Black Sabbath : Paranoid 1Y1 / 2Y1 early Vertigo Swirl Pressing

This very collectable second pressing on the iconic Vertigo swirl label plays to a superb standard with barely any interference, the clarity is so impressive.  Side A just has a couple of minor clicks and a little static on 'Planet Caravan' but when isn't that the case!  In saying that this version is certainly one of the 'cleanest' I have heard in a long time and plays very clearly with very little intrusion.  The majority of Side A is 'as new' and Side B is even better!  The clarity, power and definition of the audio on both sides is exceptional.  The stunning visual quality of the vinyl reflects just how good the audio is and in my opinion the record has hardly ever been played, there is hardly any spindle wear.

The laminated cover is in fantastic condition with hardly any wear and is easily one of the finest examples I have ever seen.  The 'Plastic Bags...' inner is also in excellent condition.

As this is a second press it still has a large swirl on the label and VERTIGO can also be seen at the foot of the Side B label.  There is still no break between the tracks 'Hand Of Doom' and 'Rat Salad' making it look as if there are only three tracks on Side B.  The matrix is 1Y2/2Y1 and the cover is laminated rather than matt textured.  There is also no 'Big Bear' management credit on the inside which only came with the first pressing.

6360011 1Y // 2 ? 420  1 2 1 0

6360011 2Y // 1 ? 420  1 1 3 3

The audio on S1 is Near Mint- (T3 Ex+ / T4 Mint-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Mint-

The original inner is Ex

Visual grading

The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no mottling or 'bag rash'.  There are no marks or scratches and I can only locate one very small and faint hairline 'graze' on Side B.  I have looked very closely and I cannot even find any obvious hairlines, it is so clean.  Judging by the audio and that there is hardly any spindle wear this record has clearly hardly ever been played.  There is even a little vinyl 'flecking' around the spindle hole to support this theory.  The run out grooves are immaculate and the Vertigo labels are so clean with no marking or writing.

Play grading  

The foreboding intro on 'War Pigs' plays superbly with no intrusion and the air-raid siren is also very 'clean' with only a couple of dust ticks.  The quiet percussive section plays to a very similar standard with only two light static sounds and the first verse then plays to near perfection.  A couple of minor ticks but really you cannot fault the clarity on offer here.  As the tempo increases the sonic quality is phenomenal.  The original 'sound' has not deteriorated in any way and Osbourne's vocal more than exemplifies that, it is so strong and clear.  The mid instrumental is 'as new' as there is just no 'background' of any kind.  That menacing 'sound' is very much prevalent with no 'muddiness' whatsoever.  This is clearly a record that has hardly been played.  The next 'quiet' percussive section has only a couple of dust ticks but there is one light static click as the vocal returns.  From then on it plays with great quality - a handful of very quiet dust ticks which obviously do not qualify as interference and just one very light click on the final section.  Even with two minor clicks I still think this classic deserves a Near Mint- grade as the rest is so darn good!  And as I say they are quiet and not really intrusive.

'Paranoid' plays with tremendous power and definition from the first note to the last.  There is one click in one of the instrumental sections just prior to the final vocal but that is the only interference across the entire track.  Near Mint-

As we all know 'Planet Caravan' so often plays with a fair amount of static or crackle but this is a very impressive version.  There is only minimal light static here and there and it plays very clearly indeed.  In fact the vast majority has no 'background' at all and this is easily one of best versions I have heard in a long time.  There are a couple of static ticks that are a little more obvious but there are no clicks or pops.  The gentle solo that brings the track to a close plays beautifully with hardly any intrusion and the long fade out is perfect.  I will grade as Ex+ but there are many sections that play better than that.

The opening drum beat on 'Iron Man' is stunning and the rest of the intro is just as good.  The first verse is 'as new' with just one light tick in the following instrumental section.  It continues to play with 'high end' audio and there is no inner groove distortion.  Iommi's mid instrumental is superb, it could not play with any greater precision and the last verse also plays with perfect clarity.  The final instrumental plays with such incredible power and definition and of course there is no interference.  A stunning side and this classic has to grade as Mint- it is that good.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The intro on 'Electric Funeral' is as 'clean' as it would have been when first released over 50 years ago and the opening two verses also play with sublime clarity.  From then on there is no let up in quality - no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static.  The mid instrumental is flawless and the 'high octane' vocal sections that follow can also be correctly described 'as new'.  The remainder is of the same standard and If you win this just listen to the long fade out - you'll hear just how impressive the clarity is!  This is unequivocally a Mint start to the side.  What a version!

The quiet intro on 'Hand Of Doom' has no background static and only a couple of minor ticks.  A superb start.  Osbourne's first vocal has only one light tick and as the volume increases the audio is faultless.  There are of course so many quiet sections and yet they all play with stunning precision.  The 'heavy' mid section plays with great power and depth and...no interference, not even a single tick.  The next quieter section has a couple of static ticks but again you cannot fail but be impressed by the clarity as there is no actual underlying static at all.  The final vocal sections play perfectly and the quiet 'finale' has no intrusion either.  I am confident in saying this is one of the strongest versions I have heard in a long time and Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio.  It's not often you find a Near Mint one of these!

'Rat Salad' plays with stunning quality and has just the one dust tick on the intro.  Ward's solo is outstanding!  There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and overall this has to grade as Mint-

The long intro on 'Fairies Wear Boots' is nigh on perfect with only a couple of dust ticks and the first classic riff is 'as new' without a doubt.  The audio plays with such depth and resonance and there is no intrusion.  The opening vocal keeps up the standard and the mid instrumental is equally as strong.  This demands to be played loud!  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound and the clarity is just on another level with no sign of any distortion either.  It is undeniably one of the finest versions you will ever hear and the final vocal again has no 'background'.  To the end it plays with a sonic quality that is second to none and I honestly cannot believe the quality of the audio - no interference and just no distortion, how rare is that?!  The 'echo' effect on Osbourne's final plays with perfect clarity and the same can be said for Iommi's final piece.  No static on the fade out!  This is as 'complete' a version that you could wish for and Mint more than does it justice.  What a finish!

In summary this very early Vertigo pressing plays to a wonderful standard with barely any interference at all.  A couple of minor clicks on Side A and a touch of static on 'Planet Caravan' but then you expect that and there is so much less than usual anyway.  The clarity, depth and power of the music on both sides is hugely impressive and S2 in particular is stunning!  It is becoming increasingly difficult to find these early pressings playing with such quality but we have a fine example here that has been so well looked after down the decades.  The cover provides further evidence of that as described below.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The laminated cover is in superb condition with barely any wear.  The edges have no rubbing and the spine is in great shape with no wear as such and obviously remains 100% legible.  The corners are super clean with no obvious rubbing/creasing and the opening edge has only the bare minimum of handling wear i.e. hardly any!  The front cover is so clean with no laminate damage and has only three minor creases next to the spine.  The back cover is just as good and the colour on both is still very strong and bright.  The inside of the gatefold is one of the cleanest I have seen in a long time and has just one very small mark/scuff to the right of Ozzy.  The top 'flipbacks' have a small number of 'specks' on the edges but they certainly do not detract from the overall quality.  A superb cover for sure!

The 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits or tears.  It just has a little age related fading around the edges and a little creasing.  Not all of the Vertigo pressings came with a swirl inner.

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

6360011 1Y // 2 ? 420  1 2 1 0

6360011 2Y // 1 ? 420  1 1 3 3

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!

Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you

100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++

Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!

Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.

Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.

Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!

Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!

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.

THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE WILL BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD).  AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN.  HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING.  PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH.  MANY THANKS.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £17.45 then £1.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.00 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!