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Black Sabbath : Tyr A1 / B1 1st press 1990 I.R.S. Records

This very collectable first pressing plays with superb audio and only minimal background.  As is common with this LP the opening track on each side has a little static / crackle for 4/5 seconds but I have heard a lot worse.  Quite often you find persistent static / crackle but that is certainly not the case here.  The rest of the album plays with stunning quality and it is clear it has not been played very much, there is no actual spindle wear on the labels.

The cover is in superb condition and has clearly hardly ever been handled, it is as close to perfect as could be.  I am pleased to say the lyric inner is in perfect Mint condition.

EIRSA 1038 // A-1U-1-2  D / B-1U-1-1  D  TOWNHOUSE (etched)

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro VG for 3/4 seconds)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T1 intro VG for 4/5 seconds / T2 Near Mint / T4 intro Ex+)

The cover is Mint-

The lyric inner is Mint

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no scratches.  Under a bright light I can see some faint hairlines and some very faint mottling but overall it is a very clean copy.  The run out grooves are pristine and the IRS labels have no spindle wear, just a few minor indents on the S2 label.

Play grading

The intro on 'Anno Mundi' plays very clearly with only minimal light static but as the vocal comes in there is some crackle / three static clicks.  For some reason this is common with this LP, I have never heard this opening section play with Mint audio!  The rest of this opening vocal plays with great clarity and as Iommi enters the scene the playback is faultless.  It continues in the same way and the sonic quality here really is very strong.  The quieter mid section has no background and the remainder is of the same high standard.  Apart from that brief VG section at the beginning this track grades as Mint-

'The Law Maker' plays with genuine power and depth from the get go.  A fast, furious and heavy track with strong percussion from Powell it plays with stunning precision all the way through.  Mint

The intro on 'Jerusalem' plays perfectly and Martin's opening vocal is equally as strong.  The first chorus is faultless and thereafter plays as you would want it to, with outstanding clarity and power and... no interference.  There is nothing getting in the way of the audio here it is Mint from start to finish.

The stop / start intro on 'The Sabbath Stones' plays so clearly with only a handful of quiet statics.  From that point on it plays with STUNNING quality even during the quieter 'moments'.  This truly is audio of the highest calibre and I did not pick up any background, not bad for a near 7 minute track!  I mean all of it is superb but the end instrumental / vocal piece is so impressive!  A Mint- version.

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Much like S1 the opening track 'The Battle Of Tyr' never plays with pristine audio.  In saying only the first few seconds have a little static / crackle and the rest is very clean with barely any static.  A brief instrumental and I will say VG right at the start and then Mint- for the remainder.

The quiet intro on 'Odin's Court' has no such issue.  There is just one very quiet static and the first verse then plays with wonderful clarity.  The 'bridge' has only a couple of mega quiet statics and the second and final verse plays very clearly with no interference as such, just a handful of minor statics.  I think Near Mint is fair here.

The segue into 'Valhalla' is perfect and the Martin's opening vocal section is just as impressive.  This is obviously another track that demands to be turned up to max and the sonic quality does not suffer for it.  With impeccable power and definition it could not play any better and Mint is very much deserved.

The intro on 'Feels Good To Me' has only minimal light static, nothing intrusive, and the first vocal plays to perfection.  Not exactly in keeping with the rest of the album this rock ballad nonetheless plays with stunning clarity from then on.  No ticks, clicks, pops or static the 'bulk' of this track plays with phenomenal quality.  An Ex+ intro and Mint from then on.

The final track 'Heaven In Black' plays with real quality with no sign of any interference.  Once again the power, depth and resonance of the audio is very much in evidence - the sonic quality is superb!  Every vocal and instrumental section qualify 'as new' and it brings this great album to a satisfying Mint conclusion.

In summary this first pressing plays with superb audio with only a few seconds of static / crackle on the opening tracks to each side which is unavoidable with this LP as stated.  The rest of the album plays with sublime quality with no actual interference, a handful of minor statics that is all.  The sonic quality is up there with the best I have ever heard and it certainly plays 'loud'!  A great album.

The Cover & Lyric Inner

The cover is in fantastic condition and is almost 'as new'.  The edges and spine are perfect and only the bottom right corner has a tiny 'rub', the other corners are pristine.  The opening edge has no handling wear as such, just one very small faint crimp that you could easily miss.  The front and back cover are immaculate with no marking, a stunning example for sure.

The lyric inner is also in pristine condition with no side splits, marking or creasing.

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

EIRSA 1038 // A-1U-1-2  D / B-1U-1-1  D  TOWNHOUSE (etched)

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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