Vinyl: QUEEN ONE-SIDED 7” ACETATE “YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND” – UNIQUE

For the uninitiated, if you think test pressings are rare, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

On offer here is a one-sided 7” acetate of the Queen single, “You’re My Best Friend”, made at Abbey Road Studios in 1976. “You’re My Best Friend” was the immediate follow-up to Bohemian Rhapsody.

This acetate is an aluminium platter with a layered coating of acetone/wax into which the groove is cut. It has no obvious signs of wear and perhaps has been played only once if at all.

This record came into my possession from a house clearance in the early 1980s when I took away 100s of vinyl records – this was one of a few diamonds among a lot of dross.

I have been collecting Queen records and memorabilia for 30 years and I have never seen a “You’re My Best Friend” acetate anywhere else. To my knowledge, it is not even listed on any Queen collector’s website.

So there you are – fellow Queen collectors know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own this unique piece.

ABOUT ACETATES

Very few acetates ever surface; firstly, they are rare because so few are made, secondly they are extremely fragile so even less survive and thirdly, once a collector snaps one up they never sell it because it is unique and literally irreplaceable. So any acetate you do see on any Queen collectors’ website is most definitely not for sale.

For those of you not sure what an acetate is: an acetate is a transitional stage between the master tape and the finished vinyl record. It is metal plate covered in a layer of acetone/wax. Very few are made for sound quality testing (before the 'test pressings' are made on regular vinyl) and they are only distributed to people directly involved with the recording in order that they can approve the sound before the ‘test pressing’ is cut. Usually only a few acetates are made and they can be played only a few times as the acetone/wax is very easily damaged and breaks down quickly. As these are the first workhorse proofs of the sound quality process and so fragile, they are normally thrown away so only one or two, if any, of any song ever survive.

ABOUT ME

I have bought a lot of records over the years but never sold any of them until now. I have a great collection of records, many of them rare, and the reason I’m now selling is that I simply need to make some space as I wish to start a new phase of collecting other bands’ material.

So far, I have already sold my extensive Led Zeppelin collection privately to collectors and dealers and I now have my Queen collection to sell. I will be selling my rarer records through ebay and my remaining records to dealers as I simply don’t have the time to sell everything individually.

As you will see from my feedback I have never sold anything on E-Bay but you can see I have a 100% perfect record as a trusted and responsible buyer of 100s of records over the years. I am proud of this 100% reputation and I take it into my new phase as a seller.

I will always give my honest opinion when describing my records and opinion can always be disagreed with. However, I photograph my items extensively to back-up and illustrate my comments. Even if I have identical items for sale (and in my collection I do have several duplicates), I will always present photos of the actual item being sold.

PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO E-MAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM OR ANY OTHER ITEMS I MAY HAVE LISTED OR IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT MY EXTENSIVE RECORD COLLECTION.

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

Due to the high value of this record, it will be sent heavily packaged and protected with stiffeners and bubble-wrap further protecting the record inside. It is critical to me that an item arrives with you in the same top condition that it left me!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDENCE!!!!

POSTAGE

UK:

By Special Delivery, Signed For: £4.50

International:

By International Signed For: £7.75

I will despatch as soon as possible on receipt of cleared funds!

Tracking details (if possible depending on the buyers location) will be emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

If you have bid on several items then I will offer a postage discount for multiple purchases (as long as you pay for the individual items as you win them!). I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched until they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!