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Budgie : Budgie 1L/1L 1st Press Red/Pink 'Dogbone' Label 1971

This very collectable first pressing plays to a superb standard with no actual interference.  There are only a small number of very light ticks and there are no clicks or pops on either side and next to no static.  The clarity and depth of the audio is stunning and I honestly do not think I have heard this album play with such dynamic power and resonance.  A genuine FINAL UPGRADE in my opinion.  The classics 'The Author', 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' and 'Homicidal Suicidal' play so clearly and they have all retained their original sonic quality.  The vinyl has some faint hairlines but the audio is obviously not affected in any way.  A fine example of the greatest heavy rock debuts.

The unlaminated cover is in very good condition (close to Ex-) with only a little shelf wear and the inner sleeve is in excellent shape also.

A first press is of course denoted by the red / pink 'dogbone' labels and the 1L/1L matrix.  As can be seen this is a very early first pressing with only a single stamper on each side.

MKPS 2018 // 7-LNMG-240-1L / 7-LNMG-241-1L // A 1 / A 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)

The cover is VG++

The labels are Near Mint

The inner sleeve is Ex-

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition with a strong glossy sheen and has no marks or scratches.  There are some hairlines but they are faint and have no affect on the superb audio.  There are no scuffs, no groove wear and the red / pink 'dogbone' labels are extremely clean with only very minimal spindle wear.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Guts' is superb with barely any static and what you do 'pick up' is so darn quiet anyway.  Shelley's opening vocal is 'as new' and it continues to play with stunning quality and with that typical deep Budgie sound.  It has wonderful depth and resonance and no intrusion on the audio, a couple of barely audible ticks that you could easily miss anyway.  A Mint- start in my opinion the sonic quality is very impressive to say the least!

The acoustic and delicate 'Everything In My Heart' plays beautifully from the first note to the last without any background and easily grades as Mint such is the clarity.  Remember this classic album is 52 years old very soon!

The very quiet two minute intro on 'The Author' is STUNNING!  It plays with crystal clear audio with literally no intrusion.  The opening instrumental is flawless and Shelley's opening vocal is equal to that with only a couple of insignificant dust ticks.  The first classic riff from Bourge is 'as new' and this entire section is just breath-taking!  Shelley's first vocal on the higher register is again so unbelievably clean and you know you've got a pristine vinyl on your hands when the bass notes play as they do here!  The 'heavy' instrumental section plays with sublime quality and there is no distortion on the top end.  I have to be careful here my wife is working downstairs!!  The final vocal keeps up this fine standard and the 'crescendo' end section completes this classic with perfect quality once more.  A fantastic Mint version.

The percussive opening from Philips on the total classic 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' has only a handful of very light static ticks - close to perfect in other words - and as the volume increases the playback is superb.  The opening vocal is faultless and I heard only a couple of very light ticks during the next instrumental section.  It continues to play with stunning precision and Bourge's first riff is just so strong and dynamic.  It is one of the finest riffs in heavy rock if you ask me and Shelley's brief bass solo plays to perfection.  From then on this instrumental has a sonic quality that can only be described as spectacular!  I cannot emphasise enough just how powerful, clean and deep the audio is.  The deep bass sound is of course such a vital part of the Budgie sound and I have never heard it play with such definition.  The final section including the vocal could not play with any greater precision and this has to grade as Mint- it truly is a phenomenal version and is one of, if not the best version I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.

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The intro on 'Rape Of The Locks' plays very clearly with only the bare minimum of light static in a couple of places and then as Philips comes in soon followed by Shelley the playback is flawless.  There are a couple of ticks at the beginning of the long instrumental, not clicks I hasten to add!  This section than plays with genuine quality with no sign of any interference and the final vocal section is 'as new' also.  The remainder is of the same high end standard and overall Near Mint is very much deserved but this is a case of the vast majority playing even better than that.

'All Night Petrol' has one static tick on the intro and the opening vocal then plays with sublime clarity.  From then on the audio could not play any better - the mid instrumental has that familiar Budgie depth and resonance with only one mega light tick and the remainder has no interference.  Perhaps not one of the strongest tracks on the album but it is a Mint- version nonetheless.

The only other acoustic number on the album 'You And I' plays with exceptional clarity for a relatively quiet track, by Budgie standards anyway!  Shelley's vocal, very high in the mix here, is so clean and and I am confident in grading this as Mint as there is absolutely zero interference.

Another classic intro on 'Homicidal Suicidal' and yes it plays perfectly!  The opening vocal is equally as good and it continues to play as you would want it to - with dynamic power and with a clarity that is second to none.  The first extended instrumental is just STUNNING and the quality does not drop as you progress.  If anything there is even more depth contained here and it's the kind of definition that you only find on the first pressings.  A couple barely audible ticks during the next instrumental and then the first 'quieter' moment that encompasses the rhythm section and Philip's heavy beats is superb.  The strong and mega deep bass section from Shelley is 'as new' and the final vocal does not disappoint either.  The end percussive section ends the album on a high with tremendous power and no distortion.  What a version!  And a Mint- one at that to conclude this superb album.

In summary this first pressing could hardly play any better.  All tracks bar one grade as Mint or Mint- and the only Near Mint one 'Rape Of The Locks' has only the bare minimum of light static for a couple of brief moments.  This vinyl has been so well looked after over the decades and has clearly not been played very much.  That is how the original sonic quality has been retained in all its glory!  This is of course an album that relies so much on its depth and power and it delivers on every level I am pleased to say.  The genuine classics 'The Author', 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' and 'Homicidal Suicidal' play with STUNNING quality and in my opinion this qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE archive version.  It would add to any Near Mint / Mint collection of that I have no doubt.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The cover I think is between VG+ and Ex- and doesn't have too much shelf wear in my opinion.  The edges have no rubbing and the thin spine remains 100% legible with only minor compression here and there.  The corners are very clean overall with only the bottom left one having a minor crease and the opening edge has hardly any handling wear.  The front cover is unmarked apart from one small scuff in the top right corner, some faint creasing near the opening edge and a more obvious crease in the bottom left corner.  The back cover is in great condition with only a very minor crease top right and a small bend in the lower right corner.  Overall the cover is very clean when you consider it isn't laminated.

The original poly-lined Stereo inner (dated 11-70) is in excellent shape with no side splits, very little marking and only one small tear and a smaller 'nick' on the top edge.

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

MKPS 2018 // 7-LNMG-240-1L / 7-LNMG-241-1L // A 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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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.

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