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

This first pressing plays with stunning audio on both sides - to a point where it could hardly play any better!  There are no ticks, clicks or pops on either side and the only 'background' is a minimal amount of static on 'Changes' and I do mean minimal!  It still plays with great clarity and the other classic tracks are just incredible!  This is an album that has not been over-played and that is how the sonic quality has not diminished in any way - the clarity, depth and power of the audio is STUNNING.  In my opinion this is FINAL UPGRADE pressing and needless to say the vinyl is visually very impressive also with no marks or scratches.

The iconic cover is in excellent condition with only a little wear and the booklet is still 100% attached.  The original Swirl inner is in excellent shape also.

As this is a first pressing 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 2   PORKY

6360071   2Y // 1   1 1 1 4   PECKO

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

The audio S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex-

The attached booklet is Mint

The labels are Near Mint-

The original Swirl inner is VG++

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition with a very strong glossy sheen and there are no marks or scratches.  Only under a strong light can you see some faint hairlines but nothing obvious.  There is no groove wear or 'bag rash' either.  The run out grooves are very clean and the Vertigo labels have no marking/writing and only a little spindle wear.

Play grading  

The intro on 'Wheels Of Confusion' plays with that familiar deep Iommi sound with no sign of any interference other than a barely audible touch of static distortion for 3/4 seconds, it is totally non-intrusive.  Osbourne's opening vocal is very 'clean' also with no intrusion.  It continues to play with sublime quality and the mid instrumental is a case in point, 'as new' sums it up perfectly.  The audio is again so deep and strong with no interference.  As Osbourne's voice bursts back in the sonic quality is still so impressive as is the next vocal section.  The classic final section is as clean and precise as it would have been when first pressed.  This first pressing is now 50 years old of course and the clarity and definition of the audio here is stunning.  Iommi's work is flawless and the long fade out does not even have a single dust tick!  This is a superb start to the album and Mint- is an honest assessment of the audio.

'Tomorrow's Dream' plays with impeccable quality from the first note to the last with no intrusion.  The sheer clarity and power of the sound is phenomenal and I can give it no other grade than Mint it is that good.

The piano intro on 'Changes' plays perfectly and that is a rarity.  This track often plays with a fair amount of static distortion but this is easily one of the 'cleanest' versions you are ever likely to hear.  The first vocal has only a couple of very minor static moments - so quiet and not intrusive in any way.  It continues to play with very clear audio and there are no ticks, clicks or pops either.  A small number of mega light static moments but again so quiet.  I have played it twice now and the audio is so impressive.  Not quite Mint but Near Mint is well deserved.

The very quiet 'FX' plays with stunning clarity throughout with no interference at all.  Not bad for an album of this age!  A handful of barely audible dust ticks at most this has to grade as Mint- and even the minus might be a little harsh!

The percussive intro on 'Supernaut' is faultless and Iommi's intro is equally as good.  The opening vocal is so strong and thereafter plays with great power and depth and for once there is none of the inner groove distortion that is so often prevalent on this final track.  The mid instrumental section is a prime example of that and Ward's solo is 'as new' there is no other way to describe it.  The final vocal is again so 'clean' and this is unequivocally one of the finest versions of this classic that I have ever encountered.  If there is any distortion towards the end it is so so minimal and the long fade out plays with stunning precision...again.  A dynamic Mint- version to end the side.

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'Snowblind' on S2 plays with superb audio from the word go.  The intro and opening two verses have no 'background' and it continues to play with outstanding clarity and power and with a depth of sound that you only find on a lightly played clean Vertigo vinyl.  I can't emphasise enough just how fantastic this version is!  The sonic quality is again on another level and each note is 'crystal clear'.  Through every vocal and instrumental section there is not a single negative and again the fade out plays with perfect clarity.  This is Mint all the way.

The deep, menacing intro on 'Cornucopia' more than keeps up this standard and the opening vocal is just as strong.  There is no need to elaborate - from start to finish this is 'as new' with nothing to detract from the powerful Mint audio.

'Laguna Sunrise' plays beautifully with no clicks or pops or static and only 3/4 very quiet ticks.  For a relatively quiet track the clarity is stunning and it could hardly play any better.  The original sonic quality is still very much there and Mint- is easily deserved.  Each note is so sharp and precise and there is no underlying static 'getting in the way' of the playback. 

The intro on 'St. Vitus Dance' is faultless and it continues in the same way with a clarity and definition that is second to none.   So far this side is playing with perfect audio and this is no exception.  Mint

'Under The Sun' ends this fine album with 'high end' audio throughout.  In that typical Sabbath style the audio is so clean, deep and rich and to reiterate you only get that on a vinyl that has been so well preserved.  What you really notice here is the total lack of distortion and the clarity of course!  This truly is a stunning version and is as good as anything I have heard before with literally no interference.  In fact the more I listen to this classic the more I am blown away by it - the power and depth of the music is sensational!  It demands to be played loud!  The vocal and instrumental sections play with a sonic quality that can only be described 'as new'.  The superb end section is STUNNING and I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint - the most 'complete' version I have ever heard?  Very possibly.  This is the final track of course and yet there is zero distortion.  There cannot be many versions around that play with such immaculate precision.  What a version!

In summary this first Vertigo pressing plays to standard that audiophiles are queueing up for!!  S1 is stunning but S2 is stunning and then some!  There is not one single click or pop across the entire album and no persistent static either.  The clarity, power and depth of the audio is exceptional and this is up there in my top 3 and I have heard many!  'Changes' is the only one that below Mint or Mint- but even then it still plays so clearly and with very little of the 'background' that is so often in evidence.  There are so many highlights but in a way it's the final track 'Under The Sun' that really stands out with its sheer class from start to finish.  As stated this record has not been over-played but when it was surely only on high end equipment. That is how it has retained its sonic quality and it is a FINAL UPGRADE time warp classic in every way.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The matt textured cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear and for once the 4 page photo booklet is still firmly attached to the inside.  The edges have very minimal rubbing, just a touch more towards a couple of corners, and the wide spine is still 100% legible with only minimal wear.  A minor compression in one small area, hardly any 'spotting' and just minor wear on the bottom corner.  The right hand corners are extremely clean with hardly any wear and the opening edge is also in great order with only a couple of minor crimps.  This cover is of course so often affected by fading/spotting around the edges but there is hardly any here.  There are a handful of 'specks' near the top edge, a very small scuff just to the right of Ozzy plus a couple of other faint marks but there is nothing that really stands out.  The back cover is very clean and again has barely any fading just a couple of couple of small insignificant faint marks.  The inside of the gatefold is immaculate and the booklet is unmarked also.  A fine example of this iconic cover, better than so many you see!

So many BS IVs were not issued with a Swirl inner but there is one included here.  It does have one 8cm side split but is very clean with barely any age related fading and only very minimal creasing.  For some reason WWA 009 is written in one top corner.  Someone got their catalogue numbers wrong I think! 

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 1 4   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

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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LPs/12" singles : £25.95 then £2.50 per extra

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