Black Sabbath : Paranoid 1Y2 / 2Y2 3rd Vertigo Press

This early Vertigo pressing plays to a superb standard with not one single click or pop.  There is no intrusive interference at all and the clarity is stunning from start to finish.

This is from the same 'home' as the 'Black Sabbath' first LP that I am selling and has been looked after just as well.  There is a little more spindle wear but it still plays with exceptional audio.  

The laminated gatefold is incredibly clean and has only very minimal shelf wear, it would be hard to find better!  The original inner is also in superb shape with no side splits or marking.

6360011  1Y // 2  420  1 2 1 5

6360011  2Y // 2  420  1 2 1 0

The audio on S1 is Mint- (Tracks 1 & 3 Near Mint-)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (Track 2 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Ex+

The Side A label is Near Mint and Side B is labels are Ex+

The original 'Swirl' inner is Ex+

Visual grading

The vinyl is visually stunning with only a small number of very faint hairlines and there are no marks or scratches.  It is one of the finest examples of a Vertigo pressing that I ever seen.  There is no groove wear and whilst there is some spindle wear there is not an excessive amount.  The run out grooves and labels are also in great condition.

Play grading  

The intro on 'War Pigs' plays so clearly with only one light static tick and the first vocal section has just the one static tick also.  A very impressive opening!  As the volume increases there is no 'background' and the clarity is stunning to say the least.  The mid instrumental is so close to being perfect - there is just one click that is largely buried in the music.  The quiet percussive section that follows has no interference and from then on the audio is deep and strong with barely any static.  The end section is faultless, stunning in fact, and plays 'as new' I am pleased to say.  This section is Mint but overall the track grades as Near Mint- in my educated opinion.

The classic 'Paranoid' has only one light tick on the intro and then plays with a depth and quality that is equal to that of an unplayed vinyl!  There is no static or crackle and certainly no clicks or pops.  Every note can be heard perfectly and there is no audio deterioration at all.  Pure Mint- audio in every sense of the word :-)

As any collector knows 'Planet Caravan' is the one track on the album that is often affected by static, crackle etc being such a quiet number.  It begins beautifully with no 'background' and from start to finish there are only 3 to 4 light ticks.  There is certainly nothing that detracts from the audio and this is without doubt one of the cleanest versions I have heard in a long time.  A stunning Near Mint- version and some would maybe grade higher.  The long fade out could not sound any better!

The 'Iron Man' drum beat intro has no interference and that first classic riff also plays with perfect precision.  The first vocal is of the same immaculate standard and it continues to play with 'high end' audio.  It is so deep and powerful here and there is no distortion at all.  This is a FANTASTIC version and ends the side in superlative style.  It is breathtakingly good and there is not even a dust tick to be heard!  Pure Mint- audio for sure although I'm not sure a minus is required here!

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'Electric Funeral' has no static etc on the intro which is rare for the opening grooves on any record let alone one that is nearly 50 years old!  It continues to play with incredible power, depth and clarity.  There is just no intrusion on the audio and this as 'fresh' as it was back in '70!  Another example of vinyl that has been so well preserved down the years.  The long fade out is also super clean with barely any static.  Mint- for sure.

Having so many quiet sections 'Hand Of Doom' often plays with a fair amount of static or worse!  Not here!  The intro has barely any static and the clarity is very impressive indeed.  The first 'high octane' moment is stunning and from then on plays with great clarity.  I heard only two faint ticks in the second quieter section and the 'heavier' section then plays 'as new' there is no other way to describe it.  The final section is again so strong with only the bare minimum of mega light static in the quieter moments.  This is easily Near Mint it would be harder to find better on a Vertigo pressing.

'Rat Salad' is superb from start to finish.  There is no intrusive 'background' and the drum solo could not play any better!  A Mint- version.

The intro on 'Fairies Wear Boots' is without fault and in fact the entire opening instrumental is nigh on perfect with only one very faint tick.  As the vocal begins there is no decrease in quality and thereafter plays with amazing power and definition.  The mid instrumental is phenomenal!  So strong and with that classic deep bass Sabbath sound.  Wow!  This is truly a remarkable version and it plays with 'high end' precision to the very end.  Even the closing quieter section plays beautifully.  A sublime Mint- version to end this classic album.

In summary this FINAL UPGRADE album plays with sensational clarity and depth and not many like this come around too often!  The real barometer of this album is always the quiet 'Planet Caravan' and I am pleased to say it plays so well here.  In fact there are no clicks or pops and barely any static either.  Almost zero static basically!  This is one beautifully preserved vinyl!

The Gatefold

The laminated cover is in superb condition with no obvious shelf wear if I'm honest.  The edges and spine have no rubbing/marking - the spine just has the usual crease line running down the centre and it remains 100% legible.  The corners are also super clean and have hardly any wear, just a minimal amount bottom right but really not that noticeable.  The opening edge has only a little handling wear.  The front cover is extremely clean with no laminate lift and all you can see is one small 'rub' type mark bottom right.  There are a handful of creases next to the spine but that is usual.  The back cover is just as good with only a couple of minor creases and a small creasing affect next to the opening edge towards the bottom.  The inside of the gatefold is beautifully clean with no marking and as is the case with these pressings you can see the laminate overlap running along the top edge.  This is a fine example of this gatefold and rarely seen in this condition today.

'Swirl' Inner

The poly-lined swirl inner is in lovely condition with no side splits, no marking and no age related fading.  The black and white colours are as fresh as they were back in the early 70s.  There is just a little creasing and one very small tear on the central 'window'.

The Labels

They are very clean with only minimal spindle wear on Side A but a little more on Side B.  There is no writing and only a couple of faint fingerprint type marks on the Side B label.

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

6360011  1Y // 2  420  1 2 1 5

6360011  2Y // 2  420  1 2 1 0

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

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