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Black Sabbath : Black Sabbath 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press w/ Philips credit 1970

This relatively rare and highly collectable first pressing plays with stunning quality with only minimal intrusion as detailed below.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is STUNNING overall and there is no background static either which makes a change.  The vast majority plays 'as new', the sonic quality is incredible, and there are only a handful of dull clicks on S1 and a small number of minor ticks on S2.  I cannot overstate just how impressive the audio is here!  The vinyl is perhaps the finest example I have ever seen - not perfect but still very clean - and it is obvious it has been well preserved over the last 53 years and not overplayed.  There is no distortion at all.

The iconic cover is in excellent condition with not too much shelf wear and there is nothing that really stands out.  The original Swirl inner just has some fading / marking around the edges and a little creasing.

This first pressing of course has A Philips Record Product on the S2 label as well as the large Swirl logo.  The band member and production credits on the inside of the gatefold are in capitals and it does not include the composition and publishing credits.  Ozzy Osbourne is incorrectly spelt as Ossie Osborne.  This first pressing also has 'Copyright subsists in all Stereo recordings'.  In all later pressings it states '...in all Vertigo recordings'.

VO 6   1Y * 1   420   1 2  8

VO 6   2Y * 1   420   1 2  3

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Ex+ / T2 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 intro Ex+ / T3 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Ex-

The labels are Near Mint-

The original swirl inner is Ex-

Visual description

This rare vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no actual scratches.  As detailed below there is one tiny 'speck' or maybe needle drop and another mega small mark on S1 but it very possibly the cleanest first pressing I have ever seen.  There are some faint hairlines but there is nothing that stands out - there is no groove wear or 'bag rash' and the run out grooves are very clean also.  The Vertigo labels are unmarked and just have some spindle wear around the spindle hole but not too much.

Play grading  

The run in on S1 is super quiet and that's a good sign of things to come!  The 'thunderstorm' intro on 'Black Sabbath' does indeed play so clearly with only a small number of barely audible dust ticks and then Iommi's first introduction plays with stunning quality.  The following quieter section has no background and Osbourne's opening vocal section is as clean as it would have been in 1970 - there is no background not even a dust tick.  In fact the only intrusion on this classic opening track are a couple of dull clicks during the '...please God help me...' caused by that tiny speck / needle drop.  From then on it plays without fault and the up-tempo section is just STUNNING!  'As new' sums it up perfectly - it plays with phenomenal power and definition and there is no distortion on the top end.  I will grade as Ex+ but the vast majority does play to a Mint standard.  The sonic quality is superb and that deep rich typical Sabbath is her in abundance.

With complete silence in the dead wax the harmonica intro on 'The Wizard' is so close to perfect with only a couple of minor ticks.  As Ward and co join in the music is superb aside from a couple of soft dull clicks a few seconds before the the vocal comes in, they are quiet and really not intrusive.  The first vocal section plays with perfect clarity and it continues to play with a sonic quality that is second to none.  Iommi's work is of course legendary and the power and depth here is so strong but the rhythm section here is equally as good.  The instrumental sections here play with incredible power and depth and to the end it plays with sublime quality.  Not far off Mint but even with the two dull clicks I still think Near Mint- is deserved.

'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' plays with impeccable quality from the word go and I detected just one barely audible tick on the intro.  Ward's brief percussive section just prior to the opening vocal is 'as new' and the first verse is then faultless.  From then on it plays as you would want it to - with a clarity, depth and resonance that could not be any better.  The mid instrumental piece is STUNNING and the final vocal is of the same high end standard.  Every beat from Ward that brings the track to a close is so clean and sharp and there is literally no background even into the fade out.  This has to grade as Mint- such is the quality.

The bass intro on 'N.I.B.' is superb!  So often it plays with a fair amount of static but all I heard here were a couple of minor static ticks.  Great clarity.  As Iommi comes in the playback is again so strong and Osborne's opening vocal more than keeps up this fine standard.  As it progresses there is no drop in quality and there is no inner groove distortion which makes a change.  Every vocal and instrumental section plays with mesmeric sonic quality and I cannot find one single negative.  This is audio of the highest calibre and despite being the final track the audio is as strong and clear as the first track.  Another sign that this vinyl has not been overplayed.  No clicks or pops etc just sensational audio from start to finish and talking of the finish - if you are lucky enough to win this rare LP just listen to the end section from Iommi - the power and depth of the audio is STUNNING!  This track grades as Mint- I am 100% confident about that.

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The intro on 'Evil Woman...' has no background and the first verse and chorus are equally as clean also.  From then on it plays as any well preserved Vertigo should - with exceptional clarity, power and resonance.  From start to finish including the fade out there is no interference and Mint- is well deserved.

The acoustic intro on 'Sleeping Village' begins perfectly with no background and only around 10 seconds are there 3/4 static ticks.  Osbourne's vocal has no intrusion and then Iommi's opening piece is flawless.  This entire instrumental section is just fantastic, the audio is crystal clear i.e. you can hear each note so clearly with nothing getting in the way not even a dust tick.  Wow the audio definition is off the scale!  Iommi's long final note has no background either.  I will grade the intro as Ex+ and the remainder as Mint- it is STUNNING!

The heavy bass intro from Butler on 'Warning' is 'as new' and Ozzy's opening vocal is of the same high end standard.  Butler's deep bass is of course very much in evidence here and on such a clean vinyl it sounds even better.  The next instrumental passage is faultless as is the next vocal and it continues to play with imperious quality and... no interference.  Ward's percussion around the 3.5 minute mark accompanied by Iommi's superb work has no intrusion of any kind and there are just 4/5 dull sounding ticks leading up into the brief 'silent' section.  As the tempo picks up the sonic quality is phenomenal and it's worth pointing out there is no background static to contend with, the clarity and depth can only be described 'as new'.  Iommi's stand alone section is just as impressive and the intervening silent interlude is 100% silent.  I cannot emphasise enough just how clean and precise this entire section is - the playback is phenomenal.  The long meandering note that brings it to a close has no background at all and then the final instrumental piece and vocal are of the same exact standard.  This 10 minute classic is as close to Mint as is possible and if it wasn't for those dull ticks I would indeed grade it as Mint.  As it is Near Mint is still deserved and it would be difficult to find a better version on a genuine first Philips pressing.

In summary this first pressing plays to a superb standard with only minimal interference as detailed above.  With only a handful of dull ticks on S1 and 3/4 static ticks on S2 and NO static at all the overall clarity of sound is so impressive.  This may well be the finest Philips pressing I have ever listened to - not quite perfect but not far from it!  The power, depth and resonance of the audio is stunning and the 'sound' just envelops the room with no distortion either.  This version was not pressed in vast numbers and I think it's safe to say there are not many left that play as clearly as this one.  I am confident the winning bidder will agree with me :-)

The Gatefold & 'Swirl' Inner

The slightly textured cover is often found in poor condition but this is not one of them!  It has been preserved very well and does not have very much shelf wear.  I would say the main area of wear is in the centre of the top edge of the back cover.  There is a small 2.5 cm section where the top surface has come away but it has not actually resulted in a split i.e. it has not cut through.  The other top edge is close to perfect and the bottom edges have some rubbing but not an excessive amount.  The wide spine is very clean overall - the E in VERTIGO is rubbed out plus there is some light rubbing on the edge next to the front cover.  The corners have some wear but again not too much and the opening edge has only minimal handling wear.  The front cover is in lovely condition and remains unmarked aside from a little rubbing near the bottom edge and next to the spine.  The back cover is just as strong if not better with only minimal wear next to the opening edge and light wear on the corners.  As we all know the inside of the gatefold is often affected by a fair amount of spotting but here there is only a little along the top edge and even less along the bottom.  A fine example when you consider it isn't laminated.

The original poly-lined swirl inner (dated 0970) has no side splits and just one small tear on the top edge.  There is some age related fading / marking around the edges as is common and some light creasing also.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

VO 6   1Y * 1   420   1 2  8

VO 6   2Y * 1   420   1 2  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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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

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