Black Sabbath : Vol 4 1st Press 1Y1 / 2Y1

This first pressing on the Vertigo label plays to a superb with only 2/3 seconds of interference on S2.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is second to none and rarely have I heard such incredible sonic quality.  The vinyl is visually stunning and has only been played a handful of times in my opinion.  There is very little spindle wear and this is undeniably one of the finest examples I have heard in many a year.

As this is a first pressing there is no 'Made in England' on the Side B label and no track times on the inner gatefold.  The cover has a matt texture and the VO Price Code on the back.  Porky and Pecko is hand etched on the run out grooves which of course relates to the famous cutting/mastering engineer George Peckham - another reason why this issue is so collectable.

This cover is super clean with only minimal wear and the inner booklet remains fully attached.  The original inner has no side splits and is in great condition, date code of 0972.

Shipping costs to the US have increased recently so please wait for the invoice.  As an example I recently sent 3 LPs via tracked shipping and this cost just over £34.00 - packaging costs not included!

6360071 1Y // 1   1 2 1 1 2  PORKY

6360071 2Y // 1   1 1 7  PECKO

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

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 VG- for three seconds)

The gatefold is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner is Near Mint-

Visual grading

The vinyl is easily one of the cleanest examples I have seen and it retains a stunning jet-black glossy sheen at at first glance looks 'as new'!  There are no marks or scratches and you have to look very hard in order to find a small number of very faint hairlines!  There is no groove wear and judging by the audio quality and the minimal spindle wear it has clearly not been on a turntable very many times.  It has been preserved so well and is visually just so impressive.  The run out grooves glisten beautifully and labels are also in fantastic condition.  A stunning record!

Play grading

The run in grooves on S1 have no 'background' so you know you're in for an audio treat!  The intro on 'Wheels Of Confusion' is so close to perfect with just a minor touch of barely audible static during the second guitar part.  This is totally non-intrusive and I only mention it as I list any 'imperfection' however small.  And this is small!  The first vocal has only one very light tick and the clarity cannot really be faulted.  It continues to play with remarkable precision and the mid section instrumental is STUNNING in every way.  The playback here is sensational and I cannot praise it highly enough - the clarity is equal to that of an unplayed vinyl.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and certainly no static or crackle plus no distortion on the top end.  Each note can be heard so clearly and as Ozzy bursts back in in a blaze of power the audio is again Mint there is no other way to describe it.  The remainder is of the same 'high end' standard and the classic end section is a prime example of that.  The clarity and definition of the audio is so 'clean' and this is up there with the best I have ever heard.  I know I can get rather enthusiastic at times (!) but when you find audio such as this I try to utilise all my literacy skills in describing the phenomenal audio on offer!  This is pure audio poetry!  The fade out also plays with incredible precision and this classic opening track is well deserving of a Mint- grade.  What a start!

'Tomorrow's Dream' is of the same 'high end' standard if not better!  The audio has such depth and it has lost none of its original sonic quality - it very much still has that typical deep foreboding Sabbath sound.  It is as 'clean' as when first released back in '72 and there is no interference from start to finish, not even a single dust tick.  An exceptional Mint version.

'Changes' provides another example of vinyl so well preserved and only lightly played.  There is no hiding place for this relatively quiet track as any collector will know that it is often affected by static/distortion.  This is without doubt one of the finest versions I have ever heard and dare I say, perhaps the best.  There is barely any static and what there is is so minimal and totally non-intrusive.  Even on Osborne's higher register there is no static distortion and this is a genuine rarity.  I only write what I hear and do not exaggerate my listings (as my regulars know) and this is truly a beautiful rendition of this track.  The quiet piano section ends proceedings with great clarity.  I honestly believe a Mint- is deserved here.

'FX' is of course even quieter but again the clarity is outstanding.  There is no underlying static and the playback is just so 'clean'.  The only negative is one light tick followed by a static click in the middle but that is the only intrusion.  There is no 'speck' on the vinyl to suggest a reason and is just one of those vinyl 'imperfections' you could say.  Aside from that the audio is STUNNING and I think Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio.

The percussive intro on 'Supernaut' is 'as new' and the first verse is more than equal to that.  This classic continues in the same manner with no interference and incredibly no inner groove distortion.  Sabbath collectors know this closing track is regularly affected by some distortion but there is zero here - another example of a hardly played vinyl!  The power and clarity throughout is on a level you so rarely find and as for Ward's long percussive section?  Each note is again so clean and whilst I know I am repeating myself this has to be finest version I have heard in many a year.  The remainder is of the same standard and the long fade out has no 'background' either.  A powerhouse of a track and I cannot believe just how well it plays.  This is MINT every day of the week!

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'Snowblind' on S2 plays with great quality from the word go.  There is just one light tick on the intro and as the vocal begins the audio is as 'fresh' as it was back in 1972.  The following instrumental section is also 'as new' but during the next vocal there are three consecutive clicks.  This is annoying because apart from that the clarity in this section is superb - I can see a tiny 'dot' type mark so maybe caused by a needle drop.  The remainder plays with great precision and no other 'background' just a couple of barely audible ticks.  Iommi's closing section is so strong and dynamic and plays faultlessly.  In essence this is Mint- but VG- for three seconds only.

Back to form with 'Cornucopia' which is 'as new' with that deep menacing Sabbath quality!  From the first groove to the last there is no interference and you could not wish for greater power, depth and clarity.  This is Mint in every sense of the word.

The delicate instrumental 'Laguna Sunrise' plays beautifully with amazing clarity.  I need not say anymore, this is audio of the highest calibre and there is literally no intrusion on the audio.  A stunning Mint version.

'St. Vitus Dance' plays with exceptional clarity and power and there is no sign of any distortion.  No interference either!  Once again this is another track worthy of a Mint grade.  It is difficult not to repeat myself but when there is so little interference across an entire album it is not easy coming up with original comments all the time!

The foreboding intro on 'Under The Sun' is 'as new' with no 'background' and then continues in the same precise way.  It's the total lack of interference that you notice and the playback is awesome!  Again there is no inner groove distortion and that is rare on any final track from this era let alone a Sabbath album that were generally very heavily played.  This record has been so well preserved and that is very much in evidence on this classic final track.  The classic final section is breathtaking and ends the album in sublime style and I am delighted to say this track is Mint from the first note to the last.

In summary this first pressing plays with a sonic quality that you rarely find today.  Both sides play with stunning clarity and definition and from the opening note on S1 to the final one on S2 there is only 2/3 seconds worth of obvious interference.  The rest of S2 is faultless but in a way it's S1 that really stands out because the sound quality on the two quieter tracks is so impressive as I described earlier.  Yes there is one static click on 'FX' but otherwise it plays with great precision.  You rarely find such clarity on this genuine first press and it is very obvious to me it has only been lightly played.  The clarity, the definition, the lack of distortion, how clean the vinyl is and the very minimal spindle wear all point to this.  A superb album that any collector would be keen to listen to!

The Gatefold

The cover is one of the 'cleanest' I have seen and has only very minimal shelf wear.  The edges are in excellent shape with only a little rubbing on the top edge of the back cover and the bottom right edge of the front cover.  The wide spine is close to perfect with only minimal wear on the corners and the right hand corners are very similar.  The opening edge is pristine with no handling wear.  The only 'real' negative is the front cover is out of alignment with the back.  I have actually seen this before and I am sure it is due to the production process rather than any compression.  This cover is 'one piece' and I just think it was 'cut' incorrectly.  If you look at the spine you can see the 'VERTIGO - BLACK SABBATH' print is partially on the front cover.  The front cover itself is super clean with none of the fading/staining around the edges that you so often see and the back cover is exactly the same.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and the inner booklet remains firmly attached.  This is a fine example of this iconic cover and is certainly better than so many you see today.

The Inner Sleeve

The first pressings were either issued with a swirl inner or a 'Plastic Bags...' inner and this one has the latter.  It has no side splits or marking, no age related fading and hardly any creasing.  It has the date code 0972 printed on one side.   A superb example.

The Labels

The Vertigo labels are in great condition and have no marking, writing or 'spotting'.  As stated there is only very minimal spindle wear.

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 2  PORKY

6360071 2Y // 1   1 1 7  PECKO

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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