Black Sabbath - Paranoid LP RARE Japan OBI 1st Press SFX-7266 Vertigo/Philips

$

56

 This is a Black Sabbath-Paranoid LP. This is not a reissue or remastered pressing, it is an original 1970 Japanese Pressing on the Vertigo/Philips Record label, with the OBI strip matrix #SFX-7266. The cover is VG+, does have some stains inside when you open the gate fold cover. Vinyl is VG to VG+ (has one scratch that is visible but you can't feel it when you rub your finger over it, on the song Iron Man. Plays fine on my turntable). OBI is VG- to VG has stains (picture #5) really nice. Insert is missing or this LP never had one, when you open the gate fold what's printed inside looks like what is normally on the insert, so it may have never had one. This is a really RARE LP, you don't see many first pressings of this record and this one is in nice shape for the most part.

A little history on these LPs. I got heavy into collecting these about 26 years ago. Really bought them heavy for about 10 years then tapered off. All were bought from over in Japan. I had a friend that was a foreign exchange student in high school that I kept in touch with who use to also collect vinyl, he was from Japan and had several Japanese LPs. When he went back we would trade or he'd find me stuff and I'd do the same for him. It's funny Americans want the Japanese pressings and they want the US pressings. I then also made a few on line friends when the internet got big who I did the same with. This over time gave me quite a collection of these.

Japanese vinyl releases are premium quality pressings, much sought after by audiophiles and collectors alike. In the 1960s Toshiba pioneered top quality red vinyl pressings using their trademark ‘Ever-Clean’ process this utilized a special ingredient intended to prevent the build-up of static electricity on the vinyl. Japanese pressings are synonymous with quality - the vinyl shines like no other vinyl - everything about their releases feels special. When US audiophile label Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab first released their series of high quality pressings the records were manufactured in Japan. The sonic quality of Japanese pressings is considered to be among the best in the world and, in addition, they are beautifully presented, their covers usually printed on better quality heavy stock paper and often including a bonus lyric insert with dual language Japanese & English text. Nearly all Japanese LPs were issued with an ‘obi’ - literally translated this means ‘sash’ and is derived from the obi (sash) worn around the traditional kimono dress. This delicate paper strip, usually wrapped around the left side of the album cover, often contains marketing information and album content details, all printed in Japanese kanji and ~kana script. Obi designs can be as varied as the LPs they adorn, and some series of obi designs can be as collectable as the artists’ albums they decorate. ‘Hankake’ (3/4 length obis) are nearly impossible to find, and the ‘Rock Age’ series of obis are especially rare and valuable. Obis make a unique, attractive addition to the overall package and are becoming increasingly rare, especially on LPs from the 1960s and 70s. Their delicate and disposable nature meant that very early obis were routinely discarded, so that now they can often be worth several times more than the record they accompany. In addition to Japanese pressings of regular albums there are numerous Japanese-only releases. Labels and artists often issued exclusive records timed to coincide with their Far East tour, or they re-released back catalog albums with a re-designed obi, displaying revised graphics and other consumer information. Regardless of your musical taste, Japanese records make a stunning addition to any collection. Audibly and visually they present the collector with a feast of delights. Genuine mint condition records, complete with inserts and obi, are becoming rarer every day. Whatever the digital age throws at you there is still a valid opinion that says vinyl sounds best; with Japanese records you get top quality pressings, a tactile picture sleeve that looks stunning and you can sing along from the lyric insert. This is the real alternative to a download!

All the LPs I am listing are from my personal collection. I have been collecting for 37 years. Many are sealed. I have always bought 2 copies of a record when I bought one, one to play and one I never opened. Most of the opened ones I have already sold over the years (and some of the sealed ones as well) but for the most part all I have left are sealed LPs, rare opened LPs and Japanese pressings. I will be listing them a little at a time so keep checking back.
 Well the sealed LPs are gone for the most part as are most of my Rare opened LPs. Now out come the Japanese pressings. I will be listing these over the next several months to year or so, alphabetically by band. So again keep checking Back.

I accept PayPal only. Please pay within 3 days, NO E-CHECKS they take way too long to clear. International shipping charge is for International Priority Mail with insurance. You can ship International 1st Class for $18 but this will not have insurance. If you choose this method I will not be responsible for lost or damaged items. USA residents add $3.00 if you would like insurance. If you don't get insurance, please don't try to hold me responsible for any damage the Post Office may do. Remember the Post Office allows packages up to 70lbs. in both Media Mail & Priority Mail options.

Shipping is $4 for media mail and $0.50 per LP after the first one (double LPs are counted as 2) this is for US residents only.

Priority mail is $8 for the first LP and $2 for each LP after the first.

International shipping is $18 for the first LP and $3 for each LP after the first. I can not insure these packages. I will provide a customs label # and you will be able to see where it goes till it leaves the USA after that it will not be track able in most cases. If your package doesn't come you will need to talk to customs. Again, please don't try to hold me responsible I will provide all proof that your package was mailed.

International Priority will be $32 for the first LP and $5 for each LP after the first. Insurance is included up to a point. If the record is over $100 you may have to pay a little more for insurance.

Just a note: I did have one problem with all the sealed LPs I just sold. Buyer spent $300 on LPs and then had me ship them Media Mail with no insurance. And from what I saw one of those 70lb boxes I'm talking about got thrown up against the package and the corners of some very nice LPs got damaged. There is no packaging that will protect your records from this if it happens. So the best thing to do is insure them.