DIE PUHDYS rare 1971 HEAVY KRAUTROCK PSYCH LP LISTEN

$

30

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

THE PUHDYS "Die Puhdys"

Original 1974 LP on the East German AMIGA label, STEREO 8 55 348

Cover:  VG++, slightly crimped corner, pretty nice overall!

Vinyl:  Plays nice VG++

SUPER SCARCE original 1974 AMIGA label East German pressing of Die Puhdys first album - released in 1974 but actually consists of their singles dating back from 1971.  As you'd expect, it took a while for trends to push their way past the Iron Curtain, so even though these guys LOOK like they'd be better suited playing the UFO Club in 1969 on their psych-o-delic cover, their SOUND is actually more early 70's HEAVY punishing guitar rock.  As evidenced by the fuzzed-up epic proto-metallic mind-blower "Turen Offnen Sich Zur Stadt (Open Doors to the City)," a 5-minute PUNISHING slab of Sabbath-meets-Deep Purple Wagnerian Valkyrie psych loosely based on Uriah Heep's "Gypsy" but truly INSPIRED in its own right.  Or how about the skull-crushing guitar BURNER "Vineta," which either lifts the riff from Alice Cooper's "School's Out" or PREDATES it (depending on when it was released), and that's something Alice might be a little hush about if word got out.  It's also sung in German, which makes it even MORE evil than anything the Coop could muster, and proves that the Puhdys were flirting with metal while their West German brethren the Scorpions were still putzing around with "Lonesome Crow" prog.  "Geh Zu Ihr" was supposedly based on Slade's "Look Wot You Don" but with better spelling, while the operatic mythological prog epic "Ikarus" soars near the Sun on wings of great bendy note flying guitar solos and wax-melting Roger Glover vocal shrieks.  And the big fuzz bombs and machine gun bass runs behind "Zeiten Und Weiten" make it a downright bonecrunching ending to what may be the single most underrated and ahead-of-its-time psychedelic heavy metal albums since Hawkwind's Space Ritual (which wasn't underrated, but hey).  But don't take MY word for it, click on the soundclips.  If they'd-a been born on the OTHER side of the Iron Curtain, we'd be worshipping Die Puhdys today for being the forefathers of German space rock.  But raised in East Germany, they were doomed to a life of only regional popularity (where they were EXTREMELY popular, by the way), international obscurity and really REALLY bad fashion sense.  Like Marillion.

 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.