A Night At The Opera 4/3 Very Early Pressing

This early pressing has immaculate audio and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' just has to be heard to be believed!  With no interference the quality is astounding and judging by the minimal spindle wear it has only been played 3/4 times at most.  The entire album plays with incredible clarity and with only one click on S2 this is as close to perfection as you will find.  A bold statement to make but having listened to every second of this LP I am confident in saying it.

The embossed gatefold is also very clean with only very minor shelf wear and the original inner just has one split on the bottom edge. 

This has Blair's (not 'Blairs cut') etched onto the run out grooves as per all the first/early pressings.

EMTC 103 // YAX 5063 - 4 / YAX 5064 - 3 // MTL 2 / HM 2

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 2 Ex+ but Near Mint for the vast majority)

 The gatefold is Ex+

The picture inner is VG++

The labels are Mint-

This visually stunning vinyl has been so well looked after down the years and has hardly been played.  S1 has only 3/4 very small faint spindle trails and S2 only a couple.  It has a beautiful mirror-like glossy sheen and there are no scratches at all.  There are 3/4 very faint hairlines on S1 but S2 is absolutely pristine and quite honestly it looks 'as new'!  It is a fantastic looking early press and the labels and run out grooves are also in immaculate condition.

Play grading

The intro on 'Death On Two Legs' is stunning!  In my experience there is always some interference even if very minor but the clarity here is exceptional and I didn't even hear a dust tick let alone anything louder.  What an incredible start!  The remainder of the intro is of the same breathtaking standard as this entire section is Mint- without doubt.  The vocal does not disappoint either and what is impressive is that there is no distortion on the top end.  This is audio of the highest standard, it is faultless and the power and depth of the sound could not be any better.  To the very end it is audio in its purest form and every second of this classic opener is Mint- and as my regular customers know I never exaggerate my gradings as it is not in my interests to do so.

'Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon' is equal to this stunning start and again is deserving of a Mint- grading as there is no just interference of any kind.  There are a couple of the quietest dust ticks that you could imagine on the intro but this hardly qualifies as interference.  More than likely you would miss them!

I do not have the words to describe 'I'm In Love With My Car' as it is 'as new' from start to finish!  It is just patently obvious that this vinyl that has hardly ever seen a turntable as the sonic quality and clarity on this underrated track is perfect in every way.  I cannot believe what I am hearing!  The power is awesome and again there is no distortion whatsoever and even fade out plays with perfect precision.  Wow!

'You're My Best Friend' has a couple of light dust ticks on the intro and another in the middle section but aside from that it plays to perfection.  I often think I shouldn't mention 'dust ticks' as you will find them on any vinyl, even one pressed yesterday, and they are so quiet as to be 100% negligible anyway.  I guess I just like to be complete in my gradings and I know this is appreciated.  This track plays beautifully and again the fade out has no 'background'.

'39' plays with sublime clarity from the very first groove and this is a rarity for this acoustic intro.  Thereafter the audio is of an impeccable standard and has only a couple of static clicks literally on the final acoustic note.

'Sweet Lady' has Mint- quality audio throughout I am pleased to say.  The power and depth is tangible and again you can see that a stylus has perhaps never been on this track?  The definition of the sound is so clear i.e. there is no 'muddiness' and the clarity could not be any better.

'Seaside Rendezvous' always has some distortion of course and is unavoidable on this final track.  In saying this is a very impressive version and any distortion is minimal and it remains a superb listen.  No clicks or pops!

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'The Prophet's Song' intro plays so 'cleanly' and there is barely any static which is a rarity as more often than not there is some interference on the opening few grooves.  As the vocal comes in the audio is immense!  The powerful music and vocals play with such strength and depth and cannot be faulted in any way.  This is superb!  Each verse is Mint- and as 'clean' as when first released back in '75, there is not even a single dust tick!  The clarity on the 'now I know...' acapella section is 100% perfect and again there is no 'background' of any kind.  As I often say I am running out of suitable adjectives for the quality on offer here!  This is just audio of the audio of the highest standard and would impress even the most critical of vinyl audiophiles!  Every second of this section is 'as new' and as we the enter the final section of this prog classic there is no decrease in quality.  There is no distortion and the depth of the guitar work is astounding.  The acoustic ending is also very impressive with barely any static, just a minimal hint in the background.  A stunning version of this classic without doubt.

'Love Of My Life' has a little static on the intro but again it is only minor and totally non-intrusive.  There is one light click on the second line but I cannot see what is causing it so may even be a pressing fault.  From then on it plays very clearly with only a modicum of mega light static here and there.  I have to repeat it is not intrusive and this classic ballad plays with great clarity from beginning to end.

'Good Company' is exceptional from the first note and plays with superb clarity to the very end.  Often overlooked it fits in perfectly on this side and could not play with any better definition and is another Mint- track in my opinion.

The iconic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is stunning from the word go and has no 'background' on the first verse, not even a solitary dust tick!  Wow!  Remarkably it then maintains this fantastic standard and as everyone knows there are some super quiet sections on the opening verses.  It plays with such delicate precision and I have never heard better.  This is why we listen to vinyl!  As the volume increases there is no distortion and then Brian's guitar then plays with wonderful power and depth.  The 'operatic/rock' section is incredible!  It is phenomenal and you can turn it to loud and then some and there is just no interference on the top end at all.  It is easy to get carried away when describing such a classic and yes it is difficult not to repeat myself but when you hear this track as it should heard you are quite simply blown away by the awesome power and amazing clarity of the track.  What a version!  I always adhere to Record Collector guidelines but I want to dispense with the minus here!  In my opinion this is Mint and I challenge the winning bidder to disagree with me!!  The quiet end section also plays with perfect precision and brings this absolute classic to a powerful and emotive end.

'God Save The Queen' closes the album with immaculate quality and no interference at all.

In summary this is a final upgrade archive vinyl I am confident in saying.  Ok there is the one click on S2 but the remainder of the audio is nigh on perfect and as for 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?  If I have ever heard better I don't know when that was!  Admittedly this is not a first pressing but nonetheless it is so rare to find such fantastic clarity and sonic quality on what is still a very pressing.  With barely any spindle wear this vinyl has scarcely been played but that is just one reason why this vinyl plays so incredibly well.  It also has to have been preserved well and I can safely say, it has been.  The audio is of such a high standard and any avid Queen collector would be extremely pleased to have this in their collection.

The Gatefold

The embossed G&L gatefold is in lovely condition with only minor shelf wear and it has retained its 'white' colour extremely well.  The edges and wide spine have no rubbing and there is hardly any corner wear either.  There is just a minimal amount on the right hand corner i.e. very minimal and you have to look very closely in order to see it!  The opening edge is in sublime condition with no handling wear at all.  The front cover is very clean with only a little marking close to the bottom edge and a couple of other areas of minor discolouration.  There are a couple of very small creases next to the spine also.  The back cover has a couple of minor marks and a little ringwear near the top edge and the inside of the gatefold is absolutely immaculate and is 'as new'.  Overall a very impressive version of this iconic cover.

Picture inner

The original inner has the three cropped corners as per all the first and early pressings and just has the usual split on the bottom edge.  Apart from that it is in great shape with only a couple of minor creases but no other markings etc.

The labels

They are both visually stunning and look practically 'as new'.  The 'white' is still strong and vivid and there is no marking or writing to be seen.  As stated there is only the bare minimum of spindle wear.  Fantastic examples!

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 103 // YAX 5063 - 4 / YAX 5064 - 3 // MTL 2 / HM 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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Postage & Packaging

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