PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 1st UK PRESS SOLID BLUE A2/B2 FULLY PLAY-GRADED

	£		395
	$		523

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Here is a 1st UK pressing which has the following 1st press matrix numbers:

Side 1: SHVL 804 A-2

Side 2: SHVL 804 B-2

This record has been played in full and a detailed play-grading can be found below.

Detailed description

Vinyl: The vinyl has obviously been played many, many times and the playing surfaces and labels show clear signs of this, with hundreds of spindle marks all over both labels and lots of marks, scuffs and scratches on the vinyl, including some which look pretty bad, especially on side one. However, the marks on the playing surfaces are generally superficial with far less impact on the audio than you would anticipate from looking at them. I've played the album in full from start to finish and it plays much better than you would expect from its appearance. I would say that the vinyl's visual grading is probably around Fair (F) (with side one worse than side two) whereas its play-grading is around Very Good Plus (VG+) with many parts, especially on side two, which are Excellent (Ex). A detailed track-by-track play-grading is given below, but please bear in mind that this copy plays much better than it looks. If you want a copy which LOOKS nice, then this is not for you!

Play-grading: I have played the entire record, twice, in full from start to finish. Please note that this copy does NOT have the pressed skip in 'Money' often found on first pressings - there are no jumps or skips anywhere. However, there are various points where there is background noise, crackles and some brief, repeating clicks. However, there are none which persist for an intrusive amount of time. Like most Pink Floyd albums Dark side of the Moon has lots of quiet and sparsely arranged passages and there are some sections which are always 'difficult' on original vinyl copies of this album. Generally, I would say that both sides sound much better than their visual appearance, especially side two which generally plays close to Excellent (Ex). Side one starts-off play-grading fairly low (around G+) but ends up around Excellent (Ex).

Here is a track-by-track play-grading:

Side one

A crackly run-in and intro to ‘Speak to Me’, with a small repetitive click during the heartbeat and a couple of pops later. Play-grades around Good Plus (G+).

Slight background noise in the intro to ‘Breathe’, a random click, but once the vocal comes in it sounds really good, but with a few random clicks and a bit of crackle near the end. Play-grades around VG at the start and end, but Ex in the middle.

‘On the Run’ has about eighteen clicks that get lost during the running footsteps but which return, more prominently and remain until just before the end of the track. Small clicks in the explosion, which briefly get louder, then quietly repeating until drowned out by the chiming clocks. Play-grades Good (G).

‘Time’ has 3 or 4 small clicks in the quiet intro and a few small crackly clicks, but once the vocals start it’s Excellent (Ex) and the solo sounds amazing. Play-grade: starts off VG, then Ex once the vocals come in.

‘Breathe (reprise)’ play-grades around Ex.

‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ has eight loudish clicks near the beginning and three small clicks later in a quiet section, but apart from this it play-grades Ex, so a SAFE Very Good Plus (VG+) overall.

So, averaging out these different play-grades, I’d say that side one averages around Very Good (VG) to Very Good Plus (VG+) but with parts that are better and parts that are worse than this overall play-grade.

Side two

There are a few small randomish clicks in the run-in and intro to ‘Money’, and a few more clicks before it all gets going, but once it does, it’s Excellent (Ex).

There are a couple of small clicks and some slight crackly background noise in the segue into ‘Us and Them’ and about eight clicks in the intro. It’s generally then dependant on the volume of the track, with a bit of crackle and a few clicks in the quiet bits, but Excellent in the loud parts, so play-grades VG to VG+ overall.

‘Any Colour You Like’ sounds great and play-grades Excellent (Ex).

‘Brain Damage’ generally sounds great and would grade around Excellent (Ex), apart from some soft repeating clicks in the 3rd verse, so overall I’m play-grading it VG+.

The segue into ‘Eclipse’ and the track itself play-grade as Excellent (Ex), until the heartbeat ending which play-grades around VG to VG+.

I would say that overall side two averages out as a SAFE Very Good Plus (VG+), approaching Excellent Minus (Ex-), but again acknowledging that there are parts which are above and below this overall grading.

Please remember that the visual grading for both sides are much lower than these play-gradings.

Labels: Lots of signs of wear and use including prominent spindle marking, indicating that the record has been played many, many times.

Sleeve: This is the original 'midnight blue' cover. It does not have a sealed left-edge or a cover-sticker. There are no seam splits, tears or major issues, but the outside of the cover has creases, ring-wear and marks and shows lots of signs of age and use, especially to the edges, spine and corners. Inside the gatefold is relatively wear-free except for at the edges.

Inner sleeve/posters/postcards: The inner sleeve has no splits or tears but it is NOT an original. It is a standard black inner sleeve which has been embellished/altered to look like the original, including the poly-liner and text at the bottom which, at first glance, appears to be the patent numbers and the Made in Great Britain text from the original, but which are in fact just meaningless marks, designed to mimic the original.  The posters have never been on display and so have no pin-holes, sellotape, blu-tac etc, and minimal signs of any handling or use. However they are not originally from this copy. The postcards/stickers are both unused but they are not originals.

Detracting features not covered above:  None.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £4.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £11.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £24.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £14.95, each additional item = an extra £1.00 P&P charge.