I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid / decrease high import charges.  However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay generally collect at point of sale.  No shipping to Russia currently.

Black Sabbath : Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 1Y2 / 2Y4 2nd Press Vertigo 1973

This second pressing plays to an incredible standard and is very near perfect!  The only intrusion is one light click on 'Killing Yourself To Live' but otherwise the clarity, depth and power of the audio is out of this world!  There are no other ticks, clicks or pops and only a handful of very quiet statics.  It has been so well looked after and has hardly ever been played in my opinion such is the sonic quality on offer here.  The vinyl is in beautiful condition also with only one hairline that I could see.

Not only is the vinyl stunning but the gatefold looks like it has hardly been handled.  It is so clean and has retained its shape and structure perfectly, just look at the spine!  It is easily the finest example I have ever seen and we all know how prone it is to a lot of wear.  The lyric inner is also in superb order with no side splits etc - not bad for a 52 year old piece of paper!

WWA 005 * 1Y// 2▽ 420 0 3   1 2  9

WWA 005 2Y// 4▽ 420 0 3    1 4  1 9

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio S2 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)

The gatefold is Near Mint-

The lyric inner is Near Mint-

The WWA labels are Near Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in superb condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a bright light I can only make out one hairline on S1, it has to be the most visually stunning SBS I have seen!  There is no groove or surface wear and the WWA labels have very little spindle wear.  Just one faint trace on S1 and 2/3 on S2.

Play grading

The intro on 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' plays with impeccable depth and power and the opening vocal is 100% perfect also.  The first 'acoustic' vocal has no background either and it continues to play with phenomenal clarity and definition.  Sonically it is amazing!  It could not play any better - another fantastic riff from Iommi and the audio is so deep and strong through every section.  Ozzy's vocal passages are superb yes but the instrumental sections are mind-blowing!  This classic is 'as new' from start to finish with no distortion and Mint is richly deserved.

The intro on 'A National Acrobat' plays with stunning precision as does the first verse.  This standard is kept up as it progresses and again there are no issues to report.  So far there are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and the audio is as clean and clinical as you would want it to be.  The warmth and depth of the audio can only be described 'as new' and that applies to the clarity also.  The fast paced instrumental end section is incredible!  Another Mint track.

'Fluff' plays beautifully with no sign of any background.  The clarity of sound is astonishing for a vinyl of this age and it further exemplifies just how well this vinyl has been looked after.  Each note is somehow more 'enhanced' I cannot compliment it highly enough.  There are a couple of very quiet ticks in the middle section but that does not take away from what is a stunning version and Mint- is fair.

'Sabbra Cadabra' plays with great quality from the get go.  The long intro has no intrusion and the opening vocal is equally as strong.  You kind of have to turn this one which I assume can only be because it was recorded differently.  A minor tweak that is all or perhaps just my imagination!  Or maybe it's just the first section!  Regardless of that it plays with immense quality and even as you get further in there is no inner groove distortion.  Rick Wakeman's contribution comes through clear and strong on the final section.  A superb Mint version and wow what a side!

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The intro on 'Killing Yourself To Live' plays with typical deep, rich Sabbath sound and there is no background.  The first verse / chorus play perfectly and the only intrusion across the entire track is one light click on the second chorus.  The power and depth on the audio is second to none - the sound is so clean - 99% is faultless but because of that one minor click I will grade as Near Mint overall.

'Who Are You?' plays with exceptional audio through every section.  I only noticed a handful of very quiet statics which you miss unless you were listening intently!  A change in direct for them but it works!  Mint-

'Looking For Today' again plays with sublime quality.  From the intro and then through every vocal and instrumental section the clarity and definition of the audio is outstanding.  There are of course some acoustic sections but they all play without fault.  Ozzy's vocal is kind of on the higher register at times and yet there is no distortion and the closing instrumental with Ward's 'heavy' percussion is superb.  A Mint version.

The 'acoustic' intro on 'Spiral Architect' plays beautifully with only a handful of very quiet statics and as the volume increases the playback is so strong and clear.  The opening vocal section is equal to that and it continues in the same way.  The middle strings sections is superb and the closing section / 'audience' section / fade out has no background either.  A stunning Mint- version with barely any inner groove distortion.

The Gatefold & Lyric Inner

The cover is in fantastic condition and is easily the best I have ever seen.  It is so clean which is such a rarity as so often it is affected by surface rub / spotting.  The edges edges have very little rubbing and the spine is still strong and wide with zero wear.  All corners are super clean also with barely any wear and the opening edge is as close to perfect as is possible.  The front cover is STUNNING and is unmarked aside from a small number of very faint abrasive lines that you can only see when you hold the cover at a certain angle.  The predominantly white back cover has only the bare minimum of 'fading' around the edges and nothing stands out.  The inside of the gatefold is in immaculate and doesn't even fully open so clearly it has not been handled very much.  A stunning example for sure.

The lyric inner is also in lovely condition.  Again it is often found heavily creased / marked but not this one!  It has no side splits or tears and there is hardly any of the age related fading around the edges that you regularly see.  And only very minimal creasing.  I think the cover / inner may have been stored in a pvc sleeve all its life!

Play tested on my Rega P2 with AT-VM95EN Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

WWA 005 * 1Y// 2▽ 420 0 3   1 2  9

WWA 005 2Y// 4▽ 420 0 3    1 4  1 9

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

Recent Feedback

Postage & Packaging

I will only send items items worldwide via tracked shipping.  This provides 'peace of mind' in case of loss or damage.  The shipping costs are shown below and combined shipping is always offered.  Any over-payment will always be refunded.

The Royal Mail only insure up to a value of £250 so if an item sells for more it may be wise to use a courier service (e.g. Parcelforce or DPD).  An extra insurance premium will be required but I will not know the exact amount until the final sale price is known.  Because of this I will sometimes have to estimate the cost and this will be shown in the listing.  Please wait for the invoice before making payment and if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Many thanks.

All vinyls are packaged in strong over-sized custom made mailers with plenty of extra cardboard protection.  They are placed inside separate poly-lined inners outside the cover so as to avoid seam splits in transit and then placed inside a PVC sleeve to provide even more protection.  I pride myself on my high quality packaging as my feed confirms and if any customer has any specific requirements I am more than happy to help.

The mailers I use cost £1.00 each and I will use anything between 3-5 cardboard stiffeners which cost approx £0.18 each.  There is also the cost of the poly-lined inner and PVC sleeve to consider, it all adds up!  Not forgetting that eBay take 10% of the shipping fee also!!

UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £6.50 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £13.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £22.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase please contact me before leaving feedback and I will always resolve any issue, 100% guaranteed.  If you would prefer to send the item back I will also pay the return shipping cost if I am at fault, I am only human after all!!