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BLACK SABBATH - MASTER OF REALITY

An ultimate rarity. A unique UNPLAYED 1st pressing of the Sabbath Classic Master of Reality. All COMPLETELY original, making this a true collectors item. From my own personal collection.

STUNNING 1st Ever UK pressing of BLACK SABBATH MASTER OF REALITY,

on the 1st press UK VERTIGO labels, in MINT UNPLAYED Condition!

TOP OPENING BOX FORMED LAMINATED Cover and Stunning TOP AUDIO THROUGHOUT. 

This great pressing also comes with its original 1st issue poster and inner sleeve.

This is a great opportunity to own a classic rare piece of musical history, in stunning condition!

CAT NO:....

6360 050  

LABEL PRESS DETAILS:

FIRST EVER PRESS UK Black and white VERTIGO label with full size Vertigo swirl on side A.

MATRIX NOs. ON RUN-OUT GROOVE

SIDE A - 6360050 1 Y  // 1    420    .

SIDE B - 6360050 2 Y  // 1    420    .

MOTHER STAMPERS:

Side 1. '' 1    1 1 3  ''   (very early pressing)  0 4  (at 1 o'clock) 

Side 2. '' 1 2 2 1 " 0 4 (at 5 o'clock) 

TRACK LISTING… 

Side One:  Sweet Leaf - After Forever – Embryo - Children of the Grave

Side Two:  Orchid - Lord of this World – Solitude - Into the Void

THIS IS A GENUINE RARE UK ORIGINAL, AND IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUY AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE VINYL ALBUMS OF ALL TIME, in STUNNING CONDITION, with a superb Audio Performance throughout!

Please Note: Unplayed vinyl does not necessarily equate with perfect audio so this brilliant record has been carefully tested on highly sensitive equipment. Even new unplayed pieces can have defects in the pressing, and any vinyl that has been in storage for 40 years can have dust penetration or even distortion to the grooves that can cause deterioration to the sound quality and heavy pops and clicks. This record has been play tested to give an accurate assessment of its audio performance. We never sell untested records.

Master of Reality is the third album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in July 1971. Master of Reality was certified double platinum after having sold over 2 million copies. Master of Reality was recorded at Island Studios in London, UK between February and April 1971. The album broke the top ten in both the United Kingdom (#5) and United States (#8) and achieved Gold status on advance orders alone. Eventually it sold two million copies in the US. The album was produced by Rodger Bain, who had also produced their previous two albums. However, this would be his final collaboration with the band.

ALBUM PLAYED FOR GRADING:

It is unbelievably hard to find copies of Master Of Reality with great audio. So many vinyls, even visually clean examples can play with a  lot of distortion and repetitive clicks. For such a raucous album that is not surprising, but the mastering also meant that these vinyls were prone to dust penetration and surface noise.

This is a stunning example, with amazing strong, undistorted sound, and a minimum of static or surface sound anywhere on the record. The channels are clean and unstressed. The music jumps out, with definition and clarity, particularly on the percussion instruments, and vocals which come through with tremendous power. All the instruments and Ozzy's singing is bright and clear. As with the bass and drums, whilst the guitars come through crisp and precise. 

Every track has been tested and I was impressed at every minute of this rare 1st pressing. 'Sweet Leaf' (with that ultra faint two second sound delay that is nearly always in audible) bursts in with amazing clear sound. Absolutely minimum surface sound in the run in and the quiet echo, that is usually lost before the much starts, is crystal clear. Certainly no pops, clicks or any interference, just great clear sound. A couple of light static tics between tracks and then 'After Forever' again starts with super clear sound and plays with incredible clarity and definition. Flawless audio. Very light static between tracks two and three, and very little surface sound. I heard a few light tics between tracks, but they were very light. 'Embryo,' the first of the delicate tracks on the album, plays with great audio, unbelievable clear sound, with barely any detectable static. Still not a single loud pop and certainly not a hint of distortion or blurring.

'Children of the Grave' again bursts in with superb audio. This level of this audio is rare. The track plays with great sound separation and amazing clarity, no pops or clicks or interference. There is a bit of light static on the long outro, but it is very light.

Side 2. begins with the ultra delicate 'Orchid', and it plays beautifully, only the lightest static to be found and no loud clicks or pops. After the run ins there is some slight occasional static only. A great performance that would be very hard to ever better. 'Lord of this World' brings the rock back in but its still a complex heavily layer track, and all the layering here is crystal clear. A few light tics but they are very light, the kind found on all vinyls, even unplayed pieces like this one. It takes us to the final delicate and comparatively long 'Solitude.' I am amazed at this, its such  hard track to find with even half way decent audio. It just plays superbly with no hissing, perhaps a couple of light tics and absolutely minimal static, and certainly no repetitive or even noticeable noises. I heard one pop about half way through and a bit of static between tracks. A great example of such a delicate piece. The last track, 'Into the Void' bursts in, so heavy and again so clear, truly astounding, superb sound without a single pop or click.

This is a great audio performance, hardly any static, (the kind that is found on all vinyls, even unplayed examples) anywhere on this record, and needless to say, NO distortion, NO sticks or jumps what so ever. A couple of random pops and thats it. The whole album plays with amazing power and clarity. 

Even for Black Sabbath Master of Reality is a complex and varied collection of music, and hard to find in clear audio condition. Worn copies have a lot of surface sound even on musically complex and busy tracks like ' Lord of This World.' This pressing has strong super clear audio. It really sounds great and plays with amazing sound separation and clarity!

This rare 1st pressing plays with crisp clear audio throughout, with no loss of audio performance what so ever. This is an stunning example. 

I would easily give this a grading of  NEAR MINT condition. 

THE RECORD - Visual Grading 

A superb piece of glossy vinyl, and a really thick pressing. Deep clear grooves that can only be found on the original early pressings, this vinyl has been unplayed since new. Inspected under a powerful spot light it does have some sleeve removal marks as any vinyl will. A great example with truly super audio. Strictly and easily graded as NEAR MINT.

VINYL TESTED FOR ANY SIGNS OF WARPING:

Yes, NONE visible what so ever, when tested be sight and on a moving turntable.

THE LABELS 

Famous 1st Press VERTIGO labels are in SUPERB Condition, no marks or writing, no spindle wear.  Great all round examples. There are NO spindle traces at all! These are superb labels and a great sounding played record!  

Graded at MINT condition. 

A stunning all round Complete and Rare example of this EARLY ROCK MASTERPIECE

Guitarist Tony Iommi, who had injured his fingers in a factory accident years earlier, decided to de-tune his guitar down three semi-tones (or one and a half steps to C-sharp). This reduced string tension, thus making the guitar easier for him to play. Geezer Butler also de-tuned his bass guitar to match Iommi. The result was a noticeably "darker" or "sludgier" sound. The slow and heavy songs that comprise most of the album are interspersed with quiet ballads written by Tony Iommi. Two of these, "Embryo" and "Orchid", are short instrumentals serving as interludes. The third, "Solitude", is much longer in comparison and features Ozzy Osbourne's soft, woeful vocals. It is largely believed by many fans that Bill Ward sang on "Solitude", as the song's vocals greatly differ from Osbourne's "signature" vocals; however, this is a myth. Ward did not perform vocals for any Black Sabbath song until the band's seventh album, Technical Ecstasy, on the track "It's Alright".

 

The lyrics of the song "After Forever", written by Geezer Butler, focus entirely on religious themes.  At the time, some viewed Black Sabbath as Satanists (which the band had consistently denied) due to their dark sound, image and lyrics. "After Forever" was released as a single along with "Fairies Wear Boots" in 1971." Rolling Stone criticised the album's ‘Christian lyrics’, but praised the complex and innovative arrangements. The song "Solitude" showcases Tony Iommi's multi-instrumental talents, featuring him playing the guitar, flute and piano.

The album cover reads Master of Reality, underneath Black Sabbath coloured purple, against a black background. The words are written in a large font with a ripple effect like that of moving water or a waving flag. The first editions of the album came in an 'envelope BOX sleeve', and with the album's title embossed in black lettering rather than in grey. This was the first Black Sabbath sleeve on which the lyrics were reproduced on the back of the sleeve. On the first North American editions of the album, several songs had subtitles given to segments, making it appear that there were more songs than there actually were. The intro of "After Forever" was given the title "The Elegy", the outro of "Children of the Grave" was called "The Haunting", the intro of "Lord of This World" was titled "Step Up," and the intro of "Into the Void" called "Deathmask". This treatment had also been used on the North American editions of Black Sabbath's previous two albums. These pressings also incorrectly listed the album title as Masters of Reality. Subsequent editions corrected the album's title and removed three of the four subtitles (all but "The Elegy")

THE COVER 

The box form covers of Master of Reality are almost impossible to find in great condition. They are nearly always flattened to some extent, if not completely, and the laminate is usually lifting, creasing, bubbling and separating all over the place. The flaps are nearly always torn to some degree.

This great complete 1st press Comes with the original 1st Press TOP OPENING BOX FORMED LAMINATED Cover, and a superb example. It is also the slightly rarer shadow text variety, where the BLACK SABBATH text on the front is slightly off set from the embossed text to make it appear more three dimensional. 

The cover is in great shape with only some very light handling wear only in the form of light laminate creasing. Virtually no corner wear, and has certainly no tears or serious defects. There is no feathering to the top openings, which is unusual. The cover is square and completely un flattened as I've stored it with a correctly fitted piece of thick card inside. It's a superb example. 

I would have to grade this at EXCELLENT.

THE POSTER

Stunning Original 1st Press three fold poster, not to be confused with the later two fold editions, in completely original virtually untouched condition. This highly collectable poster is in great condition, with no rips or seem splits. NO pin holes, there isn't even any wear at all along the seam folds. This really is as new as you will ever find with a slight crease on one corner only. 

Original 1st Press Guaranteed!

Grades at EXCELLENT PLUS to NAR MINT condition.

THE INNER

Original 1st Press Poly lined Vertigo Swirl  inner sleeve in VERY GOOD PLUS condition.  Nice example, a some light creases, there are no tears to the die cut centres, and NO seem splits at all. The sleeve is yellowed as these nearly always are, just the faint discolouration along the bottom of the sleeve, that these inners always have (as clearly shown in the images). This is a fully intact example complete with its original poly liner.  

RARITY

Master of Reality is a highly collectable vinyl, reaching increasingly high prices. and there are a number of good reasons. It is a classic, ground breaking piece of music, and has a number of brilliantly designed components, all if which are prone to wear. An unusually square cover that is nearly always flattened, a black and white inner sleeve, that is usually stained, and a great vinyl that was nearly always played into submission. To find a 1st complete pressing in unplayed condition makes this a genuine one off and an extreme rarity. 

FINDING AN ORIGINAL UK VERTGO STEREO PRESS OF MASTER OF REALITY IN GREAT ALL ROUND CONDITION IS EXTREMELY RARE.  THIS IS A STUNNING ALL ROUND COMPLETE 1ST PRESSING THAT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO BETTER. 

WITH AN ULTRA RARE TOP OPENING BOX COVER, ORIGINAL UK INNER SLEEVE, AND GREAT SOUNDING VINYL IS RARE INDEED!!! THIS IS A GREAT PLAYING VINYL WITH AMAZING CLEAR AUDIO, A SUPERB COVER AND INNER. MAKING THIS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OWN AN EXTREMELY RARE PIECE OF MUSICAL HISTORY!

RARE COMPLETE CLASSIC ORIGINAL VINYLS WITH TOP AUDIO AND GREAT CONDITION THROUGHOUT

WE SPECIALISE IN RARE COLLECTABLE PRESSINGS - WITH GREAT SOUND UNINTERRUPTED BY INTERFERENCE. NO LOUD POPS OR CLICKS, JUMPS OR REPEATS - GUARANTEED!

GREAT ORIGINAL COVERS WITH NO SEAM SPLITS, TEARS, WRITING OR STICKERS!

VINYL

We sell the highest quality examples of Classic Vinyl. Large format art work covers with the original sound and mix unique to the best original pieces, giving the highest audio depth and performance. Vinyl prices have soared over the last ten years, making classic examples a great financial and cultural investment.  

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SCRUPULOUS EXAMINATION and TESTING:

All our records are play tested on highly sensitive equipment to ensure the sound quality and accuracy of description. We aim to give a precise and concise description of the sound, pointing out the slightest defect so that you know exactly what you are buying. We aim to describe all records as accurately as possible, and offer a full refund on return if for any reason you are not completely happy with the item description.

VINYL SOUND - PLEASE NOTE:

Highest quality vinyl with clear sound is rare, and what we always aim for. We only sell records that play with TOP AUDIO performance; super clear sound uninterrupted by hiss or other interference. Even with the cleanest pressing you will find occasional static or occasional light tics during playback, caused by a build of dust in the grooves. This is clearly different from the distortion, loud pops, repeating tics or clicks that are found on heavily played and worn pieces of vinyl. Any static build up will reduce when played, and we advise a light clean between plays for optimal performance. 

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IMAGES and INFORMATION

We only use photographs of the item for sale taken with professional digital cameras. The images are designed to be as clear as possible, giving an exact representation of the item. We aim to give sufficient and accurate detail as possible, so that you know exactly what you are buying. Please let us know if you need any further information and we will be happy to oblige.

SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST, QUALITY ASSURED. WE HAVE A 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK RATING.

SOME EXAMPLES OF FEEDBACK –

BRILLIANT LP MINT CONDITION, AWESOME SELLAR, 1ST CLASS PACKAGING, NO PROBLEMS A+

Absolutely fantastic! Worth every single penny! Trust you are in careful hands!

ITEM RECEIVED.. AS DESCRIBED... PACKED GREAT...MANY THANKS..RECOMMENDED.. A*******

Great LP from a great seller. Thanks !! Very well packaged. AAA+++

Item arrived quickly, well packaged and in excellent condition. Very pleased.

fast delivery, superb communication, good item, great ebayer AAAAA+++++

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RETURN POLICY:

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed ; - returns accepted with out question. If you are not happy then any item can be returned, we cant say fairer that that!

WE ONLY SELL RARE RECORDS THAT ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. IF THERE IS ANY SLIGHT DEFECT, IT WILL BE CLEARLY STATED.

If in the unlikely event that you may want to return an item, or that we have missed something in the listing, we offer a no quibble return policy. Items must be returned within 12 Days of receipt, and returned in the same condition that they were sent out in. Return postage must be paid by buyer, unless there is a particular fault with the item, and then we will pay the full postage costs!

RECORD GRADING SYSTEM IS AS FOLLOWS - ( BASED ON RECORD COLLECTOR MAGAZINE U.K. )

MINT: Virtually unplayed. The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. Cover is pristine.

EXCELLENT: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear and/or creasing.

V.G PLUS: The record will still be nice and shiny, but may have a few light marks, and will play well. Slight wear and tear on the cover.

V.G: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items.

GOOD: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, etc.

FAIR: Fair. It is noticeable that the record has been played so much that the sound quality has deteriorated very noticeably. The cover and contents are showing signs of folding, scuffing of edges etc.

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POSTAGE AND PAYMENT DETAILS : -

Items will be extremely well sealed and securely wrapped using the best possible packaging for safe handling and delivery. We send items all round the globe with 100% success! We sell top quality rare records to discerning buyers. We do not make money from the postage costs and aim to keep the prices at a reasonable rate, while never offering a cheap or second rate service. 

IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY THAT THE RECORDS YOU BUY GET TO YOU IN PERFECT CONDITION. All RECORDS ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR MAIN COVER AND PLACED IN A BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT INNER SLEEVES TO AVOID ANY CHANCE OF EDGE SPLITS OR KNIFING. THEY ARE HELD SAFELY IN EXTRA THICK PLASTIC SLEEVES, AND THEN SECURED WITH SEVERAL EXTRA LAYERS OF REINFORCED CARD BOARD AND PADDING, DOUBLE BOXED IN EXTRA STRONG PROFESSIONAL RECORD CONTAINERS TO ENSURE SAFE ARRIVAL. WE HAVE A 100% SUCCESS RATE AND AIM TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

Example of packaging used

UK - First Class Signed For Recorded Delivery with Insurance : = £5.00

UK Special Signed For Next Day Delivery with Insurance : = £8.90

EUROPE - International Airmail Signed For Recorded Delivery with Insurance : = £11.95

INTERNATIONAL, Non-Europe e.g. USA, Japan, Russia, Australia etc. International Airmail Signed For Recorded Delivery with Insurance : = £18.95

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MULTIPLE PURCHASE REDUCTION

Reduced postage for multiple records up to 30% off extra items.

POSTAGE WILL BE FIRST CLASS OR THE FASTEST AND SAFEST POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE, - RECORDED WITH TRACKING AND INSURANCE. ALL ITEMS ARE FULLY INSURED AND COVERED FOR THE SAFEST DELIVERY POSSIBLE, AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. GUARANTEED!

POSTAGE RECEIPTS AND PROOF OF POSTAGE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE. 

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PAYMENTS 

Payments must be made within 3 days of purchasing unless an alternative arrangement has been agreed upon. 

Pay Pal or bank transfers are accepted for International buyers. We accept Pay Pal, bank transfers or postal orders within the UK. Records will be sent out immediately on receipt of payment.

Please Note: If no contact is made by the winning bidder following the mandatory Ebay 3 days, we will reserve the right to offer the item to the next highest bidder, unless prior notice of any delay is arranged beforehand.  Any bidder who has missed the chance to purchase a record can still email to make a priority second chance offer.