BLACK DIAMONDS Jimi Hendrix '71 WILD FUZZ PSYCH LP HEAR

$

38

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

BLACK DIAMONDS "A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix"

Original 1971 LP on the ALSHIRE label, STEREO S-5220

Cover:  VG+, moderate ringwear, 3" split seam on bottom edge

Vinyl:  Lots of light scuffs from handling, looks VG, plays better - VG+ with some surface

Original RARE 1971 LP by the Black Diamonds, “A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix” on the much-respected (ahem) Alshire label.  I know, I know, this is supposedly yet another repackaging of the studio sessions that already yielded the Animated Egg and 101 Strings Astro Sounds albums (among others, I’m sure), renamed and reissued a few years later, and given one of the butt UGLIEST covers EVER.  But if there’s a reason to own this stuff once more – and I’ve got every one of those repackagings myself – it’s this:  1) the music on this album is some of the wildest, most unhinged instrumental freakouts EVER RECORDED, and 2) the sound quality on this particular pressing is OUTSTANDING – this fuzz-drenched acid madness NEVER sounded better.  And 3) yes, I realize those are 2 reasons, not one.  On the other hand, if you don’t own this stuff in ANY format, stop reading this and bid immediately, and incessantly.  The Black Diamonds are a fuzz lovers fiesta, like an overloaded Pizza Hut special where even the crust is stuffed with fuzz guitar – not one but often TWO or THREE fuzz guitars per song!  You can hear it dripping off the grooves on “Lady Wolf”, as your needle struggles to slash and burn its way through the deep thickets of fuzzness.  You can hear it slice and dice its way through the Booker T and the MGs soul rave-up “Hazy Colour” (yes, none of these titles make even a LICK of sense, but more on that later), battling the r&b organ for supremacy and pummeling it into submission when the two instruments square off for their respective solos.  There are SOME moments here when the fuzz guitar gets temporarily holstered – the twangy go-go shaker “Flame” conjours up images of long-haired pretty hippie chicks with flowers painted on their cheeks in knee-high go-go boots twisting on some psychedelic ballroom dancefloor.  But again, you gotta wonder if the person who retitled these songs for this album MAY have been a mental patient.  For instance, the organ soul workout that shamelessly steals the riff from the Spencer Davis Group’s “Good Lovin’” is inexplicably titled “Experienced You” – which would have you believe (along with the album title) that it’s a Jimi Hendrix rip.  It’s a great mod soul workout, but it’s got as much to do with Jimi Hendrix as Enya has with the Seeds.  And the excellent jangly Byrds tribute is called “Burp Gun” because…well, who knows really?  Best thing here – the utterly AMAZING “Let’s All Mix Together”, which drops layer after layer of KILLER shivery FUZZ guitar over a trance-like Pink Floyd rhythm for a complete and TOTAL psychedelic head zone.  Remember the Chocolate Watchband’s otherworldly “Voyage of the Trieste”?  Well, this one takes you to that same level of transcendence, with the same liquidy dimension-shifting shiver fuzz scratching, spitting and clawing its way from one ear to the other, vibrating your synapses with waves of purple distortion.  And that’s a good thing, by the way.  So sure, you may already own this stuff already – maybe even SIX times like me.  But it’s GREAT stuff nonetheless, and it never sounded better.  If you like your exploito psych albums with more fuzz than a veterinarian’s sweater, then pick this one up now! 

 HEAR IT!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.