that it is very clean with only minor mottling and the S2 label has no marking apart from faint mottling also.  This can only be seen when you hold the record at a certain angle.  There is not a great deal of spindle wear.  As stated there are no EMI logos.

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

SHVL 765 // A - 2G / B - 2G // R 1 / A 1

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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