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Black Sabbath : Master Of Reality 1Y1 / 2Y1 1st Press

This first Vertigo pressing plays to a high end standard for the vast majority with only one brief section of interference as detailed below and this due to a tiny scratch scratch right at the end of 'Solitude'.  Aside from that the clarity, depth and power of the audio is STUNNING!  The playback is so clean and precise and there is no background static or distortion getting in the way of the audio.  So if you can cope with a few clicks at the end of 'Solitude' then you will be more than happy with the audio on this classic album.  Apart from that one tiny scratch the vinyl is visually very impressive.

The embossed box cover is in excellent condition with only light wear and the Swirl inner sleeve has also been very well looked after..

The large folded 6 panel colour poster is a repro but remains in superb condition with only minor marking on one panel on the back.  The front is immaculate!

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 5

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 2 2 0

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Ex+ then G for last 15 seconds / T4 Near Mint)

The embossed box cover is Ex-

The labels are Mint-

The swirl inner is Ex

The repro poster is Mint-

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen.  The only negative is one tiny scratch at the end of 'Solitude' on S2 which results in the interference as detailed below.  Aside from that the vinyl is super clean with only a small number of faint hairlines and a couple of very small faint marks that are not easy to spot and have no impact on the superb audio.  The run grooves are unmarked and the iconic Vertigo labels are stunning!  They are practically 'as new' with only 3/4 faint spindle traces on S1 and nothing on S2!

Play grading  

The run in on S1 has no background so you are already expecting this classic to play well and it does not disappoint!  The intro on 'Sweet Leaf' plays to perfection including the opening cough!  Osbourne's first vocal is just as strong and it continues in the same precise way with no interference.  The clarity and definition of the audio is so impressive and Iommi's downtuned guitar has that typical deep Sabbath sound, never heard better!  The mid instrumental is faultless and the final verse keeps up this fine standard.  The fade out has only one minor static tick right at the end but I'm not going to downgrade it just because of that!  From start to finish it plays with tremendous power and with no distortion on the top end - it is a stunning version and Mint is very much deserved.

'After Forever' has just one mega light static tick on the intro which is hardly worth a mention and then the first classic riff plays superbly i.e. no interference.  One of the finest riffs ever written in my humble opinion!  The first vocal has no background although I did pick up one tick just before the next vocal, not intrusive though.  From then on it plays with genuine quality and with a depth and resonance that is second to none, a sonic quality you only find on these first pressings.  There is no static distortion on the vocal and every instrumental section plays with great precision and nowhere is that more obvious than during the high octane end section.  With just one light static tick on the fade out I am confident in grading this as Mint- such is the quality.

The very brief 'Embryo' plays so clearly with only a couple of light static ticks at the end of the fade out so do not count!  A Mint- version.

The intro on 'Children Of The Grave' is close to perfect with only a couple of minor ticks on the first 2/3 grooves.  They are very quiet and I only mention them to be 100% 'complete' in my grading.  They are not clicks!  The remainder of this instrumental opening section plays with STUNNING quality, so deep and strong again.  Osbourne's opening vocal has no intrusion and this standard does not drop the more you progress into this classic, providing more evidence that this vinyl has hardly been played.  I cannot compliment it enough the playback is phenomenal!  You would perhaps expect some inner groove distortion as you approach the end but the audio is as strong and clear as it would have been back in '71.  The playback is crystal clear even during Iommi's solo and for once the very quiet end section plays beautifully with no interference and only a couple of dust ticks.  A Mint- conclusion to a superb dynamic S1!

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'Orchid' plays beautifully from the get go with no interference from the first note to the last.  Such a quiet acoustic number of course and yet the clarity is outstanding.  A couple of barely audible dust ticks that is all and Mint has to be right here.

More typical Sabbath with 'Lord Of This World' and the deep powerful intro plays to perfection as does the opening vocal section.  It continues in the same precise way with a clarity and power that is just STUNNING!  Again the original sonic quality is still very much there and the mid instrumental is a prime example of that.  There is one tick just after the 'chorus' section and then the next vocal passage has no background at all.  The remainder is of the same high end standard and Mint- is again a fair assessment of the audio.

'Solitude' plays so quietly and the first thing you notice is how clean the audio is.  From the outset there is no underlying static and I only heard a couple of minor static tick on the long intro.  Osbourne's first 'gentle' vocal has no intrusion and the next instrumental section plays with great clarity and only a couple of light static ticks.  It proceeds in much the same way - with exceptional clarity and you can hear each note perfectly.  Just a handful of mega quiet dust ticks.  There is only very minimal static on the final vocal but it is very quiet and does not intrude on the audio.  A little more on the closing instrumental section and there are then some clicks as the volume decreases into the fade out but at least it's right at the end of the track.  i will grade the main 'bulk' of the track as Ex+ but there are many sections that play better than that if I'm honest.  However, I can only grade the final 15 seconds as G due to the interference.

The intro on 'Into The Void' has just one light click on the first note and then... no interference.  A superb intro!  The power and depth of the audio is again so strong and the Ozzy's opening vocal is on a par with that.  It continues to play with impeccable power and depth and with NO interference.  Every vocal and instrumental section plays with STUNNING precision and there is no distortion at all.  Aside from the first note you could not wish to find a more 'complete' version than this.  Turn it up to max the sound just envelops the room!  I will grade as Near Mint but yes 99.5% is 'as new' without a doubt.  A STUNNING finish to the side.

In summary this Vertigo first pressing plays to a superb standard for the vast majority and it is only the closing section section on 'Solitude' that has some interference.  A little frustrating I agree but the rest of the album is stunning it has to be said.  It has that original sonic quality that just knocks all later pressing / reissues into the park and another impressive thing is the total lack of distortion.  Not bad for an LP that is 52 years old next month.  As stated the vinyl is visually stunning apart from that one tiny scratch so if you can forgive that you've got yourself one very impressive record that plays with stunning quality (nearly) all the way through!

The Box Cover, Swirl Inner & Poster

The embossed box cover is in excellent condition with only minor wear of which nothing stands out.  It still pretty much has its original shape and structure which is mainly a result of some cardboard being placed inside.  The left and right spines are only slightly angled.  All four spines are very strong and clean with only a few crease 'lines' and the 'main' spine remains 100% legible.  The four corners are also in superb order with barely any wear.  The front cover is very clean and has just a little laminate lift as is common on the right side and some creasing around the edges.  The back cover is very similar with just some laminate lift down the right side and 3/4 minor crease near the left spine.  The laminate lift you can see is 'clean' if you know what I mean and is certainly in no danger of splitting.  A very strong example overall.

The original Swirl inner I think has had a separate poly-liner put inside at some point and has only a small number of 'nicks' / tiny tears around the central 'window'.  There are no side splits, barely any age related fading or creasing.

I know the 6 panel poster is a repro but it is nonetheless in superb condition with no marking or wear on the front.  It just has some minor marking on one panel on the back.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

6360050  1Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 1 5

6360050  2Y // 1 ▽ 420  1 2 2 0

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

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