A Day At The Races 1st Press 1U/1U (1st Press)

This highly impressive first pressing plays with a clarity and sonic quality that is rarely found today.  This is due to the fact that is it has only been played three or four times at most judging by the lack of spindle wear, there are only a couple of mega faint traces on each label.  Not only that but the vinyl has also been extremely well preserved.

The gatefold as we all know is so difficult to find in decent condition but this is definitely one of the better ones!  It has a little shelf wear and the picture inner is nigh on perfect.

EMTC 104 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // GDL 4 / GOP 2

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- in many sections / track 4 varies between Ex+ and Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / track 5 varies between Ex+ and Mint- but mainly Mint-!)

The gatefold is a strong VG+

The picture inner is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This is a lovely looking vinyl and retains a very healthy glossy sheen and has no scratches or marks of any kind.  S1 is stunning and at first glance looks 'as new' and it is only on closer inspection that you can detect a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines.  S2 does have a couple of more obvious hairlines but they are exactly that - hairlines that have no affect on the stunning quality of the near perfect audio.  There is barely any spindle wear and the labels and run out grooves are also supremely clean.

Play grading

The 'orchestral' intro on 'Tie Your Mother Down' plays with exceptionally clear audio and only the lightest of static, there are certainly no clicks or pops.  As the 'rock' section begins the audio is stunning and the clarity is so impressive.  This is a record that has only been played a small number of times, you can hear each note with perfect precision and there is no distortion on the top end either - a rarity for this track.  I would say the intro is Near Mint- but the actual song grades as Mint- it is such a strong version.

 There is one pop in the dead wax but that is obviously before 'You Take My Breath Away' begins.  The multi-layered vocal intro then plays very clearly with very little static.  It is one of the 'cleanest' intros I have heard in a long time.  It then plays to a standard that is so rarely heard on this quiet track.  The audio is 'high end' with hardly any static and again there are no clicks, pops or crackle.  It is a beautiful version and would impress any collector.  A Near Mint grading is deserved here.

'Long Away' goes one better and is Mint- from start to finish!  There is quite simply no interference and the definition of the audio could not be any better.  There is just no 'muddiness' to the sound almost like it has never been played before!  A superb version.

With complete silence in the dead wax the intro on 'The Millionaire Waltz' plays impeccably well with only a couple of mega quiet dust ticks.  This quality continues and once again you are just so impressed with the clarity on offer here.  There are so many quiet sections and yet there is very little static.  There is just one short section after the 'be happy like we used to be' line where there is a touch more but it is still minor and definitely not intrusive.  The 'rock' section has no distortion and plays with incredible power.  There are a handful of very quiet swipe static type sounds in the following instrumental section but again they are not easily noticed.  The super quiet 'My fine friend' section has only minimal static and plays very well indeed, better than most I have heard!  The remainder plays with near faultless precision.  A fine version with only a little static here and there and it qualifies as Ex+ although the vast majority is better than that.

The piano intro on 'You And I' plays perfectly and that can also be said for the rest of the track.  It plays with wonderful depth and there is just no interference of any kind.  The clarity could not be improved upon and this is a Mint- rendition without question.  A fantastic way to end the side.

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'Somebody To Love' plays with stunning clarity from the word go, there is just no interference on the 'choral' intro whatsoever.  This quality continues as the piano comes in and the more you progress the more you are just blown away the audio!  There is no distortion on the top end and again this is a prime example of a vinyl hardly played.  The depth and precision of the audio is stunning!  The acapella 'Find me somebody to love...' section is immaculate and you know on Freddie's final high pitched 'somebody to love' line?  You can hear 'love' repeated in a separate channel.  It is so quiet but it gives a classic example of amazing clarity here and the collectors' amongst us like to hear this sort of thing!  The remainder of this classic also plays with sublime clarity and I am confident in grading this as Mint- and may well be the strongest version I have ever heard on a genuine first pressing.

The quiet intro on 'White Man' plays with incredible clarity and only a couple of mega quiet static ticks.  No clicks, pops or crackle.  The first chorus is 'as new' and it continues in the same way.  Again you cannot underestimate the depth and precision of the audio here, it is equal to that of a high quality vinyl only pressed yesterday!  Plus the strength of the bass is so impressive also.  There are a small number of light static ticks on the quiet end section but hardly qualifies as interference.  A Near Mint track with the vast majority being better than that!

'Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy' is Mint- from start to finish with no interference.  This is why vinyl has come back into fashion - you just cannot beat the warmth and depth that it offers.  Audio does not get better than this!

I am pleased to say 'Drowse' is of the same standard and plays 'as new' with wonderful clarity and depth.  Even the long fade out has no 'background'.  No more needs to be said!  A rarity for me :-)

The classic 'Let Us Cling Together' begins superbly with no interference on the quiet piano intro.  The first two verses do have a little background static but it is intermittent and quiet and does not intrude on the 'listen'.  The clarity is still hugely impressive.  The first two choruses are 'as new' and the next verse plays beautifully with no obvious intrusion.  From then on the playback is absolutely immaculate!  The 'When I'm gone...' section is so strong and has no distortion on the top end and as for the emotive choral section?  It could not play any better!  Wow!  100% stunning!  The end section is also sublime and ends this fine album with no interference at all.

In summary this superb 1U/1U first pressing is so close to being a final upgrade version.  There are no clicks or pops and only the bare minimum of static.  I can safely say there is nothing that detracts from the stunning quality of the audio.  As stated there is only a minor trace of spindle wear and it is patently obvious this vinyl has hardly ever been played.  The clarity and depth could scarcely be any better.

The Gatefold

The original G&L gatefold is in very good condition and better than many you see today.  It has a little shelf wear but as any Queen collector knows this is one of their most difficult covers to keep in clean!  The edges do have some rubbing but not a great amount and the wide spine whilst 100% legible has some rubbing also, one little scuff and the two usual crease lines running down it caused by the cover being opened.  There is some corner wear but this is not excessive and the opening edge has no handling wear at all.  The front cover is extremely clean with only a small number of white 'specks' around the edges and the back cover is similar but with some more obvious white marking over a small area next to the spine.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition with only light fading around the edges.  It may sound like I have listed a lot of negatives but I think it is only fair to be complete in my grading and as I said this is definitely one of the cleaner ones around.  They are often heavily marked but this is not one of them.

The Picture Inner

The original inner with rounded corners is in near perfect condition with only a couple of mega faint creases and no marking whatsoever.  There are no side splits.

The Labels

The labels are super clean with no marking or writing and only a couple of mega faint small spindle traces on each side.  Superb!

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

EMTC 104 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // GDL 4 / GOP 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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