BLACK SABBATH BLACK SABBATH VOL.4 1st UK PRESS EX

	£		31
	$		41

Black Sabbath’s fourth (and some would say best) powerhouse album on the VERTIGO SWIRL label catalogue number 6360 071. The UK FIRST PRESSING matrices are 1Y // 1 and 2Y // 1, with the famous PORKY and PECKO hand etchings in the run off grooves. This in many people’s view was the last ‘great’ Sabbath album. It has all the trademarks of the three before it, all honed to perfection in this one epoch defining album. Kicking off with ‘Wheels Of Confusion’, the deceptively languid intro quickly leading into another classic, bludgeoning Tony Iommi riff. Ozzie once more lamenting the state of his mind, this track features several musical twists and turns that could easily have lead the band down the ‘Prog Rock’ path. Thankfully, this doesn’t happen, and with ‘Tommorow’s Dream’ we’re back on familiar ground. Here the STUNNING AUDIO QUALITY of this FIRST UK PRESSING is really apparent. It has so much more POWER and PRESENCE than cuts from other parts of the globe. The weak sounding re-issues are no match for the shuddering bass, punchy mid range and crystal clear highs this pressing possesses. The Iommi penned ‘Changes’ needs no introduction, suffice to say that what a pleasure it is to hear it with this kind of clarity. Ozzie’s baleful melody over a gorgeous piano and mellotron arrangement. WONDERFUL !! The chemical fuelled live favourite ‘Supernaut’, features surely one of the truly great rock riffs of all time and a fantastic percussive section that showcases Bill Ward’s thunderous drumming. The bands use of certain substances was legendary around the time this album was recorded and ‘Snowblind’, lyrically, leaves nothing to the imagination. Another stomping riff and arrangement in the mould of ‘Wheels Of Confusion’, with a stinging Iommi solo on the outro. The beautiful acoustic ‘Laguna Sunrise’, with another lovely string arrangement leads into the frantic riffing of ‘St. Vitus Dance’. The last song ‘Under The Sun’ is classic Sabbath doing what they do best. A stomping detuned riff workout that would pave the way for a million ‘Metal’ bands that followed, and all indebted to this fantastic band and their wonderful legacy. The vinyl is in EXCELLENT condition EXCEPT for a skip and a click in the first track. There are NO OTHER CLICKS OR POPS and only faint surface noise between tracks and in some of the very quietest parts. As I said, the audio reproduction is just AMAZINGLY CLEAR and POWERFUL, as only these First UK PRESSING’S are !! The vinyl has a lustrous sheen and no marks visible under light. The sleeve is in VG condition with some wear to the edges and a small tear on the front in the bottom left corner which has been coloured in black. The inside with the fully intact booklet is as good as the day it was first printed. So often the booklet has come away from the sleeve and has tears where it has been badly attached. So overall, a great example of this classic record. A full unconditional refund is offered if you are not happy, but I am certain you will be !

PLEASE READ

Payment by Paypal or postal order in the UK only within 7 days of auction end. International buyers by Paypal only. Any item exceeding 40GBP MUST be sent by International Signed For Service. This insures your item to its full value and is  fully trackable. I do combine shipping costs for multiple items. Thank you.

Records graded in accordance with the Record Collectors Guide 2010. Please familarise yourself with the grading system before bidding.