Queen II 4U / 4U 1st Press

This first pressing plays to a superb standard with only minimal interference on S1.  The vinyl is visually stunning and with hardly any spindle wear it has only been played a handful of times at most.

The gatefold is in excellent condition with only minor shelf wear and the lyric inner is beautifully clean with only one very small split on the bottom edge.

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EMA 767 // YAX 4?7?3?6?  4735 - 4U / YAX 4?7?3?5?  4736-4U // GRG 5 / GGP 4

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the majority / Track 3 intro VG)

The audio on S2 is Mint-

The gatefold is Ex+

The lyric inner is Ex++

The labels are Mint-

 Visual grading

This is as about as good as it gets!  The vinyl has a fantastic glossy sheen and looks practically 'as new'!  There are only a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines on each side and there are no scratches.  There is just one tiny faint mark on S2 which you could easily miss as it is so small!  It is a beautiful example for a genuine first press and the run out grooves and labels are also in immaculate condition.  S1 only has one small spindle trace and S2 only 3/4 so this is a vinyl that has only ever been lightly played.  Stunning!

Play grading

This version of 'Procession' is one of the most stunning I have ever heard.  It so often has a fair amount of interference and yet there is barely any static here, the playback is superb!  The intro is so 'clean' with only a small number of barely audible dust ticks and the remainder plays to a sublime standard with no 'background' of any kind.  I am confident in grading this as Mint- such is the quality on offer.

The segue into 'Father To Son' is perfect and continues in the same precise way.  The vocals are so strong and the clarity is astounding.  It plays so powerfully and there is no distortion on the top end - this vinyl has clearly hardly ever been played.  The more I listen to it the more I am impressed by it and the 'heavy' instrumental section is just breathtaking, you could not find better!  The quiet 'A word in your ear...' line has only minimal light static and from then on there is nothing to fault.  With not one single click or pop this is a phenomenal Near Mint version.

The intro on 'White Queen' does have a crackle sound once per revolution of the record which is a little intrusive and a couple of static clicks but this soon disappears once the vocal begins.  The 'So sad her eyes...' section has only minimal static and the first verse then plays very clearly with hardly any 'background'.  The 'chorus' is stunning, 'as new' in fact, and the same can be said for the second verse and the instrumental section that follows.  The rest of the track plays superbly with only 3/4 dust ticks on the quiet end section.  I would say the intro is VG and the remainder Near Mint.

'Some Day One Day' plays with great depth and clarity from start to finish with only a couple of light ticks.  This is easily Near Mint although I am sure many would grade higher.

'Loser In The End' grades as Mint as there is quite simply no interference of any kind.  It plays with tremendous power and there is no inner groove distortion.  A 'high end' version to close the side.

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The intro on 'Ogre Battle' has barely any static and plays very clearly indeed.  As the track 'kicks in' the audio is so powerful and it continues to play with sublime quality.  You would not think you were listening to a genuine first press!  The audio is immaculate with no 'background' of any kind and to the end it is 'as new' no exaggeration.  This is Mint- the audio plays with incredible depth and precision.

'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' is another prime example of a vinyl that has been so well preserved and only lightly played.  The clarity is exceptional and a Mint grade is deserved as there is not so much as a dust tick.  Stunning!

'Nevermore' plays beautifully for such a quiet track.  There are only a couple of barely audible dust ticks on the intro and it continues to play with wonderful clarity and depth.  There are only 3/4 mega light ticks on the fade out and overall this deserves a Mint- grade.

'The March Of The Black Queen' is superb from the opening groove and has no obvious static on the intro at all.  The entire opening section plays superbly and the vocals cannot be faulted.  There is no interference and it plays loud and true with no distortion at all.  The instrumental section is as good as the day when first released in '74 and the quiet verse that follows is absolutely stunning!  No static or crackle, it is just so 'clean' - pure audio perfection!  As the volume increases the audio remains strong and to the end it plays with remarkable precision and definition.  This truly is a fantastic version and is one of the finest example of this classic that I have ever heard.  There is not one single click or pop, the playback is sensational!  I will grade this as Mint- the audio is that good.

'Funny How Love Is' again plays with wonderful depth and clarity and there is no interference.  Mint all the way with a perfect fade out also.

'Seven Seas Of Rhye' is very impressive for a final track and if there is any inner groove distortion it is kept to an absolute minimum.  The audio is superb and again there are no clicks or pops.  This ends this classic album with Mint- audio.

In summary this first press plays with great quality on both sides and the only interference is at the start of 'White Queen' which does not last that long anyway.  Aside from that S1 plays with superb clarity and S2 is stunning with no 'background' of any kind.  Rarely have I heard an genuine 4U/4U first press play this well.

The Gatefold

One of the hardest G&L covers to find in decent condition this one has been very well looked after down the years and has only minimal shelf wear.  The edges have no wear and spine is also in excellent condition with only a couple of white 'specks' and a little wear on one corner.  The other corners are in superb shape and the opening edge has next to no handling wear.  The front cover is beautifully clean with no laminate wear and just the one tiny 'speck' by the left edge and the back cover is just as clean with only some very faint ringwear.  There is only one negative on the inside of the gatefold and that is one faint stain mark on the right hand side either side of the inner spine.  Aside from that it is in lovely condition with no other marking and the inner spine is still very strong and undamaged which is rare.  Overall a very clean example with only minor wear.

The Lyric Inner

This is in superb order with no marking or creasing - very rare!  It has the cut corners as per the first/early pressings and has only very small split on the bottom edge.  It is a very 'clean' split though and not easily seen.

The Labels

The original EMI labels are super clean with no marking and barely any spindle wear as stated.  

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

EMA 767 // YAX 4?7?3?6?  4735 - 4U / YAX 4?7?3?5?  4736-4U // GRG 5 / GGP 4

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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