Here’s a few more updates to the Vertigo Swirl section; click the sleeves to go to each album’s page:
Vertigo
It’s taken a while to getting round to continue the updates, but here’s a few more highly collectable Vertigo Swirls, including some of the rarest of them all; Jade Warrior’s “Released” rarely comes up for sale and “Gordon” by Gordon Waller is near impossible to find, rarer than Linda Hoyle, Tudor Lodge and possibly even Dr. Z…
Black Sabbath were at their peak in 1972, despite their excessive cocaine and alcohol consumption! Their 4th studio album (originally to be called “Snowblind in L.A.” allegedly) was released to mediocre critical acclaim, but the fans bought it in huge numbers none-the-less. Sabbath were however, going through a fairly turbulent time. Despite the successful album sales (“Paranoid” had hit No.1 in the UK album charts 2 years earlier) and the successful worldwide touring, Sabbath had very little financial reserves to show for it (although vast quantities of drugs were being consumed, so most of it probably went up their noses to be fair!).
Sabbath decided they wanted their own label and more control over the money that went with it. WWA Records was set up (although still manufactured and distributed by Vertigo) to handle the recording of their next album. Relatively short-lived, Sabbath would only release 1 studio album on this label (“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”) before further legal problems arising over disputes with their former manager Jim Simpson would force Sabbath to effectively curtail all touring and recording commitments for nearly 2 years (“The Writ” on Sabotage in 1975 tells the story of the frustrations etc).
Meanwhile, Vertigo was also going through some changes. The swirl label was dropped in 1973 and replaced with a Roger Dean designed ‘spaceship’ label.
As a net result of all the to-ing and fro-ing between labels, “Black Sabbath Vol.4” was released several times in an 18 month time span: twice on the swirl label, a quick reissue on the new spaceship label (which was swiftly halted) and then another reissue on the new WWA label (along with the previous 3 albums and the new 5th album).
2 years later in 1975, all of their entire back catalogue (5 studio albums) was reissued yet again on Sabbath’s latest record company signing – NEMS, along with their 6th studio album “Sabotage”.
Here’s another swirl that is reasonably hard to find complete with original poster; Jackson Heights’ “Ragamuffins Fool”. One of a very few non-gatefold releases, but it did come with an embossed sleeve and also the elusive poster.
Another 8 Vertigo swirls have been updated with sleeve, label and matrix details:
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!
Several UK first pressings have now been updated in the Vertigo Swirl section, click the sleeves to see each of the pages:
Here’s another classic concept by ace sleeve designer Marcus Keef. A super rare LP to find on Vertigo these days. Click here to see all the details on the sleeve, label and matrix.
For reasons unknown, Dave Kelly’s eponymous 1971 album never made it onto the Vertigo label, despite a test pressing being made. Instead, the album was released on another Phonogram label – Mercury. But if it had been released on Vertigo it would have probably looked like this…
A few more albums have been updated in the Vertigo swirl section, complete with the usual details on gatefold sleeves (and pictures of both) as well as any other interesting facts I can dig up! Lots more to update so keep checking back regularly:
Rare Record Collector 