The Dark Side Of The Moon A3/B3 (Complete)

This stunning early pressing plays with incredible clarity and depth from start to finish and I honestly believe it is the 'cleanest' A3/B3 pressing I have ever heard.  It is a genuine final upgrade copy and has hardly ever been played in its lifetime.  The vinyl is in superb condition and there is no spindle wear on S2 and only a minimal amount on S1.

The A2/B2 'solid blue' first pressings were released in March '73 and this was quickly followed by the A3/B2.  The A3/B3 was issued in April or May so you can see just how early it is and wow this one has been so well preserved!

With a beautiful dark 'midnight' blue cover this impressive A3/B3 mega early press is rarely seen in this condition today.  Not only that but the original posters and stickers are also in immaculate condition.

SHVL 804 // A - 3 / B - 3 // AAP 2 / GGR 1

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the vast majority)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 2 Near Mint-)

The dark 'midnight blue' gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Mint-

The inner sleeve is Near Mint

The posters and stickers are Mint

Visual grading

This is a stunning example of its kind and the first thing you notice is how beautifully 'clean' it is.  It has a stunning jet black glossy sheen and only has a relatively small number of very minor sleeve removal hairlines.  There is a longer one on S1 but it is very faint and has no affect on the immaculate audio.  There are no scratches or marks at all.  S1 is very impressive but S2 in particular is stunning and at first glance looks 'as new'!  As stated there is barely any spindle wear, only 3/4 mega small lines around the spindle hole on S2 and absolutely nothing on S1.  This superb vinyl has hardly ever seen a turntable and the dynamic quality of the audio reflects that.  It also has mega clean labels and the run out grooves are in perfect clean condition.  Wow what a find!

Play grading  

The intro on 'Speak To Me' has barely any static and you can hear the 'heartbeat' so clearly.  This is a stunning start for such an early A3/B3 pressing, it is nigh on perfect!  As the volume increases this incredible audio just gets better!  There is no interference and the depth is so impressive.

The segue into 'Breathe' is superb and it plays with sublime clarity throughout.  With only 2/3 mega light dust ticks this is 'high end' audio without question.  Not one single clicks or pop.

'On The Run' is then practically 'as new'.  In all honesty I heard something here that I have just never heard before - a very deep 'heartbeat' sound that is so low in the mix and generally lost when the clarity is not of this quality.  The 'running man' section towards the end has only the lightest of static, totally non-intrusive.

'Time' begins in stunning fashion.  The clocks chime in unison with great power and depth and no hint of distortion.  The following instrumental section impresses with stunning clarity and again I am blown away by the dynamic quality of the audio on offer here.  The playback really is superb!  I am pleased to say there is no let up in quality once the vocal begins and the guitar solo that follows just has to be heard to be believed!  It is as strong as when first released back in '73 i.e. no interference plus no distortion on the top end, wow!  The final verse plays as Mint- there is no other way to describe.  Thus far this is audio of the highest standard.

'Breathe Reprise' also plays with a quality that is rare on a later pressing let alone on an A3/B3 press and again grades as Mint- it could not play any better.

The quiet intro on 'The Great Gig In The Sky' has next to no static and again I just cannot believe what I am hearing!  This has to be one of the 'cleanest' intros I have ever heard.  The 'vocal' then plays with a power and 'all round' sound that is beyond words!  What incredible power!  The sonic quality is breathtaking and you can turn this up to maximum without fear of distortion.  You can hear each note with stunning precision and the quiet end section then plays beautifully with no 'background' of any kind.  A handful of dust ticks but are they worth a mention?  They are so quiet and you find them on any vinyl, that is part of its charm.  This classic plays with great precision to the very end with only a small number of mega light static sounds.  Without doubt this is one of the finest versions of this track that I have heard in a long time.  It is just so obvious that this vinyl has hardly ever been played.

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'Money' on S2 plays with stunning precision from the very first groove.  I've never heard the cash register playing so well!  There are no clicks or pops and no static or crackle either.  I just heard one very faint 'tick' prior to the vocal but I most probably only picked it up because I am so close to the speakers!  The first two verses then play with superb clarity and the only 'background' was a couple of light 'ticks' that certainly cannot be deemed as clicks.  Again the audio here is of a superlative standard and there is nothing that intrudes on the quality of the listen.  The saxophone section is 'as new' and then Gilmour's guitar has never sounded better on such an early press.  This entire instrumental section is Mint- and the minus is only there because the album isn't sealed!  The final verse is of the same standard and the long 'spoken' fade out deserves a special mention.  The clarity here is exceptional and again you can hear each note with stunning definition, I have never heard better.

'Us And Them' has a modicum of very light static on the intro but this is always the case I find on any early pressing.  It is not intrusive and there are certainly no clicks or pops.  Once the music begins there is only a minimal amount in the background and I do mean minimal!  The first verse has wonderful depth and again the playback is almost 'as new'.  The chorus then knocks you down!  What fantastic power and clarity, audio does not get better than this!  There are then three mega light dust ticks but so quiet as to be easily missed.  Thereafter the track plays impeccably well with only the odd light dust tick and I only say this so as to be complete in my grading.  There is no intrusive 'background' of any kind and the audio throughout is of an incredibly high standard.  I will grade this track as Near Mint- grading due to the dust ticks here and there but I must reiterate they are so quiet and non-intrusive.  The final verse and 'chorus' play in spectacular fashion with only one light tick.

'Any Colour You Like' then plays to a standard that can only be described as Mint- it is that good.  From the first groove to the last there is no interference of any kind.  Once more the definition of the audio is perfect.  In a word, stunning.

The classic 'Brain Damage' plays so clearly from the first note and the clarity is so impressive.  There are a small number of light dust ticks but this is as near to perfect as you will find.  Sellers hardly ever mention 'dust ticks' but I do as I grade honestly and with integrity.  There is one very minor click sound during the first 'chorus' but it is largely lost in the music.  From then on the audio is Mint- I am pleased to say.  This is 'high end' audio and the depth and strong bass sound is prevalent across the entire track.  A sublime version without doubt.

'Eclipse' has to be one of the finest versions I have ever had the pleasure in listening to!  So often it will have some distortion but there is barely any here.  Again you can turn it to 'loud' without having to turn it down immediately!  It is such a powerful version and whilst I always go on about clarity and depth that is how any vinyl should be judged of course.  And so...the clarity and depth here is of an immaculate standard.  This is a truly sensational end to this classic album and the super quiet 'heartbeat' has only a small number of dust ticks at the very start.  The majority of it has no 'background' at all and how often can you say that?!  Most likely the cleanest fade out I have ever heard on this album.

In summary this is a final upgrade archive A3/B3 without question.  It is so rare to find such an early pressing with audio as impressive as this and as detailed above there is no intrusive interference.  There are small number of light dust ticks but you can find them on a vinyl pressed yesterday let alone one from 1973!  There are no clicks or pops at all!  The clarity and definition of the audio is stunning and for a 46 year old record to have no crackle is such a rarity and especially a 'Dark Side' as they were generally so heavily played.  As already mentioned this vinyl has hardly ever been played and that in part accounts for the 'high end' audio.  I say 'in part' because it also needs to have been preserved and stored well and that it has been.  It is visually stunning and that also includes the beautiful dark 'midnight' blue cover.  It is one of the most stunning examples of this iconic cover that I have ever seen and the original posters and stickers are also in lovely condition.  A timeless class that will add to any collection.

The Gatefold

The dark 'midnight blue' G&L gatefold is in beautiful and it is so rare to find one like this.  It has been so well preserved down the years and must have been kept inside a pvc sleeve or hardly ever touched!  The top edges are in superb condition with only a couple of tiny 'rubs' and the bottom edges are also extremely clean with only a handful of very faint rub marks.  The spine is in excellent shape overall although there is one blemish about a third of the way down and a little corner wear also, it is minimal though.  The right hand corners have only minor wear also and the opening edge is in perfect condition with no handling wear at all.  I think this all points to a record that has hardly ever been removed from the shelf!!  What really stands out is just how stunning the front and back cover look.  So often heavily marked/scratched it is beautifully clean throughout.  The front has a very small number of mega faint white 'spots' but the back is pristine with no spotting/marking at all.  The inside has to be seen to be believed!  It has none of the spotting around the edges that you so often see and it looks 'as new'.  This really is a stunning 'midnight blue' cover and you won't find many better.  Absolutely stunning!

Inner sleeve

The original die-cut 'Important Notice' inner is in great condition and has no splits or tears and barely any creasing.

The Labels

They are both so clean and as stated there is only a very minor amount of spindle wear on the S2 label.  There is no doubt in my mind this vinyl has been hardly played.  The labels have no marking or writing on them and remain in near perfect condition.

The Posters & Stickers

I don't think I have ever seen better!  The posters are 'as new' and I would not be surprised if they had never been unfolded!  The 'Crack Back Fasprint' stickers are also in sublime condition with no wear at all.

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

SHVL 804 // A - 3 / B - 3 // AAP 2 / GGR 1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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Postage & Packaging

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