The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

(Mono - Blue/Black Columbia Labels)

This rare and highly collectable Pink Floyd album is known as a second pressing due to the fact that it has 'File Under Popular' on the top right flipback on the back cover.  Nevertheless this is still a very early pressing as it has very low single stampers on each side.

It is often believed that mono pressings give a fuller and deeper sound than there stereo versions and this record in particular is an excellent example of that.  There is a little interference on S2, as detailed below, but overall this iconic album plays with great clarity and depth with just one click!  These are getting harder to find today and together with an impressive cover and inner this one will not disappoint.

SCX 6157 // XAX 3419 - 2 / XAX 3420 - 1 // H 1 / T 1

The audio on Side One is Ex+ (Near Mint in some sections / track 1 Ex to Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Ex (Ex+ in many sections / track 1 VG+ but intro is VG)

The laminated cover is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex

Visual grading

This is in excellent condition and whilst there are some hairlines there are no scratches.  There are a few hairlines that are a little more obvious and there is a thicker band of hairlines on S2 but they have little affect on the audio.  They are only hairlines!  It is so difficult to source a mega clean Blue Columbia pressing today and this one still has a lovely glossy sheen and is one of the cleaner ones that you will find.  Plus there are no extraneous marks and the run out grooves and labels are also very clean.  There is a fair amount of spindle wear but this is mainly centred around the inner circle.  Overall a great example of this iconic album.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Astronomy Domine' is so 'clean' and there are no clicks, pops or crackle at all.  There is just a minimal static hiss sound but it is very much in the background and non-intrusive.  As the vocal begins the clarity is very impressive and I heard only one light click that is largely 'lost' in the music.  The mid instrumental section plays so well with great definition i.e. you can hear each note perfectly and the final vocal does not disappoint either.  This is an excellent start to this iconic album and from beginning to end this track plays with very little 'background'.

'Lucifer Sam' plays with stunning clarity from the very first groove and has no interference on the intro at all.  These mono pressings play with such depth and that is patently obviously on this track.  The 'sound' here is so strong and powerful and there is no interference.  For an album that is now over 50 years this clarity thus far is very impressive indeed!

There is only 2/3 seconds of minimal static on the 'Matilda Mother' intro and it then plays very clearly.  There is a little static distortion at the end of the 'Scribbly black and everything shines' line on verse two but from then on it plays with great clarity not a single click or pop!  Perhaps a hint of distortion here and there but that may well be due to a mono record being played through a stereo system.  It is very common on these blue Columbia pressings anyway.  The sonic quality is superb and there is barely any static on the fade out either.  It's not often you can say that!

'Flaming' has only minimal static on the intro and the first vocal section then plays incredibly well with no obvious 'background'.  Audiophiles will often say that mono pressings play with more depth and 'sound' than their stereo counterparts and that is certainly true when you find a well preserved copy such as this.  It's difficult to explain the true depth and clarity on offer here.  This track plays with such stunning precision and is one of the 'cleanest' I have heard in such a long time.  Quite honestly the vast majority plays as Near Mint it is that good!  The clarity of each note is again sublime and the 'bell ringing' section at the end is a fantastic example of this.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Pow R. Toc H.' then plays with amazing clarity on the intro, it is superb!  As it continues the depth and strong bass sound are so impressive and there is only a minor hint of mega light static in the background here and there.  That is perhaps being overly critical but as my regular customers know I am totally honest in my gradings.  It still plays with incredibly clear audio and as the volume builds the 'sound' really is very impressive and has hardly any of the distortion that you so often hear.  The quieter closing section is again very impressive for a such a rare pressing and has only a minimal amount of light static.  In fact the louder instrumental section literally at the end is stunning!  Overall a very impressive version of this track.

The intro on 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk' is so 'clean' which is such a rarity when you consider how often it plays with distortion.  Not here!  The first vocal also plays with superb clarity and even the 'loud' instrumental section that follows has to be one of the strongest I have ever heard.  The sonic quality is stunning and any avid Floyd collector would be extremely impressed with this!  There is barely any of the distortion that is so often prevalent on the top end and the bass is just sublime.  To the very end it plays with great power and definition and the final vocal is just stunning and as you can see I'm running out of superlatives for the quality of the audio here!  This may well be the best version of this classic that I have ever had the pleasure in listening to, no exaggeration.

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'Interstellar Overdrive' on S2 does have some distortion crackle type sounds for the first 25 seconds but then plays very clearly.  This really is the first obvious interference on the album.  The first 'quiet' section plays with impeccable quality and the second even quieter section has better clarity still.  As the volume increases there is some static distortion for a few seconds but there are no clicks or pops.  As the track progresses the audio plays very well but with some static distortion here and there.  Please remember the playback could be enhanced when played through a mono system.  There is a little more 'background' on this track than on S1 but it is worth reiterating that there are no clicks or pops.  The crescendo build up to the end section is actually very impressive and the final guitar section then plays with stunning power and depth.  Just a little static on the extended fade out.

'The Gnome' plays with wonderful clarity from the very first note and the more you get into it the more you are impressed by it.  It is very similar to the quality displayed on S1 and there is very little static, just a little more on the final verse perhaps but an excellent version nonetheless.

'Chapter 24' begins very clearly with only a little background static.  As any Floyd aficionado will know on the first/early pressings this track often plays with a fair amount of static/distortion so I am pleased to say there is relatively little here, certainly nothing too intrusive and again....there are no clicks, pops or jumps!  A little more static towards the end but a very 'clean' version overall and the fade out is superb.

There is then complete silence in the dead wax and the intro on 'The Scarecrow' is stunning!  It grades as Near Mint the clarity is immaculate!  There is a little static on the vocal here and there but again this maybe due to the same aforementioned reason i.e. mono through etc.  It still plays with excellent clarity and once the acoustic guitar and bass come in towards the end the depth and precision of the audio is 'high end' indeed.  A wonderful finish to the track.

'Bike' always has some distortion for the same reason plus the fact that it is the last track on the album.  There is some static distortion on the vocal here and there but it still plays well and with no other interference.  The quiet section once the vocal end plays with stunning clarity and the 'instrumental' section that closes the track could scarcely play any better, I don't think I've heard a 'cleaner' ending to this track.

In summary this rare and highly collectable Blue Columbia pressing plays with very impressive audio and especially S1.  With only one 'real' click on the entire album and the interference at the start of S2 it is rare to find one as 'clean' as this today.  Admittedly there is a little more static distortion on S2 but it remains an excellent listen and will add to any collection.  The flipback cover is also extremely clean as is the original inner.

The Cover

The laminated E.J. Day mono cover in a fine example of its type and is not at heavily marked like so many you see.  The edges in particular are in superb condition and look 'as new' with no wear of any kind.  The thin pinched spine is almost as good with only 3/4 tiny crease marks and it is still 100% legible.  There is some minor corner wear with just a little more on the right hand corners and the opening edge is very clean with only a minimal amount of handling wear.  The laminate on the front cover has no splits or lifting and only a few of the usual small creases next to the spine.  There is also some creasing on the right hand side but nothing major.  The back cover is very clean on the whole and the grey background has no staining (this is rare!) and only a couple of minor marks.  The flipbacks have only a small amount of marking around the edges and only a couple of faint creases.  'File under Popular' can be seen clearly top right.  This is an excellent example of a cover that is now over 50 years old.

Inner sleeve

This isn't the original EMI inner but it is an old one nevertheless!  There are no side splits and it is still very clean with only a little age related fading on one side and some minor creasing.

The labels

The famous Blue/Black Columbia labels are very clean and retain their vivid 'blue' extremely well.  There is some spindle wear but for the majority this is just inside the inner circle.  There are no markings/writing and the KT tax stamp can be seen clearly on the S1 label.

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

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

SCX 6157 // XAX 3419 - 2 / XAX 3420 - 1 // H 1 / T 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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