Black Sabbath : Paranoid 1st Press 1Y1 / 2Y1 w/ Big Bear credit

This first pressing is stunning!  It is from the same home as the Black Sabbath I am selling and it is equally as good with a clarity, depth and power that cannot be beaten.  There is just one light click on S2 but aside from that the audio is Mint in my opinion and the gentle 'Planet Caravan' more than shows just how incredible the audio is here, I have never heard better not even on a later pressing!  There is no underlying static on either side and like I say the clarity cannot be faulted.

This is perhaps not surprising as the vinyl has been so beautifully preserved down the years and I cannot remember when I last saw one as visually impressive as this.  There is no obvious spindle wear and it is patently obvious the previous owner purchased this as a collectable item and not for playing.  I would say it has only been two/three times at most.  This is a FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic for sure.

The matt textured gatefold is also in superb condition with barely any of the wear you regularly find, it has been so well looked after over the last 50+ years.  The original inner sleeve is in great shape also with barely any wear.

As this is a genuine first press it has the 'Big Bear' management credit on the inside and the catalogue number is on the spine and on the back cover above the VO PRICE CODE.  The vinyl also has a large swirl on Side B with VERTIGO below the spindle hole.  On a first press it also looks like there are only three tracks on Side B as there is no break between the tracks 'Hand Of Doom' and 'Rat Salad'.

6360011 1Y // 1 ? 420  1 2 1 0

6360011 2Y // 1 ? 420  1 1 1 0

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T2 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Ex++

The labels are Mint-

The original swirl inner is Near Mint-

Visual grading

I can confidently say this is the most impressive of a first pressing that I have seen.  It has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no 'cloudy' areas or mottling with no marks or scratches at all.  Side A is pristine and 'as new' is not an exaggeration and Side B is also very impressive with just a couple of very faint hairlines and a few minor 'specks' that have no affect on the stunning quality of the audio.  The grooves on both sides are so beautifully clean and as stated I believe this record has hardly been played due to the audio quality and that there are only a couple of barely visible spindle traces on each label.  The Vertigo labels are in superb condition with no marking at all.

Play grading  

The classic intro on 'War Pigs' has no 'background' and the sonics on the air-raid siren have never sounded stronger.  This is soon followed by the quiet percussive section and there is not even a single dust tick here - this is a Mint intro without doubt.  The opening two verses are of the same quality and as the tempo increases the clarity and definition is on a level that you so rarely hear on these first pressings.  It continues in the same precise way - the audio is so deep and strong and the sonic quality is as good as it would have been back in '70.  The mid instrumental is 'as new' and the next 'quiet' percussive section again plays to perfection.  The final two verses are of the same standard and Iommi's work that brings this classic to a close cannot be faulted.  I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint as there is literally no interference from start to finish.  What a version!

From the very first note 'Paranoid' plays in exactly the same way as the previous track.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and no sign of any static.  It has that familiar deep Sabbath sound and the mid instrumental is so 'clean' and dynamic and has no interference.  There is also no distortion on the top end and Mint is again very much deserved.

As any collector knows it is very difficult to find a 'clean' version of 'Planet Caravan' as being such a quiet track it is so susceptible to static, clicks etc.  Understandably these records attracted 'individuals' who would be very much the 'partying' type so the quality of the records often suffered because of it.  I hope I'm not speaking out of turn there ha ha!!  Anyway, I am delighted to say this is the most STUNNING example of this gentle number that I have EVER heard with a clarity that is exceptional throughout.  I have played it twice now and I can confidently say there is no 'background' of any kind, not even a single dust tick as I often say!  It is incredible to think this record is over 50 years of age and has been preserved so well in that time and clearly has hardly ever been played.  Ozzy's vocal is so clean and precise as is every musical note and the gentle solo that plays out the track plays beautifully with no intrusion.  You could not wish to find a better version and this is Mint in every way - even the fade out has no 'background'.  This is the first Mint version I have ever heard!

The initial drum beat on 'Iron Man' is 'as new' as is the remainder of this intro.  The opening verses and chorus's all play with stunning precision and Iommi's mid instrumental then plays with such depth and power.  Despite this being the final track on the side there is no distortion and the final verse is perfect also.  The bass section that brings in the final section plays with stunning accuracy and right to the end there is no interference of any kind.  This also grades as Mint and you will not be surprised to hear that this is easily the most impressive S1 I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.

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The foreboding intro on 'Electric Funeral' has no interference and the opening two verses are of the same 'high end' standard.  It continues to play with infinite power and definition and again the clarity cannot be faulted in any way.  This is as 'clean' as it was back in '70 and the mid instrumental is a prime example of that.  The 'high octane' verses and the following 'chorus' play perfectly as does the remainder including the fade out.  Another Mint classic I am pleased to say.

The quiet intro on 'Hand Of Doom' is sublime with only a couple of dust ticks, something you would find on a vinyl pressed yesterday let alone one of this age!  The first verse is flawless and from that point on the audio is of a superb standard.  There are of course so many quiet sections and yet they all play with remarkable precision and only during the 'high octane' middle section did I detect one light click.  There is nothing on the vinyl to suggest a reason so is probably just a pressing issue.  The rest of this 'heavy' section is faultless and the clarity on the next quieter section is outstanding as is the remainder of the track.  So yes there is one minor discrepancy here so will have to grade as Near Mint but 99% is still Mint I can guarantee that.

'Rat Salad' just has one dust tick on the intro and it then plays with stunning clarity.  Once again I am left in awe at the sheer quality of the audio and nowhere is that more obvious than on Ward's solo.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops, no static and Mint is very much deserved.

'Fairies Wear Boots' begins with an intro that could not play any better and when that classic riff eventually 'kicks in' the audio is fantastic!  So strong and deep and...no intrusion.  From then on it plays with unbelievable quality with a power and depth that is second to none.  It demands to be played loud!  The mid section instrumental has to be the strongest I have heard in a long time and Butler's bass is so deep here.  You only get this 'clear' sound on a very clean vinyl - and I cannot overstate how superb this version is!  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound and every note plays with sublime precision.  The final verses are of the same standard and even the quiet fade out section has no 'background'.  Did I mention there is no inner groove distortion?!  This is an immaculate version and brings this wonderful album to a satisfying Mint close.  And wow what an album!

In summary this very collectable first pressing plays with exceptional quality on both sides with only one millisecond of interference on S2.  In a sense this sonic quality is not a surprise as it came from the same home as per the Black Sabbath debut LP I am selling.  As any collector knows it is getting increasingly difficult to find a Big Bear first press playing to such a high standard but this is without question the most impressive one I have ever heard.  The clarity of sound and the power and definition of the audio is on a level that is so rare and just one listen of 'Planet Caravan' confirms that.  There is no static or crackle on either side and with only that one light click this is as close to 'as new' that you will find.

The Gatefold & Swirl Inner

The matt textured cover with the 'Big Bear' credit is a difficult one to find in decent condition but this one is easily the best I have seen.  The top edges are near perfect and whilst the bottom edges have some rubbing it has not affected the strength of the cover in any way, no actual wear or splits for example.  The wide spine is in fantastic shape with only a couple of specks and it remains 100% legible.  There is barely any corner wear and the opening edge is also super clean with no real handling wear.  The front cover is so often affected by intrusive marking/fading as it isn't protected by any laminate but this one is in lovely condition with only minimal fading around the edges and one tiny 'speck'.  The back cover is in superb order with only a minor touch of fading top right and the inside of the gatefold is 100% immaculate and rarely seen as stunning as this.  Of course it has the rare Big Bear credit and there is no marking or wear to be seen.  A stunning cover in every way.

The original swirl inner is in great order with no side splits or tears and only very minimal age related fading plus minimal creasing.  A fine example.

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

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

6360011 1Y // 1 ? 420  1 2 1 0

6360011 2Y // 1 ? 420  1 1 1 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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