DEEP PURPLE MACHINE HEAD A1/B1 1st PRESS 1972 *Superb* w/LYRIC POSTER EX+/NM
£
109
$
144
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Description
Deep Purple : Machine Head A2 / B1
This first pressing plays to a fantastic standard with barely any 'background'. There are no clicks or pops and only very minimal static on a couple of tracks which is totally non-intrusive. The clarity and depth of the audio really is very impressive, I have not heard many better!
It has been played a number of times but has clearly been so well preserved down the years. It can only have been played on a high quality system. There are also a few hairline marks on S2 but as detailed below this has no affect on the amazing quality of the audio. The playback on this side is stunning!
As this is a genuine first press it has no EMI logo on the labels and 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd...' is printed around the rim of the label and 'Made In Gt Britain' at the bottom of the label.
The laminated gatefold is in superb condition with only very minimal shelf wear and the fold-out poster is also one of the finest I have seen in a long time. The original inner just has some creasing.
TPSA 7504 // A - 1U / B - 1U // GDA 1 / GGD 2
The audio on S1 is Near Mint (T3 Mint- / T4 Ex+)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint+ (T1 Mint-)
The gatefold is Ex+
The original inner is Ex-
The labels are Ex+
Visual grading
The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has an impressive glossy sheen with no scratches. S1 in particular is visually stunning with only a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines. S2 does have a small area of hairline scuff marks and a few other very small faint marks but they have no affect at all on the stunning quality of the audio. Apart from that it is very clean and the run out grooves are also in excellent order. As stated there is some spindle wear.
Play grading
The classic 'Highway Star' has only very minimal static on the intro and not surprisingly you can hardly hear it anyway! Once the vocal begins the audio is stunning and it continues to play with great power and depth. There are no clicks or pops and no distortion either. There is just a minor touch of mega light static in the background every now and then but it is so quiet as to be totally non-intrusive. The clarity is so impressive throughout and a Near Mint grade is fair.
'Maybe I'm A Leo' is of the same standard and from start to finish plays with outstanding clarity and definition. Again just a minimal hint of barely audible intermittent static but I sit very close to the speakers in order to 'pick up' any 'background' however minor and believe me this static is minor! The record has been played a number of times but the audio has not suffered in any way - there is no groove wear and the playback is so strong and plays with such depth. The fade out also plays with superb precision which shows you just how good the clarity is here. Near Mint again.
The percussive intro on 'Pictures Of Home' is flawless and from that point on you would not believe how well it plays! Each note is so 'clean' and again the depth and warmth of the audio cannot be underestimated. This is as powerful a version that I have ever encountered and the long instrumental section is breathtaking! Even the brief quiet section towards the end has barely any static and I am more than confident in grading this as Mint- it truly is a sensational version.
'Never Before' ends the side with very strong audio and there is no obvious interference whatsoever. No ticks, clicks or pops but there is just a little background static on the second half but you really do have to listen out for it. It is very quiet but is a little more obvious towards the end so will grade as Ex+ just to play it safe :-)
----------------------------------------------------------------------- The intro on the classic 'Smoke On The Water' plays with sublime clarity and definition, the audio could not be any more impressive. As the vocal begins there is no let up in quality and every section thereafter plays with remarkable power and depth. There is just no interference of any kind and as always I have listened to every second in order to provide a 'complete' grading. This is worthy of a Mint- grade. There is one click in the dead wax just as the music finishes!
The quiet intro on 'Lazy' has only minimal light static on the intro and one very quiet 'swish' type sound but just before Paice's first percussive note there is no 'background' at all and this section plays superbly. As the tempo increases the playback cannot be faulted, it is 'as new' and it continues to impress I am pleased to say. There is no interference and the first verse is of the same 'high end' standard. The harmonica section is flawless and the remainder plays with immaculate precision also. Again there is such depth to this track and Near Mint+ is fair. The static at the beginning really is very minor!
'Space Truckin' plays with stunning precision on the intro, just one mega light tick, and from then on plays with real power and definition. Despite being the final track and a 'high octane' one also there is no inner groove distortion and the audio cannot be faulted. This vinyl has been so well preserved and this classic ends this classic album with dynamic Near Mint+ audio and again has no obvious interference. There is just a little static at the end of the fade out.
In summary this genuine first press plays to a wonderful standard with no discernible interference at all. The clarity and depth of the audio is so good and the worst that can be said is that it has just a minimal amount of very light static on 2/3 tracks. As stated this has been played a number of times judging by the spindle wear but this proves just how robust this vinyl is and that it was also played on high end equipment. It really has preserved its original audio quality so well. Not bad when you consider it is nearly 50 years of age now!
The Gatefold & Lyric Poster
The laminated G & L gatefold is in lovely condition with barely any shelf wear. The edges are in perfect order and the spine is equally as good and of course remains 100% legible. The corners of the spine are also super clean and the right hand corners have only very minimal rubbing. The opening edge has hardly any handling wear. The front cover is in fantastic condition with no marking/scratching and has only a small number of faint laminate creases around the edges that you always see. The back cover is almost as good with just one laminate type scratch and a couple of small creases. The inside of the gatefold is near perfect and has just a little 'whiting' near the bottom of each panel where they have become attached at some point, it is only minimal. A fine example overall with only superficial wear.
The fold-out lyric lyric poster is in superb shape and is cleaner than so many you see. It has only very minimal creasing (for once!) with just a little on a couple of corners. There are also a small number of age related 'spots' but they are very faint.
The Inner Sleeve
The original plain white die-cut inner (with the Patent number and Made In England printed on one side) has no side splits or tears has oly-lined EMI/Harvest inner is in excellent condition and there are no side splits and just one very small tear on the central 'window'. It has no marking, just some creasing.
The Labels
The labels (no EMI logo) are very clean and have no marking or writing but does have some spindle wear as stated. They have lost none of their original deep colour.
Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable // B & W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
TPSA 7504 // A - 1U / B - 1U // GDA 1 / GGD 2
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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