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Black Sabbath : Vol 4 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press (Vertigo Swirl)

This first pressing plays to a superb standard with barely any interference.  There is just one light click on S2 and the clarity of sound on both sides is just stunning.  This is up there with the best Vol 4s that I have ever heard - the sheer quality of the music and Ozzy's vocal are just so strong and incredibly there is no distortion either.  The vinyl is visually stunning and has clearly hardly ever been played and there are only a couple of barely visible spindle traces on each label.  S2 even has a little vinyl 'flecking' around the spindle hole which adds more weight to this theory.  I cannot emphasise enough just how impressive the audio is here and even the quieter tracks 'Changes' and 'FX' play with sublime quality.

The iconic cover is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and is easily one of the cleanest around today and the original inner has also been very well preserved.

As this is a first press there is no 'Made In England' on the label and on the inside of the gatefold it states the '...great Coke-Cola Company...'  The run outs on both sides also have the Porky and Pecko etchings which of course relates to the famous mastering engineer George Peckham.

6360071   1Y // 1   1 2 1 1 3   PORKY

6360071   2Y // 1   1 1 1 9   PECKO

The audio on S1 is Near Mint- (T3 & T4 Near Mint)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner is Near Mint-
Visual grading
The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  There are only a very small number of ultra faint sleeve removal hairlines and they are certainly not easy to find!  As stated there is barely any spindle wear and there is still a little vinyl 'flecking' on the S2 label.  The run out grooves are pristine and the Vertigo labels are unmarked apart from one faint 'graze' across the small swirl logo on S2.
Play grading  

The intro on 'Wheels Of Confusion' has no interference and plays with great power and depth.  The opening vocal is just as strong and it proceeds in exactly the same way.  There is a lot to admire here!  In true Sabbath style it is a very powerful track and yet there is no static/distortion at al, it could hardly play any better.  Iommi's work has such depth and resonance and the end section is superb!  There is just one light tick on the fade out so will grade as Mint- accordingly.  If that tick wasn't there it would be Mint in every way!

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Tomorrow's Dream' then plays with stunning precision with no sign of any interference.  That familiar power and depth is very much in abundance and Osbourne's vocal has never sounded stronger.  A Mint track from start to finish.

'Changes' so often plays with static/crackle but this is a very impressive version without question.  There is no static on the intro and the first vocal just has one click but no other 'background'.  From then on it plays so well and is easily one of the cleanest versions you will find.  You often find some static distortion on the top end of the vocal but that is not the case here and this all points to a record that has hardly been played.  The more I listen to it the more impressed I am, the playback is so good.  The clarity is stunning and I am confident in grading it as Near Mint and again it would be Mint but for the one click at the beginning.

The very quiet 'FX' is another track that is regularly affected by static or worse and yet the clarity here is superb.  There is only the lightest of static in the background here and there - so minor and totally non-intrusive, hardly worth mentioning!  A Near Mint version for sure.

The percussive intro on 'Supernaut' is faultless as is Iommi's intro.  The opening vocal is just as strong and in a way the first thing you notice is the complete lack of distortion.  It is often affected by inner groove distortion but this is so clean and precise with a clarity of sound that is STUNNING!  The mid instrumental section is so powerful and the remainder again shows how infrequently it has been played.  Ward's solo is breathtaking!  The long fade out has no 'background' which is indicative of the clarity throughout the track if not the side.  There cannot be many Mint versions of this classic around today but we have one here!

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'Snowblind' on S2 plays with genuine quality from the very first groove and there is just one light click after the first vocal.  The first and second verses are 'as new' with no actual intrusion and the rest of the track is of the same 'high end' standard.  It has that 'fresh' sound as per a new vinyl and aside from that one click there is nothing that detracts from the imperious quality of the audio.  Near Mint but yes 99% is better than that!

The menacing intro on 'Cornucopia' has no 'background' and it then plays with such a dynamic power and depth that you only find on a vinyl that has been so well preserved and only lightly played.  It truly is a fantastic version - no intrusion no distortion just pure Mint audio from the first groove to the last.

'Laguna Sunrise' plays beautifully with no clicks or pops and only a couple of mega light ticks near the beginning.  The clarity is outstanding and it easily deserves a Mint- grade.

'St. Vitus Dance' continues this fine form and plays with exceptional power and depth with no interference at all.  No need to elaborate here this is Mint in every sense of the word :-)

The final track 'Under The Sun' also impresses on so many levels.  The total lack of inner groove distortion is one thing but the power and definition of the audio is just off the scale!  The sonic quality is as good as anything I have heard before and there is no interference whatsoever.  The clarity cannot be faulted and I cannot stress just how unbelievable the audio is!  There cannot be many first pressings where this classic has literally no distortion.  The end section is STUNNING and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint - it is as good a finish that you could wish for.

In summary this first Vertigo pressing plays to standard you rarely find today.  The clarity truly is sensational and two light clicks is all we have here.  There is no background static, no ticks or pops, and the playback could hardly be any better.  there is no distortion and we all know how rare that is.  This sonic quality only results from a vinyl that has been so well preserved down the years and hardly played.  As stated there is barely any spindle wear and the vinyl is visually stunning to say the least.  The clarity, depth and power of the music on both sides is so impressive and let's not forget this classic is 50 years old this September!

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The cover is in great condition with only very minimal shelf wear.  The top edges have only a little rubbing and the bottom edges almost zero which makes a change.  The spine is near perfect with only has a little wear on the bottom corner and the other corners are also very clean with just one tiny crease bottom right.  The opening edge is as close to perfect as could be.  The front cover is cleaner than the majority you find today and has none of the fading around the edges that you usually see.  It just has a couple of very faint marks on the second B of Sabbath and back cover is just as impressive with only very minor marking near the bottom edge.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and the 4 page photo booklet is still firmly attached.  A fine example of this iconic cover.

The original 'Plastic Bags...' inner has no side splits or tears, barely any marking and only very minimal creasing.  Superb - it has hardly seen the light of day in my opinion!  In 1972 not many of the Vertigo pressings came with a swirl inner.

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

6360071   1Y // 1   1 2 1 1 3   PORKY

6360071   2Y // 1   1 1 1 9   PECKO

At the moment eBay do not allow shipping to Russia due to the ongoing crisis.  Apologies to my Russian customers, you know who to blame.

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines

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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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