Sheer Heart Attack 4U/4U

This final upgrade archive pressing is a stunning find!  It has hardly been played and the immaculate audio reflects that.  The laminated cover is also in excellent condition and the original lyric inner is perfect, a fantastic example!

EMC 3061 // YAX 4881 - 4U / YAX 4882 - 4U // GPA 1 / GPM 2

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (track 3 is Near Mint-)

The cover is Ex++

The lyric inner is Mint-

The labels are Mint

Visual grading

This is one visually stunning vinyl!  It has no spindle wear on S1 and only one trace on S2 and has barely been played in its lifetime.  With only a small number of mega faint sleeve removal hairlines and a couple of tiny 'specks' this is a beautiful vinyl.  It has an incredible glossy sheen and has no groove wear and obviously no scratches.  It has been so well preserved and that accounts for the stunning audio that is graded below.  The labels and run out grooves are also in pristine condition.

Play grading  

'Brighton Rock' has minimal static on the 'circus' intro and then plays with exceptional quality.  As is common on these early pressings the audio is so deep and rich and when you find one that has been as carefully preserved as this one the clarity and depth is just further exemplified.  There is one small section of light static during the guitar solo and the final section plays 'as new'.  Overall this is a highly impressive version.  'Killer Queen' is Mint from start to finish with just no interference of any kind and the clarity and sonic quality is of the highest standard possible.  Wow!  What follows is a fantastic rendition of the often underrated 'Tenement Funster'.  There is no distortion on the 'top end' and again the sound is just so strong and deep.  The segue into 'Flick Of The Wrist' is perfect and this track then plays with immaculate quality also.  No clicks or pops and no static or crackle either, just pure Mint unadulterated audio perfection!  This is why we listen to vinyl, you cannot beat the depth and warmth that it offers.  So often 'Lily Of The Valley' has some interference but the clarity displayed here is of an impeccable standard and I cannot remember when I last heard this quiet track play with such perfect precision.  What an absolutely stunning version!  Just a couple of mega light dust ticks on the fade out.  The intro on 'Now I'm Here' plays 'as new' and then continues to play with dynamic power and depth and surprisingly there is barely any distortion.  As any Queen fan knows this track is often affected by distortion so it is rare to find one play this 'cleanly'.  This provides further evidence to how little this vinyl has been played.  It ends S1 in truly spectacular fashion.

The intro on 'In The Lap Of The Gods' is stunning and is as 'fresh' as the day when first released back in '74.  The first two verses then play very clearly and with only a little light static in the background here and there.  The 'chorus' section then plays without fault and is a superb listen to the end.  In a word...stunning!  'Stone Cold Crazy' then 'rocks out' with incredible power and is again 'as new'.  There is no distortion and not one iota of interference.  Mint all the way!  'Dear Friends' plays with great clarity but there are a handful of static sounds on the first verse.  The second verse plays nigh on perfectly.  'Misfire' is Mint from the very first note to the last with no 'background' at all, not even a single dust tick and 'Bring Back Leroy Brown' also plays to the same impeccable standard.  I am running out of superlatives for the incredible quality on offer here!  How do I describe 'She Makes Me...' ?  I guess Mint is the word to be used again!  The depth and warmth here and strength of the bass is just superb and I am confident also in grading this as Mint such is the immaculate quality on offer.  No interference whatsoever!  'In The Lap Of The Gods...revisited' ends this classic album with a suitably dynamic version.  From the intro to the end it plays with wonderful depth and clarity and rarely there is no distortion on the final section.  It is not often that you can say that!  It plays superbly and is undoubtedly one of the best versions I have heard in a long time and even the 'bomb' fade out has great clarity and no 'background'.  A stunning finale.

In summary this is a final upgrade archive copy for certain.  It is rare to find such an early pressing play with such immaculate clarity and depth and this has obviously been hardly played in its 44 years and has always been very carefully handled.  The audio quality plus the great cover and lyric inner pay testament to that.  This is an exceptional 'package' and one that will please any avid collector.

The Cover

The original laminated cover is in excellent condition with very little shelf wear. The edges and thin pinched spine are beautifully clean with no rubbing or marking and there is a only a small amount of wear on the one corner, bottom right.  The opening edge has no obvious handling wear and is in superb shape.  The laminate on the front cover has no splits or lifts and only a small number of faint creases next to the spine and along the top edge.  The laminate on the back cover again has no splits or lifts but there are a couple of tiny 'nicks' top right.  There is also a little ringwear but this is common of course.  A very impressive example overall.

The Lyric inner

Wow this paper lyric inner is so rarely found in this condition!  It has certainly not seen the light of day too often!  As per the genuine early pressings it has the three cropped corners.  It is so clean and it is difficult to find a negative!  There are no splits and no creasing, just one tiny print mark on S1 and very faint ringwear.  That's it!  An absolutely stunning example and the best I have seen in a long time.

The labels

The original EMI labels are amazingly clean with no marking or writing and only the one mega small spindle line on S2.

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 // GPA 1 / GPM 2

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you

100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++

Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!

Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.

Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.

Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!

Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!

Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £8.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be selling plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Genesis and Marillion items so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!