Greetings audiophiles,

If you see a "Best Offer", it is open for discussion of a fair and reasonable offer - make your reasonable offer! You are viewing a factory sealed unopened copy from the Michael Hobson Archive's The Who - Who's Next" numbered MH 4 of 5. This pressing has special significance and collectability because it comes from the Michael Hobson ARCHIVES, Classic Records Co-Founder. Mike Hobson and Ying Tan formed Classic Records in January 1994, licensing approximately 30 titles from BMG's RCA Living Stereo classical LP catalog and later licensing material from from PolyGram's Verve jazz archive.

The Classic Records folklore is that Mr. Hobson insisted on the “best copies” from the “sweet spot” of the pressing run for his personal archive of 5 numbered copies of each release. It is reported that Hobson personally selected the copies of the records that went into his archive by listening to 1st stamper pressings to determine when the “stamper” was in the “sweet spot” and pressing the best sounding records during the run.

Each piece has an official Classic Records “MH" Archive Sticker on it and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity hand signed by Michael Hobson to assure authenticity, attached by tape to the outer baggy.  Generally, only 5 numbered “MH archive" copies, most often from the first stamper, were added to the Hobson archive.  In the case of  popular titles, there are various versions because of the use of different plants (RTI, Bill Smith, Classic Pressing Plant) which offers the possibility to have comparisons of various machines the copies were made on - all of which sound different because of various vibrations from the different machines that are "pressed" into the vinyl.  It was communicated, according to Hobson, you can hear the difference is machines among the various Test Pressings and production pressings for that matter.

The acclaimed reissue Classic Records label, which specialized in audiophile LP reissues of classic albums, employed its own custom-built tube-based mastering equipment on all of its releases; mastered its releases from original master tapes (or the best sources available). Earliest releases were a box set of RCA Living Stereo classical titles and Verve jazz titles (subsequently sold individually). In later years they took on some new releases as well, both in their Prevue series and under the Classic imprint.

Classic used 180 gram vinyl until 2001. These pressings have raised outer edge like most modern vinyl. That year they switched to 180 gram "SV" (Super Vinyl) and added a sticker specifying the type of vinyl to all their LPs. They introduced 200 gram "Quiex SV-P" in July 2002. That was followed by "SV-P II" and, in 2008, "Clarity Vinyl." In the 2000s, they also introduced lower-priced versions of many of their LPs, pressed from the same masters but on regular 150, 140, or 120 gram vinyl. Represses were always done on the latest vinyl formulation and can be dated by the sticker. SV-P, SV-P II, and Clarity pressings all have a flat outer edge.

Classic also produced a line of gold CDs in the 1990s and then 24/96 HDAD digital disks. Mastering was typically done at Bernie Grundman Mastering by Grundman himself or Chris Bellman. Classic's assets were purchased by Acoustic Sounds in 2010.

The Who ?– Who's Next

Label: Classic Records ?– 2408 102, Track Record ?– 2408 102
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 200 Gram
Goldmine grading: Jacket is Near Mint (NM); No splits to jacket, no corner dings of significance, no damage to report. Record is graded Still Sealed (SS).
Released: 2005

Special Notes: Parting of an extensive quality personal collection; climate stored; offered for auction.

All sealed & unsealed records are packed in proper LP mailers, strategically placed cardboard stiffeners to remove movement of the sealed record, and if unsealed it will be removed from the jacket to eliminate seam splits to the jacket.  Every package is insured, tracked, and transparent photos provided after sale.  The offering on sealed records is graded as the outer jacket only and the inside graded as "Still Sealed." No returns on sealed items.  If you find the description to be arbitrary to the description, please email first, so any missed expectations may be addressed. 
After your payment, you will find "Anticipation" rather than "Pessimism." Your new vinyl is in great hands and communication is paramount. Don't hesitate to field any questions as they will be promptly answered.