QUEEN II 4U/4U 1st Pressing

This first pressing plays to a fantastic standard and easily qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE archive copy such is the sonic quality on offer here.  It has been preserved so well and obviously came from a previous owner who 'collected' not to play.  This has only been played once, perhaps twice at most and there is only one tiny spindle trace on the S1 label.  I cannot adequately put into words just how stunning the audio is but suffice to say it plays with a clarity, depth and warmth that you so rarely find today.  There is just one light static click on 'Some Day One Day' but the other tracks on this classic album can correctly be described 'as new' and that includes the 6 minute epic 'The March Of The Black Queen' - I have never heard a better version!

The laminated cover is also in fantastic condition with no obvious wear at all, a beautifully preserved version.  The original lyric inner (with the four cut corners as per all the first pressings) has to be the cleanest I have seen and has only one very small split on the bottom edge.  A stunning album in every regard!

EMA 797 // YAX 4̶7̶3̶6̶ 4735 - 4U / YAX 4̶7̶3̶5 4736 - 4U // GGR 4 / GDP 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint although Mint for 99%!)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Near Mint+

The lyric inner is Ex+

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

The initial beats on 'Procession' are unbelievably clean with no 'background' at all.  It continues to play with remarkable clarity and only a couple of very minor static sounds but to all intents and purposes this a perfect mint introduction to this classic album.  I will however grade as Mint- just to err on the side of caution but wow what a start!

The segue into 'Father To Son' is flawless and the first verse and chorus are of the same 'high end' standard.  From then onwards it plays 'as new' with no sign of any interference.  Has this ever been played before?!  The audio definition certainly suggests that and the 'heavy' mid section is a prime example of just how impressive the playback is.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound i.e. every note can be heard with sublime precision and there is no distortion on the top end.  Even as the audio quietens down for the 'A word in your ear from Father to son...' section there is not so much as a dust tick.  I can over-enthuse sometimes when I find mint audio on any classic album but I can be forgiven!  The long fade out has no 'background' either and I can unequivocally grade this as Mint such is the sonic quality on offer here.

Again you would not believe how clean and precise the intro on 'White Queen' is.  It is so often affected by static/crackle but here - just a couple of barely audible dust ticks.  The first vocal plays with perfect clarity and as the volume builds into the first chorus the audio is so powerful and again the clarity cannot be faulted.  The next verse is also 'as new' and the same can be said for the mid section instrumental.  Honestly I just cannot believe what I am listening to here and already I am running out of superlatives!  The 'high octane' section near the end is exceptional and the quiet section that brings this classic (another one!) to an end has no interference.  I think in all my years on eBay I have only discovered one other Mint version of this track.  We have another one here!

'Some Day One Day' is almost as impressive.  Almost!  There is just one static click after the first verse but aside from that it plays with stunning clarity and with a depth and warmth you only get from vinyl.  I will have to grade as Near Mint but 99% is mint it has to be said!  The long fade out pays testament to how well the vinyl has been looked after over the years, there is not even one single dust tick.

The underrated 'Loser In The End' plays with tremendous power from start to finish with no sign of any interference.  Once again it is like you have just purchased the record from the record store such is the sonic quality.  Not a second hand store I hasten to add!  The playback is so strong and there is none of the inner groove distortion that you so often find on the final track.  Another perfect fade out and a sublime Mint end to the side and boy what a side!

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The slow build up on 'Ogre Battle' is so clean with only a couple of seconds of light static and the first 'heavy' section is as dynamic as it gets.  Each and every vocal section plays with sublime precision and the 'instrumental' section plays with incredible power and resonance.  A stunning Mint- version.

'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' more than keeps up this exemplary standard with 'as new' audio from the first note to the last.  The clarity is quite simply on another level and suffice to say it plays as well as it would have done back in '74.  Mint

The piano intro on 'Nevermore' plays beautifully as does the first verse.  The second verse has just the one very minor static tick but again you cannot fault the clarity.  Being a relatively quiet track there is often some background static or worse but that is not the case here.  Mint-

The intro on 'The March Of The Black Queen' is stunning - a rarity indeed!  The first vocal is just as good as if the 'high octane' section that follows.  The opening verses play to perfection and it continues in the same precise way with literally no intrusion.  The mid instrumental section is so dynamic and the 'vocal' as you reach the end is a case in point.  I've never heard such clarity and power - pure audio perfection with no distortion.  The quiet 'A voice from behind me...' verse does not even have a single dust tick and how often can you say that for this section?!  As it builds the audio is 'as new' and the 'I reign with my left hand...' verse is of the same standard.  This is STUNNING in every way and you can turn it up to max with no fear of distortion.  It proceeds in the same way and the next quieter passage again has no 'background'.  The final vocal completes this total classic with incredible precision and Mint is a genuine and honest assessment of the audio.  I would go so far as to say it is the finest version I have ever had the pleasure in listening to and on a first pressing at that!

You will not be surprised to hear that 'Funny How Love Is' is of the same immaculate standard with no ticks, clicks, pops or static and yes another perfect fade out.  Mint

'Seven Seas Of Rhye' ends the album with sublime quality.  The piano intro has no interference and that applies to the rest of the track also.  This track regularly has some 'background' but this is as clean a version that I have ever discovered and for once there is no inner groove distortion either.  Even the seaside 'singalong' plays with stunning clarity!  A Mint finish to what is often regarded as their finest album.  I tend to agree...

In summary this first pressing plays to a standard that is rarely found today.  It is a shame that the fade out on 'Some Day One Day' has some interference but the rest of the album is mega impressive!  Aside from 3/4 clicky/crackle sounds during 'The March Of The Black Queen' the audio is as close to perfect as could be.  'White Queen' is stunning and 'Father To Son' is STUNNING etc etc!  It is interesting to note that there is no distortion on either side which shows this vinyl has only been lightly played down the years on high end equipment.  A fantastic album that any collector would be very pleased to have in their collection.

The Gatefold

In summary this first pressing plays to a standard that is so rarely found today.  Understandably being one of their more popular albums it is generally found heavily played but this has been preserved in immaculate fashion and has hardly ever been on a turntable!  A true FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic!  It is difficult to explain the subtle differences in clarity and depth between a first and later pressing that are both very 'clean' but rest assured the sonic quality on this album is quite simply outstanding.  The only interference is one light click on 'Some Day One Day' and all of the other tracks play to an unbelievable standard.  There are so many highlights but 'Father To Son', 'White Queen' and 'The March Of The Black Queen' are genuine stand out moments.  The latter especially is phenomenal!  I cannot stress enough just how clean and precise the audio is on both sides and as stated there is no distortion either.  A truly fantastic album in every regard and I am sure the winning bidder will be as equally impressed as I am.  A STUNNING first press for sure!

The Gatefold & Lyric Inner

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