PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon A2/B2 1st PRESS (Complete) Incredible AUDIO
  £   932
  $   1,282

 


£ 932 Sold For
Oct 20, 2024 Sold Date
Oct 10, 2024 Start Date
26   Number Of Bids
  Great Britain Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description

I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.
Pink Floyd : The Dark Side Of The Moon A-2 / B-2 1st Press Solid Blue + Posters & Stickers
This first pressing may well be the finest example I have ever listened to.  There is no interference as such, no clicks or pops, and the clarity, depth, warmth and power of the audio is exceptional.  It's not often you find sonic quality such as this on a solid blue first press and the only background is a minimal amount of very light static on a couple of tracks for a few seconds but even then it is very quiet and is not intrusive in any way.  Please see my audio grading below to see how stunning the vinyl is and I'm tempted to say it's a final upgrade archive pressing!  S1 plays with stunning quality and S2 is stunning and then some!  The sonic quality is amazing!  Incidentally it does not have the skip on 'Money' which is often mentioned.  I've sold about 20 of these over the years and not one of them played with a skip!
The vinyl itself is in lovely condition, it has been so well preserved over the last 51 years and it's a long time since I last saw one as clean as this.
The 'midnight blue' gatefold is in excellent shape overall and has retained its original shape and structure so well but does have a small sticker removal mark on the back which has been coloured in.  The two posters are in superb condition with barely any wear and the two stickers are just as impressive.  The original black inner sleeve (so often missing) is in great shape with only some light creasing.  A stunning 'package' overall!
SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // OT 2 / OP 3
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint / T6 opening section Near Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The 'midnight blue' gatefold is Ex-
The posters are Near Mint
The stickers are Mint-
The original black inner sleeve is Ex+
The solid blue labels are Near Mint-
Visual description
The vinyl is in superb condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen with no obvious marks or scratches, it is definitely one of the cleanest I have ever seen.  Under a bright light I can only see a small number of very faint hairlines and there is nothing that stands out.  S1 does have one very small faint blemish but it is so minor it hardly warrants a mention!  There is no groove wear and no bag 'rash' either it really is stunning!  The run out grooves are super clean and the solid blue labels are unmarked with only some spindle wear but by no means an excessive amount. Play grading
The iconic heartbeat intro on 'Speak To Me' is stunning which is a genuine rarity for a first pressing.  It so often has a fair amount of loud static / crackle (or worse!) and yet the clarity here is incredible and every 'note' is so clean and precise.  There is just a minimal amount of light static at the start which soon disappears and as it progresses the audio is so strong and deep and the 'spoken' section / Torry 'climax' plays with stunning precision and only a couple of very quiet statics. This has to be Near Mint at the very least.
The segue into 'Breathe' has no background and the entire intro then plays with wonderful clarity and depth, a couple of barely audible dust ticks at most.  Gilmour's vocal section is superb and again there is no intrusion on the audio.  The sonic quality is exceptional and is comparable to how it would've been back in '73 and I have no hesitation in grading it Mint as the clarity of sound is outstanding.
'On The Run' plays to the same high end standard and again the clarity is out of this world, quite apt really!  As well as every note being so clean and clinical you can always hear every footstep and breath so easily.  The depth and resonance of the audio is STUNNING and this entire instrumental sequence is 'as new' without a doubt.  The 'crash' at the end could not play any better, there is no distortion, and then the 'running man' section is one of the cleanest I have ever heard.  There are only a couple of mega quiet statics but honestly the playback is just stunning.  No word of a lie I noticed things during this instrumental that I have never noticed before, that's a measure of the clarity we have on offer here.  I will say Mint- but I am sure many would say the minus is perhaps a little harsh!
Another iconic intro of course and the clocks segue into 'Time' is flawless with no distortion either.  The metronome section then plays perfectly with no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  Again I cannot believe what I am listening to!  The first verse from Gilmour and the following chorus from Wright can also be described 'as new' and the classic mid solo keeps up this fine standard.  Perhaps just a hint of distortion but so so minor and totally non-intrusive and to be fair distortion is not quite the right word for it, the playback is still so strong and dynamic.  The final verse / chorus play to perfection and Mint- is richly deserved.  It has to be one of the most 'complete' version I have ever heard.
'Breathe Reprise' is pretty much faultless with such a clean deep rich sound.  There is just one mega light tick before the second line but honestly blink and you miss it!  It is so quiet and why I mention it I do not know!  The clarity throughout is superb and again Mint- is fair.
The gentle piano intro on 'The Great Gig In The Sky' plays so clearly with only a handful of very quiet statics and the 'spoken' section has only a minor touch of very light static, again totally non-intrusive.  Torry's opening vocal is breath-taking and again something I have never noticed before - is that an organ in the background, is it a mellotron sound?  Another indication of just how impressive the clarity is.  The power and depth on this vocal is on another level.  Wow!  This entire section plays with unbelievable quality and as the volume decreases the audio is so clean and her next quieter vocal plays with stunning precision also, just a couple of barely audible statics.  To the end it plays with sublime precision and without any background... to the final note.  This end sequence truly is stunning.  I know I can get a little over-descriptive at times with audio such as this but on a genuine first press Dark Side I'm sure I can be forgiven!  I think the opening section is Near Mint- but the rest has to be Mint- it could hardly play any better.
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The cash register / bass intro on 'Money' plays perfectly and the first two verses have no intrusion either, a couple of light background statics that is all.  The iconic instrumental beginning with the sax solo plays with sublime quality and the next section is equal to that.  It has to be played loud as the power and depth of the audio is sensational!  Gilmour's solos are so strong and dynamic quality and Waters' bass adds so much to the sonic quality, as always.  This entire section is Mint and the final vocal / spoken end section have no background.  It's a long fade out section and yet the clarity is 10/10.  From start to finish this is undoubtedly a Mint version.
The intro on 'Us And Them' often has some intrusion but not here!  There is just a hint of mega light static and as Mason and co join in the standard does not drop.  The first sax section plays beautifully with only a couple of barely audible statics and there is genuine sense of warmth and depth to the music.  The opening vocal section is on the same level and the first 'chorus' is superb!  The power and depth of the audio is stunning, it encompasses and resonates around the room with such quality.  It continues to play with STUNNING clarity and separation i.e. you can hear each note perfectly and there is nothing, just nothing getting in the way of the audio.  I did notice two extremely quiet ticks but totally non-intrusive of course.  The 'spoken' section is faultless as is the next sax solo piece.  The high octane section that follows could not play any better and the final verses / chorus are just as strong and clear.  This is another high end version and Mint- is again a fair assessment of the audio.   'Any Colour You Like' plays with real quality and the clarity, power and depth is very much in evidence through every section.  A minor touch of static on the first guitar section, just on the top end?  But again so so minimal and you hardly notice it, you have to listen very very intently!  Mint-
The segue into 'Brain Damage' has zero interference and Water's opening vocal has no ticks, clicks etc.  As the volume increases the playback is superb!  Listening to the first 'chorus' you understand why the production values of this album are so highly regarded, the sonic quality is quite simply on another level.  The next verse keeps up the standard and the final high octane vocal is 'as new' also.  This is audio of the highest standard and I will grade as Mint- but only because I heard a handful of statics.  Regardless of that it really could not play any better, a stunning version right to the end.
The intro on 'Eclipse' is STUNNING, Mason's strong percussion and Waters' deep bass the perfect start.  The classic vocal is so powerful and if there is any inner groove distortion I did not notice it.  The sonic quality is incredible and the heartbeat ending plays so clearly with barely any background, a couple of the quietest dull ticks imaginable!  This outro is easily one of the cleanest I have ever heard and again it's so rare to find this clarity on a first pressing.  A stunning Mint- conclusion to one of the greatest records of all time!
The Gatefold, Posters & Stickers & Inner Sleeve
The iconic G & L cover is bordering on excellent condition and has only a little wear.  This most obvious is a small sticker removal mark on the back cover bottom left which has been coloured in to a certain extent.  Aside from that it is very clean - the edges have only a little rubbing and the spine is in superb shape with barely any wear including the corners.  The right hand corners do not have too much wear but there is a little more on the front bottom right.  The opening edges (both are open here) have only minimal handling wear and the 'midnight blue' front cover is in lovely condition with a few minor abrasions in one small section near the right edge that you can only see when you fold it at a certain angle.  The back cover just has that small sticker mark and minor amount of faint ringwear top and bottom but is otherwise very clean.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate with barely any of the fading / spotting around the edges that you so often see.  A strong example overall and a lot better than many you see today.
The two posters are in great condition with no pinholes in the corners and no marking on the surface.  One does seem slightly glossier than the other so I'm not entirely sure if they were originally 'placed' together but they are certainly from the right era.  The two Crack Back stickers are in superb condition with no marking or creasing at all.
The original poly-lined black inner is in great condition with no side splits, tears or marking and only a little creasing.
Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on my Pro-Ject VC-S machine
SHVL 804 // A-2 / B-2 // OT 2 / OP 3

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.


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Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

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USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!









 

 

 

 


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