More 70's Music on Vinyl- Original or Early Pressings

DaveyF

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That's very interesting, Bill. Where was your WWA record made? I know that Vertigo pressed records all over the world, I have seen these Lp's from Israel, South America, Australia and other places. I think the collectable one's are the original UK pressings.
 

DaveyF

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Sorry Bill -- thanks for doing that. I've listened to a friend's original Vertigo pressing with big swirl...one of the best recordings I've ever heard. The musicianship is incredible. Tommy Iommi is incredible on this LP.

Wow, jazdoc, you like Black Sabbath...I'm impressed!! I thought I may have been alone on this forum as a lover of jazz and metal, LOL. Agreed that the original UK Vertigo pressing is an incredible recording.
 

jazdoc

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Wow, jazdoc, you like Black Sabbath...I'm impressed!! I thought I may have been alone on this forum as a lover of jazz and metal, LOL. Agreed that the original UK Vertigo pressing is an incredible recording.

I'm paying big bucks to suppress a photo of yours truly flashing devil horns at a recent Iron Maiden concert :D
 

Bill Hart

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Sorry Bill -- thanks for doing that. I've listened to a friend's original Vertigo pressing with big swirl...one of the best recordings I've ever heard. The musicianship is incredible. Tommy Iommi is incredible on this LP.
Doc- for you, almost anything :) I just like to bitch.
 

Bill Hart

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That's very interesting, Bill. Where was your WWA record made? I know that Vertigo pressed records all over the world, I have seen these Lp's from Israel, South America, Australia and other places. I think the collectable one's are the original UK pressings.
Davey, these are UK records, but later issues, and don't command the kilo bucks that the big swirl Vertigo does.
For what it's worth, I'm listening to Rod's Every Pciture on a UK Black Label Mercury. It is pretty amazing. I got a US WLP but haven't compared them. The tone of the UK pressing is very 'right.'
 

DaveyF

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Davey, these are UK records, but later issues, and don't command the kilo bucks that the big swirl Vertigo does.
For what it's worth, I'm listening to Rod's Every Pciture on a UK Black Label Mercury. It is pretty amazing. I got a US WLP but haven't compared them. The tone of the UK pressing is very 'right.'

Bill, any idea as to when the WWA label was issued? I'm pretty sure the original swirl Vertigo's were from the early to mid 70's. BTW, some of the original bronze label pressings are also very worth while seeking out.
I noticed that one of my fave's: Uriah Heep- "Demons and Wizard's" is being re-issued now.
 

Bill Hart

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Bill, any idea as to when the WWA label was issued? I'm pretty sure the original swirl Vertigo's were from the early to mid 70's. BTW, some of the original bronze label pressings are also very worth while seeking out.
I noticed that one of my fave's: Uriah Heep- "Demons and Wizard's" is being re-issued now.
Davey- go to discogs. Look up Black Sabbath and pick one of the albums, like Paranoid. Then, in the lower part of the screen, make sure you hit 'all' for the release list. They give country, date, label, catalog number and in some cases additional info. The WWA's were released after the Vertigos, but in the case of Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath, my recollection is that it was first released on WWA in the UK. The problem is that in many cases a seller doesn't disclose the matrix numbers, and asking for them will get you that info, if you know what the Vertigo matrices are (assuming you are going in that direction). I have found Hoffman's site to be a huge help in this respect.
 

hvbias

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Sorry Bill -- thanks for doing that. I've listened to a friend's original Vertigo pressing with big swirl...one of the best recordings I've ever heard. The musicianship is incredible. Tommy Iommi is incredible on this LP.

Agreed, it is a terrific recording. I read in another thread that Ralph (Atma-Sphere) uses it as a demo album. Definitely worthy of that :)

Bill are you mostly using Ebay for these finds?
 
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Bill Hart

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Agreed, it is a terrific recording. I read in another thread that Ralph (Atma-Sphere) uses it as a demo album. Definitely worthy of that :)

Bill are you mostly using Ebay for these finds?

Ssshhh! :)
There are a handful of reliable dealers for UK stuff in the UK that I use; and for a lot of the US pressings, e.g. old Warners and the like, I have been pretty successful on ebay; again, for the most part, it seems like the same dealers often have the stuff I want. EIL in the UK is very high quality, but tres cher; everything I've ever gotten from them has been impeccable. And, in a few cases, again mainly for US pressings, SH classifieds.
 

hvbias

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Ssshhh! :)
There are a handful of reliable dealers for UK stuff in the UK that I use; and for a lot of the US pressings, e.g. old Warners and the like, I have been pretty successful on ebay; again, for the most part, it seems like the same dealers often have the stuff I want. EIL in the UK is very high quality, but tres cher; everything I've ever gotten from them has been impeccable. And, in a few cases, again mainly for US pressings, SH classifieds.

I have a green label Chrysalis Thick As A Brick first pressing on the way from the UK. "Porky" mastering. Fingers crossed it is a good one.
 

mep

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I have a green label Chrysalis Thick As A Brick first pressing on the way from the UK. "Porky" mastering. Fingers crossed it is a good one.

I have at least 3 pressings of Thick as A Brick and I haven't found a good one yet.
 

DaveyF

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Davey- go to discogs. Look up Black Sabbath and pick one of the albums, like Paranoid. Then, in the lower part of the screen, make sure you hit 'all' for the release list. They give country, date, label, catalog number and in some cases additional info. The WWA's were released after the Vertigos, but in the case of Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath, my recollection is that it was first released on WWA in the UK. The problem is that in many cases a seller doesn't disclose the matrix numbers, and asking for them will get you that info, if you know what the Vertigo matrices are (assuming you are going in that direction). I have found Hoffman's site to be a huge help in this respect.

Thanks for that, Bill. BTW, I'm looking for the six-fold poster that went with the original UK Vertigo pressing of Master of Reality. I own this pressing, BUT the darned poster went missing years ago. If anyone has any ideas on where to source the poster, i would love to hear them.
 

hvbias

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I have at least 3 pressings of Thick as A Brick and I haven't found a good one yet.

I would agree about the US pressings I've heard as well as the old Mofi. The gold CD is good. In my experience George Peckham mastered LPs are usually very good.

DaveyF I don't have the poster for my MoR Vertigo either. Getting the vinyl back in that unusual top loading jacket is also a bit of a chore...
 

jazdoc

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OK, Whart got me pulling records off the shelf...

Beach Boys "Sunflower", Reprise, RS 6382, 1970 -- very under-appreciated LP


Todd Rundgren "Something, Anything", Bearsville 2BX 2066, 1972


Steely Dan "Pretzel Logic", ABC Records, ABCD808, 1974


Earth Wind & Fire "That's The Way of the World", Columbia, PC 33280, 1975


Robert Palmer "Pressure Drop", Island, ILPS 9372, 1975 -- a highlight of a strange career, title song is a killer cover


Elton John "Blue Moves", MCA/Rocket Records, 2-110004, 1976 -- another under-appreciated LP, 3 sides would have been better than 4


Peter Frampton "Frampton Comes Alive", A&M, SP3703, 1976 -- admit it: you own it and you like it


10cc "Deceptive Bends", Mercury, SRM-1-3702 (US), 1977 -- excellent LP with classic cover by Hipgnosis


Commodores "S/T", Motown, M7-88 RI, 1977 -- she's a brick..house


Rolling Stones "Some Girls", RSR (UK) CUN 39108 (OC 064-61-1016 on back cover)
Rolling Stones "Some Girls", RSR (US) COC 39109 (STERLING stamped in runout) -- I slightly prefer this version


Dave Edmunds "Repeat When Necessary", Swan Song (UK), SSK 59409, 1979 -- a great Rockpile LP


The Clash "London Calling", Epic Canada E236328 -- I prefer this pressing to the original UK with STERLING in runout -- ?Best LP of the 1970's?
 

Johnny Vinyl

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Nice list of recommendations. Have them all except Beach Boys and Dave Edmunds.
 

Bill Hart

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So much music, so little time. I have most of those records too. I loved "Hello it's Me" on Something/Anything. Haven't listened to it since it first came out.
Let me add another one- and easily gettable. Dave Mason's 'Alone Together.' There are 4 or 5 tracks on this album that qualify as greatest hits. Musically, it is a wonderful album. I have one of the old 'splatter' copies down in Texas that I haven't listened to yet, but the 'heavy vinyl' reissue by MCA is cheap and good.
 

Bill Hart

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I listened to a side of London Calling this afternoon- not even a special pressing, just an older Epic from the US- man, those guys had it. In retrospect, more than 'punk' it was rock and roll, well played.
A friend on another site sent me a somewhat beat copy of The Yes Album- it wasn't in as bad a condition as he thought, and it sounded great. I found a pristine Piros Monarch for 15 bucks- this thing is glorious!
Been banging through all those early Sabbath records. And yes, though I got some with crossed-through Vertigo matrixes, I decided to spring for a couple of first press Vertigos. You only live once (I hope). More later.
 

Johnny Vinyl

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I listened to a side of London Calling this afternoon- not even a special pressing, just an older Epic from the US- man, those guys had it. In retrospect, more than 'punk' it was rock and roll, well played.
A friend on another site sent me a somewhat beat copy of The Yes Album- it wasn't in as bad a condition as he thought, and it sounded great. I found a pristine Piros Monarch for 15 bucks- this thing is glorious!
Been banging through all those early Sabbath records. And yes, though I got some with crossed-through Vertigo matrixes, I decided to spring for a couple of first press Vertigos. You only live once (I hope). More later.


You've been on a tear as of late! Nice!:)
 

Bill Hart

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i normally don't listen loud. Paranoid has to be CRANKED. The bass, even on the later pressing, is pretty good. I can't wait to hear what it sounds like on the early Vertigo.
 

Bill Hart

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James Taylor Greatest Hits is as good as i remember it; mid-70's compilation mastered by Bernie Grundman from a variety of sources. Not a terribly expensive or hard record to find. I've had mine since it was released.
 

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