Innuendo A2/B2 (Original UK 1st pressing 1991)

This stunning first press plays with immaculate audio and is without doubt the most impressive I have heard in many years, only played once or twice I would say and the vinyl is pristine, I have never seen cleaner.  A full grading is given below.  The cover is also in excellent order, with only very minor wear, and the lyric inner is in pristine condition.

This is now a very collectable album and very few are seen in this condition today!  It is worth re-iterating, the audio is practically 'as new' with fantastic clarity and definition.

PCSD 115 // A-2U / B-2U / Stampers D

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Ex+

The lyric inner is Mint

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This vinyl has been fantastically well preserved and has only been played 2/3 times at most judging by the immaculate quality of the audio.  It is quite probably the 'cleanest' first pressing I have ever seen and at first glance it looks 'as new', it is absolutely stunning.  It is only on very close inspection that you can detect 3/4 very faint sleeve removal hairlines but they are indeed very difficult to spot!  Needless to say there are no scratches.  This is a vinyl that has hardly ever been removed from its sleeve hence the superlative condition!  It has a stunning mirror-like glossy sheen and has just one short spindle trail on S1 and a couple of very faint ones on S2.  It really is superb example of its kind and the labels and run out grooves are also super clean with no marking.  There are not too many around like this today!

Play grading  

With no obvious lead in static 'Innuendo' begins superbly with only one mega faint 'tick' about 15 seconds in.  The depth of the audio here and the strong bass sound is so impressive and as soon as the vocal starts the audio is stunning!  It continues in the same way and the audio is incredibly powerful with no distortion on the top end.  What is so rare is that the quiet 'Spanish guitar' section has no static at all, I repeat this is so rare!  This entire section plays with stunning precision and the guitar 'solo' that follows is just breathtaking.  This 'strength' and clarity is prevalent to the very end and even the fade out plays with 100% perfect precision.  I can confidently say this is the most impressive version of this classic that I have heard in a long time as it is so often affected by some crackle but that is not the case here whatsoever.  I do not over-grade and in my opinion it grades as Mint- it is absolutely incredible!  No clicks, no pops and no static or crackle - an audio masterpiece!  I am pleased to say 'I'm Going Slightly Mad' plays to the same immaculate standard as there is no 'background' at all, not even a solitary dust tick.  So far the audio on this very collectable first pressing is 'high end' to say the least and 'Headlong' does not disappoint either.  I would grade it as Mint but Record Collector guidelines do not permit that so Mint- it is!  The power and definition of every note is sublime from start to finish and yes no interference once more.  'I Can't Live With You' just has to be the greatest version I have ever heard!  I know I am repeating myself now but this is just audio of the highest calibre and it is very obvious that this vinyl has hardly ever been played.  Once again the fade out plays 'as new' without any 'background'.  'Ride The Wild Wind' ends the side with audio that can only be described as Mint- the clarity and power are again astounding.  As is common on any 'Taylor' track the rhythm section is so strong and the drums and bass work in perfect sync with each other.  The sonic quality is just so impressive, i.e. there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and you can hear each note 100% perfectly.  What a finish to the side!

'All God's People' plays loud and true and with great depth from the very first groove.  The first relatively quiet section does have a couple of faint 'ticks' but they are very quiet and do intrude on the quality of the listen.  From then on the audio is 'as new' and plays with remarkable power and clarity and the long fade out plays with superb precision.  The classic 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' could not play any better as there is no 'background' at all aside from a handful of quiet dust ticks and I mean very very quiet!  A 'high end' version without doubt and this is exactly why we listen to vinyl.  With quiet emotive tracks such as this the warmth and depth of the audio simply cannot be beaten.  The inimitable 'Delilah' does not disappoint either and plays as Mint- from the first note to the last.  Rarely 'Don't Try So Hard' has almost no static on the intro, just a couple of barely audible 'ticks'.  This is a very impressive intro as so often it is affected by intrusive static or crackle but not here!  It continues with wonderful clarity and has no interference at all and the quiet end section plays superbly, a truly stunning version.  'The Hitman' plays with a wonderful deep powerful sound throughout and with no 'background' once again.  It is impressive that there is no distortion also, another indication that the vinyl has been hardly played.  'Bijou' is another track that is often blighted by interference, being so quiet, but...this is a fantastic version that qualifies as Mint- the audio is so clear.  Not one single click or pop and no static or crackle.  'The Show Must Go On' intro begins impeccably without 'background' and then continues to play with sensational quality to the end.  Again this classic is so often affected by distortion but there is barely any here and there is no deterioration in sound quality at all.  I cannot adequately put into words just how superbly this plays!  It is without one of the strongest, most complete versions I have ever heard and the long quiet fade out has no 'background', how rare is that?!  With no interference you cannot help but be affected by this emotive classic.  A truly mesmeric end to a stunning album, wow!

In summary this is quite possibly the greatest first pressing of this album I have ever heard.  The clarity and strength on display is so impressive and to think there is not one single click or pops and no obvious static etc pays testament to just how well this vinyl has been preserved down the years.  With more or less complete silence in the dead wax between every track this is a FINAL UPGRADE ARCHIVE first pressing of that I have no doubt.  The cover is also very impressive apart from the one sticker type mark on the front and the lyric inner is 100% perfect.  Audio does not get better than this and this copy of 'Innuendo' would grace any Near Mint / Mint collection.

The Cover

The cover is in great condition with only one obvious area of 'wear'.  The front cover has what appears to be the remains of the original sticker so perhaps it could be removed although I have not attempted this.  Other than that the cover is very clean and it has retained its 'white' look extremely well and has been hardly handled over the last 28 years.  The edges and thin spine are in near perfect condition with the bottom edge just has a couple of tiny 'rubs'.  There is very little corner wear and it is only the bottom right corner that has one very small obvious crease.  The opening edge has no handling wear and is yet another indication of a vinyl that has hardly ever been removed from its sleeve.  The back cover is in lovely condition with only one very small area of light rubbing near the spine just below the catalogue numbers.  Overall this cover is a very impressive example of its kind and is rarely seen in this condition today.

The Lyric inner

Quite simply this is 'as new' with no wear at all.  No splits, creasing or marking it could not be any better!

The labels

They are in beautiful condition with no marking or writing and only a couple of tiny spindle traces on the labels.

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

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

PCSD 115 // A-2U / B-2U / Stampers D

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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