URIAH HEEP MAGICIAN'S BIRTHDAY 1ST PRESS UnPlAyEd MiNt

	£		105
	$		139

URIAH HEEP ''MAGICIAN'S BIRTHDAY'' 1ST  PRESSING BRONZE LABELS CAT NO.ILPS.9213  VERY NEAR AN ARCHIVE COPY! ONLY EVER PLAYED A HANDFULL OF TIMES EVER IN 36 YEARS! UNBELEIVABLE CONDITION!!YOU CAN STILL SEE THE PLASTIC IN THE SPINDLE HOLES!!! SUPERBE  GATEFOLD COVER!!!!! VERY RARE EARLIEST 1ST MATRIX!! A-1 and B-1!!!!!PRODUCES THE BEST AUDIO EVER!!! MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!!!

Another from my personal collection! One of my very favourite Uriah Heep albums! Awesome top audio throughout! superbe condition!!A VERY VERY COLLECTABLE AND RARE EXAMPLE ON OF THE 1ST OFF THE PRESS  A-1 B-1 MATRIX!!!

Uriah Heep are an English rock band, formed in December 1969 when record producer Gerry Bron invited keyboardist Ken Hensley (previously a member of The Gods and Toe Fat) to join Spice, a band signed to his own Bronze Records label.

They were sometimes jokingly referred to as "The Beach Boys of heavy metal" for their melodic songs, and trademark multi-part harmony backing vocals, although their music draws on diverse influences including: progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz, and even country on occasion. As one of the first bands to fuse progressive with metal, they are a precursor to the progressive metal genre!!!

In spite of their huge popularity in Britain and continental Europe, Uriah Heep were never able to break into the American market in a big way, with the exception of three hit songs, "Easy Livin' " from the 1972 album Demons and Wizards, "Sweet Lorraine" from the 1972 album The Magician's Birthday (a top ten album in Australia), and "Stealin' " from the 1973 release Sweet Freedom. The band released several commercially successful albums in the 1970s, including the seminal Uriah Heep Live (1973), but their audience declined by the 1980s, to the point where they became essentially a cult band in the US and UK. Uriah Heep maintain a significant following in Germany, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Balkan Peninsula, Japan and Russia, where they still perform at stadium-sized venues!!!!.

The Magician's Birthday is the fifth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.

The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by Roger Dean. The inner of the gatefold had pictures of the band and the LP itself was housed in a liner which had the lyrics printed on it!!

Two songs charted in the United States, "Blind Eye" (#97) and "Sweet Lorraine" (#91). "Spider Woman" reached #13 in Germany!

1. "Sunrise" (Hensley) – 4:04
2. "Spider Woman" (Box, Byron, Kerslake, Thain) – 2:25
3. "Blind Eye" (Hensley) – 3:33
4. "Echoes in the Dark" (Hensley) – 4:48
5. "Rain" (Hensley) – 3:59
6. "Sweet Lorraine" (Box, Byron, Thain) – 4:13
7. "Tales" (Hensley) – 4:09
8. "The Magician's Birthday" (Box, Hensley, Kerslake) – 10:19

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The vinyl

On initial inspection this looks like new! Super glossy apearance and i can hardly  see a blemish! Only in very strong light could possibly be seen very (very) few surface marks\sleeve removal  None that have an adverse effect on the awesome audio that i heard at all! The vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable!

The Audio

I have played this vinyl track for track prior to listing on a top system at very high volume! The audio is stunning very very rich deep basey feel cristal clear and vibrant through out with no signs of distortion or that this has been overplayed what so ever!!!! Please note! it is all too easy to be critical about these 1970's pressings and it is so hard to find a lovely sounding vinyl like this one, I should know I have copies that look near mint and certainly do not produce the audio quality like this one on offer! Truely awesome seperation, great album! Points to note! This album has been stored in a case for at least 25 years and has been laying dormant! From my experiance, a build up of dirt and dust in the grooves causes static crackle\ticks. A constant clean before each play reduces this static and hence improves the audio quality! TOP! TOP! AUDIO ON ALL FREQUENCIES! THIS WILL BE HARD TO SURPASS! (NO) CLICKS OR POPS AND CERTAINLY (NO) SKIPS OR JUMPS!!!

Please note! I always addd this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd static tick\crackle (not) consistant throughout the audio! Please remwember that this is a 36 year old vinyl that would have originally been played on a 36 year old system! 

Superbe condition I can barely see a handfull of spider marks indicate that this has barely ever been played and certainly not been over played! Please note! you can still see the plastic in the spindle hole (see photos) ''Manufactured and Distributed by Island Records'' are featured only early pressings!!! ''ILPS-9213'' UK CAT NO.! 

The Record Sleeve

This is the original lyric sleeve no splits or tares like new!  Very light creases !

The Cover

This is the original unlaminated gatefold cover! in (very) near pristine condition! (no) splits tares or nasty handwriting (no) real storageware to talk of. very (very) feint sign of ringware only at the rear! and rubbing can only be noticed if looked for at the spine  Please note! there are (no) creases to talk of amaizing ,absolutely awesome for 36 years old!  STRONG AND STRAIGHT TOP! EXAMPLE!

LOOK YOU CAN STILL SEE THE PLASTIC IN THE SPINDLE HOLE! (BARELY PLAYED ORIGINAL 36 YEARS OLD!!!!)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 800 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA IS 10.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 7.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS 3.90 SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I DESPATCH 5 DAYS A WEEK (NOT WEEKENDS)!!

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement!!!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)