The Works A3/B2

This early pressing plays with very impressive audio.  I have fully play tested it as I do with all my vinyls and there is only a little interference on one track really.  The cover is very clean and the lyric inner is 'as new'.  A great example of this now 34 year old album.

EMC 24 0014 1 // A3 / B2

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 2 intro Ex- / track 5 is Near Mint)

The cover is Ex

The lyric inner is Mint

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This vinyl is stunning visually and has no scratches or markings at all.  In fact I can only detect a small number of mega faint sleeve removal hairlines it is that clean.  There is no spindle wear on S1 and only a minimal amount of S2 so this vinyl has only been lightly played in my opinion and the audio reflects that.  It retains a fantastic glossy sheen and the labels and run out grooves are also incredibly clean.

Play grading  

'Radio Ga Ga' plays with stunning clarity from the very first groove.  Aside from one very faint 'tick' there is no interference and this is 'high end' audio without doubt.  This easily grades as Mint- the playback is superb.  'Tear It Up' is equal to this standard and the only 'background' is a little static on the fade out, pure perfection otherwise.  This is relatively rare as this track so often plays with distortion but that is certainly not the case here.  The power and clarity on offer prove just how little this vinyl has been played.  The 'operatic' intro on 'It's A Hard Life' plays incredibly well and the following verse has only the bare minimum of mega light static.  Thereafter the audio plays to a breathtaking standard, it is so clean and even the quiet mid piano section has only a couple of minor dust ticks.  'Man On The Prowl' is immaculate and plays as well as the day when first released back in '84.  There is no 'background' and no distortion.  A superb version from start to finish with not one iota of interference.  A fantastic end to the side.

'Machines' has a couple of seconds of light static on the intro and then grades as Mint the audio is absolutely amazing!  I play every second of every track and there is just no interference not even on the fade out.  It plays with incredible sonic quality and the definition of each note could not be any clearer.  Again there is no distortion on the top end which is very impressive on this high volume track.  'I Want To Break Free' has a little crackle on the intro although I cannot detect the cause at all.  There is only one other crackle sound in the middle section and apart from that the audio is very clean with no other 'background'.  'Keep Passing The Open Windows' is audio perfection from the very first note!  And it continues to play to the highest standard possible, I have not heard a better version in many a year, it is 100% pristine!  'Hammer To Fall' also impresses from the very start and plays with dynamic power throughout.  I know I regularly write about clarity and distortion but that is how any vinyl should be judged of course.  An album that plays with distinct clarity and no distortion is an album that has been very well preserved and very often only lightly played.  The clarity here is stunning and rarely there is just no distortion whatsoever.  It is quite possibly the 'cleanest' version I have ever heard, Mint in every way!  The real test of this vinyl is the super quiet 'Is This The World We Created...?' and I am delighted to say it plays beautifully!  There is just the one light click towards the end but apart from that there is no obvious 'background' at all.  The clarity is stunning and it is a very impressive version, it is almost perfect :-) 

In summary this very early pressing plays with sublime audio for the vast majority and it is only 'I Want To Break Free' that has a little interference.  Apart from that there is only one click which is very impressive for a album of 34 years.  With a lovely cover and a perfect lyric inner this would add to any collection.

The Cover

This cover is so often in poor condition so I am glad to say this is not one of them.  The edges are in superb order with no wear and the spine is near perfect apart from some minor wear on the bottom corner.  The right hand corner has a little wear also, a very small tear next to the opening edge.  The opening edge is very clean with no handling wear at all and there is just one very minor 'nick' on it that can be seen from the back.  The front and back cover are super clean with no marking at all.  If it wasn't for the wear on the one corner I would easily grade this as Ex+ but I will err on the side of caution and call it Ex although many elements are far better than that.

The Lyric inner

This is in perfect order with no side splits, creases or marks.  A fantastic example!

The labels

They are near perfect with only a minor amount of spindle wear on S2 and no marking/writing at all.

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 24 0014 1 // A3 / B2

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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