The Beatles : Abbey Road 2/1 1st Stereo Press w/ Aligned Apple No Her Majesty 1969

This first pressing plays with genuine quality and no interference.  There are no clicks or pops and only a small number of insignificant light statics, you could easily miss them they are so quiet.  The clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio is hugely impressive and you also notice just how strong and deep the sound is.  It would be very difficult to find this album playing with such precision.

The cover does have the Apple aligned correctly on the back and remains in superb condition with barely any wear.  The inner sleeve is also in excellent condition.

I am happy to classify this as a first pressing because it has the 2/1 matrix and there is still no 'Her Majesty' credit on either the label or the cover.  It's just the cover that has been 'corrected'.

PCS 7088 // YEX 749-2 / YEX 750-1 // RHR 4 / RPT 1

The audio on S1 ranges between Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Near Mint-

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Ex+

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no scratches.  There are a small number of faint hairlines and a small faint scuff on S1 but this has no affect on the superb audio.  The run out grooves are very clean and the Apple labels have only minimal spindle wear.

Play grading  

The intro on the classic 'Come Together' plays perfectly with that deep rich sound that you only find on a clean vinyl.  Lennon's opening vocal has no background either and it continues to play with superb clarity and depth.  The mid instrumental has no intrusion, just a couple of barely audible dust ticks at the end, and then the final section including the fade out plays so clearly also.  A Mint start to the album.

'Something' plays with incredible clarity from the word go.  An absolute classic of course and the sonic quality throughout is just stunning and nowhere is that more obvious than during the first chorus.  The sonic quality here is just so impressive - the audio is again so deep and warm and there is no distortion on the top end.  From start to finish it plays beautifully although I will grade as Mint- because I did notice a couple of mega quiet statics at the end of the fade out!

Both 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' and 'Oh ! Darling' play with sublime quality and no interference.  I am sure many would say the playback is 'as new' but I did hear (just about!) a couple of very quiet ticks on each so I will grade as Mint- accordingly although ticks is probably too strong a word for it!  Incredible power and depth demonstrated here also.

The intro on 'Octopus's Garden' is faultless and Starr's first vocal is equal to that.  From then on every vocal and instrumental section plays with genuine precision - there is no background and Mint is very much deserved.

Another classic in 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' and it does not disappoint!  The intro and opening vocal section are perfect.  The audio is again so deep, strong and clear and I only noticed one mega light static just before the first She's so heavy section which then plays 'as new'.  The following instrumental is just as clean and it progresses in the same way.  As you move into the progressive section the playback is superb and it continues to play with exceptional power and definition!  You can turn it up to max without fear of distortion and the clarity of sound is so impressive also.  Kind of hearing things I haven't noticed before such as McCartney's bass in certain parts.  I cannot stress enough how fantastic this entire section plays - there is no background and the sonic quality is out of this world!  I will grade as Mint- just to err on the side of caution but what a version!

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The acoustic intro on 'Here Comes The Sun' plays so clearly with only a couple of dust ticks and Harrison's opening vocal section is even better!  This classic continues to play with a clarity that is equal to a record pressed yesterday not 54 years ago!  Every note is so sharp and precise and the more I listen to it the more I am impressed by it, never heard better.  The depth and warmth of the music is sensational and Mint it has to be.  Criminal it was never released as a single.

The intro on 'Because' has no background and the first multi-layered vocal section is perfect.  It continues in much the same with only 3/4 very quiet statics towards the end.  Mint-

The intro on 'You Never Give Me Your Money' has just one minor static tick and the opening vocal has no background.  The remainder plays with wonderful clarity and power and there are no negatives.  Another Mint- track.

The segue into 'Sun King' is 'as new' and the opening instrumental plays with a clarity and warmth you rarely find today.  The triple-backed harmonies play perfectly and with only a couple of barely audible statics across the entire track this has to grade as Mint- at the very least.

The trio of songs 'Mean Mr. Mustard', 'Polythene Pam' and 'She Came In Through The Bedroom Window' all play with amazing audio with zero interference.  The clarity and the power of the audio is STUNNING and they all grade as Mint such is the quality.

A couple of static ticks in the dead wax and then the piano intro on 'Golden Slumbers' plays so clearly with no intrusion and the opening vocal has just one minor tick at the start.  The chorus is 'as new' and the final verse just has one minor static 'moment' - a quarter of second at most!  It is so quiet and Mint- is still fair.  I often find this track has a 'muddied' sound quality but that is certainly not the case here.

'Carry That Weight' plays with stunning precision throughout with a sonic quality that is second to none.  Mint

'The End' more than keeps up this fine standard with a clarity and definition that could not be bettered.  Starr's one and only solo is perfect and the three solos that follow all play so clearly and with great power.  A hint of distortion?  Maybe but so so minor.  The end vocal is flawless as is the brief end instrumental.  That is rare because this section so often plays with static distortion I find.  I will say Mint- overall.  The 'silent' section has barely any static and then 'Her Majesty' ends the album with near perfect audio, just a couple of very quiet statics.  A Mint- conclusion.

In summary this first stereo pressing plays to a fantastic standard with no interference basically.  Yes there are a small number of very quiet statics but you miss them if you were not listening closely they are that quiet.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is stunning and this is undoubtedly one of the finest versions of this classic album that I have ever heard.  There are no clicks or pops and together with a lovely cover this will grace any collection.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L cover is so close to perfect with hardly any wear.  In fact the only 'real' wear is a laminate crease near the top left corner in the trees on the front cover and a couple of minor corner creases / rubs.  It has retained its original shape and structure so well and is easily one of the best I have seen.  A stunning example of this iconic cover.

The plain white die-cut inner is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears, hardly any marking 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

PCS 7088 // YEX 749-2 / YEX 750-1 // RHR 4 / RPT 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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