BEGGARS OPERA ACT ONE UK 6360 018 VERTIGO SWIRL SUPERB

	£		60
	$		80

YOU ARE BIDDING ON GEBBARS OPERA "ACT ONE" VINYL LP ON VERTIGO

UK 1st PRESS CAT No. 6360 018.  Matrix numbers 1Y//1, 2Y//1

Superb album from one of THE most collectable VERTIGO releases

The scot prog rockers!!!

Studio Album, released in 1970

Track Listings

Side 1:
1. Poet and Pesant* (7:10)
2. Passacaglia (7:04)
3. Memory (3:57)
Side 2:
4. Raymond's road *(11:49)
5. Light Cavalry *(11:57)

Total Time: 41:57

Line-up/Musicians

- Martin Griffiths / vocals
- Alan Park / organ
- Raymond Wilson / drums
- Ricky Gardiner / lead guitar
- Marshal Erksine / bass guitar

Progarchives Review 1:-

Beggar’s Opera’s first album has, with the passage of time, gradually gained belated (but justified) recognition as a truly superb piece of work. The band, which hails from my native homeland (and in fact played at my High school around the time this album was released!), hit the ground running in terms of originality and imagination.

“Act one” precedes the Mellotron driven symphonic prog which featured on its immediate successors (“Waters of change” and “Pathfinder”), but is nonetheless heavily influenced by the classics. Consisting of just five tracks, it needs to be remembered that this album was released in the same year as Pink Floyd were moving from psych into prog with “Atom heart Mother”, Genesis were only just getting beyond their Jonathan King phase with their first proper album "Trespass", and ELP had just come together and released their first album. With that in mind, it is difficult to explain why those albums have gained legendary status, while “Act one” is all but forgotten.

The album opens with “Poet and peasant”, which borrows heavily from Franz von Suppe’s overture of that name. The track features dominant Hammond organ, and the highly distinctive vocals of Martin Griffiths. The music has something of an early 70’s Italian prog feel to it. “Passacaglia” continues in a similar vein, with some Keith Emerson like (The Nice era) organ work, incessant time changes, and vocals through an old radio mike some 30 years before Arena used the same effect on “Contagion”. If you listen carefully, you can here the introductory theme to “Sarabande” within the track. “Sarabande” was an excellent non-album single released at the time, which is now included as a bonus track on the CD version. “Memory”, the final track on the first side of the LP is the shortest, and weakest track on the album, but it still features some nice lead guitar to close.

The second side consist of just two long tracks. “Raymond’s Road” is a lengthy instrumental collage of classical pieces played at breakneck speed. Hammond organ once again dominates the track, but the screaming lead guitars and galloping drums make the track reminiscent of Love Sculpture’s (Dave Edmunds) mesmerising interpretation of Katchaturian’s “Sabre dance”. While “Sabre dance” does not actually appear, other classical pieces which do include “Toccata”, “Peer gynt”, and “William Tell”. Tellingly, there’s also a brief rendition of “Karelia Suite” which sounds very similar to the Nice’s "Five bridges" interpretation. The album closes with another Suppe based piece, “Light cavalry”. This is similar in structure to the opening track, with vocals and classical variations.

While the band take full credit for the compositions throughout, no attempt is made to disguise the classic pieces which have been borrowed when making the album. Generally, they do not appear to be taking themselves as seriously as say ELP, giving the album a definite air of fun. Heard for the first time today, “Act one” will undoubtedly sound dated. Given it’s place in the timeline of prog however, it is a genuine landmark album, full of originality and fine musicianship. It might even be appropriate to classify the album as, dare I say, seminal .

A couple of interesting footnotes. The album was produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter who wrote many hits songs including Eurovision song contest winner “Puppet on a string” for Sandi Shaw, and runner up “Congratulations” for Sir Clifford of Richard (but don’t let that put you off!). It was originally release in 1970 on the Vertigo “swirl” label. First edition LPs in pristine condition with untarnished sleeves are now very collectable, and change hands for exorbitant prices.

Progarchives Review 2:-

This is another good heavy rock album, fully keyboards driven and so typical of an era.

The band never played in the premier league, but the music available on this debut album is frankly very good. Coming out at the same time of some seminal rock albums (prog or not), this release definitely deserves more interest on PA.

The psychedelic years surely had an influence on the band (Passacaglia, Memory); but they added some heavier textures which made them somewhat original.

The second part of the album mixes some classical themes with the wildest beats you can think of. This is particularly true during the AWESOME Raymonds Road. It features an orgy of frenetic drumming (from … Raymond Wilson) and powerful keys. It is by far the best piece of music available and there is not a second of relief during these almost twelve minutes. It is great track in the tradition of their contemporary ELP, on the heavier side. It is my highlight from this very good album.

The other long track is not so performing IMO. It is yet another very pleasant psychedelic/heavy prog song but inspiration is not at its eight. It features a great guitar break (which is not quite usual on this album) and some frenetic parts as well. Light Cavalry is another excellent track which is another showcase for the excellent Raymond Wilson on the drums. And believe me: there is nothing light in here.

Four stars for this very good debut album. An ocean of great bands and creativity probably brought Beggars Opera behind the scene.

6360 018

1970 UK 1ST PRESS

1Y//1, 2Y//1
SUPERB SLEEVE AND VINYL - VINYL PLAYS RIGHT THROUGH WITHOUT ANY JUMPS OR STICKS - FULLY PLAY GRADED VINYL

OUTER SLEEVE:
1st UK press unlaminated gatefold in superb condition, minor wear to corners and front cover. Spine has some wear but still reasonably legible EX+

LABELS:
UK Vertigo swirl - overall swirl on side A and the correct larger swirl ABOVE spindle with VERTIGO below the spindle - indicating an original 1st UK press.

Labels are very nice, but B side has a small name written on, - see Photo. EX

MATRIX:
STAMPED PRESSING MATRICES:
6360 018 1Y//1 420 1 1 2
6360 011 2Y//1 420 1 1 3

VINYL:
Lovely early chunky 70's vinyl, nice sheen. Looks superb under normal daylight with only very faint hairlines visible under direct halogen

AUDIO:
Excellent tone and volume throughout, plays through with NO jumps or sticks. Does have light background crackle on the run ins and quietest sections. A superb prog listen with tons of classical influences thrown in - very reminiscent in parts to early Deep Purple instrumental passages like Mandrake Root...great player - EX+

INNER SLEEVE:
Original Vertigo swirl inner, in EX condition!

SUMMARY:
A superb playing and sounding copy with excellent sleeve, a superb example for your Vertigo collection.

This is a truly rare album by an extremely collectable group!!!

Just look at what their albums are going for !!!! Don't miss out on a bargain!!!