M- 1970 ORIG BLACK SABBATH -1st HARD Heavy DARK PSYCH

$

41

   1970 first pressing VINYL ~ HARD HEAVY MEAN & EVIL ~  

                                  ORIGINAL FACTORY SHRINK WRAPPER                                         

                                             BLACK SABBATH

\                                  USA -- dark olive green Warner Brothers - 1871

*CLEAN* M- Original 1970 first pressing of the legendary first BLACK SABBATH, clean copies like this are getting really hard to find, nearing 40 years later...

***STILL IN THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SHRINK WRAPPER and minty clean...includes the original printed inner sleeve

Released on Friday the 13th February 1970 by Vertigo Records, Black Sabbath reached number eight on the UK Album Chart. Following its US release in May 1970 by Warner Bros. Records, the album reached number 23 on the Billboard 200, where it remained for over a year, selling a million copies.

While the album was a commercial success, it was widely panned by critics. In a review for Rolling Stone magazine, rock critic Lester Bangs felt Sabbath was "just like Cream! But worse". Bangs dismissed Black Sabbath as a "a shuck—despite the murky songtitles and some inane lyrics that sound like Vanilla Fudge paying doggerel tribute to Aleister Crowley, the album has nothing to do with spiritualism, the occult, or anything much except stiff recitations of Cream cliches".

Musically and lyrically the album was considered quite "dark" for the time. The first song on the album is based almost entirely on a tritone interval played at slow tempo on the electric guitar. The song's lyrics concern a "figure in black" which is identified as Satan.

Similarly, the lyrics of the song "N.I.B." are written from the point of view of Lucifer. Contrary to popular belief, the name of that song is not an acronym for "Nativity In Black". Tony Iommi said in several interviews that it is merely a reference to drummer Bill Ward's pointed goatee at the time, which was shaped as a pen-nib.

Lyrics of two other songs on the album were written about supernatural-themed stories. "Behind The WAll Of Sleep" is a reference to the H. P. Lovecraft short story Beyond the Wall of Sleep, while "The Wizard" was inspired by the character of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. The latter includes harmonica performed by vocalist Ozzy Osbourne.

Both the songs "Warning" and "Evil Woman" are covers of blues songs, with lyrics regarding relationships. The first was written and performed by Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation, and the second was written and performed by the band Crow. Black Sabbath's take on the originals is "heavier" and more jam-oriented. The guitar play in "Wicked World" on Side B is originally used in "The Soft Parade" by The Doors.

In August 1969 the band, who were then known as Earth, decided to change their name to Black Sabbath. Around the same time they recorded and distributed a demo version of their eponymous song. In December 1969 they recorded and released their debut single, "Evil Woman". In January 1970, the band recorded and mixed the remaining seven songs that would appear on their debut album. The songs were recorded "live" and the entire process took just three days.

Guitarist Tony Iommi recalls recording live: "We thought 'We have two days to do it and one of the days is mixing.' So we played live. Ozzy was singing at the same time, we just put him in a separate booth and off we went. We never had a second run of most of the stuff."

Side one

1. "Black Sabbath" – 6:20
2. "The Wizard" – 4:22
3. "Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B." – 9:44

1. "Wicked World" – 4:30
2. "A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning" – 14:32

• The titles "Wasp", "Bassically" and "A Bit of Finger" are unique to the North American editions. They are not extra songs but rather a name for some part of a song, for example "Bassically" is simply the bass introduction of "N.I.B". "Wasp" is the title of the first 'suite' (Behind the Wall of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B.), and "A Bit of Finger" is the name of the second 'suite' (Sleeping Village / Warning). The album features separate songs bridged together with these titles added.
• The original North American releases of the album had "Wicked World" in place of "Evil Woman" due to conflicts over publishing rights. 
• The song "Warning" originally contained a guitar solo performed by Tony Iommi that lasted over 30 minutes. While the album was being produced, Rodger Bain cut the guitar solo down, feeling that it made the album too long, and would confuse listeners.

CONDITION: The Cover: Beautiful ...basically MINT solid clean everywhere and very collectible still in original factory shrink wrap...no split seams, no bends, no writing...

The Vinyl: is also very clean "M-" and all glossy both sides, playing TOP level ... clean Warner Brothers labels 

Remember...It was a BIG party record back in the early 70's ...here, one of the FEW original copies that escaped being worn out and/or thrashed  40+ years later.

        A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record