QUEEN II RARER Orig UK 1974 -4U/-4U SUPERB N/M LP

	£		41
	$		54

ONEADAYRECORDS – Simply Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Postage: UK £4.25. Europe £12. Rest of World £16. ALL signed for in quality, safe packaging – I NEVER use mailing envelopes.

NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment. I try to keep my P&P prices as low as possible after the very significant Royal Mail price increases and will never compromise on solid, safe packing.

Artist or Band: QUEEN

Album Title: Queen II.

Producer(s): Roy Thomas Baker, Robin G. Cable and Queen.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Procession; Father to Son; White Queen (As it Began); Some Day One Day; The Loser in the End.

Side 2: Ogre Battle; The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke; Nevermore; The March of hte Black Queen; Funny How Love Is; Seven Seas of Rhye.

Label/Format: EMI – original format with Trident Audio Productions Ltd 1974 logo (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both immaculate: ultra clean, fresh and very attractive. Not a single spindle trace to be seen and without doubt, barely even played. I did for my mandatory sound check – and this plays as good as it looks, pretty much perfect.

Cat Number: EMA 767 (YAX 4736).

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 128 grams. A little above average.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: The earliest pressings in such conditions are far harder to find.

Original Year of Release: 1974

Matrix Nos: YAX 4735-4U / YAX 4736-4U (both sides are error corrected).

Stamper Codes: 1 OO / 4 PO

Musicians: Freddie Mercury – Vocals; Brian May – lead guitar; John Deacon - bass guitar; Roger Taylor – drums.

Brief Info: Queen’s second album and now getting more intricate and compelling, this is not an overly commercial album and is far more rocky and even ‘progressive’ compared to later issues – and that’s just the way I enjoyed them. They loved to emphasise the fact they did not use synthesisers, all the sounds were ‘natural’. Still newcomers, this follows-on from the superb debut and their reputation was gaining momentum quickly and superstardom was only just around the corner. It was clear from the outset, this band were to become very special and immensely popular and with a talismatic vocalist in Mercury, this was no surprise. ‘Queen II’ is a very original and powerful work, not lauded as highly as some future works but this is an amazing album in it’s own right and one of my personal favourites. Beautifully packaged with the very famous band pose artwork on the cover that became familiar to all via their anthem ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ single and video that followed later. This included their first major single success in ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ – the first album included a taster of which, and they never looked back thereafter. They became one of the greatest and popular bands of their era and Mercury the ultimate showman. Their popularity and collectability has never ceased to decline. Their early works were more different and appealed more to ‘rock’ fans. This copy has been beautifully preserved and both cover and record are in superb condition. The record barely even run-in in vinyl terms and this simply made my system excel. If you like records that remind of new for looks and sound, look no further, this prog classic delivers.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a beauty only marked down a fraction from Mint(-) due to mild spine compression that few avoid totally. A fully laminated gatefold format Printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse and also includes the 1974 Trident logo and reference to the long defunct ‘cartridge’ format. The white lyric inner sleeve is included.

Lamination – Front, Back and Centre: Starting on the inside, this is immaculate as new, so-much-so, I cannot even open it fully due to avoiding cracking the centre hinge laminate which still creaks on opening. The laminate over the hinge totally unbroken and very tight. The outside, as per inside, has very shiny, fresh and clear laminate that has no lifting and barely a crease to be seen. This made a huge difference to the visual beauty of this cover and separates the average from the supreme. Even under light, barely any hint of dulling or marks, the merest hint of rim impression on the back, but minimal indeed. This cover seldom escapes so lightly and is often ruined by often major laminate issues such as blistering or dulling. This gorgous sleeve is little short of connoisseur standard.

Top & Bottom Edges: All four little short of as new, all four very straight, smooth and unscuffed.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, sharp with barely any hint of wear. The front fully sealed and any traces of thickening or burring tiny, few and faint as seen viewed end-on. The fragile back opening is crisp and guaranteed untrimmed.

Spine and Text: Solid and quite straight, a a little compression and mild tilt to right (being critical). This very difficult to avoid due to the raised inside hinge style of the fold. Fully laminate with all text present and unworn and this one is folded square, so the edges are flush and parallel, which again makes a difference for visual neatness.

Corners: All corners show barely any rubbing and retain near immaculate shape. Just a small crease on the very bottom of the spine seen viewed end-on.

Cover Summary: A truly beautiful example of this classic mid-70’s cover, one that will prove immensely difficult to find much better. This fantastic item should please most discerning Queen collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): downgraded from Mint(-) due to a hint of a small bottom edge central pressure rub. This has not split and is one of the very few I have seen as such. Movement in transit meant many were from day one. This early example has the original wide recessed top opening which is crisp, neat and undamaged. Printed both sides with the album lyrics, this has aged little and still is a lovely white with no grubbiness or creasing. The G&L imprint initials are seen and the corners are neatly rounded and immaculate. This will not prove easy to find better.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: MINT(-): and little short of as made – any surface traces are ultra fine and faint as seen critically under angled light. Hard card inners do not offer any favours for the record’s playing surfaces, and again, many could be marked from day one in manufacture and packing. So to find a 38 year old record looking this fresh and clean and barely marked, is never easy either. A superb visual copy that is very clean, shiny, intense black and very solidly pressed. This classic second album will rarely be seen better from a very early pressing and appears hardly even played. Visually a super record that should please most-all collectors again.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippets or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This near immaculate record plays up to its high visual grading nothing to fault. Strong, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is fantastic with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. From the beginning this band wanted high standards and this again is beautifully produced with immense power and detail. Devoid of surface sounds and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing that on any quality system, will excel. If all records were like this, it would make describing very easy, alas we all know that can never be the case. Few examples will match or outperform this early pressing I feel sure. Both channels are clean and sharp, I know this record has been played very lightly and has been clearly well stored and carefully handled within in a non-smoking environment. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. This copy will prove near impossible to find significantly better and is unreservedly recommended.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with Terrarium Black terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand+ based on over 8,000+ items sold in over 10 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 2 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). All postage costs are below and at the top of the listing.

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please ask me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.25

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £8. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £12 (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£50 maximum]) = £16 (£17 for double sets). Add £3 per extra LP. (enhanced Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.