Beatles DEMO Lennon Elastic Oz Band God Save Us 7" UK
£
94
$
125
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Description
Click here to get eBay picture hosting at Auctiva.com BILL ELLIOT + THE ELASTIC OZ BAND God Save Us / Do The Oz Written / Produced by John and Yoko (credited both sides)
7" UK DEMO SINGLE
WITH PICTURE SLEEVE
IN MINT CONDITION
THIS SINGLE WAS RELEASED AS A PROTEST SINGLE (ORIGINALLY TO BE RECORDED BY JOHN LENNON) TO RAISE AWARENESS DURING THE 1971 OBSCENITY TRIALS SURROUNDING THE UNDERGROUND PUBLICATION OF THAT TIME 'OZ'.
THE ORIGINAL TITLE OF THE SONG WAS 'GOD SAVE OZ' UNTIL IT WAS CHANGED TO 'GOD SAVE US' AS THE AMERICAN AUDIENCES WOULD NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY.
JOHN LENNON DID NOT EVENTUALLY RECORD THE SONG FOR RELEASE DUE TO CONTRACTUAL REASONS, PAVING THE WAY FOR THIS TRACK TO BE COVERED BY BILL ELLIOTT AND THE ELASTIC OZ BAND.
JOHN AND YOKO's INVOLVEMENT IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS SINGLE IS HEAVY AND COMES AT THE TIME OF THE RELEASE OF THE LP 'IMAGINE' AND A YEAR BEFORE JOHN's MOVE TO NEW YORK AND THE 1972 PROTEST LP 'SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY'.
PICTURE SLEEVE - MINT
VINYLS + LABELS - MINT
HISTORY
Release Date: 1971
In 1970, reacting to criticism that the magazine Oz had lost touch with youth, the editors put a notice in the magazine inviting "school kids" to edit an issue. The opportunity was taken up by around 20 secondary school students, who were let loose on Oz #28 (May 1970), known as ''Schoolkids OZ''. This term was widely misunderstood to mean that it was intended for school children, whereas it was a statement that it had been created by them.
One of the resulting articles was a highly sexualised Rupert Bear parody. It was created by 15-year-old schoolboy Vivian Berger by pasting the head of Rupert onto the lead character of an X-rated satirical cartoon by Robert Crumb. The majority of the contributors were from public schools (in the English sense of the term: elite non-state schools); as a result the humour was mostly an extension of the type of material familiar from undergraduate rag mags.
Oz was one of several 'underground' publications targeted by the Obscene Publications Squad, and their offices had already been raided on several occasions, but the conjunction of schoolchildren and what some viewed as "obscene" material set the scene for the Oz obscenity trial of 1971. In some respects it was a copy of the Australian trial, with evidence and judicial instruction clearly aimed at securing a conviction, but the British trial was given a far more dangerous twist because the prosecution employed an archaic charge against three employees Neville, Dennis and Anderson—"conspiracy to corrupt public morals"—which, in theory, carried a virtually unlimited penalty.
The defence lawyer, John Mortimer QC announced at the opening of the trial in 1971 that “[the] case stands at the crossroads of our liberty, at the boundaries of our freedom to think and draw and write what we please” (The Times: 24 June 1971). For the defence, this specifically concerned the treatment of dissent and dissenters, about the control of ideas and suppressing the messages of social resistance communicated by OZ in issue #28. The charges read out in the central criminal court stated “[that the defendants] conspiring with certain other young persons to produce a magazine containing obscene, lewd, indecent and sexually perverted articles, cartoons and drawings with intent to debauch and corrupt the morals of children and other young persons and to arouse and implant in their minds lustful and perverted ideas”. According to Mr Brian Leary prosecuting "It dealt with homosexuality, lesbianism, sadism, perverted sexual practices and drug taking".Dennis and Anderson were defended by lawyer and playwright John Mortimer (creator of the Rumpole of the Bailey series) with assistance from Australian lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, while Neville represented himself.
The trial brought the magazine to the attention of the wider public. John Lennon and Yoko Ono joined the protest march against the prosecution and organised the recording of "God Save Us" by the ad hoc group Elastic Oz Band to raise funds and gain publicity. Lennon explained how the song title changed from "God Save Oz" to "God Save Us": First of all we wrote it as ‘God Save Oz,’ you know, ‘God save Oz from it all,’ but then we decided they wouldn’t really know what we were talking about in America so we changed it back to “Us.”
"God Save Us" was first demoed by John Lennon, but the lead singer on the recording was Bill Elliot for contractual reasons. "God Save Us"/"Do The Oz" was released on The Beatles Apple records label. Lennon's original demo was issued in 1998 on the John Lennon Anthology and again on Wonsaponatime.
The magazine continued in publication with diminishing success until November 1973.TRACK LISTING
SIDE A: God Save Us (Lennon/Ono)
SIDE B: Do the Oz (Lennon/Ono)
CATALOGUE + MATRIX NUMBERS, + STAMPERS
CATALOGUE NO: APPLE 36
SIDE A: Matrix No: (APPLE 36A)
Stampers: 3 o'clock - G
6 o'clock - APPLE 36A-1U
9 o'clock - I
12 o'clock - KT
SIDE B: Matrix No: (APPLE 36B)
Stampers: 3 o'clock - G
6 o'clock - APPLE 36B-1U
9 o'clock - 1
12 o'clock - KT
Tax Code: KT
SLEEVE CONDITION
The original sleeve accompanies the demo single and is in NEAR MINT condition. The very slightest of evidences of the 39 years of this item is apparent as you will see from the pictures. On first glance they appear, as does the vinyl AS NEW.
LABELS
No scuffs, marks, smudges, handwriting, stickers, sticker removal marks to report. The item is in MINT condition and is remarkably unblemished.
VINYL
CONDITION: THE VINYL SHOWS UP AS MINT UNDER BRIGHT LIGHT. THERE ARE NO LIGHT MARKS OR SPINDLE MARKS TO REPORT.
AS WITH THE PICTURE SLEEVE, THE VINYL APPEARS ALMOST AS NEW.
SUMMARY
ANY BEATLES RELATED UK DEMOS ARE ABSOLUTE GEMS AND THIS ITEM IS NO DIFFERENT. TO BUY THIS IS A SERIOUS INVESTMENT.
THIS PARTICULAR ITEM HERE IS NOT ONLY RARE, IT IS IN MINT CONDITION AND IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE TIMES, PLACES, PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS THAT JOHN LENNON BEGAN TO STAND FOR AS HIS MUSIC BECAME MORE POLITICISED.
THIS ITEM HAS TRUE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER AND WILL BE HIGHLY DESIRABLE FOR ANY SERIOUS COLLECTOR.
Available worldwide - Please add £3 for overseas delivery
please add £1 for recorded delivery in the UK
Please contact to discuss recorded delivery to a destination overseas
Combined postage for multiple items available - please browse my other listings
about STEW3a : I have collected Beatles vinyls and memorabilia for over 20 years and have an interest also in producing the very best professional service when selling vinyls. Many of the items listed have been in my personal collection for many years and have been well looked after. I can also answer questions generally about Beatles related items if necessary - unconnected to my own personal sales.
HOW WILL THE ITEMS BE SENT?
12" Records: The items will be sealed in a plastic sleeve before being placed securely in a reinforced (cardboard backed) appropriately sized envelope. The envelope will also be sealed with tape for security reasons. All items will need to be signed for, this is my guarantee to ensure delivery, to keep strictly to ebay policy, and to maintain my own commitment to a professional service.
If deemed necessary the vinyl may be seperated and sealed seperately from the picture sleeve(s) during transit in order to guarantee condition.
Also if deemed necessary additional cardboard reinforcement may be considered.
An email will be sent advising of the Tracking Number in order that the item can be tracked via the Royal Mail website.
Discounts on the postage of multiple items is available although each item will be wrapped and secured seperately.
HOW QUICK CAN THE ITEMS BE SENT?
Next day delivery cannot be guaranteed - although this is the aim - but a quick turnaround is promised so that the item is delivered as soon as possible. With regards to overseas, again items will need to be signed for, and the time taken will depend on how Royal Mail takes to deliver to any particular area of the world. With regards to North America this is often 3/4 working days, and with regards to Japan can be up to 8 working days.
WHAT IF I AM NOT SATISFIED?
I will be available to discuss any issues, and provide full reimbursements (including postage) once the item has been sent back to me. My commitment to provide a professional service remains after deliveries have been received.
Business Seller Information: Stuart Matthews. _ Contact Telephone Number: 07548 202248 (if outside UK please dial 00 44 7548 202248)
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