The Pink Floyd ?– Atom Heart Mother

A-1G / B-1G matrices in run-outs, and very early stamper codes. Factory Sample sticker, on the A side label.

First label stock with 'Gramophone Co.' rim text Variant 1 (the earliest 1st press labels)
NO boxed EMI logo on labels "Made in Gt. Britain" at bottom center inside ring.
Publishing credit to 'World Copyrights' on all tracks, except B3 to 'Lupus Music'.
Small ? on side two label.
The water faucet drip continues into a locked groove at the end of side 2.

The vinyl record
Visual is Excellent Audio is VG+
The record plays very well, the deadwax and background is quiet, and the audio is crisp, clear and dynamic. In your hand, it looks like new, but on close scrutiny, you can see a couple short scratches that will translate into a small number of singular tics on playback. There are not a lot, and I would say that the record plays 97% of the revolutions Near Mint, and the other 3% play with a singular tic, with it mostly located around a couple of short sequences... nothing prolonged, or ugly... I can not grade it as Excellent, but a solid to high VG+ is a fair audio grade.
The labels are NM  (astounding)  see the pics

The gatefold sleeve is NM (astounding)

The original inner sleeve is VG+ (Just foxing, no splits or tears, and the pictures do make the foxing look worse than it actually is, as digital cameras tend to overemphasize the contrast)

• Matrix / Runout (Variant 1 - A-side runout stamped): SHVL 781 A-1G       1   RA     (1st Master - 1st Mother - 23rd stamper)
  
• Matrix / Runout (Variant 1 - B-side runout stamped): SHVL 781 B-1G       2   MP     (1st Master - 2nd Mother - 46th stamper)

Label: Harvest ?– SHVL 781, Harvest ?– 1E 062 ? 04550 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: UK Released: 02 Oct 1970 Genre: Rock Style: Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock

Tracklist

Atom Heart Mother
A.a Father's Shout
A.b Breast Milky
A.c Mother Fore
A.d Funky Dung
A.e Mind Your Throats Please
A.f Remergence
B1 If
B2 Summer '68
B3 Fat Old Sun

Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast
B4.a Rise And Shine
B4.b Sunny Side Up
B4.c Morning Glory

Companies, etc.

• Record Company – EMI
• Record Company – E.M.I. Records
• Record Company – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
• Recorded At – EMI Studios
• Pressed By – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
• Published By – World Copyrights
• Published By – Lupus Music
• Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.
• Made By – Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.

Credits

• Design [Cover], Photography By – Hipgnosis (2)
• Engineer – Alan Parsons, Peter Bown
• Executive-Producer – Norman Smith
• Producer – Pink Floyd
• Written-By – Gilmour* (tracks: A, B3, B4), Mason* (tracks: A, B4), Wright* (tracks: A, B2, B4), Waters* (tracks: A, B1, B4), Geesin* (tracks: A)

A few words about condition.

Grade & 
score out of 100
                                           GRADING
Mint is a Rigid Band - The next Four Grades are all Narrow Bands, that slightly widen as the condition gradually deteriorates - Good is still Good, but there is a rapid widening of the Grade Bands, as the condition deteriorates over the last Four grades.

MINT
100
The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality.
The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition.
Only graded on records that are sealed or clearly unplayed.
 
NEAR MINT
97 to 99        

EXCELLENT
90 to 96
The record shows virtually no signs of having been played,  there is no lessening in sound quality.
The cover and  packaging might have the slightest of tiny defects.
 
The record shows some slight signs of having been played, but there is very little, (if any) lessening in sound quality.
The cover and  packaging might have very slight wear. 
 
VERY GOOD PLUS
80 to 89

VERY GOOD
69 to 79
The record shows signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality.
The cover and  packaging might have slight wear, light creasing.

The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch.
Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects.
This is an above average used record, that has been well looked after.




GOOD
56 to 68
The record has been played so much that the sound quality has deteriorated, but the record will still play through, and it will not be a completely unpleasant listening experience, even at the bottom of this grade (56).
The cover and contents may suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc. 




FAIR
41 to 55
The record is still playable but has not been cared for properly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even stick, skip or jump.. This is starting to be an unpleasant listening experience at the top of the grade (55) and will not be a pleasant listening experience at all by the end of it (41).
The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced. 
 
POOR
25 to 40
The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc.
The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing. 
 
BAD
0 - 24
The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.
The Sleeve is non existent (0) or what is left, is only just recognisable.