The Pretty Things : S.F. Sorrow 1/1 1st Mono Press 1968 (Blue Columbia Label)

This very collectable and relatively rare first mono pressing plays to a fantastic standard with barely any interference.  In all my years I have never found an S.F. Sorrow playing with such sensational clarity, depth and power and the vast majority is Mint and that is no exaggeration.  There is some static on the final track on S1 and even less on the final track on S1 but that is it.  The sonic quality on all the other classic tracks is absolutely STUNNING!  And as many audiophiles will say the mono pressing is the one to have as it has a depth and warmth of sound like no other.  The vinyl is visually very impressive with only minimal marking and minimal spindle wear.

The gatefold is in excellent condition with all its original colour being retained and the original EMI inner is practically 'as new'.

A first pressing of course has the 1/1 matrix and the famous blue Columbia labels which are textured.  There are stampers on this first press only mother numbers.

SX 6306 // XAX 3738 - 1   2 / XAX 3739 - 1   3

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T6 Ex-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint / T7 Ex+) 

The laminated cover is a very strong Ex-

The labels are Near Mint-

The original EMI inner is Near Mint

The vinyl is in lovely condition and it still retains an immaculate glossy sheen and clearly has not been out in the 'open' very much.  There are no scratches and not that many hairlines.  Some minor 'specks' and a couple of very small faint scuffs on S2 but they are all superficial as they have no affect on the stunning audio at all.  The run out grooves are very clean and the textured blue Columbia labels are near perfect with only minimal spindle wear and no marking or writing on them.

Play grading  

The intro on 'S.F. Sorrow Is Born' plays with stunning clarity and depth - a depth you only get from a mono recording.  May's opening vocal plays perfectly with no intrusion and it continues in the same way with a sonic quality that cannot be faulted.  The mid instrumental is exceptional and already I can tell I'm going to be talking a lot about clarity and depth throughout this record!  The remainder of this classic opening track plays with imperious quality and Mint- is a true and honest representation of the audio here.

The 'vocal' intro on 'Bracelets Of Fingers' plays beautifully with no interference and as the track 'gets going' there is no decrease in quality.  It then plays with sensational clarity - the vocals are so clean and again the mid instrumental plays to such a high standard.  Each note plays with such sharp precision and only the final couple of seconds has a very minimal distorted sound, so minimal and totally non-intrusive and may not even 'sound' when played as a mono record - I am playing it through my stereo set up.  The final two verses are faultless and the 'harmonised' end vocal plays incredibly well with no interference.  This is another Mint- track I can confidently say as there are no negatives.

The guitar intro on 'She Says Good Morning' plays with STUNNING quality and you really notice the bass when it comes in.  It is so strong, deep and clear and is another sign that the vinyl has been so well preserved, no 'muddy' sound here.  The vocal and instrumental sections then play with outstanding clarity, power and depth and I cannot overstate just how unbelievably good the playback is.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either.  The 'high octane' end section also plays with such strong, powerful audio and the fade out has only one dust tick.  Mint- is very much deserved.

There is one click in the dead wax prior to the start of 'Private Sorrow' and then the intro plays with the kind of clarity we have come to expect now.  It then proceeds to play with wonderful sonic quality and...no intrusion.  This is a stunning version and again the audio exudes such a strong deep sound.  I do not want to repeat myself but the audio definition is sublime in every way.  That bass!  This is a powerful track and yet there is no distortion on the top end and again May's vocals are so clear.  The quiet 'spoken' end section has only one dust tick.  Mint-

'Balloon Burning' plays with superlative power and depth from the get go and nowhere is that more obvious than during the chorus sections.  This track is STUNNING!  Again I cannot emphasise enough just how 'perfect' the audio is.  The power, the depth, the audio just reverberates around the room in all encompassing glory!  I have also never heard the mid guitar solo play with sharp precision and the remainder of this classic is equally as impressive.  This is Mint there is no need for a minus here!

'Death' has a little static on the intro but the music still plays very clearly and from then on it plays with some light static and a little static distortion here and there.  Don't get me wrong it still plays very well but not as clearly as the previous tracks.  I find this final track always has some interference but this is still one of the 'cleanest' I have heard and once again it may be improved when played as a mono record.  The sitar mid section is nigh on perfect however and May's megaphone vocal still plays very clearly.  I think Ex- is a fair assessment of the audio.

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'Baron Saturday' plays with that by now familiar depth and power with no sign of any interference.  There is no distortion and each note again is so clear and precise.  The vocals are 'as new' and the mid instrumental also sounds like you've been transported back to '68!  The audio definition is breathtaking!  As you exit this section there is just a minor touch of very light static but you hardly notice it.  The rest of this classic track has no intrusion and Mint- is again deserved.

'The Journey' plays with exceptional sonic quality throughout every vocal and instrumental section.  I know I can get somewhat verbose when listening to such phenomenal audio but this is another track that quite simply delivers on every level.  There is no interference, the vocals so clean and the almost psychedelic end section plays with a quality I have never heard before.  Mint-

The intro on 'I See You' is flawless as is the first verse.  It continues in the same exact way and the chorus sections again play with a power and depth that is OUT OF THIS WORLD!  The acoustic mid section could not play any better and the same applies to the rest of this track, another classic it has to be said.  The guitar/vocal finale is awesome!!  Mint

The instrumental 'Well Of Destiny' plays very clearly with barely any static and as the volume increases towards the end there is only a minimal amount of distortion.  The playback is so strong and Near Mint is fair.

'Trust' plays with great clarity from the first groove to the last with no interference.  There is perhaps just a hint of distortion on the vocal every now and then but you barely notice it as it is so minimal.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static I still think Mint- is justified.

The strong acoustic intro on 'Old Man Going' plays perfectly and it continues to play with tremendous power and depth.  You would think as we are now approaching the end of the album there would be some inner groove distortion (especially on a mono record) and yet the playback is so powerful and you could not wish to find a more 'complete' version.  Once again I am left speechless by the sheer quality of the audio on offer here.  A hint of barely audible static for a couple of seconds?  Maybe but you only detect with your ears pressed to the speakers!  The crescendo section in the middle is 'as new' as is the guitar solo that follows.  The remainder of this 'heavy' track is faultless and, yep I'm repeating myself, but the power and depth here is incredible!  You won't hear bass like it on any other album!  Mint-

This classic album could only end with a gentle emotive track and 'Loneliest Person' closes the album in fine style with only very minimal static here and there.  So quiet but in my opinion it adds to the atmosphere of the track.  An Ex+ version.

In summary how do I sum up this near perfect first mono pressing?  Firstly I can unequivocally say it is the finest example I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.  There is barely any interference - just some static on the final track on S1 and even less on the classic final track on S2.  Elsewhere the sonic quality is of a standard you so rarely find on this first pressing.  It is well known that it was not pressed in vast numbers and there cannot be many around today that have withstood the last 53 years as well as this one!  As stated the clarity, definition and power of the audio is absolutely STUNNING in every way and you would be hard pressed to find a better one.  And the mono pressing is the one to have I assure you and I am sure the winning bidder will be as equally impressed by the audio as I am.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

The laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear.  The edges are perfect and the spine is only slightly compressed mainly in the middle but it remains 100% legible.  It is a little 'rough' to the touch in a couple of areas where the laminate has come loose not that you can see it.  The corners have only minimal wear with just a little more on the bottom left corner of the back cover as you look at it.  The opening edge is very clean with barely any handling wear.  The iconic front cover is in great shape with no marking as such, just a handful of minor specks, and a laminate crease in the lower right corner through the EMI logo.  A few minor creases around the edges that you always see also.  The back cover is very clean with only a couple of tiny indents, 3/4 small creases next to the spine and a small white 'scuff' along the top edge.  The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition and the flipbacks at the top and bottom remain firmly attached to the cover.  A couple of minor white 'scuffs' along the top ones and the bottom ones have only a minimal amount of the usual edge staining that you regularly see.  Overall this is a very strong example of this iconic cover and it has also retained its original shape and strength extremely well.

The original die-cut EMI inner is in superb condition and has no side splits or tears, no marking and barely any creasing.  Not bad for a 53 year old piece of paper!

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

SX 6306 // XAX 3738 - 1   2 / XAX 3739 - 1   3

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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