Deep Purple : In Rock A2 / B1 1st Press 'No EMI'

This classic album plays with superb audio and very little 'background'.  In fact the vast majority is stunning!  The laminated cover and original inner are also in excellent condition.

I am confident in calling this a first pressing as the original A1/B1 was changed prior to the release date and very few of them made it to market.  It is said that only 1 in 20 have this matrix but I think the ratio is far greater than that.  I have seen at least 50 over the last two years and have not seen an A1/B1!  There is also no EMI logo on the labels.

SHVL 777 // A - 2 / B - 1 // LL 2 / TL 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Track 1 Ex- during organ section / T3 ranges between Ex and NM)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / T4 Near Mint-)

The gatefold cover is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex

Visual grading

The vinyl is in lovely condition and retains a very healthy glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only a small number of faint hairlines that obviously have no affect on the stunning audio.  There is not a great deal of spindle wear so in my opinion the record has not been overplayed and that is confirmed by the clarity and depth of the sound quality.  The run out grooves and Harvest labels are also in superb condition.

Play grading  

The iconic intro on 'Speed King' plays with immense power and has no interference or distortion.  The quiet organ section then plays clearly but with some static in the background.  From then on this classic 'rocks' out loud and true and with incredible depth also.  The bass is so strong and adds so much to the overall mix.  The audio definition is so impressive and this is Near Mint with the organ section at the beginning grading as Ex-

'Bloodsucker' plays with great depth and power from start to finish and has no interference of any kind.  Not one single click or pop and each note can be heard so clearly.  This is another Near Mint track.

The classic 'Child In Time' has only minimal light static on the quiet intro and again there are no clicks or pops.  There is a little background static during the first vocal but it is very quiet and non-intrusive in my opinion.  In the following 'vocal' section it is just a little more prevalent but the audio still plays extremely well.  The percussive section then plays beautifully as does Blackmore's solo.  Woah it is absolutely stunning!  Such power and definition and no distortion - a fantastic listen.  I cannot emphasise enough just how incredible this 'high octane' section is, I have never heard better.  The next organ section and vocal play very clearly indeed with barely any static.  As the volume increases there is only minimal inner groove distortion with just a touch more on the final crescendo section but it still plays with great power and provides a fantastic end to the side.

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'Flight Of The Rat' plays superbly from the very first groove and continues in the same way.  There seems to be a greater clarity on this side and that is very obvious on this track.  It plays so clearly and there is no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever.  This is a 'high end' version and I'll give it a Mint- grade it is stunning!  The mid instrumental section is a prime example of that, it could not plays any better.  Honestly I have never heard anything like it, it plays 'as new', and the derum solo right at the end is equally as good.

There is some static in the dead wax but the intro on 'Into The Fire' has no such problem and from beginning to end it plays in superlative style with no interference.  Just sheer power and wonderful clarity.  This is also worthy of a Mint- grade.

'Living Wreck' has only two seconds of mega quiet static on the percussive intro and then plays with sublime raw power again.  There is perhaps just a minor touch of light static but it is so much in the background as to be inconsequential.  For a first pressing it plays with exceptional audio and of course there are no clicks or pops.  I would classify this as Near Mint and the closing section is definitely better than that although there is some static right at the end of the fade out.

'Hard Lovin' Man' ends this stunning side with, you guessed it, stunning audio!  The intro plays perfectly and there is only a little static in the brief quiet section that follows.  Thereafter the audio is very strong and whilst there is a little inner groove distortion you have to accept that on a 'final track' and should not be down-graded as such.  It is only minimal and the playback is very strong throughout and remains a superb listen.  Once again there are no clicks or pops.  The vocals are very 'clean' and even the closing guitar section plays incredibly well with no obvious 'background'.  Near Mint- I would say.   

In summary this first pressing plays with immense power and clarity and barely any interference.  It is certainly up there with the best I have heard and the vast majority is stunning.  There cannot be many A2/B1 pressings around that have no clicks or pops!  The laminated gatefold is also in excellent condition with only minimal wear.

The Gatefold

The laminated G & L cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear.  Only the top edge of the front cover has 3/4 small rubs with the other edges being perfectly clean.  The spine is in excellent shape with only a handful of tiny rubs and a little wear on the corners.  The right hand corners have only a little wear and the opening edge has no handling wear at all.  The front cover is in lovely condition and has no marking or laminate splitting.  There is just one small crease bottom right and a small number of the usual faint creases around the edges.  The back cover is very similar with a little laminate creasing next to the opening edge which is not obvious at all and the inside of the gatefold has no marking as such just a little fading here and there.

Inner Sleeve

The original EMI Harvest inner is not poly-lined but it is very clean with just one tiny split on the bottom edge.  There is only minimal creasing and age related fading.

The Labels

The yellow/green Harvest with no EMI logo are in great condition with no marking/writing and not too much spindle wear.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

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

SHVL 777 // A - 2 / B - 1 // LL 2 / TL 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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