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Warhorse : Warhorse A2 / B2 1st Press

This first pressing plays with stunning audio across both sides.  In fact the only 'intrusion' are three static ticks at the start of S2 but really there is no denying the quality of the music here.  The record (and cover) have been so well preserved over the last 50+ years and that is reflected in the sonic quality, it has not deteriorated in any way.  The clarity, depth, power and resonance of the audio is STUNNING and there is no distortion either, a genuine rarity for this 'powerful' record.  I cannot emphasise enough just how well it plays and visually the vinyl is very impressive also with only some light hairlines.  This album was so underrated at time of release in 1970 so it's good it gets more recognition today and should indeed be regarded as one of the classic hard / progressive rock albums from this era.

The cover is in superb condition with hardly any wear and for once the inside is incredibly clean!  The original swirl inner has also been so well looked after with no real wear.

This is a genuine first press as the S2 label has the large Swirl logo, VERTIGO is written below the spindle hole and the credits are below the track titles.

6360015   A // 2   1 1  5

6360015   B // 2   1 1  1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex+)

The gatefold is Ex++

The labels are Near Mint

The original swirl inner is Near Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in great condition and still has an immaculate glossy sheen with no scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a few faint hairlines with 3 or 4 on S1 that are a little more obvious but still faint.  They have zero impact on the stunning quality of the audio because they are only hairlines!  The run out grooves are very clean as are the iconic Vertigo labels which do not have too much spindle wear.  A superb example.

Play grading

The quiet organ intro on 'Vulture Blood' is STUNNING!  So often it plays with a fair amount of static but it plays so clearly here with no interference just a couple of very quiet dust ticks.  Incredible clarity of sound on the first few grooves on a 53 year old vinyl!  As the track 'begins' the audio plays with sublime depth and resonance - typical of the Vertigo pressings of course - and on such a clean vinyl that sonic quality is exemplified.  The opening vocal from Holt is 'as new' with its usual raw quality and it progresses in the same exact way.  The mid instrumental is faultless and as it ends the brief pause is... totally silent.  The final vocal section plays perfectly with no intrusion and this it easily grades as Mint such is the quality.  I must just mention again how strong and deep the audio is here, it's difficult to put it into words - but I have never heard this classic opening number plays with such incredible power and depth.  The best start possible!

The bass / percussive / organ intro on 'No Chance' could not play with any greater precision - each note is just so clean and 'as new' again sums it up perfectly and the first two verses are of the same high end standard.  The following vocal section is equally as strong and the next passage interspersed with Holt's superb vocal and backing is phenomenal.  The end instrumental is superb and you cannot help but admire the strong work from both Peck and Poole and Simper's bass adds so much to the overall sound also.  A STUNNING sonic 'landscape'!  The entire track grades as Mint I cannot fault it.

Already I am running out of superlatives in which to describe this album!  The staccato intro on 'Burning' is so deep and strong and the rest of this instrumental section is just as impressive.  Holt's powerful vocal lends itself perfectly to this track and every section plays with that full, deep, rich and dynamic sound that we have come to expect now.  The long instrumental takes up the second half of the track and it plays with exceptional quality including exemplary work from both Peck and Wilson.  This is a section (much like the rest of the album!) that just has to be turned up to 'loud'.  By doing so there is no distortion and the playback is STUNNING!  Right through to the final note there is no interference and Mint is again 100% deserved.

The cover 'St Louis' ends the side with outstanding clarity, definition and power.  A high octane track and yet there is no inner groove distortion and it just could not play any better.  Perhaps not a typical Warhorse track but they definitely put their own original stamp on it and sounds fantastic!  A superb conclusion to the side and another MINT track.  Not a minus in sight!

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The intro on 'Ritual' plays with that familiar deep rich tone but with three static ticks that are hardly intrusive.  The opening vocal is as per S1 and it continues to play with sublime precision from then on.  Simper's bass is so high in the mix and adds so much to the sonic quality and Peck's mid solo is awesome!  It has no background and again you cannot fault the clarity and depth of the audio.  Holt's final vocal is superb and the end instrumental is perfect.  I will grade the intro as Ex+ but the rest is undoubtedly Mint in every way.

The quiet acoustic intro on 'Solitude' plays beautifully with no background and the 'choral' vocal is so clean and precise.  A couple of barely audible dust ticks no more.  Peck's delicate solo is flawless and the opening verse / chorus play to perfection.  It continues in the same exact way and again Holt's vocal matches the Warhorse sound so well, it almost has an operatic quality at times.  Their instrumental sections are so strong and this one is no exception.  It plays with imperious quality and the next vocal has no intrusion either.  The clarity and power of the audio is outstanding and the final vocal / instrumental end this classic in fine fashion.  The long fade out has no background and yes this also grades as Mint

The intro on 'Woman Of The Devil' is of course so quiet and yet the clarity is 10/10!  No ticks etc this is audio of the highest calibre and Peck's work is just as impressive.  As it builds the sonic quality is STUNNING!  Wow what power!  The opening vocal section plays with impeccable quality and the mid instrumental is more than up to the task also.  'As new' is correct and Holt's final vocal is so strong for a final track.  It is powerful and on a high register here and yet there is no inner groove distortion and the original sonic quality is still there.  A Mint end to a phenomenal album.

In summary this first pressing plays to a standard you so rarely find today.  With only three static ticks at the start of S2 you really cannot fault the clarity of sound and it is so so close to final upgrade status!  The audio is as strong and deep as anything I have heard before and it is obvious this album has only been played on high end equipment.  The depth and resonance of the audio is second to none and the power is on another level - it's not often this classic album has no distortion but there is absolutely zero here.  I have sold 5 or 6 of these of these down the years and this is up there with the best of them in my opinion.  In conjunction with a STUNNING cover this will add to any high class Vertigo collection.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

This is probably the finest example of this cover that I have ever seen.  It is so clean and retained its original shape and structure so well over the last 53 years, it was clearly owned by a genuine collector.  The interior is so often marked because it is so 'white' but I can only see a handful of tiny insignificant specks here and a couple of minor corner creases.  The top and bottom edges are more or less perfect and the wide spine is superb with barely any wear on the corners.  The other corners are super clean also and the opening edge has bare minimum of handling wear.  The front cover is near perfect with just one thin scratch line in the centre (8cms) but it took me a long time to even notice it because it is very faint!  The back cover is just as impressive with only a couple of tiny corner creases that hardly warrant a mention.  The inside of the gatefold as stated is in superb condition and the inner spine for once is undamaged.  A stunning example that has to grade as Ex++ at the very least.

The original swirl inner (dated 1070) is in lovely condition without any side splits or tears, no marking and very little age related fading around the edges.  Just some light creasing that's about it.  Not often removed from the cover.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

6360015   A // 2   1 1  5

6360015   B // 2   1 1  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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