vertigoven

VENEZUELA, URUGUAY

VENEZUELA

In Venezuela Vertigo adopted a different way of numbering the releases. The lowest number we have encountered is 20 001, the highest 20 007 and we haven't seen the releases in between yet, though it seems likely that they do exist. Higher numbers could, of course, also be found. The A-side label has the full swirl and ''lado A'' in the second white circle. Matrix numbers are either machine-stamped or hand-etched (we found both) and of enticing simplicity (see below). The general lay-out of the B-side label can be viewed below too. ''Hecho en Venezuala'' appears at 6 o'clock. Covers are made ''North-American'' style: a paste-over slick on a basic board. The spines were left unprinted. Titles were presented in Spanish on both backcover and label. In Venezuela Vertigo was distributed by Polydor, which possibly sheds a light on the strange catalogue numbers, as ''20'' was a prefix used by Polydor in this era.

ALBUMS

20 001
GENTLE GIANT - same (1972)


Cover manufactured by unknown. The Vertigo logo on front is off-white and mutilated by the cutting machine. Matrix number A-side: 20001 A Matrix number B-side: 20001 B These are machine-stamped on our copy. Rarity scale: R3?

Quite an alteration has been applied to the cover. The art-work by George Underwood was halved: only the upper part (the face itself) shows. The occiput of the bald-headed giant was cruelly obscured by a yellow bar with a ghastly border. The Spanish translation of the band name looms large on this new graphical element. The colours of the image were dramatically intensified, leaving no trace of the atmosphere of the original in place. The old catalogue number, 6360 020, was only vaguely corrected into the new one just below the swirl logo on the cover. The backcover was put together from Spanish titles and the small art-work, originally inside the gatefold, but the image is printed mirror-wise. Most remarkable trait of the cover must be the blurb in the lower left corner. ''Contiene el hit: Nada en Absoluto'' is stated modestly. Are we really to be informed that Nothing at all was a hit in Venezuela? Did Giant receive any royalties?

20 007
BLACK SABBATH - VOL. 4 (1972)


Cover manufactured by unknown. The Vertigo logo on front is yellow. Matrix number A-side: VERTIGO 20007 A Matrix number B-side: VERTIGO 20007 B These are machine-stamped on our copy. Rarity scale: R2

A simplification to the cover, as was to be expected: gatefold and book-sleeve were discarded and a single sleeve substituted. The orange of the British issue was altered to dark yellow. The information was transferred to the backcover.

SINGLES

If Nada en absoluto was a hit, then there should be Vertigo singles too... Anyone?

URUGUAY

Uruguayan Vertigo swirl albums have ''Vertigo'' in the first white circle on the A-side. At 11 o'clock at the B-side the wording ''Industria Uruguaya'' leaves no doubt about their origins, as does ''Made in Uruguay'' at 6 o'clock. Matrix number are machine-stamped. Uruguayan covers are Souith-American style: two pages held together by a plastic outer sleeve. In Uruguay the swirl label survived rather longer than in most other countries. Promo issues were adorned with a stamp stating ''Muestra invendible''.

6366 101
BLACK SABBATH - SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH (1977)


Cover manufactured by As. The Vertigo logo on front is white. Matrix number A-side: 5417 B 6366101 Matrix number B-side: 5417 A 6366101 Rarity scale: R3?

Another example of a latin country that reduces the alleged erotic contents of a cover. The suggested copulation of the British cover (Vertigo 6360 115) is benignly covered with a large blue field. The bandname is now very conspicious. Just compare to the UK cover depicted below.

6360 130
THIN LIZZY - FUGA DE LA CARCEL [Jailbreak] (1977)

Regular label above and promo stamped label below

We have not yet found any single releases from Uruguay, but it seems certain that there are some in existence.

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