A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT
Grab yourself a super rare version of Cressida’s 1st LP on Vertigo, their self-titled debut was reissued on the iconic swirl label but is even rarer than the initial pressing…you won’t get many chances to see this one. The 1st pressing features the ‘A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT’ on the label, but this second issue does not have this wording, but does still have the same 1Y1/2Y1 stamped matrix as the first pressing. I’ve not seen another one like this…
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323030207076?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Complete with original gatefold sleeve and swirl inner, this super rare 2nd pressing is identical to the more common 1st pressing but does not have ‘A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT’ on the label and is stupidly hard to find! Check it out on eBay here and grab yourself one of the rarest Vertigo Swirls out there…(oh and it plays great too!)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322951279989?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Thanks to David from Co. Durham, we now have another label variation (of the second pressing large swirl label) to add to the existing known ones. This new one features slightly different positioning of the text, most notably the track listing for side 2 which features a different alignment for track 3…further to the left than the other labels…
1st pressing with ‘A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT’ above
3 versions of the 2nd pressing label above
3rd pressing label above
Black Sabbath’s debut on the iconic Vertigo Swirl label has been issued three times before eventually being reissued on the Spaceship label. However, a sharp-eyed viewer (thanks to Martin in Copenhagen!) has noticed a variation in the label design. Here are the swirl labels in the order I believe them to have been issued:
And here are the differences (in same cases very subtle!)
1st Issue
- Large swirl logo above spindle
- ‘VERTIGO’ below spindle
- ‘A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT’ below ‘VERTIGO’
- ‘BLACK SABBATH’ is slightly offset to the right above ‘VERTIGO’
- ‘VO6 847 903 VTY’ and then below that ‘847 903 2Y’ is all off centre and ranged towards the right with the last line extending beyond the middle line
- ’33⅓’ is below and left of the ‘℗ 1970’
2nd Issue (Martin’s newly discovered copy) – changes from 1st Issue in italics
- Large swirl logo above spindle
- ‘VERTIGO’ below spindle
- No ‘A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT’ wording below ‘VERTIGO’
- ‘BLACK SABBATH’ is smaller but still slightly offset to the right above ‘VERTIGO’
- ‘VO6 847 903 VTY’ and then below that ‘847 903 2Y’ is all off centre and ranged towards the right with the last line extending beyond the middle line
- ’33⅓’ is centred below the ‘℗ 1970’
3rd Issue (previously known as 2nd issue) – changes from 2nd Issue in italics
- ‘BLACK SABBATH’ looks slightly larger and is centred above ‘VERTIGO’, it is also nearer to ‘VERTIGO’
- ‘VO6 847 903 VTY’ and then below that ‘847 903 2Y’ is now closer to being centred and the last line centred below the middle line
- ’33⅓’ is slightly off centre (to the left) below the ‘℗ 1970’
4th Issue (previously known as 3rd issue) – changes from 3rd Issue in italics
- Small swirl logo above spindle
- ‘VERTIGO’ above spindle
- ‘BLACK SABBATH’ is larger
- ‘VO6 847 903 VTY’ and then below that ‘847 903 2Y’ is centred with the last line ranged left
- ‘℗ 1970’ has been moved below ’33⅓’ and is slightly off to the right
Thanks again to Martin from Copenhagen…so, are there any more variations in existence! Send me your scans if you find any!
The first 7 releases on Vertigo carried the catalogue number prefix of ‘VO’ but this was dropped after Cressida’s self-titled album VO7. The numbering system then followed a more formulaic style based on existing Philips Records catalogue numbering with a 7 digit numerical code: 6360 (to denote Vertigo from other labels following a similar system) and then a 3 digit code specific to each release (although this featured some omissions, and other anomalies).
The VO5 number was never officially released although ‘Women And Children First’ by Ancient Grease was supposed to use this number but ended up being released on Mercury instead – 6338 033. The sleeve had a VO Price Code box on the rear giving a clue to its intended Vertigo release.
Click the sleeves below to go to each album’s page where you can see the gatefold sleeves in all their glory and also the various reissues on Vertigo Swirl and Spaceship labels where applicable.
These 1st releases were also the only ones to carry a reference to the Philips Records parent company. “A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT” appeared on the base of the labels below the word ‘VERTIGO’. This wording disappeared with the new catalogue numbering system of ‘6360 xxx’. There are reissues of many of the above without this PHILIPS RECORD credit.
Also worth noting; both Colosseum and Manfred Mann had the same “A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT” wording on first editions of the sleeves. This disappeared on reissues.
Rare Record Collector 