Dr. Strangely Strange : Heavy Petting 1Y1 / 2Y1 Vertigo 1st Press

This very rare and collectable first pressing on the Vertigo label plays to wonderful standard, the clarity is outstanding.  There are four clicks on S1 but aside from that the playback is nigh on perfect.  I have sold three maybe four of these in my time and I have never heard clarity as impressive as this.  It is no exaggeration to say the vast majority is 'as new'.  S2 in particular is stunning!

This album was only pressed in limited numbers why is one reason why it is so collectable.  The 'matrix' info also means it is the earliest edition, one of the first off the printing press and perhaps even the first!

The original 'gatefold' is in excellent condition with only minimal wear.  The left die-cut flap is held to the cover by some transparent tape but is a very clean 'fix'.  The original swirl inner is in excellent order with only a couple of minor tears on the 'window'.

6360009  1Y // 1  1 1 1

6360009  2Y // 1  1 1 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint- (Mint- for the majority / Track 1 Ex+ but Mint- for the majority)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (Track 1 Near Mint)

The gatefold is VG++

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner is VG++

  The vinyl is in lovely condition and retains a superb glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches - S1 has only a couple of tiny 'specks' and one very faint hairline scuff and S2 has only 4/5 hairlines that are a little more obvious to the eye.  For a 50 year old record it is in fantastic condition and it plays as good as it looks!  There is not very much spindle wear and the run out out grooves and labels are also very clean.

Play grading

S1 begins in fine style with a stunning version of 'Ballad Of The Wasps'.  The clarity throughout is so impressive and has no underlying static at all.  There are two clicks towards the end caused by a tiny 'speck' that refuses to move but aside from that it plays perfectly.  I will grade as Ex+ but without those clicks it would be Mint- without question.

'Summer Breeze' continues in much the same way.  This is such a clean vinyl which partly explains why the clarity is just so good.  You can hear each note with superb precision and from start to finish this plays beautifully.  There are five light ticks near the end but they are much in the background and non-intrusive.  They are not clicks!  This is Near Mint- in my opinion.

'Kilmanoyadd Stomp' provides another example of a vinyl so well preserved and only lightly played down the years.  The clarity and definition of the audio cannot be faulted and there is no interference at all.  Mint- is richly deserved.

'I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes' keeps the standard with stunning audio throughout.  With only a handful of barely audible dust ticks and one light tick it could hardly play any better.  Near Mint- if not better!

The gentle acoustic intro on 'Sign On My Mind' plays beautifully apart from one click (another barely visible 'speck'! )and one light tick.  This is a shame because otherwise you have never heard clarity like it!  As the vocal comes in the audio is faultless, 'as new' in fact and it continues to play to the same high standard.  The long instrumental including Gary Moore's solo is STUNNING in every way - I mean how talented was he?  He was only 18/19 at the time!  This entire instrumental is Mint there is no other way to describe it.  There is no underlying static, no 'background' at all.  There is one further click as the vocal returns but otherwise the final section is flawless.  Yes 99% is 'as new' but even with two clicks I still think it deserves a Near Mint- grading.

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'Gave My Love An Apple' on S2 plays with wonderful quality from the very first note.  As the tempo increases the same standard is maintained.  After the first chorus there is one dull type sound and 3/4 seconds of light static but thereafter plays with great clarity, warmth and depth and no intrusion.  The audio is so 'clean' and it is obvious it has only been lightly played.  Another superb Near Mint version.

'Jove Was At Home' is immaculate from start to finish.  There is no interference and this easily qualifies as Mint- there are no negatives.  Not even on the Gloria end section!

The super quiet acoustic intro on 'When Adam Delved' has no 'background' - not one dust tick!  This instrumental number plays with 'high end' audio right to the final note.  Audio does not get any better than this!  This is Mint no need for a minus here!

'Ashling' also plays to a standard that just leaves you shaking your head in disbelief!  Is this really a 50 year old record?!  The audio definition is so impressive and there is just no interference to be heard.  Perhaps just a minimal hint of vocal distortion in a couple of sections but it hardly counts as interference as it is so minor and barely worth a mention really.  I will however grade as Mint- just to be cautious!

'Mary Malone Of Moscow' goes one better and grades as Mint such is the quality.  There are obviously no clicks or pops, no 'background' at all in fact and again this sounds like it was pressed only yesterday!

'Goodnight My Friends'  ends the album with stunning clarity once more and no interference.  A Mint- finish for sure with only a handful of barely audible dust ticks.

In summary this rare and collectable first pressing plays to a sublime standard on both sides.  There may be four clicks on S1 but apart from that the audio is so clear and precise and cannot be faulted otherwise.  For an album with so many quiet sections it is so rare to find audio as good as this especially on a first pressing.  This is so close to being a final upgrade version and S2 is definitely worthy of that high accolade.

The Gatefold

The 'gatefold' is very clean overall with only a little shelf wear here and there.  The top opening edge is in excellent shape with no obvious rubbing and the bottom edge is similar with just one small rub in the centre.  The side edges have some light rubbing but nothing major and the corners have some light wear also.  The 'complicated' die-cut front cover is in excellent order with no marking apart from some minor 'speckling' near the top and some rubbing on the bottom 'flaps'.  As mentioned the left one is held to the cover by some thin transparent tape and it really not that noticeable.  There is one very small crease/bend on one edge of a branch near the bottom!  The 'inside' is near perfect apart from one light mark on the right side.  The back cover is very clean and has only light wear around the edges.  This cover is notoriously difficult to keep in good order but this one has withstood the test of time relatively well.

The Labels

The Vertigo labels are near perfect apart from minimal spindle wear and they have no marking or writing.  The Side B label has the large 'swirl' of course.  Stunning!

The Inner Sleeve

The original poly-lined 'swirl' inner has no side splits but the 'window' on one side does have three small tears and the other side just the one which is even smaller.  It is very clean with only minimal age related fading and very little creasing.  The catalogue number is written on one side top right.

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

6360009  1Y // 1  1 1 1

6360009  2Y // 1  1 1 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

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