The Cross : Blue Rock A1/B1 (Very Rare 1st Press )

This now very rare German issue album was pressed in very limited numbers and is highly collectable today and especially in this condition!  They are rarely sold today and this is easily the most impressive I have ever heard.  The audio is stunning and has no real interference of any kind and the vast majority (99%!) plays ' as new'.  I have played every second of this vinyl, as I always do, so I am confident my grading is a fair one.  There cannot be many of these around today as immaculate as this one.  A truly spectacular version.

7976241 // A01 / B01 // On Your Head & Todd Arfar etched on the run out grooves

The audio on S1 is Mint- (Mint for the vast majority)

The audio on S2 is Mint (track 1 Mint-)

The cover is Ex (so close to Ex+)

The lyric inner is Ex-

The labels are Mint

Visual grading

This rare vinyl is in lovely condition and retains a very healthy glossy sheen.  There are only a small number of very faint hairlines and there are no scratches.  There is just a very mild amount of fading in a couple of areas but it has no affect on the quality of the audio.  There is no spindle wear and judging by the immaculate standard of the audio it has only been played a couple of times at most.  The playback is fantastic!  The labels and run out grooves are also in super clean condition.

Play grading  

The quiet intro on 'Bad Attitude' is superb with only a small number of mega light dust ticks and then plays will immense clarity and power, the audio could not be any better!  The playback is so strong and plays with great definition i.e. there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and there is no distortion either.  A simply sensational start!  'New Dark Ages' keeps up the standard and is 'as new' from start to finish.  There is no static or crackle and no clicks or pops, no 'background' at all!  I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint the audio is immaculate.  No interference on the fade out either which gives you a great idea of the clarity on offer here.  'Dirty Mind' is loud and proud throughout and again plays faultlessly with no distortion.  The quiet intro on 'Baby It's Alright' has to be heard to be believed!  You would think this record was pressed yesterday!  There is only a couple of barely audible dust ticks, it is stunning.  It then continues in the same way with sound quality of the highest order.  There are just a handful of very gentle dust ticks on the fade out.  'Ain't Put Nothin Down' also has a small number of dust ticks on the intro - they are totally non-intrusive and you will often find them on a new vinyl let alone one that is now 27 years old!  The clarity is still super impressive.  It then performs 'as new' and has only a little crackle literally at the end of the fade out.

'The Also Rans' on S2 plays very clearly from the outset with only a couple of static ticks on the intro.  The clarity thereafter is absolutely stunning and again this is audio of Mint quality.  There is no interference of any kind and I am just running out of adjectives for the incredible audio on offer here!  It is so obvious this vinyl has been hardly played the clarity and definition is 'as clean' as it was back in '91!  As my feedback confirms I do not over-grade as it is not in my interests to do so and I listen to every second of every LP so as to provide a comprehensive grading.  For fear of sounding repetitive 'Millionaire' and 'Put It All Down To Love' both play with audio that can only be described as Mint the quality is astounding.  No distortion on the top end and just pure unadulterated perfect audio from start to finish even on the intros and fade outs.  'Hand Of Fools' is, you guessed it, Mint from the first groove to the last.  Just think how quiet the intro is?  There is not even a single dust tick!  'Life Changes' ends this incredible album in stunning fashion with no 'background' once more.  The depth here is 'high end' and for such a high octane track there is no distortion.  There is a lot of 'music' on this track but it still plays so clearly and with great definition.  A superb ending to a album that plays with mind-blowing quality from beginning to end.  Wow!

In summary this is, if you haven't guessed already, a final upgrade archive pressing for certain.  I have only sold three or four of these over the last few years and this is without doubt the best.  No question about it.  This was only pressed in very limited numbers, and of course was never pressed in the UK, so to find one in this condition in very rare.  It is a very collectable album and in all honesty it is one of the easiest Mint- gradings I have ever had to make!  The clarity and depth is so impressive it is very obvious that this vinyl has hardly ever been played, perhaps once or twice at most.  The cover is also very clean with only very minor wear and whilst the lyric inner has one small split it still remains in excellent condition.

The Cover

This cover is often found so badly worn so I am pleased to say that certainly isn't the case here!  It is quite possibly the cleanest version I have ever seen.  There is minimal rubbing on the top edge with only a little more on the bottom edge.  The spine is very clean with only a couple of minor rubs and there is hardly any corner wear also, just a little on the bottom right corner.  The opening edge is mega clean and has no handling wear at all.  The front cover is in exemplary condition with no obvious marking, just a couple of very faint scratch type marks and the back cover is in lovely shape with no wear.  Overall this is a fine example of this 'first press' cover.

The Lyric inner

This is so clean and has no marking anywhere.  There is just one small split to the right side but it is a 'clean' split and really not that noticeable.

The Labels

The EMI Electrola labels are 'as new' with no marking/writing and no spindle wear either.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

4967241 // A-1-1-1 / B-1-1-1

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £8.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be selling plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Genesis and Marillion items so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!