DEEP PURPLE MACHINE HEAD A1/B1 1st PRESS No EMI + POSTER SUPERB AUDIO MINT-
£
90
$
119
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.
Deep Purple : Machine Head A1 / B1 1st Press No EMI + Poster
This first pressing plays with stunning clarity, depth and power and no interference. There are a couple of very light ticks on 'Lazy' but they are so quiet you could easily miss them and do not qualify as interference! This is one of the finest examples of this classic album that I have ever listened to and is a FINAL UPGRADE version in my opinion i.e. no need to purchase another as you just could not improve upon this audio.
The vinyl is also visually stunning and has clearly only been lightly played judging by the outstanding sonic quality and that it has only very minimal spindle wear.
The laminated cover is in superb condition with hardly any wear and the lyric poster has to be the best I have seen, it is practically brand new! The plain white inner sleeve is also in excellent order.
As this is a genuine first press there is no EMI logo on the labels and 'The Gramophone Co. Ltd' and 'Made In Gt Britain' is also on the labels. The laminated cover has the date code of 7204 on the back.
TPSA 7504 // A - 1U / B - 1U // MT 2 / HD 3
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 intro Near Mint)
The gatefold is Near Mint-
The lyric poster is Mint-
The inner sleeve is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
Visual grading
The vinyl is in beautiful condition and to say it looks 'as new' is no exaggeration. It still has a stunning glossy sheen with no marks or scratches and I cannot even find any obvious hairlines. The grooves are so clean, no groove wear and no dulling or mottling to the surface. The run out grooves are super clean and the labels are also in superb condition with only minimal spindle wear.
Play grading
The classic 'Highway Star' plays with exceptional clarity and power from the outset with no background at all. Gillan's opening 'scream' has never sounded better (!) and the first vocal section plays to perfection. What first strikes me is the sheer depth of the audio here - the original sonic quality is still there and this is clearly an album that has not been overplayed. The audio is so strong and deep. Lord's mid instrumental is 'as new' with none of the static distortion that you so often find and it continues to play with breathtaking quality. Blackmore's first solo could not play any better and right to the final note it plays without fault. This is easily a Mint start to the album the playback is stunning!
'Maybe I'm A Leo' plays to the same 'high end' standard with no intrusion. Again the audio plays with incredible definition and each note can be heard so succinctly. There is nothing that gets in the way of the 'listen', even the fade out plays perfectly. This truly is audio of the highest calibre and Mint is again deserved.
The percussive intro on 'Pictures Of Home' has no background and let's not underestimate Paice's contribution. His work is so high in the mix and adds so much to the overall sound. Gillan's opening vocal is so clear and precise and Blackmore's solo plays like the vinyl was pressed only yesterday! You can turn it up to max without fear of any distortion and from then onwards there is no let up. The sonic quality is flawless and that is very obvious on Glover's brief solo and the silent section that follows that is exactly that...silent. To the end it plays with great precision and once more a Mint grade is entirely justified.
The rhythm section at the beginning of 'Never Before' has no background and the first vocal is equally as good. It continues to play with outstanding audio with no sign of any interference. Despite being the final track on the side there is no inner groove distortion and for once the 'I was hurt when I was younger...' verse plays perfectly with no static distortion - a rarity in my opinion. The rest of the track plays without fault. From start to finish there are no ticks, clicks or pops much like the rest of the side! No static either. A Mint conclusion to S1 for sure.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Smoke On The Water' has only a couple of barely audible dust ticks on that classic intro and as the percussion comes in soon followed by the bass the playback is spectacular! There is such depth again. The first vocal is flawless and it continues to play with great sonic quality and, you guessed it, no interference not even a light tick. This is how you want this classic to play - with a clarity and definition that defies it 50 years of age. Another Mint track.
The quiet intro on 'Lazy' has barely any static, the audio really is so clean, and only as Paice comes in can you hear a couple of light ticks which are not intrusive in any way. This is still a superb start! As it builds the clarity and depth of the audio is 'as new' and there is literally no background. The vocal sections are of the same standard and it continues to play with stunning accuracy to the very end. A real foot stomper this one, the sonic quality is again on another level. The intro I will grade as Near Mint but even then the majority is better than that! The rest is indeed Mint it could not play with any greater precision.
'Space Truckin' plays with superb audio from the very first note and thereafter keeps up this standard with a power and depth that is just off the scale! Little more needs to be said. There is no inner groove distortion, not even on Gillan's top end, and this is a long side where the grooves end very close to the label so the complete lack of distortion is a genuine rarity. This truly is an exceptional finish to this classic album, a Mint finish as it were.
In summary this first pressing with sublime quality from start to finish with a sonic quality that cannot be faulted. I may have graded the 'Lazy' intro as Near Mint but I'm sure many would think even that was a little harsh! The clarity, definition and warmth of the audio on both sides is incredible not forgetting the sheer power of the sound that displays no distortion at all. This has to be a FINAL UPGRADE pressing and complete with a superb cover and lyric poster any collector I am convinced will be hugely impressed with this album. I know I am!
The Gatefold, Poster & Inner Sleeve
The laminated G & L gatefold is in fantastic condition with no real wear at all. The edges and spine are in perfect condition and the only 'wear' I can find is on the front cover in the right hand corners where there is just very minimal roughing/creasing of the laminate. Like I say this is so minimal and I am just trying to find fault really! Aside from that the front cover is in lovely condition with no other marking or creasing and the back cover is just as impressive with only a couple of very minor laminate corner creases. The opening edge by the way is pristine with no handling wear and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate also. A stunning example overall.
The lyric poster has to be best I have ever seen! It is so clean, has barely any creasing and may not even have been opened before! The plain white die-cut inner sleeve is in great condition with only minimal creasing and a little age related fading around the edges. It has the two Patent Nos and Made In Great Britain printed on one side.
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 // MT 2 / HD 3
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.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE WILL BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS! IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT. I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!
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