The Who : Who's Next A1 / B2 1st Press on Track Record label

This first pressing on the Track Record label plays to a very high standard with not one single click or pop.  The clarity and depth of the audio is so impressive and there is no interference as such, just a little static on S1 that is hardly intrusive anyway.  This has not been played a great deal and that is reflected in the audio and also the stunning visual quality of the vinyl - never seen better!

The cover has been so well preserved and has hardly any wear.  The original inner is also in great condition.  Incidentally this is the original first press inner as it has 0871 printed on it.  The Headhunters inner is not the original one as is often stated - the LP is already listed as available on this inner!  This classic album was released in the UK in August '71 - 0871 as per the date stamp on this 'Plastic Bags...' inner.

Every 'part' of this album is in superb condition - a stunning 'package'!

2408 102   A // 1   1 2 2 3   MG 12888 (etched)

2408 102   B // 2? 420   1 2 2 4

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (T1 & 2 Near Mint for the majority / T3 & 4 Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (T2 & 3 Mint-)

The cover is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex+

The vinyl is in fantastic condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and I could only find a very small number of faint hairlines.  There is a longer one on S2 but it is so faint and 'thin' and is certainly not easy to find!  It really is a superb looking vinyl and it has obviously always been so carefully handled - at first glance it looks 'as new' in my opinion.  There is no groove wear and judging by the audio and visual quality this has not been over-played at all.  There is only a little spindle wear and the run out grooves and labels are also supremely clean.

Play grading  

The iconic intro on 'Baba O'Riley' plays with incredible clarity - there are no clicks or pops and only a handful of barely audible dust ticks.  This standard is kept up as the piano and then percussion join in and Daltrey's first vocal is faultless.  There are a couple of static ticks during the quieter 'Don't cry...' section and at the start of the classic violin end section but they are certainly not loud.  Apart from that the clarity is very impressive throughout and there is no underlying static.  The vast majority is Near Mint but overall I would say Ex+ is about right.

'Bargain' has a couple of light static ticks on the intro and 3/4 during the first verse but these are very much lost in the music and are no intrusive at all.  From then on the audio plays to a sublime standard and even the quieter verse in the middle plays beautifully with only one very minor tick (not a click!).  It then plays with superb power and depth and the brief acoustic section is nigh on perfect.  This is Ex+ at the start and easily Near Mint for the remainder.

'Love Ain't For Keeping' is stunning from the first groove to the last with no 'background' of any kind.  This is a breathtaking version and clarity is outstanding.  This is Mint- for sure.

'My Wife' is of the same 'high end' standard and from start to finish is faultless.  There is no interference not even on the long fade out.  Mint-

The piano intro on 'Song Is Over' plays with great clarity and the opening two verses have only very minimal light static.  It is very quiet an non-intrusive and the first chorus x 2 is very close to perfect, just a very minor hint of inner groove distortion.  It continues to play with impressive audio and whilst there is a little static it is very much in the background.  In fact there is a lot to like here!  The final two chorus' plays superbly with no interference and the end section has only a little static during the vocal and a little distortion on one word!  The percussive finale is so strong and overall an Ex+ grade is deserved.

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The piano intro on 'Getting In Tune' plays so cleanly with barely any static and the first vocal is equally as good.  As the volume increases the playback is so strong and it continues to play with great power and clarity.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and when there is a little static it is so quiet as to be totally insignificant, just background basically.  The 'high octane' end section is 'as new', the definition of the audio is stunning, and the remainder has no interference either. This is Near Mint without doubt.

'Going Mobile' is stunning from the first note to the last.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is exceptional and has lost none of its original quality.  50 this year don't forget!  A stunning Mint- version but as I sometimes say the minus is not really required!

The classic 'Behind Blue Eyes' is STUNNING and has to be one of the finest versions I have ever heard.  The acoustic intro and opening verses play with a clarity that is rarely found today.  I detected only one minor dust tick and it continues to play to a fantastic standard with no intrusion.  The two 'louder' verses also play with perfect precision and there is no distortion and the closing verse is of the same quality.  What a version!  Mint-

The intro on 'Won't Get Fooled Again' has only very minimal static and there are no clicks or pops.  As Moon joins in the audio is faultless and the opening verses and chorus sections all play with incredible quality.  The mid instrumental is so strong with no 'background' and the rest of the track cannot be faulted either.  You might thing there would be some inner groove distortion but no the clarity is outstanding and as the 'intro' returns there is only the lightest of background static and the final percussive section and vocal end this classic with great precision and power.  A Near Mint finish to the side. 

In summary this first pressing plays to a wonderful standard with no obvious interference whatsoever.  There are no clicks or pops and the only reason why a couple of tracks on S1 grade as Ex+ is because they have a little static but even then it is kept to a minimum.  The clarity and precision of the audio throughout is stunning and S2 in particular.  When you see how clean the vinyl is this is not surprising, it certainly has been so well preserved down the years.

The Cover

The iconic 'MacNeill' cover is in great condition with only very minimal shelf wear and is still very strong and robust like it has not been handled very much.  The edges and spine are in superb order with barely any rubbing and as can be seen there is only minimal corner wear.  The opening edge is pristine and the front cover is perfectly clean and still has an original HMV sticker.  The back cover is also in superb condition with only one faint scratch line.  It's rare to find the front and back cover as impressive as this - you often find them marked/creased due to it not being laminated.  It is definitely one of the best I have seen.

The Inner Sleeve

The original 'Plastic Bags...' inner sleeve (dated 0871) in in superb shape with no side splits or tears and only a little age related fading along the top edges and a little creasing.

The Labels

The Track Record labels are so clean and have no marking or writing and only a little spindle wear.

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

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

2408 102   A // 1   1 2 2 3   MG 12888 (Etched)

2408 102   B // 2? 420   1 2 2 4

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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