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The Cure : Three Imaginary Boys A-1 / B-1 1st Press 1979

This first pressing plays to a fantastic standard on both sides with no interference!  The clarity, definition and warmth of the audio is STUNNING and as always I have listened to every track in full so as to give a 'complete' grade.  I cannot emphasise enough just how well it plays and it is clearly an album that has been very well preserved and not played very much.  It is a FINAL UPGRADE archive classic in my opinion.

The cover is in excellent condition with only very minimal wear, nothing obvious, and the original inner sleeve is also in excellent shape.  A superb album!

FIX 1 A//1▽ E STR 11  9  STRAWBERRY THE GATWICK SOUND

 FIX 1 B//1▽ E STR 11 11 STRAWBERRY

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The cover is Ex+

The picture inner is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen with no scratches.  S1 does have a faint blemish on 'Object' but it has no impact on the audio.  Apart from that it has only a few faint superficial hairlines on each side and some light marks around the S2 run off but overall this is a super clean vinyl.  The labels have no marking / writing and S1 has only minimal spindle wear and S2 barely any.

Play grading

The quiet intro on '10:15 Saturday Night' plays with stunning clarity, just one barely audible tick, and as the volume increases the audio is just as strong.  Smith's opening vocal has no background and it continues to play so clearly.  The rhythm section leads this classic opening track but Smith's mid solo plays with great distinction also.  Great power and no distortion.  The remainder keeps up this fine standard - you wouldn't believe the clarity on the instrumental end section. This is easily a Mint- version.

'Accuracy' has just one very light tick on the intro and there is no background static.  The first vocal is perfect and from then on it plays as a very well preserved will - with no interference and very impressive 'separation' i.e. you can hear all the notes so clearly.  Another Mint- track.

The super quiet intro on 'Grinding Halt' is again so impressive because it is just so.... quiet!  There is no background and then Smith's vocal shines throughout.  Every verse, chorus and instrumental section play with sublime quality and there is a genuine sense of depth to the audio.  This is Mint no need for a minus here.

Another quiet intro with 'Another Day' and another perfect one at that!  It continues in the same precise way with no background and the mid instrumental is a case in point - so quiet and yet the clarity is STUNNING!  On the final vocal you do notice that the clarity of sound isn't quite on the same level but the difference is so so minimal and this track still deserves a Mint- grade.

'Object' plays with great power and clarity throughout.  There is no actual interference but the audio is very slightly 'muddied' which is probably due to the production / manufacture more than anything else.  In saying that it still plays incredibly well and turning the treble up helps greatly.  No doubt a common thing with this pressing and I do not think it should be downgraded because of it.  I have just played it again with the treble turned up even more and the playback was STUNNING actually so I really do think Mint- is an honest appraisal of the audio.

No such issue with 'Subway Song' which plays with superb clarity from start to finish.  Such a quiet track and yet the audio is so clean and 'fresh' and I only heard a couple of very light ticks, blink and you miss them!  Such a strong bass line, great depth and warmth and it plays superbly throughout including the long fade out and final 'noise' (!)  This has to grade as Mint- at the very least.  A stunning side of music.

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The 'spoken' intro on S2 has no background and then 'Foxy Lady' plays with impeccable quality and with no interference.  Ok Smith didn't want want it on the album and I guess it doesn't 'fit' but it is nonetheless an 'interesting' version and grades as Mint as it plays perfectly from start to fininsh.

'Meathook' plays to the same high end static with not even a single dust tick let alone anything else.  Mint

'So What?' plays with exceptional clarity and power and... no interference.  I can't quite believe what I am listening to to be honest!  The clarity of sound is just incredible even on the very quiet fade out.  Another Mint track.

The intro on 'Fire In Cairo' is faultless and the opening vocal is equal to that.  It continues to play with a clarity that is second to none and there is literally nothing to detract from the superb Mint audio.

'It's Not You' plays with great clarity, power and definition and again benefits from a tweak of the treble.  There is no interference or distortion and Mint- is well deserved.

The title track 'Three Imaginary Boys' has only a couple of mega light ticks on the intro and then plays with superb audio from that point on.  There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and again Mint- is fair.

The 'unlisted' 'The Weedy Burton' ends this fine debut with... great clarity once again.  Not bad for a final track that is very quiet at the beginning!  No interference and a Mint- conclusion to a stunning album.

In summary this first pressing plays to a remarkable standard with basically no interference.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is on another level and this has to be one of the 'cleanest' copies in existence today!  I cannot stress enough just how well it plays and it is definitely a FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic.  A stunning debut album that could not play any better in my humble opinion.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The cover is in excellent condition with only very minimal wear.  The top edge has just one minor 'rub' and the bottom edge is perfect.  The spine is in great shape with only minor 'crimping' and the corners are also extremely clean with barely any wear.  The opening edge has hardly any handling wear either.  The front cover is unmarked and has only a couple of tiny corner creases and a small number of faint creases next to the spine as is common.  The back cover is stunning - this is undoubtedly a cover that has hardly been handled down the years.

The picture inner is in excellent order with no side splits and only minimal creasing.  It has just a couple of very faint marks.

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

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

FIX 1 A//1▽ E STR 11  9  STRAWBERRY THE GATWICK SOUND

 FIX 1 B//1▽ E STR 11 11 STRAWBERRY

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

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!