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Tractor : Tractor A-2 / B-2 1st Press 1972

This very collectable first pressing plays with incredible audio on both sides and barely any intrusion.  A little 'background' on the S1 intro and even less on the S2 intro but these two intros are of course very quiet - the clarity is still very impressive!  As for the rest of the album?  Wow!  The clarity, depth and power is just STUNNING and 'as new' sums it up perfectly.  The vinyl does have some hairlines but they have zero affect on the audio and I cannot overstate just how clear and precise the audio is.  I have to say I had never heard this LP before and to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement!  Every track is a classic and it is obvious why the famous DJ John Peel signed them to his Dandelion Records label.  Previously known as The Way We Live this is their first release as Tractor.  It has to be one of the most underrated LPs from the prog era and you can see why it is so collectable today and especially in this condition!

The cover has seen better days but the main area of wear is on the back where you can see a few marks.  The orig8inal inner sleeve remains in excellent condition.

This first pressing was released with an A2 / B2 matrix and the producer John Brierley is written as John G. Brierley on the labels but not on the cover.

2310217 A//2 ∇ 420 1 1 1 04

2310217 B//2 ∇ 420 1 1 1 04

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex+)

The cover is VG

The labels are Near Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex+

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can see some faint hairlines and on S2 there is a band of hairlines on one section across the record but because they are hairlines they have no affect on the superb audio.  The Dandelion labels are very clean with only some spindle wear.

Play grading  

The intro on 'All Ends Up' plays so clearly with only a handful of light ticks and one light click but barely any static.  A very impressive start.  As the volume increases soon followed by the vocal the audio is stunning!  Throughout this entire vocal section there is no 'background' and then the instrumental section is of the same high end standard even during the quieter passage towards the end, the clarity is incredible!  The final vocal is flawless and to the end it plays with sublime quality.  I will grade the long intro as Ex but the remainder is Mint without doubt.

The acoustic intro on 'Little Girl In Yellow' is 'as new' I can pay it no higher compliment and Milne's vocals are just as 'clean' with only a couple of insignificant dust ticks.  As the rhythm guitar kicks in the audio quality does not diminish and it continues in the same way.  The mid instrumental is just STUNNING!  The power and depth of the audio is on another level and 'as new' is again a correct description.  Even when the volume comes down the clarity is not affected in any way i.e. no ticks, clicks, pops and no background static either.  I cannot emphasise enough just how strong and clear the audio is throughout this track and as it builds again - wow!  The final section is as good as anything preceding and the guitar work is just phenomenal!  100% this is Mint in every single way.  What a version!

'The Watcher' keeps up the good work and plays with sublime clarity from the very first note.  Every vocal and instrumental section plays beautifully without any 'background' and Mint is deserved.

'Ravenscroft's 13 Bar Boogie' ends the side with...no interference.  The sonic quality is just so strong and despite being the final track there is no inner groove distortion.  It plays with such depth and that can only be because it has not been over-played down the years and only on high end equipment surely.  You can see why John Peel liked them so much!  The bass is so strong and deep here and I am confident again in grading this as Mint such is the quality.

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The long quiet intro on 'Shubunkin' plays very clearly with only minimal light static here and there which is of course totally non-intrusive and once the track 'kicks into gear' you really cannot fault the audio.  As per S1 it is the depth and warmth of the audio that stands out and from start to finish there is no real intrusion.  An Ex+ intro and then Mint from then onwards.

The segue into 'Hope In Favour' is perfect as is the opening vocal.  It proceeds in the same way with outstanding clarity and definition and trying hard not to sound repetitive - no interference.  In essence it plays as well as you would want it to and Mint is again the only grade I can give.

The acoustic intro and first vocal on 'Everytime It Happens' are as 'clean' as they would have been back in '72.  It continues to play with a clarity that is second to none - a relatively quiet track of course, especially during the first half, so there is no hiding place for any interference, not that there is any!  Each section plays with unbelievable sonic quality with not so much as a dust tick.  The end solo is STUNNING!  I cannot praise the audio highly enough and this is undeniably a Mint version.

'Make The Journey' begins with no intrusion on the audio and this standard is maintained throughout.  It plays with exceptional power and clarity and this clarity is very much in evidence during the quieter mid section - there is no 'background' to be heard.  As it builds out of this section the playback is out of this world!  You can turn it up to max without fear of distortion - this section is so 'busy' and yet the playback is not affected in any way.  Every note is so sharp and precise and again I cannot believe what I am listening to!  If there is any inner groove distortion it is so so minimal and more to do with how it was recorded in my opinion, don't know why I mentioning it really!  The brief silent section is exactly that, totally silent and the 'musical box' ending then plays with genuine clarity.  Another breath-taking Mint version to end this stunning album.

In summary this first pressing plays to a standard that surely is rarely found today.  As you can tell from my audio grading above the sonic quality can hardly be faulted.  Minimal 'background' at the start of the album and that's about it!  The clarity and power across both sides is phenomenal and whilst there are a number of hairlines it shows just how superficial they are i.e. they have literally no affect on the sound quality.  A superb album in so many respects.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

 The cover isn't quite up to the standard of the audio but it remains strong with no major issues.  The main wear as you can see are some marks on the back but aside from it is in pretty good shape.  The top edge is very clean with barely any wear and the bottom edge just has a little more plus one small split towards the right corners.  The thin spine is in great shape with only a couple of minor rubs and light wear on the corners and the other corners have only minimal wear.  The opening edge has hardly any handling wear but does have a little scribbling / writing just on the inside.  The front cover has only a small number of faint marks and a touch of ringwear and the back has some more obvious marks as stated.  Not perfect but not in poor condition!

The original 'Plastic Bags...' inner dated 0772 is in excellent condition with no side splits or tears and only minimal age related fading around the edges and minor creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

 2310217 A//2 ∇ 420 1 1 1 04

2310217 B//2 ∇ 420 1 1 1 04

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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