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

This FINAL UPGRADE first pressing plays to a standard that is so rarely found today, it is stunning!  With no interference the clarity and definition of the audio is 'as new' and I am not over-selling it!  I have listened to many high first pressings but never one as immaculate as this.

A first pressing is denoted by there being no 'Made In England' on the label and a small swirl and VERTIGO above the spindle hole.  The matrix will be 1Y1 and 2Y1 and Porky and Pecko is always etched on the run out grooves relating of course to the famous 'George Peckham'.  The matt gatefold has the VO Price Code on the back and no track times on the inside.

This first press has the matrix 1 1 1 on Side B so was pressed with the first stamper.  It's not often you see on of those!

The gatefold incidentally is one of the cleanest I have seen with only minor shelf wear and the four page inner booklet is still firmly attached.  The original swirl inner is also in excellent condition.

6360071  1Y // 1   1  21  1 8  // PORKY etched

6360071  2Y // 1   1 1  1 // PECKO etched

The audio on S1 is Mint- (track 3 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint-

The gatefold is Ex+

The labels are Mint-

The original swirl inner is Ex++

Visual grading

This is without a doubt the most immaculate first press vinyl I have ever seen of this classic album.  It has a beautiful glossy sheen and there are no visible marks or scratches at all.  Quite simply it looks 'as new' and I cannot detect any hairlines either.  This has been remarkably well preserved and has only been played a handful of times judging the lack of spindle wear and the clarity of the sound.  A time warp classic!  The run out grooves and labels are also in superb condition - it doesn't get any better than this!  100% stunning in every way!

Play grading  

From the very first note 'Wheels Of Confusion' is 'as new' there is no other way to describe it.  This quality remains as the vocal begins and the sonic quality and definition of the audio cannot be faulted.  There is just no 'background' of any kind and from start to finish this is Mint and I have now listened to it twice.  This clarity is rarely found on these first Vertigo pressings and there is not even a dust tick!  The closing section is sublime and the 'cleanest' fade out you are ever likely to hear.  This is without question a Mint start to the side and is the most 'complete' version I have ever heard.  In a word, stunning!

I am delighted to say 'Tomorrow Dream' is of the same immaculate standard.  That downtuned guitar is used to remarkable affect again and as per the first track there is not one iota of interference.  This is sheer audio poetry from the first groove to the last and grades as Mint once more.

A real test of this vinyl is of course the quiet 'Changes' and I can honestly say it passes the test in superb style!  The piano intro has no 'background' and this clarity is prevalent throughout.  The playback is astounding and I cannot remember when I heard a version as 'clean' as this.  There is no intrusion on the audio - there is just one very faint static tick and a small number of barely audible dust ticks but as we all know these will be found on new vinyl let alone one pressed nearly 48 years ago!  A sublime version that is deserving of a Mint- grade.

Perhaps even harder to find a 'clean' version of is 'FX' but wow what a version we have here!  There is hardly any underlying static and there are no clicks or pops, the clarity is just incredible!  There are only a couple of light static ticks and I am sure no one would disagree with a Near Mint grading.

'Supernaut' plays with stunning precision and again has no 'background'.  There is barely any inner groove distortion which is a rarity for any final track on a side but especially one as loud as this!  You can turn it up to loud no problem and the audio has just so much power and depth.  The long fade out is also super 'clean' and with no clicks or pops etc this is a stunning Mint- finish to the side.

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'Snowblind' is as good as the audio gone before and quite simply plays 'as new'.  The clarity and depth is phenomenal and could not be improved upon.  Again I have listened to every second and there is no 'background' at all.  I cannot quite believe what I am hearing!  Mint all the way!

I have no wish to sound repetitive but 'Cornucopia' is of the same 'high end' standard.  With a record displaying perfect clarity there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and each note plays with stunning precision.

'Laguna Sunrise' is again so impressive for an acoustic number.  There is no intrusion on the audio and the playback is stunning.  With only a couple of barely audible dust ticks this is audio of the highest calibre and I am confident (again!) in grading this as Mint the audio could not be any cleaner.

There is no need for a detailed description as 'St. Vitus Dance' and 'Under The Sun' both play in spectacular fashion with no interference.  The latter especially is very impressive because there is no distortion to be heard.  Plus I have never heard that end section play as well as this, the clarity and power is out of this world!  They both play to a Mint standard.  What an album!

In summary this FINAL UPGRADE first pressing plays to a sublime standard and would be at home in any Mint collection.  When I first looked at the vinyl I was so impressed with it and hoped/expected it would play well and it certainly does not disappoint!  The clarity, power and definition is equal to that of a record that has hardly ever been on a turntable and as stated there is very little spindle wear.  A beautifully preserved record and so rarely found in this condition today.  I hate to use the phrase 'impossible to find like this' etc but it certainly would be impossible to find better!  With no clicks or pops and no static or crackle this STUNNING vinyl will impress any avid collector.

The Gatefold

The matt finish gatefold is quite possibly the 'cleanest' I have ever seen and is as strong and robust as it was back in '72 so has obviously not been handled very much.  It has none of the foxing or fading that you so often see and has retained all of its original colour etc.  The only negative really is one small scuff on the front cover.  Aside from that it is in lovely condition.  The edges have very little rubbing and the corner wear is kept to a minimum also.  The spine is in superb order and has only minimal wear at the top and bottom and is still 100% legible.  The opening edge is also very clean with hardly any handling wear.  The front cover is in fantastic shape aside from that small scuff as stated and has no other marking at all.  The back cover just has a couple of minor white 'specks' and a small sticker top right and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate with none of the fading that you regularly see.  It's good to see the booklet still 100% attached also.  Overall this is a fine example of this first press cover that is not far off 50 years of age!

Inner Sleeve

The original poly-lined swirl inner is in great condition and shows hardly any sign of being out of the cover!  It is very clean and has very little of the age related fading around the edges that it so often has.  There are no side splits and only a couple of very minor tears on the central 'window'.  There is no obvious creasing either.  A superb example.

The Labels

The labels are the finest I have seen on a Vertigo first pressing.  There is very little spindle wear and have no foxing which is quite a rarity.  There is no marking or writing at all.

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  21  1 8  // PORKY etched

6360071  2Y // 1   1 1  1 // PECKO etched

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

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Postage & Packaging

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