Released on a Vertigo "swirl" label with the wording ''Vertigo'' above the spindle hole in a laminated cover. Critics have praised the album for its lasting impact on the music scene, as evidenced by its 50th-anniversary edition’s release in 2020. The gatefold cover is slightly textured compared to later issues and has different upper-case only credits on inner gatefold. and i cant find any other US pressing entered that has any notes of hand-written matrix etchings with "SIDE 1" or "SIDE 2" included.

Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1976, Vinyl) - Discogs Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1976, Vinyl) - Discogs

His full length debut on Daptone Records is equal parts raw feeling and elegance and exudes confidence and charm. It wasn't among those mastered by Sean Magee and others have said that it has goosed-up bass and too much noise reduction. Its release in 1970 marked a significant leap forward for the band, showcasing their distinctive sound and powerful songwriting abilities. As a result, the album brought forth a distinct sound that helped set the stage for the genre’s future developments.These tracks, among others, have gone on to become some of the most iconic heavy metal songs in history. Black Sabbath's Paranoid is an iconic album not only for it's songs but also for what it meant for the band, Paranoid was one of the albums which launched Black Sabbath to stardom and remains one of their greatest works in my opinion. Ostensibly, the album is heavy metal, but listening to it contemporaneously leaves no room for doubt that it would now be viewed as a doom metal record, perhaps the greatest.

Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1976, Vinyl) - Discogs

Its influence extends to multiple generations of heavy metal and rock bands, proving its lasting impact on the music landscape. Everything is dumped from the AUX monitoring - no need to be Einstein to hear that everything is centred (mono).

When I finally got it, ALL of the records had lots of scratches, so many that I asked for a replacement, sounded terrible. I'd like to give a more detailed review in the future, but just wanted to chime in that I love the quad mix.

BLACK SABBATH Paranoid, first UK press, Vinyl Vertigo swirl

When examining the album’s tracks, it becomes even more evident why “Paranoid” gained its revered status. These songs have become all-time metal classics and continue to influence heavy metal music today (AllMusic).The sound quality is great too- blasting it through my NAD c316bee receiver and Dali Oberon 1’s is out of this world- Iommi’s guitar cuts through each track like a razor, and Butler’s bass lays down a very present bottom end to anchor the album. In the 1960s, the hippie culture saw Birmingham become a vessel of musical activity, but it wasn't until Black Sabbath formed in 1968 that the city's overt bleakness motivated the birth of a thick and aggressive sound that reflected the reverberating cacophony of factories and steelworks. Rhino reissues are indeed excellent, but watch out for the digitally sourced ones (MOR and Black Sabbath - cut by Ron McMaster at Capitol) as i dont think these sound that great.