The Who : Tommy A1 / A1 / B2 / B3 Early Press 1969

This FINAL UPGRADE stereo pressing on the 'Track Record' label plays to a fantastic standard with only a couple of light clicks.  There is no underlying static and no crackle and the clarity is so impressive across all four sides.  I have played every track in full and I can safely say it would be very difficult to find a better version.  The vinyls are both visually in superb condition and in my opinion this double album has hardly ever been played.

The 6 panel gatefold is very clean with only minor shelf wear and the lyric booklet is in great order with no marking.  The original poly-lined inners are also in superb condition.

Please wait for the invoice as it may have to be sent via tracked shipping, conditions below.

613013  A // 1  1 1 8 1

613014  A // 1  1 3 6

613014  B // 2  1 5 1 2

613013  B // 3 ?  420  1 4 2

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint-

The audio on S3 is Mint- (Track 2 Near Mint)

The audio on S4 is Mint- (Track 2 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Ex

The lyric booklet is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

The inner sleeves are Ex+

Both records are in near pristine condition with no scratches or hairlines.  They are stunning and have an immaculate glossy sheen.  There is just one minor pressing fault on S2 and S3 - a very small heat bump that has no affect on the audio at all.  S3 also has one very faint mark (hardly visible!) that again has no bearing on the audio.  They really are so clean and have been so well preserved over the last 50 years and there is barely any spindle wear either.  The run out grooves are very clean as are the labels, only the S3 label has a small piece missing around the rim.

Play grading  

S1 plays with exceptional audio from start to finish.  As always I have played every track in full and I am delighted to say the clarity and depth could not be any better.  For example the quiet vocal/acoustic section in 'Overture' plays with perfect precision with not even a dust tick!  The remainder of the side is equally as good with no clicks, pops, static or crackle.  I am confident in grading this as Mint as there is no interference at all.

S2 more than maintains this 'high end' standard and again there is no intrusion on the audio.  Well there is just one very faint tick on 'The Acid Queen' but that hardly qualifies as interference!  The sonic quality is stunning and it is obvious this record has hardly ever been played.  This is audio at its imperious best and whilst it may not be a first press it is nonetheless a very early one and there cannot be many around that play as well as this.  'Underture' is a superb example of a beautifully preserved vinyl as this instrumental plays with sublime clarity from the first note to the last.  What a version!  Indeed each track grades as Mint the quality is that good.

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The only interference on S3 is just one light click on the 'Fiddle About' intro.  The classic 'Pinball Wizard' quite simply plays 'as new' I have never heard better and from the quiet acoustic intro to the fade out the clarity and depth of the audio could not be surpassed.  The rest of the side is flawless and again it's the clarity that really stands out - no underlying static, no crackle, no intrusion at all.

The brief 'Miracle Cure' on S4 plays perfectly and 'Sally Simpson' is also stunning apart from one light click near the start.  Otherwise it plays to perfection with no other 'background'.  The remainder of the side is just awesome!  'Welcome' of course has so many quiet sections and yet there is no interference, not so much as a dust tick!  Mint in every sense of the word!  All tracks play with sublime precision and 'We're Not Gonna Take It', the album closer, is no exception.  I cannot emphasise how well it plays, there is no inner groove distortion and the quality of the audio is phenomenal.  A stunning Mint version to end this classic album.

In summary this FINAL UPGRADE plays with a sonic quality that is rarely found today.  With only a couple of seconds of minor interference the clarity is stunning and as stated this has clearly hardly ever been played.  The records are so clean and at first glance look 'as new' such is the quality!  A superb 'package'.

The Gatefold & Lyric Booklet

The 6 panel cover printed by E.J. Day is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear.  The top edges of the front cover and the bottom edge of the back cover have only minor rubbing in the centre and the other edges are in great shape.  The wide spine has no obvious marking apart from a little wear on the bottom corner.  The right hand corners have only minimal wear and the top corners have hardly any wear.  The front cover has no marking the back cover is just as clean and the inside panels are also very impressive with no marking.  The inner spine has only a little rubbing at the bottom and one very small tear on the edge of the bottom edge of the inside panel inside which you insert the record.  Overall this is an excellent example with only minor wear.

The lyric booklet is in superb order with no marking and no obvious creasing.

The Inner Sleeves

The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bag...' inners are in excellent condition with no side splits and only a little age related fading on the top edges and light creasing.

The Labels

The 'Track' labels have no marking or writing and very little spindle wear, they could hardly look any better!  Super clean examples.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

The records have been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

613014  A // 1  1 3 6

613014  B // 2  1 5 1 2

613013  B // 3 ?  420  1 4 2

613013  A // 1  1 1 8 1

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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