QUEEN “The Game” rock LP ELEKTRA ’80 white label promo WLP NO BAR CODE orig NM

$

49

Artist:   QUEEN

Title:   “The Game”

Label:   ELEKTRA ~ # 5E-513.  Original stereo pressing.  Labels are white with black text, “For Promotional Use Only, Not For Sale.”. 

Year:  1980

NOTE:  This album came from the extensive personal collection of a former record store owner who retired from the retail music business in the early 80’s.  His albums have been stored virtually untouched and unplayed since that time in a climate controlled, non-smoking environment.  I will be selling many investment grade coloured vinyl LPs, promos, sealed LPs, and other rare collector items over the coming months.  If you desire MINT albums, you will be very pleased indeed.

Condition: 

DISC:  Vinyl is gorgeous NM-, a beauty!  The playing surface has a high luster, played a small number of times and handled with care.  Plays beautifully with superb fidelity.  Labels are clean and pristine. 

JACKET:  Jacket is NEAR MINT with clean front and back panels.  Upper right corner of front panel has Promo embossing.  Nice seams and corners.  No writing, stickers, or other issues.  A beautiful jacket worthy of display.

Includes custom full-colour factory inner sleeve in top condition.

Track Listing: 

Side One:

• Play the Game
• Dragon Attack
• Another One Bites the Dust
• Need Your Loving Tonight
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Side Two:

• Rock It (prime jive)
• Don’t Try Suicide
• Sail Away Sweet Sister
• Coming Soon
• Save Me

Review:

“Queen had long been one of the biggest bands in the world by 1980's The Game, but this album was the first time they made a glossy, unabashed pop album, one that was designed to sound exactly like its time.  They might be posed in leather jackets on the cover, but they hardly sound tough or menacing -- they rarely rock, at least not in the gonzo fashion that's long been their trademark. Gone are the bombastic orchestras of guitars and with them the charging, relentless rhythms that kept Queen grounded even at their grandest moments.  Now, when they rock, they'll haul out a clever rockabilly pastiche, as they do on the tremendous "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," a sly revival of old-time rock & roll that never sounds moldy, thanks in large part to Freddie Mercury's panache.  But even that is an exception to the rule on The Game.  Usually, when they want to rock here, they wind up sounding like Boston, as they do on John Deacon's "Need Your Loving Tonight," or they sound a bit like a new wave-conscious rocker like Billy Squier, as they do on the propulsive "Coming Soon."  But even those are exceptions to the overall rule on The Game, since most of the album is devoted to disco-rock blends -- best heard on the globe-conquering "Another One Bites the Dust," but also present in the unintentionally kitschy positivity anthem "Don't Try Suicide" -- and the majestic power ballads that became their calling card in the '80s, as they reworked the surging "Save Me" and the elegant "Play the Game" numerous times, often with lesser results.  So, The Game winds up as a mixed bag, as many Queen albums often do, but again the striking difference with this album is that it finds Queen turning decidedly, decisively pop, and it's a grand, state-of-the-art circa 1980 pop album that still stands as one of the band's most enjoyable records.  But the very fact that it does showcase a band that's turned away from rock and toward pop means that for some Queen fans, it marks the end of the road, and despite the album's charms, it's easy to see why.

(courtesy Stephen Thomas Erlewine, allmusic.com.)

Guaranteed to be original and authentic.  I do not sell bootlegs or modern reissues.

As with all my records, I offer a complete guarantee of satisfaction.  If not happy, simply return it in same condition for a full refund of purchase price plus one-way postage.

Payment methods:  I accept Paypal, and any suitable method of payment.  If you have any questions or do not wish to use Paypal, please feel free to contact me and I am sure we can work something out. 

I pack all records in sturdy cardboard custom LP boxes for safe shipment.
The records are removed from the jackets to protect the cover.
Both the LP and jacket are sandwiched between additional layers of cardboard.

I am happy to combine purchases to minimize shipping cost. 

NOTE TO INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS:  I will be glad to hold purchases for up to 30 days upon request and receipt of payment, to allow you to accumulate purchases and combine orders in order to save on shipping.  (First LP costs US $18.50 to ship, additional albums in the same order will ship for an additional $2.50 per disc up to a total of four.).  If ebay overcharges for shipping, I will promptly refund any overpayment and apply your discount.

FAST SHIPPING:  If I fail to ship your item within 2 business days of payment receipt, your shipping is free!

Check my feedback, and bid with confidence.  I am dedicated to providing you the finest and rarest records to assist in your collecting. 

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PLANNING A VISIT TO THE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON AREA?

 If so, please consider a visit to my booth (Booth 002, down stairs) at the ANTIQUE DEPOT antique mall in historic ELLICOTT CITY, MARYLAND (3720 Maryland Avenue, just off Main Street at the north end of town – open every day of the year except Christmas and Thanksgiving) for some excellent bargain-priced LPs and 45’s. 

Also, I regularly set up at the monthly ARBUTUS RECORD & TAPE EXPO at the Arbutus Fire Hall on Southwestern Boulevard, Baltimore ~ usually held on the 3rd Sunday – but it’s always good to check and confirm).  If you let me know ahead of time of your interests, I will do my best to bring a few extra goodies for your consideration.

Thank you for viewing my auction, and good luck with your bids!