The Polka Tulk Blues Band from Birmingham changed their name to Earth in 1969, but this caused problems as there was already a band with this name. So they had to find another name and decided on Black Sabbath after a film starring Boris Karloff. Numerous successful pub gigs throughout England and an appearance on the music show Top Gear at the end of 1969 prompted the Vertigo label to record an album with the band. Ozzy Osbourne (voc, harm), Tony Iommi (g), Geezer Butler (b), Bill Ward (dr) were given exactly two days to record and mix the album. In the end, however, they only needed 12 hours for the recordings, playing their live set with almost no overdubs. The next day they had to perform in Switzerland. Their eponymous debut album, widely regarded as the first heavy metal album, was released in February 1970.
UK first pressing originals in top condition with „Philips Record Product“ on label B side and the erroneous copyright warning „Copyright subsists in all Stereo recordings…“ are extremely sought-after worldwide and therefore changing hands for over £4000!
