Black Sabbath : Black Sabbath (Vertigo Swirl 2nd Press 1Y1 / 2Y1)

This second pressing on the Vertigo label is a FINAL UPGRADE version for sure.  It may be 50 years old but in essence it is 'as new' with barely any play.  It is visually stunning, the 'cleanest' I have ever seen, and the clarity, depth and power of the audio on both sides cannot be underestimated.  There is no interference and 'as new' is no exaggeration.  I have listened to every track in full, as I always do, and there is interference at all.  The audio is Mint on both sides.

The gatefold is in superb condition with barely any shelf wear and provides another example of an album so well preserved down the years, it has obviously hardly ever been handled!  As it is such an early pressing it has 'Ozzy' incorrectly spelt as 'Ossie'.  The second pressings had one of two covers - the one with the production info and band names only in capital letters or the one with the full composition and publishing credits.  This one has the latter.

The original swirl inner is also in fantastic condition with no side splits.

If any bidder wins all three of the Sabbath albums I am selling I will offer free worldwide shipping!  This would otherwise be quiet expensive as the extra insurance required would be a lot!

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The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Mint

The original swirl inner is Near Mint+

Visual grading

It doesn't get a lot better than this!  This vinyl is a stunning example of its kind and retains an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen the likes of which you so rarely find today.  There are no marks or scratches and I can only make out a handful of barely visible sleeve removal hairlines, they are so faint!  It basically looks 'as new' it is visually stunning to say the least.  There are only a couple of very small spindle traces on each side and has clearly hardly even been on a turntable.  The run out grooves and labels are also in beautiful condition with no marking.

Play grading  

The 'thunder / bell toll' intro on 'Black Sabbath' is as Mint as it was when first released in '70.  There is not even a dust tick such is the immaculate clarity on offer here.  As Iommi enters the scene there is no drop in standard and the first quiet section has no static (or worse!) at all.  Osbourne's first vocal is again 'as new' with no sign of any 'background'.  So far the clarity and definition of the audio is 'as new' and I am delighted to say it continues in the same precise way.  As I have already said this is obviously a record that has hardly ever been played and that is reflected in the stunning audio.  As the tempo increases towards the end the playback cannot be faulted and this 'high octane' section plays with incredible depth and power to the the final note.  I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint you would honestly think you were listening to a new reissue but without the depth and warmth that you have with the original Vertigo pressings.

With complete silence in the dead wax the harmonica intro on 'The Wizard' has no 'background' and the same applies to the entire opening instrumental.  From then on it plays with sublime precision and again there is not so much as a solitary dust tick.  It is Mint from start to finish.  Wow!

'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' is of the same 'high end' standard.  I am already running out of superlatives for this stunning album!  This is classic Sabbath and with such a clean vinyl the playback is astounding.  From the opening groove to the fade out this can only be described 'as new'.  The percussive end section has no interference and the quiet bass solo then plays with superb clarity, this is such a rarity!  Another Mint track :-)

'N.I.B.' plays with impeccable audio from the get go and as the vocal comes in there is no let up in quality.  There are no clicks or pops and the depth and power of the audio throughout cannot be underestimated.  This track often has some inner groove distortion but that is certainly not the case here and provides further evidence of a vinyl hardly played.  The production and depth of the audio is so impressive and it is worth reiterating this is such a strong final track.  Even on the top end the playback is sensational and again there is no interference to be heard.  No clicks, pops, static or crackle - Mint in every sense of the word.

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As per S1 the run in grooves on S2 are so 'clean' and 'Evil Woman...' then plays with great quality from the very start.  The sonic quality cannot be faulted and once again Mint is deserved.  There is nothing that detracts from the audio and the fade out perhaps provides the most obvious example of that with not one dust tick!

The quiet intro on 'Sleeping Village' is immaculate.  What clarity!  There is no 'background' and the first 'quiet' verse is of the same standard.  The following instrumental section has to be heard to be believed!  The power and depth is phenomenal and every section 'as new' I can guarantee that.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound i.e. the clarity and definition of the audio is stunning.  The long final note just has a couple of mega light dust ticks but Mint is a fair assessment here.

The heavy bass/guitar intro on 'Warning' is 'as new' and the first two verses are more than equal to that and play with stunning precision.  There is no 'background' and it continues to play with STUNNING quality.  The third verse plays beautifully and the following percussive section combined with Iommi's classic work has no interference of any kind.  The quiet, almost silent section that follows doesn't even have one dust tick!  From then on it continues to play with sublime clarity and depth and, you guessed it, no interference.  The stand alone Iommi solos are spectacular!  There is just no 'background' - no underlying static and certainly no ticks, clicks or pops.  This is audio to die for!  The silent sections are again just so silent and right to the end this plays with a quality that you so rarely find today.  The final verse is flawless and once more this more than deserves a Mint grading.

In summary this very early second Vertigo pressing is a FINAL UPGRADE album for sure.  Even on a 'clean' vinyl you would normally find some interference somewhere but every second of this classic plays with such impressive clarity and precision.  Perhaps in a way this is not surprising because when you first look at the vinyl you just know it is going to play with fantastic quality!  One look at the grooves and super clean labels and you just know this has hardly ever been played.  This is without question the finest second pressing I have heard, in fact the finest 'Black Sabbath' debut I have ever listened to, and any avid collector would not be disappointed.  The cover is also in superb condition and this is unquestionably a stunning 'package' on offer here.

The Gatefold

This really is a fantastic example of this iconic cover and one of the most impressive things about it, apart from the lack of wear, is just how strong and robust it still is.  You would not think it was 50 years old!  You often find vinyls from this era have maybe had only one or two plays but the cover will still has a fair amount of wear due to various reasons, shifting around, house moves etc.  However, this one has hardly ever been handled judging by its stunning visual 'look'.  The top edges is super clean with no wear and the bottom edge has only a minimal amount of rubbing, just a little more towards the right corner of the front cover.  The wide spine is stunning with no wear and the edges either side are so strong and clean which can only mean it has hardly ever been opened!  The corners of the spine have no rubbing (how rare is that?!) and the right hand corners are incredibly clean also, just a minimal amount of wear bottom right.  The opening edge is pristine and the front cover is near perfect apart from one very small white scuff just below the Vertigo label, it has no other marks or creases.  The back cover is even better with just one even smaller white 'mark' bottom right and the inside of the gatefold is super clean with none of the usual marking or creasing.  There is a little white 'speckling' on the bottom edges though caused by the cover being stuck together a little and then opened.  It is only minor and not surprising in a way when you consider the gatefold has hardly ever been opened!  A stunning cover and hopefully the photos do it justice.  It is without doubt one of the 'cleanest' debut covers I have ever seen.

Inner 'Swirl' Sleeve

The original poly-lined 'swirl' inner dated 0970 is also one of the finest I have seen and has no side splits or tears and barely any creasing.  It has only a minimal amount of age related fading, very minimal!

The Labels

The Vertigo labels are practically 'as new' and look as 'shop fresh' as the day when they were first pressed onto the record.  With only a couple of barely visible spindle traces they are super clean and have no marking, writing or 'spotting' which is a rarity.

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

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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 SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

FOR ITEMS OVER £250.00 PLEASE CONTACT ME AS THERE WILL BE A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM AND WILL HAVE TO BE SENT VIA A COURIER SERVICE AND THE COSTS CAN VARY.  THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE UP TO £250.00 HENCE THE NEED FOR ANOTHER SERVICE.  PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THE EXACT AMOUNT AND THEN WAIT FOR THE INVOICE.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN 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.

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LPs/12" singles : £5.75 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE (Standard)

LPs/12" singles : £9.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Standard)  

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £1.95 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

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