A Day At The Races 1U/1U (First Pressing)

This first pressing is in fabulous condition with audio that plays practically as new.  It is also rare to find such an early first press as it only has two stampers on each side, AM and RO.  With almost no spindle wear this vinyl has hardly been played.

EMTC 104 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // Mother stampers AM 2 & RO 1

The audio on Side One is Mint-

The audio on Side Two is Mint-

The gatefold cover is Ex

Visual grading

  It is obvious this vinyl has been hardly played as there are only a couple of tiny, barely visible wispy spindle lines on each label.  The audio confirms this as it plays with mind-blowing quality!  S1 has a couple of fine hairlines and two very small marks on track 4 but they have practically no affect on the stunning audio whatsoever.  S2 is immaculate and I cannot detect any hairlines at all and it retains a beautiful glossy sheen even after all these years.  It looks as new.

Play grading  

There is no lead in static (how rare is that?!) and then 'Tie Your Mother Down' plays with stunning power and clarity and is truly one of the best versions I have heard in a long time.  There is a minimal amount of dust ticks on the intro but this takes nothing away from what is incredibly powerful audio.  'You Take My Breath Away' impresses with breathtaking (!) sound and plays with Near Mint audio.  For such a quiet track to have hardly any 'background' is an incredible rarity on a 1U/1U first pressing.  Wow!  'Long Away' does not disappoint either and has perfect audio.  I rarely grade as Mint but this track deserves that status.  'The Millionaire Waltz' has stunning clarity and depth throughout and there are only 3/4 barely audible sounds where the mark is as previously described.  Do not let this put you off as the audio is of a fantastic standard and easily grades as Near Mint.  'You and I' ends the side with wonderful quality once again.

'Somebody To Love' has a little static at the beginning which soon dissipates and then has sound quality of the highest standard.  Rarely have I heard this classic track display such sonic quality and clarity, it is without doubt one of best versions I have ever heard.  The quiet intro on 'White Man' has no discernible 'background' and then plays with stunning power and depth and no static etc on the very quiet ending.  The remainder of the side plays with near perfect audio.  'Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy' and 'Drowse' classify as Mint and play with such stunning quality you forget you are listening to a record over 40 years of age.  'Let Us Cling Together' is Near Mint with only the lightest of static on the intro.  There is perhaps no obvious reason why I should even mention it (most sellers wouldn't!) as it is so much in the background as to be totally negligible.  The clarity here is superb and I have honestly never heard better on a first pressing.  The organ at the end just has one very quiet dull click and the lightest of static on the fade-out but aside from that this classic track plays with spine tingling high end quality.

In summary this is a final upgrade, archive copy without doubt.  With barely any interference it is just so rare to find a 1U/1U press with audio as stunning as this.  I am finding it increasingly difficult to find first pressings of this album with anything closely resembling Near Mint audio and this one will not disappoint the avid collector.  Wow! :-)

Gatefold cover

These G & L gatefolds are notoriously found in poor condition but I am pleased to say that this one remains in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear.  There is a little rubbing on the edges and on the top and bottom of the spine but it is not excessive.  The front cover is very clean with only a minimal amount of 'spotting' as is so often the case with this black cover and some creasing on the bottom right corner.  The inside of the gatefold is in exemplary condition and the back cover is also very clean with only one scratch type mark that is only visible when held at a certain angle.  The opening edge is in superb shape and has no handling wear whatsoever.  Overall this is an excellent gatefold and better than so many you see today.

Picture inner

The die-cut inner is in perfect condition with no wear or splits at all.  One of the best I have ever seen.

The labels

They are both in superb condition with only a couple of tiny spindle lines on each side and no marking or writing.

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

EMTC 104 // YAX 5245 - 1U / YAX 5246 - 1U // Mother stampers AM 2 & RO 1

Any questions please feel free to ask

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