George Harrison : All Things Must Pass 3LP Box Set (1st Press)

Superb Audio, Impressive Box & Superb inners + Poster!

This first 1U pressing is in remarkable condition and it is incredibly rare to find one like this today.  The previous owner assured me that it was only ever played once and even then he wasn't sure if he had played all the sides!  The vinyls are pristine and have no spindle wear lending further weight to his theory.  As detailed below the audio is immaculate for the vast majority with not a single click or pop!

The box is very 'clean' with only a little marking towards the top left corner but rarely the corners have no splits!  The inners are also in stunning condition.  The original poster is included but does have a little wear.

Apple STCH 1-639 // YEX 817-1U / YEX 818-1U / YEX 819-1U / YEX 820-1U / YEX 821 -1U / YEX 822 - 1U

AA 1 / AG 2 / AH 2 / RH 2 / H 2 / RH 2

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 1 ranges between is VG+ and Ex / track 2 intro Ex-) 

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

The audio on S3 is Near Mint- (Mint- in many sections)

The audio on S4 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 1 Ex to Near Mint)

The audio on S5 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority)

The audio on S6 is Mint (Mint- for the majority)

The box is Ex+ (would be Mint- but for the minor marking)

The poster is Ex+

The inner sleeves are Near Mint

The labels are Mint

 Visual grading

  You could not wish to find better vinyls.  You would be mistaken for thinking these were 'new' as visually they are immaculate.  This is what you would expect I guess from a box set that has only ever been played once!  But then they also have to have been preserved very well and it is 100% obvious that they have been.  There are no hairlines and certainly no scratches and no groove wear either.  Visually they are Mint and the vast majority of the audio plays like it too!  It is just incredible to think these are just short of 50 years of age!  The labels are also pristine and the run out grooves could not be any cleaner.  A superb set of vinyls to say the least!

Play grading

S1 starts with the classic 'I'd Have You Anytime' and whilst the music and vocal play very clearly there is some light background crackle here and there.  It isn't particularly intrusive and the audio still plays with great clarity.  It is actually very common for this opening track to have some 'background'.  'My Sweet Lord' is very impressive and has only a handful of light static sounds on the intro but from that point on the clarity and depth is sublime and is 'as new'!  A stunning version.  'Wah-Wah' has minor static on the intro and then plays with intense power.  If there was ever going to be any distortion it would be here...there isn't any!  'Isn't It A Pity' ends the side with incredible clarity once more.  There is no static and this is Mint without question.  The sound is all encompassing which is what you expect with Phil Spector I guess!  This is why we listen to vinyl, you just cannot get the same depth and definition on any other medium. The long quiet fade out plays superbly with only a hint of minor static.

'What Is Life' is of the same wonderful standard with only a little static on the intro.  The 'sound' is again sensational and there is nothing to detract from the quality of listen.  Stunning!  The quieter tracks 'If Not For You' and the classic 'Behind That Locked Door' both play with amazing clarity and with only a minimal amount of very light intermittent static.  'Let It Down' and 'Run Of The Mill' are equal to this and impress with astounding audio once again.  Just a minimal touch of static on the fade outs but no clicks, pops or crackle and no distortion on the top end.

'Beware Of Darkness' plays superbly with only a minimal number of light static sounds...so minimal I hasten to add!  The audio is so clear and this is a wonderful version.  'Apple Scruffs' continues this fine form and plays faultlessly from beginning to end, Mint without doubt.  The 'Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp' is stunning, no clicks or pops and only a handful of mega light dust ticks, totally non-intrusive.  The piano so often lost in the mix on poor quality records is so clear here.  Phil Spector is much in evidence on 'Awaiting On You All' with the distinctive 'wall of sound' here.  It is interesting of note that there is no distortion, it plays wonderfully well.  'All Things Must Pass' ends S3 in majestic style and with no interference of any kind.  The clarity is once again of a spectacular standard.

'I Dig Love' has some light crackle on the intro and then plays very clearly with only the odd very light static sound.  Superb clarity though once again.  'Art Of Dying' plays loud and true and with wonderful depth and again no distortion.  It plays incredibly well, never heard better!  For such a quiet track 'Isn't It A Pity' plays with great distinction and no obvious interference, just a hint of underlying light static that is totally non-intrusive.  'Hear Me Lord' plays to near perfection with no clicks or pops and barely any static and only a little crackle literally at the end of the fade out.

'Out Of The Blue' plays superbly throughout and with barely any static.  Tremendous depth and power and with great clarity in the not very many quieter sections!  The end section in particular is absolutely stunning!  Much of this instrumental quite simply plays 'as new'.  'It's Johnny's Birthday' and 'Plug Me In' end the side with dynamic power and range and no obvious interference at all, just a little distortion at the end of the latter.

'I Remember Jeep' and 'Thanks For The Pepperoni' end the album in fine style with no 'background'.  They both play loud and true and with such clarity that I suspect they may never have been played before!

In summary this is without question a final upgrade archive pressing.  The vinyls are so beautifully clean they look as if they were pressed yesterday! It is incredible to think these records are nearly 50 years old, I have never before seen a more immaculate 'set'!  There is no spindle wear! They have been so amazingly well preserved and this accounts for the 'high end' quality of the audio.  There are no clicks or pops across all 6 sides and that is such a rarity.  Whilst there may be a little crackle on a couple of tracks it is not 'loud' and the music still plays with great clarity.  As a complete 'package' this is in fantastic condition and will add to any collection.

The Box Cover

This is a superb example of this 'cover'.  So often they are damaged beyond repair with corners split etc but this one has stood the test of time very well.  There is only a little light marking top left but aside from that it is absolutely perfect.  It is not compressed in any way and the corners all remain strong and square with no splits.  The gold embossed spine is also in perfect condition.  The back is pristine and looks 'as new' and the interior is again 'shop fresh', I have never seen cleaner.  This has undoubtedly hardly ever been opened.  So much of this iconic 'box' is Mint and it is only the minor marking that means it falls below a Mint- grading.

Inner sleeves

The original inners are in superb condition.  Made of paper they are so delicate and yet have been incredibly well preserved over the last 48 years, they are near pristine.  There are no splits or tears and no marking and only a very minor amount of light creasing.

The Poster

So often missing this poster is in excellent condition with barely any creasing and only a very small tear at the top and bottom.  It is the original three fold darker version and not the lighter one from later issues.  It does say 'Printed in USA' bottom right but this is not uncommon with the UK pressings as the box was also manufactured in the US.  It is without doubt one of the cleanest posters I have seen in a long time.

The labels

The Apple labels could not be any more impressive!  They are so clean, as perfect as the day when the box set was released.  There is no marking or writing and no spindle wear either.  Absolutely stunning and Mint in every way!

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

Apple STCH 1-639 // YEX 817-1U / YEX 818-1U / YEX 819-1U / YEX 820-1U / YEX 821 -1U / YEX 822 - 1U

AA 1 / AG 2 / AH 2 / RH 2 / H 2 / RH 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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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

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LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

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7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

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7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

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