EXCEPTIONAL UPGRADE BLACK SABBATH PARANOID 1970 UK PRESS VERTIGO SWIRL NM AUDIO

	£		499
	$		661

All my items have a full money-back guarantee - if it's not as described you can return it for a full refund.

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This is an early UK pressing which has VERTIGO near the bottom of the side two label and the larger version of the swirl. It is not a modern reissue. 

Everything is in superb condition and the vinyl has rarely been played and has outstanding audio.

Description
Disc: The vinyl has retained its original sheen with very little to see in normal light and just some ultra-fine hairlines and sleeve-removal marks when viewed under bright, direct light - slightly more on side two than side one, but there is nothing significant anywhere. I have played the whole album in full from start to finish and the audio is exceptional with almost nothing to report. People often think of 'Paranoid' as a loud album but there are lots of quiet parts and tracks like 'Planet Caravan' which are almost impossible to find with perfect audio. However, these quiet sections cause no problems on this copy and I would say that this is the best I've heard. Even the run-ins/outs and silent grooves are really quiet. For the sake of completeness I would mention the occasional random click and some minor crackles in the quiet intro to 'Hand of Doom' and at the very end of that track, but there is nothing loud or intrusive anywhere. This is exceptional audio for a record that is nearly 55 years old and I would have no hesitation to play-grade side one as an EASY Near Mint (NM) and side two as Excellent Plus (Ex+) to Near Mint (NM).

Labels: No tears, stickers, writing etc, just some very light spindle marking suggesting that the record was only played about half-a-dozen times.

Sleeve: The early, non-laminated sleeves for Paranoid are notoriously hard to find looking great, but this is easily one of the best I've ever seen. It has no seam splits, tears, writing, stickers etc, just some minor signs of handling and use, including some indentations and some light creasing, but there is no ring-wear and very little wear to the edges and corners. I think it would be hard to find one much better than this.

Inner sleeve: The Vertigo swirl inner sleeve is a really nice example with no splits or tears, and just light signs of age, in particular near the edges, where the adhesive has discoloured.

Detracting features not covered above:  None. This looks and sounds superb and I think it would be very hard to find a better one.

All photographs are of the actual item for sale. Please ask any questions before you bid or buy.

Where gradings are given these are based on the UK Record Collector grading system (see below) and are visual gradings only, unless the listing specifically states that it is a play-grading.

I use the UK RECORD COLLECTOR GRADING SYSTEM. This grading system differs from some other grading systems, in particular the Goldmine grading system. Please make sure that you are familiar with the UK record collector grading system before you bid.

Mint: The record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records advertised as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.

Excellent: The record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little lessening in sound quality. The cover and packag­ing might have slight wear and/or creasing.

Very Good: The record has obviously been played many times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable sur­face marks and the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items, without any major defects, is acceptable.

Good: The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration, etc.

Fair: The record is still just playable but has not been cared for prop­erly and displays considerable surface noise; it may even jump. The cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.

Poor: The record will not play properly due to scratches, bad surface noise, etc. The cover and contents will be badly damaged or partly missing.

Bad: The record is unplayable or might even be broken, and is only of use as a collection-filler.

Plus (+) or Minus (-) are added where items fall between gradings. I only ever use one plus or minus.

P&P costs as follows:

UK:

First LP or 12" record = £5.50, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

First 7" record = £3.95, each additional item no extra P&P charge.

Europe:

First LP or 12" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £2.20 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £13.95, each additional item = an extra £1.40 P&P charge.

Rest of the world:

First LP or 12" record = £29.50, each additional item = an extra £3.10 P&P charge.

First 7" record = £18.95, each additional item = an extra £1.80 P&P charge.