BLACK SABBATH MASTER OF REALITY 1ST UK PRESS CoMpLeTe

	£		560
	$		742

BLACK SABBATH ''MASTER OF REALITY'' 1ST UK PRESSING CAT NO.6360 050 VERTIGO SWIRL LABELS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME TOP! TOP! AUDIO THROUGHOUT! (NO) SCRATCHES! COMPLETE ORIGINAL WITH ORIGINAL 1ST PRESS 'EMBOSSED' BOX COVER PRINTED BY HOWARDS PRINTERS!! AND POSTER!!!! EARLIEST EVER MATRIX #1 #1 RARELY EVER SEEN COMPLETE THIS EARLY AND IN THIS CONDITION!!WITH UNTOUCHED POSTER (NEVER UNFOLDED OR USED)!!

From my personal collection, Purchased from new! This has been barely ever played and has been stored in a box for at least 25 years with the vinyl seperated from both the record sleeve and box cover! This is how i have always stored my records! Please note! What also makes this so rare and collectable is that this is the earliest ever 1st pressing #1 #1 matrix often seen with the more common #1 #2 matrix  (only the earliest pressings produce the best audio quality) and only the earliest have the poster!! Please do not underestemate this extreemely rare and sought after album!!! 

Master of Reality is the third album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1971. The album's "darker" or "sludgier" sound was a significant influence on the heavy metal genre known as doom metal, and its derivatives!!!.

To date, Master of Reality has sold two million copies and reached 2x platinum!!!.

For the recording of this album, guitarist Tony Iommi, who had injured his fingers in a factory accident years earlier, decided to de-tune his guitar down three semi-tones (or one and a half steps to C-sharp). This reduced string tension, thus making the guitar easier for him to play. Geezer Butler also de-tuned his bass guitar to match Iommi. The result was a noticeably "darker" or "sludgier" sound!!!!.

Master of Reality was recorded at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles California between February and April 1971. This was the first time the band had recorded an album outside their home country of England. The album was produced by Rodger Bain, who had also produced their previous two albums. However, this would be his final collaboration with the band!!!!!.

The slow and heavy songs that comprise most of the album are interspersed with quiet ballads written by Tony Iommi. Two of these, "Embryo" and "Orchid", are short instrumentals serving as interludes. The third, "Solitude", is much longer in comparison and features Ozzy Osbourne's soft, mournful vocals!.

Unusually, the lyrics of the song "After Forever" focus entirely on Christian themes. At the time, some viewed Black Sabbath as Satanists due to their dark sound, image and lyrics. The lyrics of this song may have been written as an attempt to confuse those people, to parody Christian bands, or simply to note an observation. Similarly, the song "Lord of this World" has lyrics that appear to concern someone who is possessed by Satan!!.

The album opener, "Sweet Leaf" is a song about cannabis sativa. "Children of the Grave" was written about war, peace and revolution, and is lyrically similar to "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral" on their previous album. It is composed primarily of a chugging guitar riff and eerie interludes. The final song on the album, "Into the Void", concerns a future in which Earth has been overcome by war and pollution. A group of astronauts travel into space in search of a new world to live on. The song's dark sound and theme was a key influence on the doom metal genre!!!!.

The album cover reads Master of Reality coloured grey, underneath Black Sabbath coloured purple, against a black background. The words are written in a large font with a ripple effect like that of moving water or a waving flag. This being the first edition of the album came in an embossed 'envelope sleeve', which contained a poster of the band!.

 This was the first Black Sabbath sleeve on which the lyrics were reproduced on the back of the sleeve. On the first North American editions of the album, several songs had subtitles given to segments, making it appear that there were more songs than there actually were. The outro of "Children of the Grave" was given the title "The Haunting", the intro of "Lord of This World" was titled "Step Up," and the intro of "Into the Void" was titled "Deathmask". This treatment had also been used on the North American editions of Black Sabbath's previous two albums. These pressings also incorrectly listed the album title as Masters of Reality. Subsequent editions corrected the album's title and removed the three subtitles!!!

1. "Sweet Leaf" – 5:05
2. "After Forever" (Iommi) – 5:27
3. "Embryo" (Iommi) – 0:28
4. "Children of the Grave" – 5:17

Side Two

1. "Orchid" (Iommi) – 1:30
2. "Lord of This World" – 5:26
3. "Solitude" – 5:02
4. "Into the Void" – 6:13

The matrix and mother stampers.

side a. ''6360050'' ''1Y'' ''#1'' ''420 1'' (THE VERY EARLIEST EVER MATRIX VERY HARD TO FIND)

side b. ''6360050 ''2Y'' ''#1'' ''420 1'' THE VERY EARLIEST EVER MATRIX VERY HARD TO FIND)

The labels.

The original VERTIGO labels are in awesome condition! (These look as new condition in my opinion)!! features the swirl on side a. and the swirl logo and track listings on side b.(only early press)!!!!! All rights.... are featured around the label rim(only early press)!!!  Amaizingly I can see (no) spidering at all, even when angled to the light and of coarse (no) spindle ware   This has only ever been played one time only from new when i initially purchased it!! So rare  for an album that is 37 years old! Impossible to find like this! very very collectable!!!

The vinyl.

The vinyl is absolutely superbe! On initial visual inspection this looks like new Near As Mint in my opinion! and still retains its sheen from new! (please note this vinyl has only ever been  played by me personally and I originally played this to record to tape only one time! in the last 35 years this has been stored in a case with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve and cover to prevent ringware and damage!! This is how i have always stored my records!! In fact even when I look at the playing surface angled to a strong light I can't see a blemish at all. There are no audio sounding marks or blemishes that I can see at all! This looks unplayed! Any marks that could possibly be seen would be sleeve removal only but again ,I can't see any at all!

The Audio Quality

 I have played this through track for track prior to listing at very very loud volume on a top system! The moment the needle hits the playing surface it is obvious this vinyl has barely ever been played at all!!  The audio quality is as you would expect, superbe, TOP, TOP, TOP! cristal clear and extreemely vibrant through out in fact this plays as a new vinyl would sound in my opinion!!!    Side one, played through as perfect as it gets unbeleivable audio seperation, that I haven't heard like this before and stunning bassey feel throughout almost cd. quality on my systems! Side two, This also plays as new on my systems, my only critasism is that on the second track 'Lord Of This World' I could hear some fuzziness at the intro to this track in the vocals, this in my opinion, could either be dirt trapped at this point or a pressing fault, but I must emphisise that I heard this at very loud volume and it is only momentarily and soon forgotton by the absolutely awesome clarity of the rest of this record!   This vinyl has been stored seperately from the cover in a poly sleeve for all of its storage life!!! This is the way I always  have stores my records!!!! The audio on this pressing in my opinion is almost as good as it gets for a very early and the 1st pressing!! Even in between tracks this is almost quiet!!! This almost plays as new!! This is the best audio that i have heard of this pressing!!  I would class myself as highly critical and this is a truly exceptional sounding vinyl and the 3RD EVER ALBUM RELEASED  by this awesome band ''black sabbath'' and so hard to find the earliest 1st pressing like this!!! Please check my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!!!! My audio grading for side A. is near mint throughout. For side B. At least excellent plus (no) loud clicks or pops, (minor interfearence in one place only)!

Please note! That i always make this disclaimer! That although I never heard any clicks or pops during the play of this record please allow for the odd static tick here and there certainly not consistant throughout the audio, but this is a genuine 37 year old vinyl that would have been played on a 37 year old system!!!!! !

Points to note! This has been stored in a case laying dormant for at least 35 years! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves from laying dormant causes static crackle\ticks! A constant clean before each play is recomended !!!! This would reduce any static and enhance the audio quality!!!!

The Record Sleeve

This is the poly lined VERTIGO SLEEVE with (no) splits or tares.Please note! This is the original features the correct date stamp 06/71 Patent no and ''Made In England'', Some of these were issued with the reverse swirl sleeves!

The Cover

This is the original and earliest 1st UK press BOX COVER printed by 'Howards Printers' (Slough England. with embossed writing! This is absolutely superbe!!! Rare to find in this awesome condition super glossy appearance (see photos) with minimal surface laminate creases or storageware very very slight ware\ rubbing to the corners but truly remarkabel for 37 years old!!!JUST TRY TO FIND A BETTER ORIGINAL!!!

The poster

This is the original thick and heavier Six Fold type poster, important that I say, original because I have seen two types of UK posters the other type is a four fold poster. Importantly this is the mat poster very slight semi sheen without any printing at the bottom. This is an important feature because the US Printed poster has a glossy sheen and is thinner in material thickness and also features made in the US!  This has never been used ! In fact it had never been unfolded before I had taken a photo!

Rarely ever seen complete like this extreemely collectable and sought after like this virtually in unplayed played condition!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £42.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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