CATAPILLA Changes German Vertigo Swirl First Press

$

462

Welcome! Here is a terrific first German press of Catapilla Changes (Vertigo 6360 074). On this 1972 album, the lineup is Graham Wilson, Ralph Rolinson, Carl Wassard, Brian Hanson, Robert Calvert, and Anna Meek. This album has the German Vertigo swirl label. It also has a swirl inner sleeve, although this is probably not original to the album.

Matrix numbers and mother/stamper codes are:

Side 1: 10 AA6360074 1Y 320 A1.

Side 2: 10 AA6360074 2Y B.

Using the Record Collector grading system, what do we have here?

Sleeve: Vertigo Germany eliminated all die-cut/gimmix covers issued in the UK. Albums released with gatefold sleeves in the UK often got single sleeves in Germany. On the plus side, Vertigo Germany laminated most of their sleeves. So, the German release of Changes is a laminated, single sleeve; at least you don’t have to worry about those die-cut edges getting beat up, or the insect’s head detaching! And the lamination really enhances the sleeve’s colors.

So! With that out of the way, the laminated single sleeve grades EX. There is a VERY small area of laminate lifting in the top left corner of the front, VERY minor wear to all corners, VERY minor surface wear visible to the black area behind the insect head, and VERY small laminate wrinkles along the edges. There is NO wear to any edge surfaces, NO feathering to the side where the disc is inserted, and NO trace of any ringwear. The colors are bright, front and back. The spine is pristine, save for two of the aforementioned laminate wrinkles. The sleeve is signed “Printed in Germany by Druckhaus Maack KG, Lüdenscheid.”

Vinyl: The vinyl grades EX+, with only occasional, minor background crackle that was likely present when the disc was manufactured. Visually, there are NO hairlines, no scuffs, no nothing – each side is as new! It is unlikely that you could upgrade this vinyl.

Labels: Both labels are pristine, with no faults whatsoever. There is NO spindle tracking on either label.

Inner Sleeve: This plastic-lined swirl inner sleeve was present when I purchased this album secondhand several years ago. However, it is likely not original to the album. Only one Vertigo album, Black Sabbath Vol. 4, is known to have ever been issued in Germany with a swirl inner.

On this inner, below the “Plastic bags can be dangerous” notice, the “British Patent No.” data appears faintly through a paper overlay. It looks like someone, perhaps to fortify a bottom split, folded a strip of matching white paper around the bottom edge, and this is obscuring the “British Patent No.” data. The center window is slightly off-center. Also, the sleeve itself is slightly undersized, as the vinyl protrudes just a bit from the top. So, this may have had a wee bit of the bottom edge trimmed off. Beyond this, the inner is in excellent condition, with minor dirt marks and stains to both sides. There are no seam splits or lining tears.

And, in the end: OK, it’s not a first-press UK Changes, but it IS a first-press German Changes, and is in outstanding condition. If you have only the first Catapilla album, Changes is a must! Please email me with any questions.

A Note on the Photos: Unless otherwise stated, any bright spots or glare in my pictures is from my camera’s flash.

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Namaste, everyone!