I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid / decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay generally collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.

Black Sabbath : Sabotage 1Y2 / 2Y2 1st Press NEMS 1975

This first pressing plays to a superb standard with very little background and this is all detailed below.  One static click being on S2 being the most obvious I guess.  Aside from that the clarity, depth, power and warmth of the audio is stunning and it is clear this vinyl has hardly been played in my opinion.  The vinyl is very clean and there is no spindle wear on the labels.  S2 is still very impressive and S1 is out of this world!  The classics 'Hole In The Sky' and 'Symptom Of The Universe' are just two of the highlights, they both play with incredible quality grading as Mint and Mint- respectively.

The fully textured cover is in excellent condition with some wear by the spine but not an excessive amount.  The original Plastic Bags... is also in excellent order.

This first pressing has RECORDS & TAPES on both the labels and the back cover.  Megalomania is spelt as Meglomania on the S1 label.

9119001  1Y//2  ST  1 1   1 4   ---   9119001  2Y//2  ST  1 1   1 2  (STERLING stamped on both)

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex+ / T4 intro & second brief instrumental Ex)

The fully textured cover is Ex-

The original inner sleeve is Ex

The NEMS labels are Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a lovely glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only see a small number of very faint hairlines and there is nothing that stands out.  On S1 there is one mark on the run in and another on the run out grooves so not on the actual tracks of course.  S2 is exceptionally clean with only a couple of minor blemishes on the run out grooves.  Like I say the vinyl itself is in great shape.  The NEMS labels are super clean with no marking or spindle wear.

Play grading

The countdown intro on 'Hole In The Sky' has no intrusion and then Iommi's introduction plays loud and true with superb sonic quality.  Ozzy's opening vocal section is just as strong and clear and the first instrumental bridge is perfect also.  the second vocal is equal to that and it continues to play with impeccable quality.  Back to their heavy best this is sonically so impressive with no distortion on the top end and the depth and power of the audio is out of this world.  To the end it cannot be faulted and Mint is very much deserved.

The acoustic 'Don't Start (Too Late)' plays with stunning clarity.  There are only two barely audible statics at the start and I do mean barely audible!  I will still grade it as Mint

The classic thrash intro on 'Symptom Of The Universe' plays deep and powerful and again the depth is off the chart!  Ward's percussion here is superb.  The opening vocal section is just as strong and clear as is the instrumental bridge and the next vocal has zero intrusion.  Just pure clean audio so far!  The following instrumental is near perfect with just one very light tick towards the end.  Just this section alone shows how strong they were musically - not just a heavy metal band in other words!  The next vocal section is flawless and it continues to play with sublime quality.  Iommi's work is legendary on this track but a special mention for Ward and Butler - incredible work!  The audio separation is STUNNING, every note so clean and precise - during the heavy section but also during the acoustic end section.  This instrumental passage plays with exceptional clarity - this has to be a Mint- version, I mean that one tick is so minor.

The intro on 'Megalomania' plays so clearly and the first verse and chorus are just as clean.  The next quiet vocal has no intrusion and the second chorus is equal to that.  The next section beginning with that repetitive percussive sound from Ward is flawless as is the instrumental break.  The higher octane Well, I feel something's taking me I don't know where... vocal section is stunning.  The playback is so clean and there is no let up as it progresses.  Sonically it is so impressive for a final track and there is no distortion on the top end.  With wonderful depth and power the vocal and instrumental passages play with genuine quality.  If there is any inner groove distortion towards the end it is so so minimal and totally non-intrusive.  The closing orchestral piece plays with great depth and the audio is again so powerful and clean.  A couple of minor statics on the fade out but overall Mint- is fair.

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The intro on 'Thrill Of It All' is perfect and Iommi's solo in particular is superb.  There is one static click in the next brief section and then opening vocal is faultless.  The instrumental that follows can only be described 'as new' and it continues to play with stunning quality.  No interference, no distortion it could not play any better.  Aside from that one static click the audio is high end - the power and definition of the highest calibre.  I'll grade the intro as Ex+ but from then on Mint is richly deserved.

'Supertzar' plays with real quality through every section.  A distinctly unique 'instrumental' from Sabbath the clarity and definition of the audio is so impressive and I only noticed a handful of barely audible statics.  The vocal sound from the English Chamber Choir is exemplary and there it nothing to detract from the audio.  Mint-

'Am I Going Insane (Radio)' plays with impeccable clarity and depth through every section.  From start to finish there is not even a single static sound let alone anything worse.  No need to elaborate, it is Mint all the way through including the scary 'laughing' finale!

The segue into 'The Writ' is so quiet but there are only a few minor statics and a couple of light ticks.  The opening three verses play perfectly and the quiet instrumental bridge has only a handful of dull sounds, not ticks as such.  The next vocal section has no intrusion and it continues to play with great quality.  The harpsichord sections play with such clean audio and the brief vocal in the middle of it has only the bare minimum of inner groove distortion.  I think I heard a xylophone also - plays great!  The high octane instrumental passage that ends this classic is perfect and it demands to be turned up to max!  A bit difficult to grade in a way - I'll say Ex for the those two brief instrumental sections and Mint- for the remainder.

The uncredited 'Blow On A Jug' plays very clearly and with only a little static.  If I had to give it a grade I would say Ex

The Cover & Plastic Bags Inner Sleeve

The fully textured cover is in excellent condition with only one obvious area of wear.  This some wear / rubbing by the top left corner so nothing major as such.  The top edge has no wear and the bottom edge has only minimal rubbing.  Aside from the wear near the top is in pretty good shape with a little wear by the bottom corner also.  The right hand corners are very clean and the opening edge has only light 'crimping' in one area.  The front cover has no marking and you can only see the rubbing on the spine and a little crimping by the right edge.  The back cover is superb with barely any wear.  A strong example overall.

The original poly-lined inner sleeve has no side splits or tears and hardly any creasing.  It just has some a small number of fingerprint type marks but is otherwise very clean.

9119001  1Y//2  ST  1 1   1 4   ---   9119001  2Y//2  ST  1 1   1 2  (STERLING stamped on both)

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

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

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!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £20.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £19.95 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!!