QUEEN 1st RARER UK 73 1st Press FACTORY SAMPLE LP

	£		120
	$		158

ONEADAYRECORDS – Delivering Quality Music to the World.

Please see my Detailed Packing Description Further Down & All Shipping Costs and Options – NOTE: I now apply the Ebay ‘4-day’ rule for non-payment.

Artist or Band: QUEEN

Album Title: Queen.

Producer(s): John Anthony & Roy Baker.

TRACK LIST:

Side 1: Keep Yourself Alive; Doing All Right; Great King Rat; My Fairy King.

Side 2: Liar; The Night Comes Down; Modern Times Rock ‘n’ Roll; Son and Daughter; Jesus; Seven Seas of Rhye... .

Label/Format: EMI – original format with Trident Audio Production 1973 logo. As can be seen, this is a Factory Sample with a sticker on side one which is totally genuine. The owner of this had a fair number of EMI demos and Factory Sample records, several of which I purchased and will be offering in the next few days or so. These include early Queen and Paul McCartney/Wings titles. Also, this copy is a genuine first pressing that includes the correct run out messages for more information on that further down. (Please see my label scan).

Label Conditions: Both clean and attractive with less than moderate spindle marks. Most only show under angled light but a couple of three can be seen with normal viewing.

Cat Number: EMC 3006 (YAX 4623).

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 115 grams. A typical weight for this album.

Country of Manufacture: England.

Rarity: Genuine first pressings of this legendary album are far more elusive. Remember, few had even heard of Queen when this album was issued. No previous hit singles and sparse radio publicity. I actually bought a copy of this album after seeing them perform on BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test – the track ‘Liar’ totally blew me away and hearing it again on a clean first pressed record did it again for me. I specially ordered a copy of this album from ‘Mann’s Music’ back in 1973, fearing a new band’s album would not be guaranteed to be stocked straight away. First pressed copies in ultra clean, barely even played condition that offer superb sound are elusive, make no mistake. This album so often crackles and disappoints for sound, the later ones especially so – I have several examples with inherent distortion from badly pressed copies. So what determines a first pressing? What needs to be checked are the matrixes which are: YAX 4623-3U / YAX 4624-3U (as this copy has). The dead-wax area messages are: ‘KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY’ and ‘AGAIN!’ (Please see this detail in my close-up picture, this is very important). Second pressings replaced this text with ‘BLAIR’ and ‘BLAIR RULES’, often mis-sold as a first issue, but not so. There is something extra special about this copy also – this is a rare Factory Sample, and few of these ever made it out of the building – hence ever rarer still. Not only that, this has a superb, barely worn matt cover and a record hardly even played. In fact, I am struggling to find any spindle marks at all and this copy is very cleanly pressed and offers hugely impressive sound quality. For fans of this band, and especially the early, more progressive style era, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Original Year of Release: 1973

Matrix Nos: YAX 4623-3U / YAX 4624-3U [only the first issues had these matrixes]

Stamper Codes: 3 TG / 3 2 PR

Run-Out Groove Etchings: These are highly sigificant and read: ‘KIP - HUGGYPOO KISSY’ / ‘AGAIN!’

Musicians: Freddie Mercury – Vocals; Brian May – lead guitar; John Deacon - bass guitar; Roger Taylor – drums.

Brief Info: The album that started the legend of Queen – the band that included one of the most charismatic showman vocalists of all time, and from the very outset, it was clear this band were to become very special. Their early albums were far more rocky and heavy, they could even be classified as ‘progressive’, briefly anyway and appealed greatly to rock fans such as myself – their performance on ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ is legendary. This debut is stunning and a genuine first pressed format. Right from the start, this band were class acts. Even from the earliest days, quality was paramount and this is an awesome recording. I just had to stop typing this listing during ‘Liar’, the massively powerful basslines towards the end left my body a mass of goosebumps - this has incredible power, depth and detail and no later pressing or CD version will compare to this. The unlaminated cover rarely wears well, but this is superb with little to fault. How many Factory Sample first issues will be seen or offered will be very few indeed, so a rare opportunity for sure. Get this on to a worthy system and be prepared to rock – early Queen were majestic and all round, this will take some beating.

Cover Grade and Format: EXCELLENT(++): a single matt, smooth format that was printed and made in England by Garrod & Lofthouse.

Front & Back: The lack of wear to both surfaces makes this immediately stand out. A cover that usually rubs and ringwears easily and quickly too. I have seldom seen one with so little wear, but there is a small rub on the front bottom right corner tip. Only very mild record rim impression that has not formed into ringwear and the lack of rubbing and creasing makes this fresh and attractive cover exceptional.

Top Edge: Practically as made with text as per the spine that is all totally unworn and fully present.

Bottom Edge: A tiny rub trace near the centre and a little more near the right corner.

Right Edge(s), and Type: Clean, mostly sharp with minimal traces of wear and no feathering or trimming of course. Any burr traces tiny and few and barely any thickening on what is quite thin card. Record enters on this edge.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with any compression minimal to none. All text is perfect and unworn and I have rarely seen a better one.

Corners: The spine pair are almost as made, the bottom right has a light rub and an even lesser one to the top one opposite. Very fine to mostly excellent (at least) shape is retained.

Cover Summary: A difficult dark matt cover, rarely seen this fine. I can hardly believe this is fast approaching 40-years-old and few will ever look this clean and fresh these days. One that should please most collectors.

The Inner Sleeve: EXCELLENT(++): an unlined EMI text inner sleeve that has aged little. Very mild hints of darkening on the seams, probably the usual adhesive ageing, but it hardly even shows. Minimal creasing and still quite fresh looking with all edges unsplit with no repairs.

Vinyl Condition/Visual Grading: EXCELLENT to EXCELLENT(+). A very fine visual copy that is clean, shiny, intense black and quite solidly pressed. A copy hardly even and it sounds superb. Side one does have some fine surface marks seen under light. Like Test Pressings, Factory Samples may have been left lying around factory production areas and picked up minor surface blemishes before finding their way out. Remember, these were not made for distribution and not all will be pristine. What is crucially important for me is the sound quality, which is fantastic. Visually still an impressive record that should please many collectors, but not the perfectionists.

Album Played For Grading: Yes. [I play ALL records I offer before submitting to Ebay, also the record is played in its entirety unless clearly stated otherwise. I do NOT play snippetts or joining grooves to check for sound quality and quietness – I play from the beginning to end via clinically revealing B&W speakers that include the legendary tweeter from their awesome Nautilus range that reveals every blemish or miniscule sound present on any record.]

Sound Quality and Audio Grading: This fantastic Queen debut plays even above its high visual grading with practically nothing to fault. Powerful, distortion-free sound, all frequencies are sharp and clear - sound quality is astonishing with a wide dynamic range and very detailed sound. Any surface sounds barely registered and no pops or clicks were noted and this is an exceptional clean pressing for a complex and challenging album. Not all EMI pressings were pressed to this standard especially within this year of issue but this is a real beauty. I have heard this album several times with crackle and distortions, and these usually from later pressed copies that looked like new. These unwanted audio sounds cannot be seen of course, but certainly can be heard when present. This one has avoided such issues and is a very clean first issue. Few copies will even match let alone better this significantly for superb audio quality. Nothing spoilt my pleasure when play-grading this wonderful record. This rare Factor Sample first isssue copy will prove very difficult to find significantly better and is strongly recommended. This is the King of Queen albums, and with a hardly worn cover, a regal rare example.

Now one of the most established sellers on Ebay and still offering the finest and most accurately described and graded records I can find. I pride myself on offering a variety of genres to keep my site as interesting as possible. I will rarely offer any record that falls below a true Excellent grading, unless its of a certain rarity which will justify offering a lesser grade. I try, to the best of my ability to describe as accurately and as honesty as I can all items I offer for sale with all the relevant information I can think of to help any potential bidder and collector. You may notice I only submit records sparingly on Ebay - on average ONEADAY, a couple more at weekends if time permits, hence the name - time rarely allows for more as I Play-Grade virtually every record I offer in their entirety, not just bits to guess a grade - visuals alone do not always tell a true or full story. I will mention any defects or flaws no matter how small that I notice to be fair as possible to any interested collector – I am very fussy and my buyers have the right to be too. Every record I offer, whether it be a common or rare item deserves the same respect as far as I am concerned and will be treated the same - just because an item is rare does not always mean its good. I get just as much pleasure offering a relatively common record in stunning near mint condition as the real rare items. All the pictures I use for your guidance are taken with a digital camera or scanned - they are NOT improved, cleaned-up or made better looking than they are with camera trickery or enhancing with digital programmes. What you see is what you get and scanned labels will give a more accurate representation of the genuine colour than flash photography where light is variable. I cannot guarantee total accuracy for colours however but most will be very close. If any picture I take looks more flattering than the actual item for any reason, I will clearly state the fact in the advert and vice-versa. I hope the item below is to your liking - any questions can be emailed and I will do my very best to answer you. I am enthusiastic, and have a fair degree of knowledge about many genres and I promise quality items - bid with confidence - excellence comes as standard and so does Near Mint regularly. Please assume all records I offer have NO jumps, sticks, warps or writing on covers or labels unless clearly stated to the contrary. Thanks for your interest and Good luck – MIKE.

Deck: Linn LP12/Hercules/Cirkus with Ittok Mk II arm and Ortofon Rondo Red moving coil cartridge (tracks at 2 grams). Amps: Naim Nait 5i with Project USB phono stage and Chord interconnects. Speakers: B&W 704 Floorstanding 3-way Monitors (bi-wired with QED Silver terminated cable). All records I offer on Ebay are cleaned on a professional VPI-17 vacuum machine before play-grading for the cleanest and best possible sound and will include a brand new lined inner and protective cover too. Pictures taken with a Nikon D5000 SLR Digital Camera.

PACKING - THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.

What You Get: To confirm to the strict Ebay rules on shipping, I must now send ALL my packets ‘Signed-For’ with NO exceptions. Both buyers and sellers want their packets to have a safer journey and this is not a bad thing.

I now offer the fastest possible posting, often the very next day after payment is received or within two to three days maximum (unless on holiday). I only use FIRST-CLASS Mail. The record’s cover will be placed within a BRAND NEW soft protective sleeve and the actual record will be professionally cleaned on my new VPI-17 Pro vacuum system to give ultimate clean grooves and playing surfaces and the best possible looks and ultimate sound quality. You will NOT get tired, dull looking, dust infested records inside worn and foggy covers with tatty inners from this seller and that’s a promise and guarantee. All records are posted in professional boxes (NOT Mailers, these do not offer any real protection). The record(s) are REMOVED from their main cover to avoid edge splits and placed within a brand new polylined inner. The record’s original inner will be included if available. The boxes are then reinforced with at least TWO, ULTRA THICK stiffeners for maximum extra protection – these are FOUR TIMES thicker than commercial stiffeners and are custom-made for oneadayrecords. Really rare and expensive albums will even be Double Boxed if deemed necessary and possible. When larger boxes are used, the thick record and stiffener ‘sandwich’ is then thickly embedded into bubble-wrap to bulk out the record inside the box to centre the item inside to reduce the risk of damage still further. Printed address labels are used for clarity as well as a sender label. Customers requests or special needs for P&P will be respected if at all possible but ‘Signed-For’ posting is NOT an option anymore. I do not profit on posting and the cost of this lavish packing is NOT even charged for, I offer probably the best-value and safest shipping possible for ultimate confidence. The boxes and ultra thick double-wall stiffeners and bubble wrap make a near impregnable fortress for safe shipping and this is used inland and overseas for ALL my records, not just the rare and expensive. I will invoice any winning bidder as soon as possible after the auction ends. My ‘loss’ or ‘damage rate’ is less than one in two thousand based on over 7,000+ items sold in nearly 10 years of Ebay trading and I consider that pretty exceptional. The only damage rate acceptable for this seller is ZERO and I think my packets will offer just that. It would take a vicious postman or postal service to damage these for sure. Even one of these stiffeners cannot be bent by hand, so what chance 3 or 4 inside a box? Oneadayrecords is a MAILER-FREE ZONE. I discount of course for multiple purchases with a maximum of FIVE records per box (one double can sometimes be included subject to total weight). I will not respond to questions on shipping costs as all the details are included here and on ALL of my adverts. Details below:

NOTE: First Time Bidders: Please as me first.

PLEASE NOTE: I now exercise my right to open a dispute after the Ebay rule of FOUR days if no payment is received. I will then cancel the dispute to end the, again after the mandatory FOUR days and then offer the item to the runner-up or relist. The non-payer will also be blocked from my Ebay site and they take the Ebay consequences (a strike or removal from the system). Small businesses need prompt payment to trade and these strict rules WILL be applied.

SHIPPING COSTS & CONDITIONS – THESE comply with EBAY’S RULES - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Posting & Packing: UK & CHANNEL ISLANDS all now sent via Recorded Delivery:

1 LP (FIRST-CLASS Recorded Delivery with Standard Royal Mail Insurance) [Signed For] = £4.

1 LP (Special Delivery with Standard £500 Maximum Insurance) [Signed For, Next Day] = £7.50. (this includes insurance of £500). Add £2 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: EUROPE & SCANDINAVIA. (Airmail Only):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£46 maximum]) = £10. (Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3). Add £3 per extra LP.

Posting & Packing: ALL OVERSEAS (non-European) e.g. USA (ANY PART OF); South America; New Zealand; Australia; Canada; Japan and other Far East; (Airmail Only: I NEVER use Surface Mail):

1 LP (Small Packet ‘Signed For’ with Standard Royal Mail Insurance [£46 maximum]) = £14. Add £4 per extra LP. (Royal Mail insurance is an optional extra £3)

Payment Conditions:

I prefer PayPal or cheque from UK winning bidders. I can accept PayPal from overseas bidders or direct payment into my bank account.

Potential Bidders: I will cancel any bids I feel are time-wasters. A maximum 3 days for communication and 7 days for payment to arrive - if not I will relist the item or offer to the runner-up. Fast deals get great feedback from me. Any questions - please ask and thanks for looking.

My Guarantee: If any winning bidder is not satisfied with their purchase I will offer a complete refund. I will not refund if any defect detail is clearly stated on the advert and missed by the buyer, so read the item description carefully. If any overseas collector does not understand anything in my listing, please email and ask me to help. Thank You.

SOME GENERAL GUIDES TO WEAR AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOU DECIDE

My Use of Description Terminology: Surface Marks = Superficial, usually light marks, hairlines or light scuffs that rarely sound. Scratch = a needle mark that goes below the record’s surface, some will sound, some will not, my play-grade will inform. Original = a record that has been pressed with the first label design which does NOT necessarily mean a very first pressed record. First Pressing = A record that I believe or know to be a genuine very first pressed record. I do not claim to always know for sure, and that’s why I state the stamper and matrix numbers if at all possible, for those who claim to know what they all mean, the information is there for the collector to decide. I prefer to use terms like ‘Early Copy’ rather than ‘First Pressing’ if I am not totally sure. Surface Sound = Mild, light sound, usually light crackle or similar. Distortion = Break up of the actual sound caused by groove wear or damage from a chipped stylus – the most undesirable form of unwanted sound, vintage mono records were the most prone to this happening but not exclusively so. The symptoms of distortion are high frequency clipping, moderate constant crackle or an echo type sound quality. Violin, piano and vocals are most prone to groove-wear distortion. Feathering = Fraying or softening of the entry edge of a cover. Covers with feathered entrance edges are more likely to have had the actual record inserted and removed more than a non-feathered, sharp-edged cover which are always far more attractive. Set Off, actually a printer’s term for dark ink leaving mild residue on pale or white ink when rested upon. e.g. when a gatefold cover has black ink closed against white, this can leave some black residue on the pale area – this is mostly unavoidable or course.

The Argument for Vinyl Original sound and mix (mono mixes are rarely available on CD), high quality sound on clean copies (played on a hi-end dedicated analogue system – breathtaking sound!), beautiful, large format covers, artwork, inserts and even full size posters etc; huge investment potential, and the pleasure of owning ‘the real thing’.