BEGGARS OPERA PATHFINDER 1st UK PRESS MiNt ViNyL/AuDiO VERTIGO PrOg RoCk PsYcH

	£		282
	$		374

Beggars Opera 'Pathfinder' 1972

 1st uk Pressing! CAT No.6360 073 Vertigo Swirl Labels!

Impossible Stunning Near Mint Vinyl, Near Mint Audio!

Barely Played Copy! Earliest #1#1 Matrix Endings!

Complete with 1st Issue Vertigo Large Poster Cover

and Vertigo Records Sleeve!

Another from my personal collection, collected over a period of more than 35 years. I have accumilated thousands of albums over the years and all are stored with the vinyl removed from the covers and sleeves for protection! This awesome progressive psych rock album is one of my all time favourites certainly my favourite Beggars Opera albums! This is their third album released in the UK in 1972 and in absolutely awesome  condition for a 39 year old record! Please note! There is some general ware and tare with age on the 1st issue six fold very large poster cover, but because of the nature of the way that these were produced I would say that this is still in exceptional condition for 40 years old ,,I have seen much worse! The main rarety here is that Visualy and audibly the vinyl looks and sounds barely ever played at all, almost like a new vinyl, (This has been played no more than a minimal amount of times only)! Cristal clear and very vibrant throughout, so rare to ever find, and graded at very near mint throughout I find it hard to fault this awesome audio. This is also the earliest 1st UK pressing featuring #1#1 matrix endings (pressed from the earliest or 1st masters , the vinyl is the much thicker and chunky type of vinyl only found like this on the earliest pressings only and in my opinion produce the best audio quality available in any format! This is complete with the original Vertigo Swirl record sleeve Please do not underestemate the rarety of this album

Beggars Opera were a progressive rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, and were formed in Glasgow in 1969 by guitarist Ricky Gardiner!!.

Members: Ricky Gardiner (Guitar), Alan Park (Organ), Martin Griffiths (Vox), and Marshall Erskine (Bass) and Raymond Wilson (Drums). Virginia Scott (Mellotron) and Gordon Sellar (Bass) joined in 1971!

Pete Scott replaced Martin Griffiths in 1972, and Linnie Paterson replaced Pete Scott in 1973!.

Time Machine from the Waters of Change album was very successful in Germany, where the band toured extensively!.

They played at the Speyer Great British Meeting of 1971 and on Beat Club!

In 1975/76 a cut down Beggars Opera recorded 2 albums for Jupiter records in Germany. Sagittary: Ricky Gardiner (Guitar), Pete Scott (Vox), Virginia Scott (Keys and Vox) and Mike Travis (Drums)
Beggars Can't Be Choosers same line up but with Clem Cattini (Drums)!!

Ricky Gardiner (guitarist) went on to play for David Bowie on the Low album and with Iggy Pop on the Lust for Life album as well as the famed Idiot tour of 1976. He co-wrote The Passenger with Iggy Pop!!.

Alan Park (organist) worked with Sir Cliff Richard for many years as musical director!!

Act One (their debut album released 1n 1970),, was one of four albums released by Vertigo Records released in a short period of three years only !

Pathfinder is their 3rd UK studio album released in 1972!

The Matrix

Side 1. ''6360073 1Y#1''

Side 2. ''6360018 2Y#1''

The labels.

The original VERTIGO labels are in awesome condition! features the swirl on side a. and the ''lARGE swirl logo'' and track listings on side b.(only early press)! All rights.... are featured around the label rim(only early press)!!!!!!! Any spidering can only be seen angled to the light and in fact can even be counted ,The plastic can still be seen in the spindle hole! Unbeleivable like this! (It is quite obvious visualy and together with the awesome audio that this has only had very minimal play only possibly only ever played a handful of times ever,, Please note certainly this has never been played in the last 25 years this has been stored in a case all of that time!) ! so rare for an album that is 39 years old! very very collectable like this!

The vinyl

This lays perfectly flat on the turntable! On initial inspection this looks truly superbe  for an unbeleivable 39 year old 1st UK pressing! Any marks that could possibly be seen angled to the light would be sleeve removal only and have liitle if (no) effect on the near as perfect audio quality that I heard!  At least I find it hard to even see a blemish at all! There are no audio sounding marks at all!

The Audio Quality

This vinyl was played and listened to very carefully track for track  three times prior to listing, and was played at very loud volume on a top system! I have tried to accurately give an honest acount on the audio quality as i heard it! The first thing that hits you when the needle is put on the vinyl is the absolute clarity and vibrancy real raunchy deep bassey feel on this pressing, I can honestly say this can not be surpassed on later pressings) Truly stunning audio! Important to note that there are absolutely (no) loud clicks or pops at all! Audio sounded near as perfect on my systems graded as very near mint!!

(please note this vinyl has (not) been over played at all and indeed in my opinion, this has barely ever been played for a 39 year old vinyl! very, very rare to ever find like this! (This audio sounds truly awesome throughout) there no signs of grooveware or distortion during the audio play of this vinyl! I have played this through track for track and the audio quality is superbe cristal clear and extreemely vibrant, one of the best copies that I have heard ! Even in between tracks and quiet places there is extreemely minimal noise, lovely and quiet

 Absolutely stunning audio seperation only ever found like this on these 1st pressings!!! I would class myself as highly critical and this is a truly exceptional sounding vinyl and the 1st pressing by this awesome band Beggars Opera!

Please note! That i always make this disclaimer! That I never heard any (loud) clicks or pops during the play of this record please allow for the odd light static tick certainly not consistant throughout the audio, This has been played (very few times only) probably not more than a handful of times in my opinion, and this is a genuine 39 year old vinyl that would have been played on a 39 year old system!!!!Important note! This has been stored in a case laying dormant for at least 25 years, a build up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static \crackle\ticks! A constant clean before each play is recomended! This il reduce any static and will enhance the audio quality!

The cover.

This is the original 1st Issue/press  (Unlaminated very large six fold Poster cover) cover! Please note! There is some general ware and tare with age! Firstly there is an indent /line noticed on the front and rear that looks like a manufacturing fault in my opinion but not too bad. There is some general rubbing ware at the edges noticed if looked for just begining to fray in one place at the corner, light creases only and some corner bumping can be seen if looked for. Having said this I have seen much worse. When opened out fully i notice some very slight rippling only but still looks impresive as a poster. I can't see any signs that this has ever been put on a wall! I would grade this at about excellent in my opinion, way above average that are normally seen! Very desirable and collectable but not perfect so please allow for this. This UK 1st issue album is becoming extreemel scarce to find indeed!

The record sleeve.

This is the original vertigo poly lined sleeve becoming fragile with age! Amaizingly (no) edge splits and very bright and clean for its age. There are some tares around the die cut holes and creasing with age!  This is the original! PLEASE NOTE! THE VINYL IS NOW ALWAYS STORED SEPERATELY FROM THE ORIGINAL SLEEVE AND COVER.!!!!!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £42.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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