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Black Sabbath : Master Of Reality 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press Vertigo

As you will see from my grading below this first pressing may well be the finest example I have ever listened to.  The clarity, depth and resonance of the audio is spectacular!  And the power is also hugely impressive.  In essence there is no interference and even the quiet numbers 'Embryo' and 'Solitude' also play with unbelievable clarity.  The latter runs at over 5 minutes of course and yet the playback is just beautiful, it has only one static tick which I wouldn't really classify as interference!  The playback across both sides is so clean and precise and there is literally no background static getting in the way.  The vinyl is visually stunning and easily qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE archive classic.  Based on this and that there is barely any spindle wear I am confident this stunning record has hardly been played.  There is no poster I'm afraid but if you want IMMACULATE sound then this is the one to own!

The embossed box cover for once is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and as can be seen it still holds its original shape and structure.  The original Swirl inner is also in great condition.

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 5

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 4

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint+)

The embossed box cover is Ex

The swirl inner is Ex

The labels are Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only locate a small number of faint hairlines and there is no groove wear or 'bag rash'.  The run grooves are unmarked and the iconic Vertigo labels are stunning with only a couple of barely visible spindle traces on S1 and just one tiny one on S2.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Sweet Leaf' is perfect including the cough!  Osbourne's first vocal is equal to that and it continues to play with stunning clarity and power and with that typical deep rich Sabbath sound.  Iommi's downtuned guitar has never sounded better than on this vinyl and there is not single negative.  Every section plays with sublime quality and that is very much in evidence during the mid instrumental.  Osbourne's vocal is so strong and the fade out has no background either.  This is a STUNNING version and Mint is very much deserved.

With complete silence in the dead wax the build up intro on 'After Forever' has not even a dust tick and the first classic riff can only be described 'as new' - in my opinion it is one of the finest riffs ever written!  The first verse is faultless and it proceeds in the same way with literally nothing getting in the way of the audio.  This has to be the most 'complete' version I have ever heard - the sonic quality is astounding - this level of depth and resonance is something you only find on the first  pressings.  There is no static distortion on the vocal and again every section is 'as new' with zero intrusion.  The high octane end section more than keeps up this fine standard also and the fade out has no background.  Mint

'Embryo' plays beautifully from start to finish with not one dust tick even let alone anything more.  Brief and Mint

The intro on 'Children Of The Grave' is so close to perfect with just one minor static tick before it crashes into the riff... another classic riff!  The remainder of this intro does indeed play with perfect clarity and Osbourne's opening vocal has no interference.  The more you progress into this classic the more you are impressed by it - more evidence this vinyl has hardly been played and so well preserved over the last 52 years.  The audio is so deep and strong and whilst you might expect some inner groove distortion there isn't any!  Every note is so clean and succinct and it plays exactly as it would've done back in '71.  Iommi's solo is phenomenal and the depth on Ward's final percussive note is just... incredible!  Perhaps even more impressively the very quiet end section then plays with 100% perfect clarity.  I cannot believe what I have listened to just there!  Ok one very quiet tick at the start but does it really deserve a minus on the grading?!  I'm still going to say Mint- as I am nothing if not honest with my gradings!  Truth be told though audio does not get any better than this!

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'Orchid' plays beautifully with a clarity that is quite simply breath-taking and I cannot remember when I last heard this acoustic number playing with such accuracy.  There is no underlying static, no clicks or pops, just a couple of insignificant static ticks right at the end.  They are very quiet!  I am sure many would say this is Mint but I will say Mint- just to err on the side of caution.

The intro on 'Lord Of This World' has no background and the opening two verses are of the same high end standard.  The mid instrumental is just as strong and once again you can hear each instrument perfectly - there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and no distortion, stunning clarity and definition and definition in other words.  It continues in the same precise way without any intrusion and the Butler's bass is just so strong on this track.  Another perfect fade out and another Mint track.

A real test on any pressing of this album is how well 'Solitude' will play precisely because it is so quiet.  I am delighted to say this first press version plays with incredible clarity throughout.  The intro plays so clearly with not one dust tick and Osbourne's first vocal has only a couple of mega light statics at the end.  The brief interlude plays beautifully and the next verse again has only a couple of statics that obviously do not get in the way of the music, they are so so quiet!  There is a static tick that is a little more obvious during the next instrumental passage but still not loud and the final vocal then plays to perfection.  The closing instrumental is stunning!  I cannot overstate just how well it plays - it is so rare for this section to play as clearly as this and even the fade out with the end percussive tinkling plays with sublime precision and no background.  THIS IS A STUNNING VERSION of this classic and if not quite Mint- then Near Mint+ is well and truly deserved.  It would be very difficult to find a more crystal clear version on a genuine first press.  Wow!

The entire on 'Into The Void' has no intrusion and the first two verses are just as impressive.  The power and depth of the audio is exceptional and this 'class' is taken into the high octane 'chorus'.  There is perhaps just a minimal touch of vocal distortion but so so minimal that you hardly notice it.  I am sure it's only due to it being the final track on the album where the grooves are often pressed closer together.  The next instrumental passage is flawless and the final vocal / instrumental end this classic album with impeccable sonic quality.  This is another definitive version and easily qualifies as Mint- as there is no interference at all.

In summary this first pressing plays with a sonic quality that is rarely found today.  I have listened to a number of these down the years and this may well be right at the top.  In essence it plays 'as new' from start to finish with a clarity of sound that is just incredible.  Yes one static tick during 'Solitude' but even that isn't intrusive and you find worse on a new vinyl let alone one that was pressed over half a century ago!!  The power, depth and resonance of the audio is phenomenal and this is a record that you can turn up to max without fear of distortion.  As stated this is an album that has been so well looked after and it qualifies as a FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic - an easy decision to make.  No poster sadly but the box cover is in superb condition which is again a rarity.  This is certainly one for the vinyl purists.

The Box Cover & Swirl Inner

The embossed box cover is in lovely condition which is of course a rarity.  Its shape and structure has been helped considerably as two pieces of cardboard have been placed inside.  The left spine is only slightly angled and the right spine even less so.  All four spines are very strong and clean with only a few crease 'lines' and the 'main' spine remains 100% legible.  The top edge is only slightly upturned as is common but much less than usual and the corners are also very clean with hardly any wear.  The front cover is in superb order and has none of the laminate lift that you so often see - it is unmarked and has just a few small laminate creases around the edges.  The back cover is also in great shape and has just one tiny 'nick' on the bottom edge, a handful of minor creases next to the right edge and just one on the left edge.  There is also just one very small area of laminate lift in the bottom right corner.  Overall this is a fine example of this iconic cover.

The original Swirl inner is in excellent condition with no side splits and only one tiny tear on the central aperture.  It has only minimal age related fading around the edges and not too much creasing.  It is dated 0671 in one corner.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 5

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 4

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 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.

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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!!

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