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Black Sabbath : Paranoid 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st press Vertigo 'Big Bear' Credit 1970

This first Vertigo pressing plays with superb audio on both sides with only minimal background and there is nothing that stands out.  Even the two 'quieter' tracks 'Planet Caravan' and 'Hand Of Doom' play with great clarity and very little intrusion.  As for the other tracks - absolutely stunning!  This is easily one of the finest first pressings I have ever listened to and the original sonic quality is still very much there.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is breathtaking!  The vinyl has been very well preserved with only some hairlines and I doubt has been played too much.

The iconic cover does have some wear, mainly some rubbing on the edges and corners but there are some excellent aspects to it.  For example just look at the inside with the all important Big Bear management credit, it really is in superb condition.  An overall grade of VG++ is fair though I would say.  The original Vertigo inner is in great condition also.

This first pressing has a large Vertigo swirl on the label and there is no break between 'Hand Of Doom' and 'Rat Salad' on S2 making it look like there are just three tracks on the side.  And of course it has the Big Bear credit on the inside which was soon removed on the second and later pressings.

6360011 1Y//1 420 1 2 1

6360011 2Y//1 420 1 1 4

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint / T3 ranges between Ex+ and Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint+ / T4 Mint-)

The Big Bear gatefold is VG+

The Vertigo inner sleeve is Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still holds a strong glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can some faint hairlines but they are purely superficial as they have no impact on the superb audio.  There is no groove wear or 'clouding' on the vinyl and the Vertigo labels are also very clean with no marking or writing and only a little spindle wear.

Play grading

The 'menacing' intro on 'War Pigs' plays with stunning clarity and depth and the air raid section could not play any better.  Ward's quiet percussive section also plays with outstanding clarity and Osbourne's opening vocal is equal to that.  So far no ticks, clicks or pops and only a couple of barely audible statics.  The instrumental passage that follows is perfect and the next high octane vocal has no intrusion either.  It continues to play with a sonic quality that cannot be faulted - the depth and resonance is just sensational!  There is just a hint of light static for one second during the next percussive 'section' but yes so brief and easily missed.  The next vocal is again perfect and the classic end section is close to that with only one light static tick, nothing intrusive.  Stunning separation throughout i.e. each note is so clean and precise and overall Near Mint is deserved at the very least.  What a start!

The equally classic 'Paranoid' plays to the same high end standard with zero interference.  A couple of mega quiet statics on the intro and then the opening vocal is 'as new'.  Once again its the depth and power of the audio that really stands out.  As 'clean' as it was back in '70 there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and no distortion either, just pure Doom metal perfection!  Every vocal and instrumental is flawless and this has to grade as Mint- it is that good.

'Planet Caravan' for once plays with exceptional clarity and only minimal background.  The intro is perfect and the opening vocal has only a small number of minor statics at the beginning.  A couple more during the 'bridge' and the next vocal section is superb with only 2/3 statics.  It is so rare for this track to play so clearly and especially on a genuine first pressing.  Iommi's delicate end section keeps up the good work with STUNNING clarity even during the long fade out.  This is easily the cleanest version I have heard on a Big Bear first pressing and I would say it ranges between Ex+ and Mint- it really such an impressive version.

'Iron Man' ends the side with phenomenal audio through every section.  The sonic quality is as strong and dynamic as it ever was and again it just goes to show how well this vinyl has been preserved.  In fact I've played it twice now and I cannot emphasise enough just how well it plays, the audio is incredible!  Every note is crystal clear and there is no inner groove distortion at all, the depth and clarity on Butler's bass is staggering.  This truly is a Mint version of this classic.

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The intro and opening vocal on 'Electric Funeral' have no intrusion and it continues in the same precise way.  There is one static tick during the mid instrumental but that is the only background of note.  The high octane vocal is perfect and the rest of the track is of the same standard.  The usual clarity and depth and a Near Mint+ version in my opinion.  The long fade out plays with incredible clarity!

The quiet intro on 'Hand Of Doom' has barely any static and Osbourne's opening vocal is on the same level.  As per PC this track is often beset with sound issues because of the many quiet sections but the clarity here is just stunning.  The first high octane vocal is 'as new' as is the next quiet section - wow!  Butler's bass solo has only a couple of minor statics and then the high powered section could not play with any greater precision.  From then on it plays with great quality and there is only minimal static during the next quiet instrumental - a couple of static ticks / light clicks.  The remainder has no intrusion and I believe Near Mint is a fair reflection of the audio here.  There is barely any intrusion.

'Rat Salad' plays with impeccable quality with no obvious intrusion.  A couple of barely audible statics on the intro and one near the end that is all.  This instrumental is Near Mint I would say.

The long intro on 'Fairies Wear Boots' is so deep and strong and there is no background either.  Superb!  Osbourne's opening vocal is just as impressive and this classic continues to play with a sonic quality that is second to none.  You can turn it up to max without fear of distortion - the long instrumental is so clean and powerful, I cannot praise it highly enough.  As good as I have ever heard, the playback is stunning and the final vocal is just as strong.  The closing section has no interference and I am 100% confident in grading this as Mint such is the quality.  A stunning finish to this stunning album!

The Gatefold & Vertigo Inner Sleeve

The 'Big Bear' cover has some shelf wear but certainly not an excessive amount and for once the inside is so clean with only a couple of very small faint marks.  The bottom edges have some rubbing but no damage and the top edges remain very clean indeed.  The spine has some wear also and has a little more noticeable wear on the top corner.  The bottom corners have some light rubbing and top right is in excellent shape.  The opening edge is in superb condition with no obvious wear at all.  The front cover has no real marking just some light foxing mainly on the right side and the back cover only has a couple of small marks near the top edge and not very much foxing.  As stated the inside is incredibly clean so in a sense it's hard to grade but I would say VG+ is about right.

The Vertigo inner (dated 0470) is in excellent condition with only some light creasing and a little age related fading along the top edges.  There are no side splits or tears.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

6360011 1Y//1 420 1 2 1

6360011 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 will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

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LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!