URIAH HEEP SALISBURY 1st UK PRESS VERTIGO SWIRL TOP AUDIO RARE PROG ROCK MONSTER

	£		218
	$		289

[zipedit] Uriah Heep "Salisbury"
1st UK Pressing Cat No. 638 028 Original 1st Issue (Large Vertigo Logo)
Absolutely Stunning Top Audio Through Out! (No Loud Constant Clicks Or Pops)
1st Issue Un laminated Gate Fold Cover In Awesome Top Condition!
The Most Scarce Uriah Heep Album!
Earliest 1st #1#1 Matrix Endings!


Another from my personal collection. This album along with a few other original Uriah Heep albums that I will be featuring soon, I have been pulled out of storage from my collection.   It is my opinion that these original large Vertigo 1st UK pressings of Salisbury are the rarest Uriah Heep albums to find, and certainly rarely ever turn up in decent playable condition! From my point of view, the most important factor with records has always been the audio quality rather than the rarity, any who know this album would know that in any condition these are sought after. It is important to note that this album is not mint, there is general wear and tear on the vinyl and I am selling this for its rarity rather than for its condition. Having said that the important thing to me is the audio quality and this plays through absolutely superb through out in my opinion , without and loud nasty constant clicks or pops, any interference noted was isolated and perhaps the odd light static type crackle or pop heard but nothing too bad that spoilt the overall enjoyment in my opinion. Don't take my word for it , listen to the complete album recorded and can be heard in the player below.   This album is often seen for sale on the later reisued Bronze labels but I can tell you that there is absolutely no comparison with the audio quality to these original Vertigo pressings. This album is totally complete and original with the original 1st issue un laminated gate fold cover and Vertigo record sleeve both with no splits or tears! A more detailed description is below.


Listen to the complete album in the player below. (Actual recording from the vinyl listed)



This album is noted as being the very 1st issue\1st UK pressing on the Vertigo (Large Vertigo Logo on the Labels) This features the earliest matrix endings #1 #1 (only 1st UK press). . Stunning Audio Quality. I would grade the Audio at least Excellent to excellent Plus For the most part (light static crackle/ticks/isolated pop interference to note)

 


Uriah Heep are an English rock band that was one of the most popular groups of the early 70s ,, especially were I grew up in London at around this time!




The band released several commercially successful albums in the 1970s such as 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, Scandinavia, the Balkans, Japan and Russia, where they still perform at stadium-sized venues!

 


Uriah Heep were the first Western band to play in Soviet Russia, under Gorbachev's policy of glasnost. They have sold over 30 million albums worldwide!



Salisbury is the second album released by British rock band Uriah Heep!




More squarely in the progressive rock genre than their debut album from the previous year, it featured their first foray into large–scale composition, with the 16–minute title track featuring a 24–piece orchestra. It also includes the largely acoustic ballad "Lady In Black."




Unlike their first album, this album features more songwriting from Ken Hensley, as opposed to the Lennon/McCartney or Page/Plant style writing credits of Box/Byron on the First Album. It also broke ground in that most of his compositions are written with no other person in the writing credits!

 


The album was originally released on the Vertigo label, as had been the band's debut Very 'eavy... Very 'umble, (also featured on my site) but both were soon re-released when the band signed to Bronze for their third album!




The connection of the artwork to the title is readily explained. Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, is an Army training-area.




 On the front of the album sleeve is a British Chieftain tank. The original LP release was a gatefold-sleeve, with a b/w picture inside of a British tank of the First World War, over which were printed Hensley's comments on each track. Later reissues would be in a single sleeve!




Tracks "Bird of Prey" (Box/Byron/Newton) – 4:13 "The Park" (Hensley) – 5:41 "Time to Live" (Box/Byron/Hensley) – 4:01 "Lady in Black" (Hensley) – 4:44 "High Priestess" (Hensley) – 3:42 "Salisbury" (Byron/Hensley/Box) – 16:20






The Matrix
side 1 ''6340028 1Y* 1'' 1 (Earlist possible)

side 2 ''6340028 2Y* 1'' 1 (Earliest possible)







The Vinyl
This is the original thicker and chunky type slab of vinyl with deeper grooves and are much more robust than later reissued pressings! On initial inspection of the playing surface there are surface marks and light general surface scratches/scuffs that can be seen angled to the light. However there are (no) nasty deep needle scratches that caused any nasty loud constant clicks or pops at all! This vinyl has obviously been played but not over played at all in my opinion.

The audio quality
I have very carefully played this vinyl track for track at very loud volume on a top system four times prior to listing! As soon as the needle hits the playing surface , it is obvious that this very earliest 1st pressing reproduces absolutely stunning separation and real deep bassey feel only found like this on these earliest pressings. , even at the very quiet intros the audio is generally lovely and clear, light background static/crackle/ticks are noted in some quiet places but nothing too bad in my opinion and I still found the album very very enjoyable indeed! The first thing that hit me was the absolutely stunning audio separation and the bass feel, this instantly took me right back to my childhood when I first heard this awesome album. I would grade the audio at least excellent on side one and excellent to excellent plus for the most part on side two, apart from light isolated light static crackle/ticks heard in quieter places there were no signs of distortion or that this has been overplayed what so ever and importantle no distortion was heard at all through out the play of the vinyl.  
Please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold in the past and you will see that I normally get it right! A very playable and scarce copy to find! Listen to the complete album in the player above hear it for your self!

Please note! I always add this disclaimer. I have given my honest opinion when describing the audio quality of this vinyl. And I would class myself as highly critical. Please allow for any static \crackle\ticks \isolated pop heard in quieter places and at the odd intro (nothing consistent throughout the audio) please remember that this is a genuine 44 year old vinyl, that would have originally been played on a 44 year old system.

The Labels
These feature the original 1st UK issue (large Vertigo Logo) on the labels!  Spider marks can be seen angled to the light, this has obviously been played. There is no real spindle ware the hole is perfectly round and is very tight on the spindle!

The Record Sleeve
This is the original Vertigo Swirl Sleeve with just light staining/creasing ware with age amazingly (no) edge splits one small 1cm tear noted around the die cut hole.

The Cover
This is the original 1st UK press Vertigo , Unlaminated gatefold cover. Please note these are almost impossible to keep in good condition, the print is very prone to rubbing and ringware is often seen. It is very important to note that these early original had print that was prone to ware and rubbing and later reissued pressings on the Bronze labels had covers with print that are much more durable. It is important to note that I have kept this cover in a poly sleeve in a case since I purchased this over 38 years ago,, any rubbing or creases on this gate fold are at the least very minimal and are not really noticeable unless looked for. The fact that the vinyl has always been stored separately from the cover and sleeve has helped to keep this cover in this condition. Amaizingly I can't see any real ringware at all. Even at the spine all text is readable. Internaly the cover is nice. I am going to conservatively grade this at least excellent if not much better from some peoples point of view. At least up there as one of the best originals that I have seen!

One the the hardest and rarest Uriah Heep albums to find in any condition, and in this condition almost impossible to ever find! Please do not underestimate the rarity of this awesome heavy rock album!