Black Sabbath vol 4 1972 UK 1st VERTIGO SWIRL, MINT vinyl + Actual Tour Sticker

	£		46
	$		61

BLACK SABBATH
Vol 4

UK VERTIGO (6360 071) FIRST PRESSING (September 1972) OF BLACK SABBATH'S CLASSIC "Vol 4"
SEEN ONLY LIGHT USE, ARGUABLY MINT. Haven't seen one in such good condition. Hard to make out any imperfection at all.

PRESSED WITH THE FIRST VERTIGO SWIRL LABELS
MATRICES: 6360071 1Y//1 11 14 (etched "PORKY") / 6360071 2Y//1 11 10 (etched "PECKO")
THE RECORD IS HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL MATT GATEFOLD COVER “Printed and made by Howards Printers (Slough) Ltd” WITH FACTORY SEALED LEFT SIDE EDGE AND INTERNAL FIXED FOUR PAGE BOOKLET
COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL POLY-LINED VERTIGO SWIRL INNER SLEEVE

LABELS: EXCELLENT some spotting as can be seen in pictures, and some light spindle traces (not many - this copy has not been over-played at all)
VINYL Visual: MINT
Both surfaces retain their original deep glossy sheen. I challenge anyone to pic out an imperfection. I've seen new records with marks!
SLEEVE: VERY GOOD
INCLUDING 1973 TOUR STICKER Never the easiest sleeve to find in decent condition due to it being untreated and mostly black it shows wear readily, but apart from some storage rubbing around the edges (all spine text is clear) it's in good shape.
INNER SLEEVE: good
The Vertigo inner has age-related discolouration and has splits, but only enough to show a small amount of record. This falls into insignificance with the condition of the record. Sleeves can be replaced if required. It's always done the job for me.


Volume 4 demonstrates Black Sabbath beginning to experiment with the heavy sound they had become known for.
Although some songs are in their trademark style, others demonstrate a soft, orchestral approach. "Changes" is entirely in the form of a piano ballad with mellotron.
In June 1972, Black Sabbath reconvened in Los Angeles to begin work on their fourth album at the Record Plant Studios. The recording process was plagued with problems, many due to substance abuse issues but despite the copious amounts of cocaine, the band produced another first-rate album that pushed the boundaries of heavy metal and would influence countless bands.
However, the seeds were planted for what would eventually be the demise of the classic Sabbath lineup. As Butler told Guitar World in 2001, "...the cocaine had set in. We went out to L.A. and got into a totally different lifestyle. Half the budget went on the coke and the other half went to seeing how long we could stay in the studio...We rented a house in Bel-Air and the debauchery up there was just unbelievable." In the same interview, "Yes, Vol. 4 is a great album but listening to it now, I can see it as a turning point for me, where the alcohol and drugs stopped being fun."
At least two songs on the album reference the use of cocaine. The lyrics and title of "Snowblind" being the most obvious. The song also had to be re-recorded because the original version features Osbourne yelling the word "cocaine!" after each verse. On the officially released version, "cocaine" is whispered quite audibly after the first verse, approximately 41 seconds into the song (During live performances Osbourne would again scream the word at the top of his lungs).
In the liner notes the band thank "the great COKE-Cola Company"

Side 1: WHEELS OF CONFUSION / TOMORROW DREAM / CHANGES / FX / SUPERNAUT
Side 2: SNOWBLIND / CORNUCOPIA / LAGUNA SUNRISE / ST. VITUS DANCE / UNDER THE SUN

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