7-Lot LP’s Non-Beatles Apple Artists All First Press in Shrink, All Unplayed NM

$

104

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

7-Lot LP’s Non-Beatles Apple Artists All in Shrink, All Unplayed NM!

This is a small collection of albums on the Apple label, which I bought sealed originally.  I have play copies of them all for my own collection.  I recently opened these, just to see if there were any anomalies, like error labels or mispressed sides, but there were none.

With that said, I’m selling these in the hopes that someone will discover what great music or what kooky obscurities these albums are.

They all remain unplayed.  All ringwear visible in the photos are on the shrink only.  Not on the covers.

Please note: These records are not sold for sound quality.  I’m currently without a turntable, and I don’t have the ability to test-play vinyl.  If that’s an issue for you, please skip this auction, as I have no way of guaranteeing their sound quality.

Many thanks!

** Badfinger Ass

Let’s just stop here for a second.

If you’ve never listened to Badfinger’s final song released on Apple Records called “Timeless,” you MUST head over to YouTube before bidding.  Like right now. 

(1) Timeless (Remastered 2010) - YouTube

This masterpiece was their farewell homage to their heroes, The Beatles.  As the track progresses, you’ll slowly become aware which Beatles song they chose as their means of saying thank you, right down to the arpeggiated A-minor chord in the trail-off. This absolutely brilliant closer for their final LP for Apple Records is the other bookend to the album’s opener, “Apple of my Eye.”  And in fact, the whole of Side 2 is one of my all-time favorite sides of any Apple solo artist outside of The Beatles themselves.

Vinyl--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.

Plates--- F3/F5.  Machine-stamped asterisk in the dead wax makes this copy pressed in Los Angeles.

Cover--- NM/NM.  Still in shrink.

Labels--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Inner Sleeve--- VG+.  The only thing stopping this custom inner sleeve from grading NM is that it is moderately wrinkled, due to improper insertion at the factory.  NO SPLIT SEAMS.

** Badfinger Magic Christian Music

Conversely, this was Badfinger’s debut album for Apple Records, with their new name and their new guitarist, Joey Molland.  If you own a copy of The Iveys’ album, you can definitely hear the change from a politely insipid band to them gaining a harder edge, but not quite there yet.  Try “Carry On ‘Til Tomorrow” if you’re bored with “Come and Get It” to hear this in-between stage.  Joey’s lead guitar after the choruses and in the fadeout outshines the rest of the track, and Pete’s brand of falsetto harmonies is solidly in place now, while the rest of the track is Iveys-esque, complete with lush strings filling out the ending.

They’re getting there…

Vinyl--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.

Plates--- Z6/Z7.  Machine-stamped triangle with the letters, “IAM” inside it makes this copy pressed by Scranton.

“Bell Sound” and “sf” in the dead waxes on both sides.

Cover--- NM/NM.  Still in shrink.

Labels--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Inner Sleeve--- NM.  Generic white inner sleeve with die-cut hole for the labels to show is present.  NO SEAM SPLITS.

**Cometogether Soundtrack

Considered at the time to have been cutting-edge sexual liberation art, it comes across today as what it really is.  Laughable.  There are passages of dialogue from the film that would make Yoko laugh, compared to her records.  The album opens with Joe South’s “Games People Play,” which is respectable.  But then, the rest of the album’s music is essentially mod Muzak and dialogue, along with The Youngbloods' "Get Together" for some sellability.

At one time, this was a very rare album, because the sales numbers were so low.  But there was a warehouse find of sealed copies put onto the market.  Now, it’s more of a counterculture curio.

For those who collect records that are so bad they’re great, this one belongs in your collection.

Vinyl--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.

Plates--- Z8/Z3.  Machine-Stamped Letter “O” in the dead wax on both sides makes this copy pressed in Jacksonville.

“Bell Sound” and “sf” in the dead waxes on both sides.

Cover--- NM/NM.  Still in shrink.

Labels--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Inner Sleeve--- VG.  Generic white inner sleeve with die-cut hole for the labels to show is present.  One side seam has a two-inch split.

**El Topo Soundtrack Alexandro Jodorowski

This is a far more interesting Soundtrack LP with a far more interesting back story.

The movie, written by and starring Jodorowski is an experimental story that crosses a Western with an acid trip, and the result is very nearly a horror film. (In fact, some parts are downright surrealistically disgusting.)  The script was sent to none other than John Lennon, who loved it, and he talked Allen Klein into financing it.  Lennon was so impressed with the movie that he reportedly personally handed over a million dollars to Jodorowski to make a second film.

Vinyl--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.

Plates--- Z1/Z2.  Hand-etched Delta symbol (or rifle) in the dead wax on both sides makes this copy pressed in Winchester.

Machine-stamped “STERLING” in the dead waxes on both sides.

Cover--- NM/NM.  Still in shrink.  Gatefold has never been opened.

Labels--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Inner Sleeve--- EX.  Generic white inner sleeve with die-cut hole for the labels to show is present.  Moderately yellowed.  NO SEAM SPLITS.

**Mary Hopkin Those Were the Days

Many people don’t realize that this album, which genuinely is very rare, is Mary’s equivalent to John’s “Shaved Fish” LP.  It’s not an album proper, nor is it her greatest hits package, per se.  It’s a collection of her British singles and B-Sides that was packaged in order to fulfill her Apple contract as her popularity was fast fading. 

The previous fall, she released her final album for Apple, “Earth Song/Ocean Song,” which only reached the lower 200’s on the charts.  She left the label, owing them one more LP, which was this one. 

It didn’t chart at all.  Nor were there any warehouse finds of this album.  There were warehouse finds of her first album, “Post Card” all over the place. This one is still a rare title, and it’s in the shrink, unplayed. 

Vinyl--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.

Plates--- Z9/Z6.  Machine-Stamped Letter “O” in the dead wax on both sides makes this copy pressed in Jacksonville.

Machine-stamped “STERLING” in the dead waxes on both sides.

Cover--- NM/NM.  Still in shrink. 

Labels--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Inner Sleeve--- EX.  Generic white inner sleeve with die-cut hole for the labels to show is present.  Sleeve has slightly yellowed.  NO SEAM SPLITS.

**Jackie Lomax Is This What You Want?

George’s prodigy for 1968/1969.  He liked Jackie’s demo tapes very much, and he approached him about recording a full album for Apple.  Jackie’s overwhelmed response was that he didn’t have a band.  George coyly responded that he had some mates he could put together.

That backup band famously consisted of George, Paul and Ringo.  John was unavailable, so George got Eric Clapton to fill out the lineup.  Can you imagine being a 22 year-old kid, walking into your first recording session and seeing those guys as your band for your first album?

And if that weren’t enough, the following studio musicians filled out the rest of this recording with overdubs:

The great drummer, Hal Blaine from the Wrecking Crew

Larry Knechtel, piano for Simon & Garfunkel

Nicky Hopkins, piano on the 45 version of “Revolution”

Joe Osborn, Wrecking Crew Bassist on everyone’s records

And of course, Klaus Voorman, whom we all know.

That’s unmistakably Ringo on “Sour Milk Sea,” written by George.  Sounds like a Beatles backing track.

Vinyl--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.

Plates--- X3/B4.  Machine-stamped triangle with the letters, “IAM” inside it makes this copy pressed by Scranton.

Cover--- NM/NM.  Still in shrink. 

Labels--- NM/NM.  Label mistakenly lists the last track on Side 1 as “Fall Inside Your Eyes,” rather than the corrected title, “(I) Fall Inside Your Eyes.”  This copy has never been played.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Inner Sleeve--- EX.  Custom inner sleeve is present.  Sleeve has slightly yellowed.  NO SEAM SPLITS.

**Doris Troy Self-Titled LP

VERY unfairly overlooked album!  I have listened to this title since the 80’s with the same enthusiasm as I do today.

The first thing worth mentioning is that Doris is featured on Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” LP, most notably doing the backing vocals on “Us and Them,” “Eclipse” and “Brain Damage.”

As for this album, that’s again, unmistakably Ringo on drums for the entire first side of the LP, and on one or two cuts on Side 2.  And you can tell that he is under NO direction from his band mates. 

I will guarantee you that you’ve never heard Ringo play like this.  It still drops my jaw, some of the fills he does.  Check out the second cut on Side 1, “Special Care” just for a taste, written by Stephen Stills.  He takes off about 30 seconds into the track, and it’s up to the band to keep up with him. 

Special Care (2010 Remaster)

Forensically speaking, Ringo’s performances for this album were recorded between the “Get Back” sessions and the “Abbey Road” sessions, some of his most underconfident and frustrating times with The Beatles.  This album must have been a pressure valve for him to have played off some pent-up energy.  He plays like he has gunpowder in his veins.

The album opens with the lead single, “Ain’t That Cute.”  Eric Clapton and Ringo explode the opening track, followed by the unmistakable Billy Preston’s electric piano lead. This opener will propel your ass into a great blues rock album in similar vein to the records that Delaney and Bonnie, Leon Russell and Sly and the Family Stone were releasing at the same time.  And be sure not to miss her completely different and gorgeous interpretation of Joe South’s “Games People Play,” which I think is far more meaningful than Joe’s.

His version is on the “Cometogether” Soundtrack LP in this lot, so that you can compare the two versions if you don’t know that song.  That was by design when building this lot.

Vinyl--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.

Plates--- Z3/Z3.  Machine-Stamped Letter “O” in the dead wax on both sides makes this copy pressed in Jacksonville.

“Bell Sound” and “sf” in the dead waxes on both sides.

Cover--- NM/NM.  Still in shrink. 

Labels--- NM/NM.  This copy has never been played.  NO SPINDLE MARKS.

Inner Sleeve--- EX.  Generic white inner sleeve with die-cut hole for the labels to show is present.  Sleeve has moderately yellowed.  NO SEAM SPLITS.

**This is a great set of unplayed Apple LP’s which covers both scarcity and fascinating music.  I list these with the sincerest hope that the winner will enjoy the entire package.**

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

Shipping is $7.47 for Media Mail for this lot within the U.S.  Other wins from this week’s listings will be subject to my Combined Shipping offer, which is $5.38 for Media Mail for up to 3 single or double albums, excluding boxed sets within the U.S.  $5.38 covers shipping for up to 5 singles within the U.S., and within the same auction week.

Winners in all other countries will be charged actual shipping to their locations, so please wait to be invoiced.  You will be quoted for the cheapest shipping to your country that the US post office can afford me.  Please let me know if you would prefer to pay for a faster means of shipping, but do NOT ask me to declare packages as gifts, or any other means of defrauding the postal services.  Much appreciated.

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