Unboxing Holy Grail British First Pressings: Pink Floyd, Queen, Kinks and More! + Discussion

[@MudFlanagan]

A Night at the Opera....Changed my life......Great stuff Michael

[@robertmitchell6015]

Prodigy is awesome everyone should have a copy of this album

[@cgarci19]

Great Records.. I actually really really like these new videos of comparisons of the ORIGINALS vs REISSUES! Keep them coming!

[@rastheike4329]

The good Dave from London. Size the opportunity. He can certainly offer us the opportunity to do something special for ourselves. An opportune moment to get British originals through him. Michael we know that you will push the development. With perseverance we will hopefully be able to await him with joy. :-) ❤️Heike

[@mlblue5355]

Fantastic OG albums! I bet the Clash and Pink Floyd sound unbelievable! I appreciate you showing them! I can’t wait for your comparisons! Enjoy your listening experience.

[@kensileo8793]

Congrats on your great DSOTM OG. Definitely one of the greatest albums of all time, period.

[@bogdanisandu]

At the end of the video I immediately started my sistem and listend to DSOTM. Love your videos, they make me thirsty for more records. Ty

[@biggestliberacefan1988]

Thank you very much Michael for showing us your new treasures I have watched your latest comparison between the Pink Floyd classic Albums and nice to know the original was best as they are very expensive on that particular title can’t wait for your other shootouts many thanks cheers Carl .

[@22rzaldo]

Thanks Michael. Great video. I always enjoy your content. I am in the US but recently acquired a UK first pressing of the Clash masterpiece London Calling !! It sounds fantastic!! I was pleasantly surprised to hear the difference against my original US version. Stunningly awesome. Again, thanks for the always entertaining and enlightening videos!!

[@thoronmetal108]

I am very happy for you....your joy is "contagious"...Please continue hunting down those GRAILS.

[@terrykeenan4308]

Enjoyed the video. I love your enthusiasm when it comes to getting these grails. It’s like watching a kid at Christmas. I have an early pressing of London Calling and it’s always been my number 1 record if I was stranded on a desert island. Saw The Clash a couple of times and met Joe Strummer back in ‘82 before a concert. I love the new Joe Strummer & The Mescalaros box set.

[@TheJoelSwaney]

I lucked into a NM blue triangle when COVID started. It does sound better than all other pressings. Mine didn't have the stickers but I was able to find them with a second UK press, which used the exact same ones.

[@ppwoodcock]

Nice video. I think I'll be listening to Japan today, I remember buying my copy of Exorcising Ghosts for £4.99 when it came out back in 84. How times have changed!

[@theheepster]

All presented Records are must haves. Congrats for this nice OG's. The upcoming comparisons should be very interesting.

[@baronsaturday951]

"Face to Face" 1st press in Mono ! Beautiful ! One of my favorite LP with "Something Else by the Kinks" !

[@JmmmyTool]

10:10 Yes finally The Prodigy album on your channel. The Fat of The land is a masterpiece and this record sounds extremely good. Hope to see more Prodigy on your channel.

[@ThePerkri]

Commented before on UK 1st pressings, and how much I appreciate them :) I am fortunate enough to have a record dealer who sells pretty much exclusively UK pressings. I’ve known Luke at Lukes Records for years (our kids went to the same jr school) and have bought dozens of records from him. Every time I compare an original with a reissue, the original wins out (with a couple of exceptions here and there…)

[@TheJoelSwaney]

My favorite Kinks pressings are the early 1980 pressings on PRT (orange and green swirl). Until the mono box it was the last time the master tapes were used to press records. Everything after that was from DAT or CD. Also the PRT pressings were a fresh transfer from the tapes with no extreme mastering - straight from the tape.

[@janedoe6350]

I remember putting those posters on my bedroom wall with tape. My Mother went mad because the tape damaged the wallpaper.

[@nickbdy]

Love the comparisons. Keep them coming! And as for the A2-B2 of DSoTM 🏆❤ I’ve got a VG A3-B3.

[@elvispresleycollectorsgroup]

Agree with you the Queen is a special album. Elvis got me into music and Queen got me into Hi-Fi! Talking of Elvis that London Calling is a re-make of Elvis’ first album cover

[@Elvis-wu6et]

Just to see first Queen UK pressing in that condition in your hands on the video make me excited. Am I wird? 😂 Great stuff Michael 👌 Cheers!

[@dazaaw]

The OG Unknown Pleasures just needs Porky in the dead wax the translucent isn't actually the first pressing Transco who used this vinyl did the pressing the same time both used the same metal. "Initial run of 10,000 copies was housed in a textured cover, pressed by the WEA pressing plant in West Drayton and sold until October 1979. Another 10,000 copies were pressed at the Pye pressing plant Tranco and sold until Mid 1980. Some of the Tranco pressings were pressed using vinyl that was translucent red when held up to the light"

[@Michael45RPM]

wow thx Darren very useful!!!!!

[@dazaaw]

@@Michael45RPM it's a killer pressing.. you'll definitely just go WOW.

[@simonemurray1345]

Loving that dsotm. I inherited so many great records from my dad but what makes me saddest is he had the same light blue triangle with all posters, in perfect shape signed by the whole band, along with a butcher cover and uncensored mono Jefferson airplane takes off, but he was forced to sell them because his job went on strike. Worst is they went back to work not long after he sold them. Oh well. I still have a 1st japan press and the second UK and all the beatles 1st so I can't be greedy! But yeah it's crazy how good condition some records are in. I have stuff from the 60s that looks brand new. I guess since so many were made alot survived in perfect shape

[@Michael45RPM]

Damn......

[@alastairmckain4623]

Great unboxing Michael & quality of vinyl & covers look awesome 👍

[@smkordis]

Meddle is my favorite. DSOTM and Wish You Were Here are awesome as well. I was fortunate enough to see them live 4 times.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Find an original Japanese pressing, it's sublime

[@smkordis]

I have an early Japanese pressing (Odeon - OP-80375), original UK, and the recent 180gm reissue. All are very good. Steve

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

@@smkordis That's what I have, Silver and black 'Rock now' obi. Dead quiet, it beats the UK press imo and I haven't heard the reissue but I can't see it sounding better. I've got the Mono Piper reissue and don't think it's anything to write home about.

[@ernesttricarico6402]

With the Clash London Calling being one of my favorite recordings I had many copies of it. But the absolute best version IMHO is the first press UK. I have 4 copies of it one never played. I can't figure out why it hasn't been reissued with the care it deserves. Now that would be a killer UHQR

[@pierremartin9048]

My you do us proud as you are so totally dedicated to spreading the vinyl gospel (the music 1st) in all it’s strengths and sometimes weaknesses. Now of course you have means more than many to explore the extreme quality (of hi-fi) and it’s musicality….. and but not once, not once since I started to listen do your channel (at about 500 subs) ever flaunt it. You’re a true vinyl democrat.

[@SpyderTracks]

My god, that a2 b2 DSOTM in great condition would be incredible. But your copy literally looks like it’s been found in untouched warehouse storage, the quality is just off the charts. Congratulations! The Clash record as well, and the Queen one, those are off the charts. I’d really love your UK first pressing contact, but I realise that’s probably not something you want to share. Incredible! Prodigy I have nothing but respect for, my reservations are purely that it’s a digital source so is a first pressing so important? I guess collectibility wise it absolutely is just not so much from a sound quality perspective. I collect all the great 90s like Morcheeba, Leftfield, Underworld, Fat Boy Slim, etc etc, they’re all hugely important to me. I have quite a few original Faithless promos which I’m hugely proud of.

[@Michael45RPM]

please be patient Spyder i work on it.. is not that easy

[@davidlawrence79]

@@Michael45RPM thank you for working on “this project”. Definitely interested in it.

[@reesdog1]

Great channel Michael and this video is a particular highlight amongst the many gems. I collect records too and have multiple copies of certain titles, I always try and find the best versions I can. We have some great record stores here in New Zealand. Some I’ve been lucky enough to find and add to my collection: Nirvana - Nevermind. 1st Euro press NM. Pink Floyd - DSOTM. 1977 5th UK press, NM. Pink Floyd - WYWH. 2nd UK press NM. The Clash - London Calling. NZ original NM. Black Sabbath - Self-titled. French Original VG+ Neil Young - Ragged Glory. US Original VG+ Neil Young - Tonight’s The Night. UK 1st Press NM Alice In Chains - Self-titled debut. US Mint. Underworld - Beaucoup Fish. UK OG VG+ Massive Attack - Mezzanine. UK original x2 VG+ and NM. 😊😊 Originals are usually the best, but not always. Some reissues I have beat the OG’s. U2 - Achtung Baby for example, the 2018 is much better sounding than the Euro original pressing. 😮😊

[@mikeh7262]

They all look in excellent shape.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Incredible stuff Michael ✌🏻

[@stevesstuff1450]

Some great records there, in stellar condition!! 🙂 Animals has always been my favourite Pink Floyd album too; Dave Gilmour's guitar work is just ridiculously good on it (never liked the sax on some the earlier albums when I felt Gilmour could have killed it on guitar instead!!). The new Animals remix is an interesting and entertaining release; I like it, but Roger's vocals do sound a little 'dry' at times - not enough reverb to smooth them out! Overall though, it's pretty bloody good!! 🙂

[@joerglemann]

The MoFi DSOTM (of their first period) is analog and sounds quite good

[@TheRollingStoness]

true..warm but high dynamics

[@festersuncle6298]

With The Kinks, I go for PRT UK or German from 1980-83. Proper sound as most are Mono.

[@TBNTX]

Pink Floyd: Exquisite for its age!!!!

[@liammolyneuxmusic]

Congratulations on a fantastic haul Michael. I missed the live stream just watched the video,highly enjoyable 😊 Michael totally agree regarding play grade. I play grade all my records. Many of my originals are VG + but sound amazing. As long as slight surface noise doesn’t interfere with music I’m good. Amazing find DSOTM & The Kinks wow can’t wait for that comparison. I missed out on The Kinks Mono box. But I did get the 50th anniversary Mono of Face to Face on red vinyl cut by Kevin Gray. I’m going to bet the original blows the Gray cut out the water. Those early kinks albums were not recorded as well as say The Beatles. The Kevin Gray Mono Face to Face is a 7 at best.Certain songs fair better than others , Any great stuff Michael as always 🙌😎

[@spittindatruthaboutrecords9421]

That clash London calling ,, wow DSOTM , man a goldmine of original 1st presses

[@timwilcox9600]

I live in Manchester and was a big Joy Division fan from the start (saw them twice). I have two copies that were bought when Unknown Pleasures came out - my own with a slightly bent cover because I lent it to someone (bah!) and one copy with a pristine cover left behind by a friend who moved overseas years ago. They are both opaque black. This red one was a pressing by ‘Transco’ but it certainly wasn’t the first pressing on sale in Joy Division’s home city. My two identical copies are opaque black. NB the runouts are assigned A and B incorrectly.

[@dazaaw]

Mines the same..Outside and Inside labelled incorrectly..

[@2ridiculous41]

I first saw JD as some god awful 60s pub when Richard Boon who managed Buzzcocks took me to see them.

[@paulspanbauer4125]

I’ll say this again but the MoFi UHQR of Dark Side I think is outstanding.

[@johnloper5740]

great video michael thank you for sharing with us! also if you would ask stunty or patrick which nirvana nevermind first pressing would be a good alternative from the usa 1st because it is just too expensive , i currently own the bernie grundman pallas re-issue and the last anniversary digital cut but i have always heard the first pressings sound a lot better . I have seen several uk and europe and spain etc etc but not sure which to pull the trigger on. I totally respect and trust your opinion and patrick and stuntys as well! thanks Michael -John

[@MaxLedZep]

Ciao Michael, how are you? Great albums man! People can say what they want to say but it is a huge satisfaction to own that blue triangle!!!! Long Live Vinyl...

[@festersuncle6298]

Michael I implore you to pick up the 2009 Rhino UK pressed Meat is Murder and compare it to an original. That particular reissue is a contender.

[@StefanoCipo87]

Wow, so jealous about your DSOTM copy 😜 I hope you will make justice to it and play it a lot, and not keep it under a glass case 😊

[@WolfKreide]

Hey,....DSoTM,...you may want to get the original US pressing with the different posters too. German original 1st press is top sound as well.

[@Hifi1927]

Lovely records ❤

[@UK_Lemons]

Hi Michael, wonderful to see you have so much desire for UK 1st pressings. Can I recommend that you acquire a UK 1st press of 2 albums, both of which are fantastic musically regardless of pressing. If you don't already have them get a 1st press Island Records John Martyn, "Solid Air" (1973, I have one and it is magnificent) and Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane's "Rough Mix" (1977) on Polydor. Glynn Johns regards "Rough Mix" as the best record he ever produced and as you know, there are some very strong contenders in his illustrious career. As you are a man of Dusseldorf it would be great to hear your opinion of Propaganda's "A Secret Wish". One of my 80's favourites. Really enjoy your content and enthusiasm. Best wishes, Ian.

[@duncantaylor4225]

I would love you to compare the 4e6e of Ziggy with the recent reissue

[@grantross2609]

the Floyd posters often ended up on bedroom walls with lurid 1970s wallpaper ! god this takes you back tho......

[@awrogers3013]

Great stack,..

[@mr.george7687]

So jealous you get so many OG UK pressings. Almost makes me wish I lived in the UK or EU!

[@Mark-tw5ws]

Enjoyed that, thanks. Those posters would look fantastic framed in a music room. Just saying 😉

[@joepiro4948]

Micheal would be fun and informative to tell us what you paid for each

[@michaweicher1940]

I have a spanish copy of Dark side of the moon from 1973 with the stickers and posters. I'm quite glad, because the only difference is the triangle on the label :)

[@musiclassica]

Hallo Michael, danke für the new video. Near the end you say ‘animals’ is your favorite PF album. Did you do a video on the OG or the new remaster (which i totally love!). I cannot seem to find any of it on your YT channel except for the announcement of the 2018 remix.

[@vinylrevenge558]

I like most of the Kinks reissues over the years, BUT, that original UK 'Face To Face' smokes em' like good reefer rolled in fast burning paper. I think you're going to be VERY happy with that one. Actually, being Mono brings up a good question, is there a real stereo 'Face To Face'? Or rather, "Was there" I guess is the question.

[@anton88ist]

Would it be possible to include the price (s) you paid for your purchases and the place/seller you bought it from? I am sure (we) the audiophiles and collectors wanna know that too 😉.

[@jeffbeamer9882]

Shoot! I missed the live stream! Looking forward to Kinks Box Set review my fine German friend! Congrats on London's Calling. Top 10 Rock Albums of all time in my opinion! I do love the ephemera that comes with records. With your German sensibility how do you deal with the fold lines in the posters! It must drive you crazy! 🙂

[@briansaul6509]

Hi Michael, can you share with us who Dave is? I would like to buy from from him a few OG titles.

[@kguy2know]

I was 16 in 1984. So, out of curiosity has abbey road won in any of the comparisons? Just came back from a week in Canada going to several Loreena Mckennitt concerts ( including at Massey Hall) and massive record shopping ( bought around 65 used lps- had to ship half of them home (live in N YC)). I found OG pressings in great condition of Talk Talk in my Life, The Cult She sells Sanctuary 12" gatefold- this was sealed, Joy Division UK OG pressing of Still, Cocteau Twins OG gatefold of Blue Bell Knoll and Head over heels, and Xmal Deutchland- Tocsin. These were all very very reasonable and all in pristine condition. gotta love the 80s. Since the Mofi fiasco I have gone back to seeking out OG pressings when possible. I will be curious to hear your Japan review. I am not a fan of most Abbey road 1/2 speed remastering, I bought the Siouxsie and the Banshees that they did, and when I compared them to all my orig, I preferred the orig in all of them. I also got the Roxy Music Avalon UK OG pressing when the abbey road came out and knew I made the right decision after hearing your review. Thanks

[@tkffin]

Excellent. Clash is the grail imo in that condition. Kinks mono when stereo came out Spector said no no let’s go back to mono. Dr feelgood first in mono isn’t expensive but is a fantastic album These are great vids I ve realised a good thing bout all these reissues. It’s making our ogs more valuable

[@janedoe6350]

I'm not a big Clash fan but i do like "London Calling". There are a few tracks on that album that are not typical of their other material, "Lost in The Supermarket" & "Train in Vain" stands out as different and my favourite all time Clash songs. It's like those songs were a taste of what was to come years later with Mick Jones's band "Big Audio Dynamite (B.A.D.)". I just love the album "No. 10 Upping St." by "B.A.D". That album was produced by Joe Strummer plus, Strummer also co-wrote 50% of the songs with Mick. Mick wrote all the other material. "No. 10 Upping St." is cheap as chips as a 1st pressing at the mo. But it's only a matter of time before people catch on and the prise goes up. Most Clash fans don't even know how good it is.

[@tkffin]

@@janedoe6350 strummers Mescaleros was best work he ever did Imo

[@janedoe6350]

@@tkffin Agreed, they both just got better and better as the years rolled by imo

[@tkffin]

@@janedoe6350 I was at Acton fire station when they played together first time in yrs Joe was supporting for striking fireman and mick joined in Magical moment unfortunately soon after Joe died.

[@onsenkuma1979]

I've posted this elsewhere already, but: Several years ago (pre-2012 or so) I bought a lot of used vinyl from a couple of vendors in Japan (including a beautiful copy of that Japan compilation). This stuff was pretty much all pristine (obis and all) and very reasonably priced (including shipping charges). Of course, that was long BEFORE the vinyl bandwagon left the barn, and it's getting harder and harder now to find 'mint' or 'near mint' second-hand records at anything like a reasonable price. The good news (for me at least) is that I have hundreds of mint/NM titles I'll be selling over the next couple of years or so, and if this inflationary madness continues (and the economic and/or nuclear meltdowns we're all sucking around for don't materialize) I might just clear enough to cover the mortgage! Cheers...

[@musiclassica]

I don’t think it’ll ever get bigger than it is now. Don’t forget the limited timespan most people have developed these days. Sell now or regret later. Good luck!

[@2ridiculous41]

I first met the guys from Japan about 76/77 when they had not even become new romantics and were supporting Blue Oyster Cult in London.

[@mikebrisson7947]

It’s funny before the MOFII declaration that the modern reissues from the likes of MOFI ,Analogue Productions etc were the go to albums to buy. Now all of sudden the originals are the ones to acquire.Tom Port puts it best when he says that “all reissues are crap”and that’s it! I guess Gurus are also in the music business as well.

[@DarkSideOfThePepper]

Abbey Road is doing Japan? It would be interesting to see them do all of Japan albums.. The first two are my favourites for the raunchiness of their sound. The Tenant is a wonderful piece to listen to from the first album.

[@michaelfavreau7617]

Cool episode. I have an original pressing of Japan`s Oil on Canvas.

[@ThomasFranz100]

I must admit I'm not a Queen fan although I like much of their music, but on A night At The Opera Behamian Rhapsody is outstanding and outperforms the very rest.

[@ThomasFranz100]

Just checking my DSOTM vinyl, Italian Pressing, including the reddish poster with the band members :)

[@musictalkwithjohn]

What do you mean that you buy some albums only for the channel?

[@BattManion1979]

Yass I appreciate the comparison vids too

[@TheRollingStoness]

UK OGs...u can sleep peacefully Michael...Floyd A2B2 Matrix Harvest SHVL 804 is like gold...I just got it , but I do have the Numbered UHQR from the 70s..when.playing UK OG Floyd, I can feel the current rivalry between Gilmour and Waters, it's that clear.

[@ricefieldrecords]

Michael, we are both the same age. I understand you were a big fan of Kraftwerk in your teens. What else were you listening to in your teenage/university years? Was it not the same popular titles you are discussing today in your videos? Did you not collect these same records decades ago?

[@charlesnr]

Evaluating all these records, despite the Einstein turntable, only this year are designers trying to make a non-linear tonearm that has almost proper anti skating through out from beginning to end of play. There are several linear tonearms now with digital tracking that should be used for the extreme evaluation of the records. Despite modern turntables, there is little improvement over the B and O and Revox turntables of he 80,s with straight tracking as part of their design. Only cartridges such as Soundsmith have made great improvements that can be added to them and at far less cost than ones that cost as much as an automobile. Shouldn't you consider having an alternative straight line tonearm TT to your system.

[@Mr.Petlover]

Mann Michael, da hast Du ja einen Heiligen Gral mit der Dark Side LP bekommen. Respekt! Bestimmt sehr tief in die Tasche gegriffen dafür, was? Die hätte ich auch gern. 👍

[@Michael45RPM]

Auf jeden Fall 👍

[@stevendownes9151]

Does Dave have a shop? Or social media page?

[@Michael45RPM]

no he has not so far Steven

[@boringvinylstories726]

Have you heard the 30th anniversary pressing of Dark Side?

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

I have it and it's good enough that I'm not interested in paying the outrageous prices for anything else.

[@viiinullviii3178]

An article has just appeared in the German news magazine Spiegel that fits the video (see the music section): It is becoming increasingly impossible to listen to Pink Floyd without seeing Waters making stupid statements. It's clear to me: Waters won't get a penny from me anymore.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Have you watched the Joe Rogan chat?

[@johnvillano3024]

I am lucky to have a NM DSOTM A3/B3 with all the posters, post cards and the OG inner sleeves with the standings. I talked to Mike from the in groove and he said there is not that much difference between the A2/B2. So I saved myself an extra $1000. My A3/B3 was $350USD and the A2/B2 was $1400USD. Mike said there is not a $1000 difference in sound quality. I would love to get your opinion on the differences between the two pressings? Thanks for sharing. So jealous of your collection. Enjoy the heck out of these Gems

[@dazaaw]

My A2/B2 had the usua skip on money so got rid of it for hardly anything in the 90's :(

[@johnvillano3024]

@@dazaaw oh no……. Yeah, that was the one thing I had to ask all the sellers. Did you play test it? The skip on money is a popular issue unfortunately. Sorry you got rid of it. You never know what could happen in the future. Take care

[@psychomat64]

Guten abend

[@bobbycampbell9155]

Michael, who is Dave on Discogs?

[@Michael45RPM]

he does not sell on discogs

[@latheofheaven]

I have the 2012 The Fat of the Land pressing from Optimal Germany - it sounds pretty good! BTW, the Queen box set sounds pretty poor, rather bad reviews all around. The 1st UK and US are better. I have all the OG Clash. Sandinista is a frigg'n MASTERPIECE!

[@rtacconi]

Dave from London who?

[@DarkSideOfThePepper]

VERY Jealous of DSOTM, oh my

[@analoguecity3454]

1st pressings before 1980 , you don't have to worry about "digital" being in the chain to ruin everything!

[@2ridiculous41]

Rain Tree Crow.

[@marjanopresnik73]

I can see the lollypop in the store window but I cant lick it. For me, makes no sense.

[@fidelios_frequency]

Can you please share your record dealer "Dave" with us? Very hard to get UK pressings in the US. Would love to have a reputable dealer considering you are very pleased with him. Thanks!

[@Michael45RPM]

please be a bit patient i am working on something...

[@davidlawrence79]

@@Michael45RPM thank you Michael!

[@gotham61]

I have a UK pressing of London Calling which I bought in London on the day of release. It doesn't have Train In Vain, even as a "hidden" track. It is also like new, I was already an audiophile in 1979.

[@Vinylfromtheunderground]

There are many bad sounding represses of dark side. Many!