NAZARETH Nazareth A-2U/B-2U 1st PRESS 1971 Stunning TEXTURED COVER & NM/M- AUDIO
£
193
$
256
£ 193
Sold For
Sep 20, 2026
Sold Date
Sep 10, 2026
Start Date
19
Number Of Bids
Great Britain
Country Of Seller
eBay
Auctioned at
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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. No shipping to Russia currently. Nazareth : Nazareth A-2U / B-2U 1st Press w/ Textured Cover Pegasus 1971
This is about as good as it gets! The clarity and definition on this first pressing is out of this world! It is patently obvious the record has hardly been played and indeed there is no spindle wear on the labels. In essence there is no interference - just a small number of super quiet statics that you always find on vinyl and unless you're listening intently you'll miss them anyway! Both sides play with an integrity that is second to none and I am tempted to say it plays 'as new'. I have only graded the final track on S1 as ranging between Near Mint and Mint, all the others grade as either Mint- or Mint and that is no exaggeration. There are not solitary highlights, every track is a highlight! This easily qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE archive classic and is so rarely found in this condition.
So often you'll find a superb vinyl with a beaten up cover. Not this time! The fully textured E.J. Day cover is in beautiful condition with no obvious wear and Near Mint- is more than fair. The original inner sleeve has only minimal wear. This first pressing was 'cut' by George Peckham, the well known mastering engineer. Just another reason why this record plays so well!
PEG 10 A-2U PORKY (etched) --- PEG 10 A-2U PECKO (etched)
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T5 ranges between Near Mint & Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The textured cover is Near Mint- The inner sleeve is Ex
The labels are Mint-
Visual description
The vinyl is in lovely condition with a stunning glossy sheen and no marks or scratches. Under a bright light I can only see a small number of ultra faint hairlines none of which stand out, just faint wispy traces basically. There is no groove or surface wear and the run out grooves have only a little faint 'rubbing'. The Pegasus labels are pristine with no marking and no spindle wear.
Play Grading
The run in on S1 has barely any background and the opening vocal section on 'Witchdoctor Woman' plays with exceptional clarity and definition. The instrumental bridge is the same and the next vocal again has no intrusion. It continues in the same way with no statics, ticks, clicks or pops and - the vocals are so strong and Charlton's mid solo could not play any better. For a debut the production is so impressive which is no surprise when you have David Hitchcock in charge with Roy Thomas Baker as engineer! There is so much depth to the sound and the clarity is 10/10. Even the fade out has no background. This has to grade as Mint There is complete silence in the dead wax and then 'Dear John' plays with stunning audio from the word go. Every vocal and instrumental section play with such quality and McCafferty's vocal is so strong and clear. A special mention for Pete Wingfield's piano here - a fantastic clear sound throughout. Kind of in the Nicky Hopkins style and it adds so much to the track. This is Mint from start to finish.
The intro on 'Empty Arms, Empty Heart' is clean and powerful and the opening vocal is on the same level. From then on this high end standard does not decrease. As per the opening two tracks it plays 'as new' and that is no exaggeration. The clarity and depth on the audio is first class and there is literally no intrusion. It is Mint in every way.
'I Had A Dream' is of course a completely different affair being such a low key number. The intro and first vocal have only a handful of totally insignificant statics, they hardly warrant a mention. The quiet vocal continues to play with outstanding clarity and the first instrumental bridge is flawless. The final vocal passage is again so impressive with zero intrusion and overall Mint is richly deserved.
The gentle intro on 'Red Light Lady' plays so clearly with only a handful of very quiet statics, again NOT intrusive! As the volume picks up the playback is perfect and it continues in the same precise way. Sweet's drum sound is so strong and definite throughout this side and... no exception here. As the audio descends into near silence the clarity is stunning and this quiet section then plays so well with only very minimal background. Some very quiet statics that is all but again they do not detract from the audio. Charlton's following solo is superb as is the strings arrangement and the closing section plays with great power and very clean audio. There is barely any inner groove distortion and you can easily turn it up to max with no discernible affect on the sound quality. I would say this classic ranges between Near Mint and Mint - this truly is a stunning side of music!
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The run in on S2 is impeccably clean and the intro and opening vocal on 'Fat Man' then play with great clarity and depth. Agnew's bass sound is so thick and strong, superb audio! The first melodic chorus is perfect and the mid instrumental has no background either. The following vocal keeps up the standard with only a couple of barely audible statics and the final chorus is as pristine as the first. To the end it plays with sublime quality and Mint is well deserved.
The intro on 'Country Girl' is nigh on perfect with only a couple of barely audible statics and the opening vocal is exactly the same. The first chorus has no background and the mid instrumental plays beautifully. From then it plays with exceptional audio and again I cannot find fault. Just imperious quality throughout and Mint- at the very least.
The intro on 'Morning Dew' is stunning and again the depth of sound is the stand out feature as well as the clarity of course. Mainly led by Agnew the sound is phenomenal! There are a couple of light statics towards the end of this classic section but clearly not intrusive. McCafferty's first vocal is perfect and proceeds in the same precise way. Sweet's introduction is superb and the next vocal section / Charlton solo keep up the standard. This entire section is immaculate and 'as new' is again fair. The quieter final passage is just as impressive as overall Mint- is well deserved. I mean even the long fade out is as close to perfect as is possible with only a couple of minor statics right at the end. A stunning version.
The strings arrangement at the beginning of 'King Is Dead' plays so well with only 2/3 light statics at the start. The quiet opening vocal plays beautifully - so quiet and yet the clarity is STUNNING! The first chorus is equal to that and the next quiet vocal plays with imperious quality also. Wow this is good! More of a progressive / madrigal number you could say! The strings instrumental is so clean and 'fresh' sounding and the remainder plays with clarity and definition that is second to none. There is no inner groove definition and it is easily the finest version of this classic that I have ever heard. The melody and strings really make this track and there is no intrusion from the first note to the last. It has to grade as Mint- such is the quality on offer here. This is the definitive version.
The E.J. Day Cover & Inner Sleeve
The textured cover is the most stunning example I have ever encountered, it has been so well preserved which is difficult of course when you consider it isn't laminated. The top edge has a couple of tiny brown spots but that is being picky as you have to look very closely to see them! The bottom edge is more or less pristine and the thin pinched spine is in superb condition with just one tiny barely visible rub. The corners are close to perfect with hardly any wear and the opening edge is practically 'as new' also. The front cover is a work of art! It is so clean with only one very small faint spot and the back cover is even better with no marking or creasing! It's remarkable really just how well this cover has been looked after. A lovely copy and a keeper!
The original die-cut inner sleeve is in excellent shape with no side splits or tears and very little creasing. It just has a couple of faint blemishes and some ringwear (a little marking around the ringwear). A touch of age related fading on the bottom edges also.
PEG 10 A-2U PORKY (etched) --- PEG 10 A-2U PECKO (etched)
Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT VM-95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
Recent Feedback
THIS IS WHAT A SELLER SHOULD BE LIKE ON HIGH END VINYL! Exactly as described if not better ! I could not be a happier customer .. well packed for international flight .. and shipped and received very fast .. No worries here this guy is the topsGREAT AS DESCRIBED BEST SELLR OF ALL THE UK PEOPLE AND I HAVE BOUGHT FROM ALL OF THEM
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Postage & Packaging
I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping. This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage. The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered. Any over-payment will always be refunded.
The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD). An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known. Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing. Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask. Many thanks.
All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection. They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection. I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.
The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each. There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up! Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra
USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £20.95 then £2.50 per extra
If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed. If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!
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