Black Sabbath - Vol. 4 - Vinyl record - 1st Pressing - 1972

General Information

Artist: Black Sabbath
Title: Vol. 4
Label: Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Catalog number: BS 2602
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Year: 1972
Country: USA
Edition: First Original US Pressing
Genre: Heavy Metal / Hard Rock

Description

Released in September 1972, Vol. 4 is the fourth studio masterpiece by the progenitors of heavy metal, Black Sabbath. Unlike their previous three albums, which were recorded in England, the band moved to the Record Plant in Los Angeles for these sessions. This change of scenery led to a more experimental sound, incorporating piano ballads like "Changes" and the beautiful acoustic instrumental "Laguna Sunrise" alongside crushing riffs in tracks like "Supernaut" and "Wheels of Confusion."

The album was famously recorded during a period of heavy substance use; the band originally wanted to title the record Snowblind, but the record label blocked it due to the obvious drug references. Despite the internal chaos, the album reached Gold status within a month of its release and remains a cornerstone of the genre.

Condition

Vinyl: Presumed MINT (unplayed)
Cover: Factory-sealed, never opened

Notes for collectors

This is a museum-quality specimen: a confirmed first original US pressing from 1972, still preserved in its original factory shrink wrap. Several key details identify this as the earliest state of the release:

Price Code "0598": The spine features the "0598" code. This was the specific retail price code ($5.98) used by Warner Bros. for initial 1972 shipments; later 1970s re-pressings moved to "0698" or removed the code entirely.
Original Spine Copy: The spine clearly shows the " 1972 — Warner Bros. Records Inc." credit and the catalog number BS 2602.
Absence of Barcode: The back cover is clean of any UPC barcode, confirming its production predates the industry-wide adoption of barcodes in the late 70s.
Factory Shrink Features: The shrink wrap remains tight and original, featuring the authentic "breathing holes" (vent holes) typical of 1970s manufacturing.

Matrix/Labels

Catalog Number: BS 2602
Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Matrix / Runout: Unverifiable (Item is factory sealed, but first pressings typically feature "BS-2602" in the runout).
Marking: "PRINTED IN U.S.A." on the spine edge.
Labels: Presumed "Green Label" (Warner Bros. Seven Arts), which was the standard for first US pressings of this album in 1972.