Black Sabbath : Black Sabbath 1Y1 / 2Y1 2nd Press

This second pressing on the Vertigo label plays to a wonderful standard with only a 4/5 seconds of interference on Side A as detailed below.  It is without doubt one of the finest second pressings I have ever listened to and Side B in particular is absolutely stunning!  The clarity, depth and power on both sides is outstanding and whilst it has been played a number of times judging by the spindle wear it has lost none of its original sonic quality.  The vinyl is visually stunning and has clearrly been very well preserved over the decades.

The iconic gatefold has only a little shelf wear and for a second press cover you won't find many better.  This version has the band member and production credits in capital letters and is missing the composition and publishing credits which were added onto all subsequent releases.  Ozzy is still incorrectly spelt as Ossie on the inside.

This second press also has the large 'Swirl' logo above the spindle hole and VERTIGO written below Black Sabbath at the bottom of the label.

VO 6   1Y * 1   420  1 3 4

VO 6   2Y * 1   420  1 2 1 

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint / T4 intro VG- for 4/5 seconds)

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

The gatefold is Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

The original swirl inner is VG+

Visual grading

This vinyl is in lovely condition and retains a very impressive glossy sheen.  Side A just has one very tiny 2/3mm faint scratch at the start of track four but aside from that this side is visually stunning with only a couple of ultra faint hairlines.  Side B is also visually so impressive with only one small half moon shaped faint scuff on track one that has no affect on the stunning audio at all.  A handful of mega faint sleeve removal hairlines but overall this is easily one of the finest examples you will find of this very collectable second pressing.  The large swirl Vertigo labels are superb with no marking or writing, just some spindle wear but not an excessive amount.  The vinyl does have a very minor 'lift' on one edge as you play Side B but it has no affect on the audio or stylus.  Very minor!

Play grading  

The 'thunderstorm / bell toll' intro on 'Black Sabbath' is superb!  It plays so clearly with barely any static and there are obviously no clicks or pops.  As the music kicks in the clarity and power of the audio cannot be faulted and Osborne's first vocal is also hugely impressive.  There is just a minimal touch of barely audible static in the background but yes so quiet and totally non-intrusive.  From then onwards it plays with great sonic quality and the quieter sections have a clarity of sound that you so rarely find on these early swirl pressings.  And the louder passages?  Wow!  The power and definition here is so strong, it really does play with such a deep resonance.  The classic up tempo end section is sublime and rounds off the track in supreme style with no distortion at all.  This is so close to Mint but will grade as Near Mint just to be cautious - the majority is Mint :-)

The harmonica intro on 'The Wizard' is close to perfect with only one light static sound.  As the pace picks up the audio is 'as new' and this standard is maintained as Ozzy enters the scene.  It continues in the same precise way with no interference and already I am running out of superlatives for the quality of the audio on offer here!  I am confident in grading this as Mint- such is the quality.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either.

'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' is of the same 'high end' standard with no interference.  The long intro plays to perfection as does the first vocal section and it proceeds in the same way.  As always I have listened to every second so as to provide a 'complete' grading and every section is STUNNING!  Audio does not get any better than this!  Iommi's work is so powerful and precise and the percussive end section also provides further evidence of a vinyl so well preserved down the years.  This track is Mint- in every way.

The bass intro on 'N.I.B.' starts off with super clean audio but there are a few clicks just towards the end of it.  They are caused by the tiny scratch as described above.  As Iommi comes in normal service is resumed and the first vocal is equally as good.  From then on it plays with exceptional power and depth and for once there is no inner groove distortion.  The mid solo is incredible and 'as new' describes it correctly - pretty much like the rest of the track!  Aside from the brief interference at the beginning each note is so clean and precise and as I often say that is rare for any final track let alone one from 1970!  The end solo is fantastic!  Turn it up to max and you can imagine yourself back in '70...if you want to!  The intro is VG- but the remainder is undeniably MINT- it is a stunning listen side.

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'Evil Woman...' plays with superb clarity and power from the get go and this standard is maintained throughout.  There is no intrusion on the audio apart from some light clicks on fade out.  Because of that this can only be Near Mint+ but it goes without saying that the vast majority is Mint.  Can you believe I have to downgrade it due to a fade out!!

There is no such issue on the acoustic intro of 'Sleeping Village' which plays with sublime clarity.  Ozzy's vocal is just as 'clean' and as Iommi's familiar sound comes in the audio is out of this world!  This long instrumental section has to be one of the finest examples I have ever heard - I just played it back again and it just gets better!  Each percussive note is so clean and Butler's deep bass adds so much to the mix also.  The audio definition is stunning and there is no interference - this entire instrumental section plays with incredible accuracy and has lost none of its original sonic quality.  Iommi's final extended note has a couple of dust ticks but I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint - what a version!

The segue into 'Warning' is superb and the heavy bass/guitar intro is up there with the best I have heard.  The opening verses are equally as impressive and this classic continues to play with stunning precision.  The percussive section on the three minute mark is 'as new' and the following quiet section is...totally silent!  The clarity, power and depth of this instrumental section is just STUNNING and I cannot adequately put into words just how good it is!  The clarity is quiet simply on another level and it plays like it has never been played before!  Iommi's stand alone solos are just so 'clean' and the 'silent' sections are exactly that, silent.  The 'louder' section towards the end is flawless and the final verse again has no interference.  This is an exceptional version and Mint is very much deserved.  What a finish to this classic debut album!

In summary it does not get much better than this!  Admittedly there is a little interference at the start of 'N.I.B' on S1 but it is only brief and the rest of the side is superb.  S2 is on another level though!  It plays to a FANTASTIC standard with no sign of any interference and I hope I have adequately put into words just how impressive the audio is here.  This record has been played a number of times but in no way has it lost any of its original sonic quality.  That just goes to show how well it has been cared for down the years.  The quieter sections play beautifully and there is no distortion on the top end either.  I am sure the winning bidder will be as suitably impressed as I am!

The Gatefold & 'Swirl' Inner Sleeve

The matt textured cover is in excellent condition with only minimal wear.  It has retained its shape very well and has no bends or obvious creasing.  The top edges are super clean with no marking and whilst the bottom edges do have some rubbing it has not affected their strength.  The wide spine is near perfect with only a very minimal amount of corner wear and of course remains 100% legible.  The right hand corners just have a little more wear on the corners and the opening edge has only a little 'feathering'.  The front cover is immaculate and the back cover is just as clean also with no marking.  The inside of the gatefold is in excellent shape compared to so many and has only two 'white' marks and couple of smaller specks plus a little fading around the edges.  A fine example overall.

The original swirl inner has no side splits or tears but does have a little faint marking and some of the usual age related fading around the edges plus some minor creasing.  It is also missing its original poly-lining.

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

VO 6   1Y * 1   420  1 3 4

VO 6   2Y * 1   420  1 2 1

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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