Black Sabbath ‎– Paranoid

Castle Communications, Castle Music is wrong.

Does anybody out there know anything about the german edition of Paranoid, swirl label, FOC with a small star printed on the back cover near by the number, right top back corner?!
I have already seen this on the german PINK FLOYD - Wish You Where Here.
Any Information or someone who knows about other "STARS" on covers?
Kind of a club edition or what?
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!

Apparently "clear" is a color. (Don't know if this applies to all of them.)

Completely agree with robert_amish comments

Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) and includes gatefold cover.

Paranoid is faster paced than Black Sabbath's first album, but it isn't any less dark. It contains the same elements of sci-fi and fantasy, but with a lot more LSD. In addition to the gloom and doom of the first album they add despair and desperation.

the "distributed by phonogram" is a reissue - the original doesn't have any mention of the distributor, has a circled U price code on back of second flap and is definitively 6360 011 - no DN in sight on my copy - note this is black on white label with "small swirl" on top of label.

Just a comment on the title track: Paranoid.
Quite unusual in Sabbath's discography: A pure punk song in the simplest way.
Can't get bored with, so short, so fast, no damn chorus, a sharp solo with unique distorted sound.
Fast and light drumming with perfect bass line, breakdown lyrics...
After the monstrous War Pigs and it's endless majesty, you have here, the two best songs Black Sabbath ever made.

this is just one of those records that all collections must have. it is generally regarded to be the first "metal" record, even though it's really an evolution of the blues and should really be listed as a blues record. an unconventional blues record, perhaps, but strictly a blues record nonetheless. it has arguably become the most classic of classic rock records.

it is true that the riffs on the disc conjure up the most inane projections of what some in the elite would label as subversive: lost hippies dancing in the park and smoking drugs, satan worship, a lack of interest in traditional employment, a lack of understanding of conflict in any of it's states except it's final state: peace. is this not the attraction to the record? is it not some silly dream fantasy?

sure, it is. you just have to ignore the lyrics about serial killers.

it's hard not to laugh at "iron man", but it's hard to hate the riff, too. they did hit on something primal here and it does have longlasting appeal, it's just not such a grand idea to analyze it too much.

it's also really hard to hate the lead guitar work, even if it is somewhat simplistic. the irony is that the guitar style that iommi lays down here on what has been labelled the first metal record is in reality the style that punk rock evolved into during the grunge era. the oft-maligned "lead bassist" produced what was by far the more influential and widely accepted style. this is also the first grunge record.

i don't recommend this to anybody because the type of person that is likely to take recommendations seriously is not the target audience.

In any format- vinyl, cassette, CD, etc; an absolute must-have for all metal heads. Sabbath's second release finds the boys in top form, with a confident, heavy sound. Some of their best-loved songs are on this one.
This album is a vital piece of heavy metal history. Play it LOUD! "\0.o/"