Black Sabbath – The Ten Year War Test Pressings BS/Paranoid/Master of Reality
£
300
$
398
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Description
Original BMG 2016 Test Pressings — Only 5 Copies of Each Ever Made
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Description
For sale is an extraordinarily rare set of three official test pressings from the acclaimed 2017 Black Sabbath – The Ten Year War deluxe box set, issued by BMG.
These test pressings correspond to:
1. Black Sabbath – Cat. No. BMG CATBOX73.1 (dated 4 May 2016)
2. Paranoid – Cat. No. BMG CATBOX73.2 (dated 5 May 2016)
3. Master of Reality – Cat. No. BMG CATBOX73.3 (dated 29 April 2016)
Each disc is clearly labelled with the original BMG manufacturing stickers, including:
• QTY: 5 — confirming that only five test pressings were made for each title
• Batch/ID codes
• Production dates
• Internal PO numbers (JAMESL303215 / 219 / 221)
This is a matched, original set from the production of The Ten Year War and represents the holy trinity of the Ozzy-era catalogue.
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Why This Set Matters
Collectors widely regard The Ten Year War as the best modern pressing series of the classic Sabbath albums. However, the test pressings are a different level entirely:
• Produced in quantities of only five, solely for internal listening tests
• Represent the earliest, purest stampers before mass production
• Carry full BMG/Optimal identifiers, proving authenticity
• Almost never offered for public sale
• The first three albums are the most historically important, influential, and valuable Sabbath titles
Original 1970–1971 Vertigo test pressings are essentially unobtainable; this set is the closest a collector can get to an archival-level artefact.
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What Is a Test Pressing?
A test pressing is the very first version of a vinyl record produced by the pressing plant. Its purpose is to:
• Verify the audio quality of the lacquers
• Ensure the EQ and mastering translate correctly
• Check for noise, non-fill, distortion or pressing defects
• Obtain final approval before full-scale manufacturing
Only a handful are ever made, and most remain with engineers, label teams, or archives.
For collectors, they sit at the top of the rarity hierarchy due to scarcity, purity, and production significance.
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Track Listings
1. BLACK SABBATH (1970)
Side A
1. Black Sabbath
2. The Wizard
3. Behind the Wall of Sleep
4. N.I.B.
Side B
1. Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games With Me)
2. Sleeping Village
3. Warning
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2. PARANOID (1970)
Side A
1. War Pigs
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
Side B
1. Electric Funeral
2. Hand of Doom
3. Rat Salad
4. Fairies Wear Boots
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3. MASTER OF REALITY (1971)
Side A
1. Sweet Leaf
2. After Forever
3. Embryo
4. Children of the Grave
Side B
1. Orchid
2. Lord of This World
3. Solitude
4. Into the Void
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Condition
• Vinyl: Unplayed, as issued for approval
• Labels: White label test pressing
• Sleeves: Original white poly-lined sleeves with factory production stickers (show some signs of storage)
These are production artefacts and were never distributed commercially.
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Rarity & Value
• Only 5 copies exist for each disc — confirmed by the manufacturing labels in the photos
• Complete matched sets of the first three albums almost never surface
• These are the most desirable albums of the Ozzy era
• TYW test pressings are the most coveted modern Sabbath TPs, second only to original 1970–71 UK Vertigo-approved tests
A serious collector’s centrepiece.
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