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

This third pressing on the Vertigo label plays to a wonderful standard with barely any interference, just two minor clicks that are lost in the music really!  The clarity and depth of the audio is superb and an example of this clarity is on 'Planet Caravan' which plays beautifully and we all know how rare that is.

The laminated cover is in fantastic condition with no obvious wear and the original swirl inner is also in super clean with no side splits or marking.

As stated if anyone wins all three of the Sabbath albums I am selling I will offer free worldwide shipping!  This would otherwise be quiet expensive as the extra insurance required would be a lot!

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6360011  2Y // 2  420  1 2  1 4

The audio on S1 is Mint- (Track 2 Near Mint+)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (Track 1 Ex+ although Mint- for the majority)

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The labels are Near Mint

The original swirl inner is Near Mint-

Visual grading

This early pressing is visually in superb condition and has no marks or scratches.  It still has a stunning jet-black glossy sheen and at first glance looks as new!  Only on closer inspection can you detect a handful of very faint hairlines.  Side A is in fact immaculate and Side B only has a couple of very small hairlines that are a little more obvious but they obviously have no affect on the audio.  You don't find many Vertigo pressings looking as good as this!  There is not very much spindle wear and it is clear this record has not been overplayed.  The run out grooves are super clean as are the labels.

Play grading  

The intro on 'War Pigs' plays with superb clarity and only a couple of dust ticks.  The quiet section just after the 'air raid' siren is so 'clean' and again the clarity is so impressive.  The first vocal is faultless and from that point on the audio is so strong and deep and it plays with stunning precision.  There is no interference and the mid instrumental could not play any better.  The 'quiet' section prior to the next verse plays beautifully with no intrusion and the remainder of this classic has no interference...again.  The closing instrumental is in fact 'as new' and I can confidently grade this as Mint- it is a stunning start to the album.

With complete silence in the dead wax (giving you a good idea of the clarity here) 'Paranoid' then plays with outstanding quality from start to finish.  It's the definition of the audio that really stands out here and it clearly has not been overplayed.  There is no groove wear and the clarity and strong bass sound is incredible!  There is one very light click in the mid section but is hardly intrusive, it is the only 'background'.  There is no underlying static and the playback is outstanding all the way through.  This is worthy of a Near Mint+ grade in my opinion.

This version of 'Planet Caravan' is perhaps the finest I have ever heard.  The Vertigo pressings are generally heavily played (quite right too!) and thus the clarity on this quiet track suffers accordingly.  Not here!  There is no static let alone any crackle and the clarity is very impressive indeed.  There are only a small number of dust ticks but they hardly qualify as interference.  This is a sublime Mint- version and so rarely found as immaculate as this.

The metronome intro on 'Iron Man' is faultless and continues in exactly same way.  There is no interference and the clarity and power is phenomenal!  An easy one to grade, this is Mint from start to finish.  Very impressive when you consider final tracks often have a fair amount of distortion.  This is STUNNING in every way!  

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'Electric Funeral' plays with perfect precision on the intro and the first two verses are of the same 'high end' standard.  In the brief instrumental section that follows there are two clicks but they are largely 'buried' in the music so not that intrusive.  From that point on the audio is superb with only a small number of very light ticks during the mid instrumental.  The 'louder' section plays with wonderful power and depth and the final two verses then play with a clarity that is 'as new'.  An Ex+ grade is fair as there is only minimal interference and the vast majority does play to a higher standard.

The superb quiet intro on 'Hand Of Doom' is stunning!  With only a couple of dust ticks the playback could hardly be any better.  Throughout this classic the quieter sections play with remarkable clarity and the louder passages impress just as much.  There is no distortion and the heavy mid section in particular is so strong and powerful!  A Mint- version in my educated opinion :-)

'Rat Salad' has only a couple of light ticks on the intro but otherwise plays perfectly.  Again the depth and warmth on this instrumental is something you only find with the Vertigo pressings.  The drum solo is 'as new' and overall this deserves a Mint- grade.

The long intro on 'Fairies Wear Boots' is Mint and continues in the same way I am pleased to say.  The first vocal has no interference and the clarity of sound is again incredible.  There is no distortion and the sonic quality throughout is so impressive.  This is a stunning version and there is quite simply no interference.  It's not often this classic ends the album with Mint audio but this one does!

In summary this early Vertigo pressing plays to a sublime standard and the clarity and depth of the sound is amongst the finest I have ever heard.  Only every lightly played it has lost none of its original sonic quality and the playback cannot really be faulted.  Yes there are a couple of light clicks on Side B but they are somewhat hidden in the music and not that intrusive.  Aside from that the audio is stunning!  You would have to travel far and wide to find a cover as good as this one and the original inner is also in great condition.  Ok not a 'Big Bear' pressing but a superb one nonetheless.

The Gatefold

The laminated cover is definitely one of the finest I have seen and has hardly any wear.  The edges are in fantastic condition with only one barely visible rub on the top edge of the front cover.  The spine is in superb order with no obvious wear and the corners for once have next to no rubbing/creasing.  The right hand corners are equally as good with no real wear, they are so rarely seen as clean as this!  The opening edge is in great shape with no handling wear as such, just a small number of tiny dings/creases.  Only minor and nothing to worry about!  The front cover is beautiful with no marking and for once has no laminate damage.  There are a couple of laminate creases near the top edge and a couple of very small ones next to the right edge but you could not wish to find a better front cover really.  So often it has a lot of laminate creasing around the edges but not here!  The back cover is just as good with only a couple of small laminate creases.  The inside of the gatefold is super clean with no marking/creasing (again how rare is this?!) and as can be seen it has the laminate fold over running along the top edges.  The bottom edge of the right hand side has only a couple of very small white 'marks'.  This 'interior' though is near perfect for sure.  Overall a stunning example of this famous cover.

The Inner 'Swirl' Sleeve

The original poly-lined 'swirl' inner, has no side splits or tears and very little creasing.  It has hardly any age related marking and is a superb example of its type.

The Labels

The Vertigo labels are in lovely condition with no marking, foxing or writing.  With only a minimal amount of spindle wear they are near perfect.

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

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6360011  2Y // 2  420  1 2  1 4

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 SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SENDING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA/UKRAINE AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM VIA TRACKED SHIPPING AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00.

WHEN ITEMS SELL BETWEEN £50.00 AND £250.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT TO ANY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY AND COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £7.50 AS EXTRA INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.

FOR ITEMS OVER £250.00 PLEASE CONTACT ME AS THERE WILL BE A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM AND WILL HAVE TO BE SENT VIA A COURIER SERVICE AND THE COSTS CAN VARY.  THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE UP TO £250.00 HENCE THE NEED FOR ANOTHER SERVICE.  PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR THE EXACT AMOUNT AND THEN WAIT FOR THE INVOICE.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.75 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE (Standard)

LPs/12" singles : £9.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Standard)  

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £1.95 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE I HAVE RECEIVED IT.  THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!