QUEEN : Queen II 4U/4U 1st Press 1974 Superb Laminated COVER & Incredible AUDIO
£
37
$
49
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently. Queen : Queen II 4U / 4U 1st Press 1974
This very early first press variation plays to a superb standard with barely any intrusion. There are no clicks or pops and even the static is kept to an absolute minimum. For example the often problematic 'White Queen' intro plays very clearly with very little static. The clarity, definition and power of the audio on both sides is stunning and it would be difficult to find a cleaner 4U/4u version. The vinyl is in lovely condition also and has clearly not been played very much.
The fully laminated cover is in superb condition also and is not far off a Near Mint- grade in my opinion. I've said Ex++ which I think is fair. The lyric inner (with four cut corners) in very clean with only minimal faint spotting.
EMA 767 // YAX 4̶7̶3̶6 4735-4U GRO 3 / YAX 4̶7̶3̶5̶ 4736-4U GGP 4
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint / T3 intro Near Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex+ / T3 & T4 Near Mint)
The gatefold is Ex++ The lyric inner is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in lovely condition and retains a superb glossy sheen with no obvious marks or scratches. Under a bright light I can only see a small number of faint hairlines and a handful of minor specks. Under 'normal' lighting it is pristine! The labels are in superb shape with barely any spindle wear on S1 and just a little more on S2.
Play Grading
'Procession' plays with stunning clarity which is a genuine rarity! Even on the quiet drumbeat intro there is no background and the remainder is just the same, not even a solitary dust tick. Without doubt a Mint start to this classic album. . The segue into 'Father To Son' is perfect and the opening vocal section is equal to that. From then on it plays with such precision and... no interference. The clarity of sound is so impressive and the classic hard rock instrumental section is a case in point - tremendous power and definition. The quiet A word in your ear... vocal section has just one second of light static followed by a static tick but the rest plays with stunning precision including the long fade out. Such a strong track and Near Mint is deserved.
The intro on 'White Queen' is so often beset by sound issues but it is so clean here with barely any static and what you do hear is so darn quiet! Freddie's opening vocal is just as strong and it continues to play so clearly with only minimal light static. Very minimal! The first 'chorus' is faultless and the next verse has no intrusion at all. It's just getting better and better! The instrumental piece is 'as new' and the next high octane passage is on the same level. The quiet end vocal has only a couple of barely audible statics - the opening section I will grade as Near Mint- but thereafter has to grade as Mint- at the minimum.
An often overlooked track 'Some Day One Day' plays with sublime depth and warmth throughout with no sign of any interference. As always I have listened to the track in full and there is not so much as a single dust tick it deserves a Mint grading. I mean why not?! A stunning version.
The intro on 'The Loser In The End' is perfect as is Roger's opening vocal section. Great power and depth on the audio here, in no small measure aided by John's strong bass sound. The original sonic quality is still there and this high end standard is kept up as it progresses. Once again there is nothing to detract from the audio - superb percussion as you would expect and is provides a Mint conclusion to S1. And what a side!
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The build up intro on 'Ogre Battle' has only very minimal light static and the following section plays with phenomenal power and depth. The first vocal is flawless and it continues in the same precise way. In my opinion this should have been on Queen Rocks, it's easily one of Freddie's heaviest numbers. The mid 'instrumental' is incredible and the final vocal can only be described 'as new' also. An Ex+ intro and Mint from then onwards.
'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke' plays with stunning clarity without any background. Showing Freddie's versatility this is Mint from start to finish.
'Nevermore' plays beautifully with zero interference. A handful of mega quiet dust ticks on the intro but really you cannot fault the audio here. 3/4 minor statics towards the end so I will say Near Mint
The piano intro on 'The March Of The Black Queen' has only minimal light static and the opening vocal is perfect. The following instrumental has no intrusion and the first verse and chorus play with impeccable clarity also. This prog classic continues to play with a sonic quality that is second to none, I cannot praise it highly enough. The raucous mid instrumental is STUNNING and the quiet vocal then plays so clearly with only a couple of minor statics. The classic end section plays with real quality and again there is no intrusion, no distortion. Overall it has to grade as Near Mint but in all honesty the vast majority is much better than that! The quiet piano section just prior to the final vocal exemplifies just how stunning the clarity is!
'Funny How Love Is' plays with exceptional clarity and definition through every section and 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' ends the album in fine style with no interference. It plays so clearly which is quite rare in fact as it often has a 'muffled' distorted sound but that is not the case here. There are no negatives here and even the seaside 'singalong' plays with great clarity, just a couple of statics towards the end so I will grade these two final tracks grade as Mint and Mint- accordingly.
The Gatefold & Lyric Inner
The laminated cover is in superb condition with very little wear. The edges have no rubbing / marking and the spine remains in superb shape with barely any wear on the corners. The 'top' corners have very minimal wear and the opening edge has only a couple of minor 'crimps'. The front cover is totally unmarked and the back cover is almost as good with just a couple of small marks / scuffs near to the bottom edge. The inside of the gatefold is stunning and is easily one of the cleanest I have ever seen. So often it discoloured but there is no fading / yellowing here and the inner spine is fully intact also with no damage. A superb example!
The lyric inner has no obvious marking just some very light spotting here and there. The thumb notice has a small tear on one corner and for once there is no split on the bottom edge! A fine example overall when you consider it is made of paper.
EMA 767 // YAX 4̶7̶3̶6 4735-4U GRO 3 / YAX 4̶7̶3̶5̶ 4736-4U GGP 4
Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT VM-95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
Recent Feedback
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Postage & Packaging
I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping. This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage. The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered. Any over-payment will always be refunded.
The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD). An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known. Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing. Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask. Many thanks.
All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection. They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection. I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.
The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each. There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up! Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £12.95 then £2.00 per extra
USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £22.95 then £2.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra
If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed. If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!
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