I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently.

Black Sabbath : Black Sabbath Vol 4 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press Vertigo 1972

This first pressing plays to such a high standard with no obvious intrusion.  The clarity, depth and power of the audio is sensational and there are no clicks or pops.  'Changes' and 'FX' are the two tracks that so often let the side down and yet here they play with great clarity and only very minimal light static, nothing intrusive.  I have graded them as Near Mint and Near Mint- respectively.  As for all the other tracks - absolutely stunning!  The vinyl is in beautiful condition and whilst there is a little spindle wear it is clear it has always been very carefully handled and also very well preserved.

The cover is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and has very little of the fading / spotting that is often a regular feature.  The inner booklet is still 100% attached to the cover also.  This one does have the track timings on the inside but I would not be concerned about that.  I have seen it before and I am sure the next batch of covers were just used for the first press vinyls that they still had in the packing factory.  The original 'Plastic Bags...' inner is also in excellent shape.  Not all first pressings were issued with a Vertigo swirl inner as they were being phased out by this time.

A first pressing has no Made In England on the label and has a 1Y1 / 2Y1 matrix.  Porky and Pecko are etched into the run outs and on the inside cover it states 'We wish to thank the great COKE-Cola Company of Los Angeles'.

6360071 1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 1 7  (PORKY etched)

6360071 2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 2  (PECKO etched) 

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint / T4 Near Mint-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-)

The gatefold is Ex

The attached booklet is Mint

The original inner sleeve is Ex

The labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Even when I look under a bright light I can only find a small number of ultra faint hairlines.  There is no groove wear or 'bag rash' and the iconic Vertigo labels are unmarked apart from some spindle wear.  A stunning example!

Play grading  

The intro on 'Wheels Of Confusion' plays so clearly without any background and Osbourne's opening vocal is just as impressive.  Already the sonic quality is so strong - there is no static distortion and no 'muddiness' to the sound.  It continues to play with exceptional quality and the instrumental section that follows is superb!  I only noticed a couple of barely audible statics but the audio really is so clean and the depth of sound is stunning.  As Ozzy blasts back the Lost in the wheels of confusion line is so powerful and the final verse has no intrusion at all.  The instrumental that ends this classic could not play any better, the clarity and definition of the audio is phenomenal and the long fade out has no background either not even a dust tick.  This is easily a Mint- version at the very least.

'Tomorrow's Dream' is just as strong and plays with typical deep rich Sabbath sound.  From start to finish the sonic quality is 'as new' where every vocal and instrumental section play with remarkable precision.  This is Mint all the way.

As any collector will know 'Changes' so often plays with some static / distortion and it just a matter of how much.  This has to be one of the cleanest versions I have ever heard in all my years selling on eBay.  The clarity is stunning and there are certainly no clicks or pops.  All I noticed were a small number of very quiet background statics that do not detract from the overall listen.  It really does play so clearly and that includes the quiet piano end section.  I think Near Mint is an honest appraisal of the audio.

The even quieter 'FX' also plays with great clarity.  There is just a minimal amount of very light static at the beginning but the remainder plays so clearly with barely any background. I will say Near Mint- this time.

The percussive opening from Ward on 'Supernaut' is perfect as is the rest of the intro.  Osbourne's opening vocal is so clean and has none of that distorted sound that you often find.  From then on it plays with outstanding quality and if there is any inner groove distortion it is kept to an absolute minimum and you can still turn it up to max without having to turn it down immediately!  Ward's solo is absolutely stunning and and of course Iommi's work throughout is just so deep and powerful, that classic detuned sound.  The vocals no distortion and again we have another long fade out.  This is a Mint- version to end the side with.

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The intro on 'Snowblind' is flawless and the opening vocal has no intrusion either.  The chorus is just as strong and clear and then the mid instrumental is as good as new much like the rest of the track!  Once again you have ample evidence here of a vinyl that has been so well preserved and from start to finish there is no interference.  Iommi's end solo is superb!  This is a stunning version and Mint is 100% deserved.

The menacing intro on 'Cornucopia' is perfect and this standard is maintained throughout.  Once again the vocals are how they would have sounded back in '72 and the same applies to the instrumental sections.  If you win just listen to the mid instrumental you will understand what I mean!  This is another breath-taking Mint version.

'Lacuna Sunrise' plays beautifully with only a small number of very light statics, they are so much in the background and do not impact on the stunning clarity of the audio.  So quiet they hardly warrant a mention.  Each note is so clean and precise and Mint- is fair.

The powerful 'St. Vitus Dance' impresses on every level and plays with a sonic quality that is 'as new' throughout.  There is no need to elaborate this is Mint from start to finish.

We have another deep menacing intro with 'Under The Sun' and again it plays with stunning precision.  The opening vocal is just as strong and there is no distortion on the top end.  It continues to play with unrivalled quality and I can find no negatives.  It's rare for final tracks to play with such clarity and definition and the power is just off the chart!  In a way the most impressive element of this version is the complete lack of distortion, the sound is so clean.  All vocal and instrumental sections play with real quality and the classic end section is a case in point, it plays with phenomenal power right through to the final note.  What. A. Version!  Iommi really comes into his own here, it just could not play any better.  A dynamic Mint version in every way.

In summary this first pressing plays with such deep, rich and clean audio and it's difficulty to find fault.  A minimal amount of non-intrusive light static on S1 that is all but this is without question one of the finest examples I have listened to in a long time.  It has not been over-played and that has helped it retain its original sonic quality.  In conjunction with a very impressive cover this will grace any collection.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The cover is in excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear.  These matt textured covers often attract a lot of fading / spotting but this one is very clean overall.  The edges have hardly any rubbing and the wide spine remains 100% legible with just some rubbing here and there on the edge next to the front cover.  The corners have a little wear but the right hand corners are very clean and the opening edge has only very minimal handling wear.  The front cover has hardly any spotting around the edges and the only 'obvious' mark is a small sticker removal mark top right.  The back cover is still very clean but does have a little spotting mainly along the bottom edge.  The inside of the gatefold is near perfect apart from one small area of rubbing on the top edge of the right panel and the 4 page photo booklet is still firmly attached.  A fine example.

The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner (dated 0972) has no side splits or tears but does have some age related fading around the edges and a little creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

6360071 1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 1 7  (PORKY etched)

6360071 2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 2  (PECKO etched) 

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!