Queen : Sheer Heart Attack 4U/4U Very Early Pressing

This is not a first pressing but it is either a second/third press.  There is a 3U/3U matrix that is generally regarded as the genuine first press but I am sure the 3U/4U and 4U/4U pressings were manufactured simultaneously.  Regardless of that this 4U/4U versions is of a standard so rarely found today - the clarity and sonic quality is STUNNING!  This is a FINAL UPGRADE album and I defy anyone to find a better version!  The audio is phenomenal, 'as new' basically!

The laminated cover is in lovely condition with barely any wear and being such an early pressing there is no Trident logo on the back.  Some 4U/4Us had it, others didn't - there was plenty of mixing and matching going on in the factory back in '74!  The original lyric inner, with three cut corners, is also in superb order with no marking.

EMC 3061 // YAX 4881 - 4U / YAX 4882 - 4U // GDR 1 / GDO 1  5

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The cover is Near Mint

The lyric inner is Near Mint

The labels are Mint

This is a beautiful vinyl and retains an immaculate mirror-like glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  It has clearly hardly ever been played judging by the visual and audio quality and indeed there is barely any spindle wear - nothing on S1 and just one barely visible trace on S2.  Under a strong light I can only detect 3/4 very faint hairlines but they are certainly not easy to find!  A visually stunning record with very clean run out grooves and perfect labels also.

Play grading

The 'circus' intro on 'Brighton Rock' has no 'background' at all and as Brian's guitar comes in the clarity is still 'as new'.  The first two verses are of the same standard as is the chorus.  This is a stunning start to this classic!  The mid instrumental is as impressive as I have ever heard and the depth and power throughout is first class.  There are some quiet moments of course and yet there is no intrusion on the audio at all, the clarity is quite simply outstanding.  As the music builds to signal the end of this section the clarity is maintained and the final verse is faultless.  This is as 'complete' a version you could wish for and Mint just about does it justice!  As my regulars know I do not 'over-sell' my listings and this is up there with the best I have ever heard.  Wow what a start!

The 'finger click' intro on 'Killer Queen' is perfect and then with sublime clarity and depth.  There is no interference and every note can be heard so clearly and even the fade out has no static etc.  Another stunning Mint track from the first note to the last.

Already I am running out of superlatives this album!  'Tenement Funster' is of the same 'high end' standard and again the playback is so strong and clear.  The production on this album is so good in my opinion and the sonic quality shines through when you find a 'clean' and barely played vinyl such as this.  The audio quite simply could not be any better.  Mint is again deserved.

The segue into 'Flick Of The Wrist' is flawless and it continues to play with imperious quality.  The depth and power on offer here is equal to that of an un-played vinyl and there is no distortion either.  I'll give it a Mint- grade as there is one light tick on the 'Baby you've been had' line right at the end!

What follows is the definitive version of 'Lily Of The Valley' as there is quite literally no interference.  The clarity is exceptional and from start to finish there is not even a single dust tick let alone anything more!  A beautiful Mint version for sure.

'Now I'm Here' has a nigh on perfect intro with only a couple of dust ticks and as the volume increases there is no decrease in quality.  The music and vocals play powerfully with no obvious distortion which is such a rarity for this track.  This is without question one of the 'cleanest' versions I have heard and to the end it plays with superb definition and no interference.  The fade out also has no 'background' which gives you a good idea of the clarity here.  A Mint- end to this stunning side.

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The intro on 'In The Lap Of The Gods' is absolutely stunning!  It is as close to perfect as could be.  There is just one very faint tick prior to the first verse but every other aspect is 'as new' - from Roger's scream to the fade in/out which has no 'background'.  I cannot adequately describe how immaculate the playback is - the depth of the audio on the opening grooves is fantastic!  The first verse has amazing clarity also and it continues to play with unrivalled quality as it progresses.  There is impressive clarity and then there is clarity like this!  It is just 'off the chart' and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!  This would be Mint but for the one faint tick so Mint- will have to do :-)

The classic 'Stone Cold Crazy' goes one better and grades as Mint as there is no interference whatsoever.  The power and sonic quality is astounding from start to finish.

With complete silence in the dead wax the super quiet 'Dear Friends' then plays with stunning quality.  With only one light tick (not a click!) near the beginning it is as close to Mint that you could find.  There is no underlying static and the clarity is again so impressive.  A beautiful Mint- version.

'Misfire' is Mint from start to finish there is no need to elaborate...which is rare for me!

The intro 'Bring Back That Leroy Brown' is of the same 'high end' standard and again there is no 'background' of any kind.  Just pure unadulterated Mint audio all the way through.

'She Makes Me...' is of a quality that you only find on a vinyl that has hardly been played.  The depth and clarity on every note is sublime and you would think this had only been pressed yesterday!  From the intro to the 'breathless' ending the audio is MINT in every sense of the word.  Wow!

'In The Lap Of The Gods...revisited' ends this phenomenal album in fine style and for once there is no obvious inner groove distortion.  You can turn it up to 'max' without the need to turn it down immediately, the playback is outstanding.  Yes just a minimal amount of distortion on the final section but in no way is it intrusive and I only mention it to be 100% complete in my grading.  You will find it on any early pressing and it is infinitely less here anyway.  It is such a strong version and even the 'bomb' ending plays with great precision and power.  A Mint- end to this STUNNING album.

In summary this is without doubt a FINAL UPGRADE album in every way.  I have played so many of these over the years but this is quite possibly at the 'top of the tree'!  I have never heard such defining clarity and the sonic quality could not be improved upon.  There are no clicks or pops and in essence this is Mint from beginning to end.  Ok a couple of light ticks but they are so quiet as to be totally non-intrusive.  What an album!

The Cover

The laminated G & L cover is in lovely condition with minimal shelf wear only.  The edges and spine are pristine and there is no obvious corner wear either which is rare.  The opening edge is as close to perfect as is possible with only a couple of very minor creases near the bottom.  The front cover has no marking and the laminate has no splits and only a couple of minor 'bubbles' in two corners.  The back cover is even better with only a small number of the usual crease lines next to the spine.  There is no Trident logo bottom right as stated making it one of the earliest covers produced.

The Lyric Inner

This is one of the cleanest I have ever seen.  There is no marking and no side splits either which is so rare for this inner when you consider it made of paper!  There is just one very tiny tear on the top edge but aside from that it is stunning!

The Labels

The original EMI labels are immaculate with no marking or writing and only one barely visible spindle trace.  

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

EMC 3061 // YAX 4881 - 4U / YAX 4882 - 4U // GDR 1 / GDO 1  5

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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Postage & Packaging

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