FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 1ST UK 1969 PROG PSYCH ToP AuDiO

	£		125
	$		166

FAMILY 'ENTERTAINMENT' 1ST UK PRESSING ((1969)) ORIGINAL STEREO! CAT NO RSLP 6340 REPRISE (LARGE STEAMBOAT) LABELS!! COMPLETE WITH 1ST ISSUE LAMINATED FRONT FLIP BACK COVER AND WITH THE ORIGINAL LARGE POSTER!! UNBELEIVABLY RARE!! AWESOME TOP AUDIO PROG PSYCH!!!

Another from my personal collection. A rare 1969 1st UK pressing of Family's 2nd album release, rare, in that this is complete with the original large and full sized poster! (Rarely Seen) This is the earliest possible 1st UK pressing with the original 'Flip Back, Laminated front cover' and the 1st issue Reprise labels are featured on the vinyl! The over all grading for this album is at least excellent! Truly vibrant clear audio (louder cut) than later pressings! Very rare to find like this and complete!!! 

Family Entertainment was the second album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in February 1969. The cover of the album was a clear takeoff from the sleeve of the Doors' second album, Strange Days, as Family frankly admitted!!.

Family Entertainment was the last album from the group's original lineup!!.

1. "The Weaver's Answer"
2. "Observations From a Hill"
3. "Hung Up Down"
4. "Summer '67" (instrumental) (Whitney)
5. "How-Hi-the-Li" (Grech)
6. "Second Generation Woman" (Grech)
7. "From Past Archives"
8. "Dim"
9. "Processions" (Whitney)
10. "Face In the Cloud" (Grech)
11. "Emotions"

All selections are by Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney except where noted!.

After the critical success of their 1968 debut, Music in a Doll's House, many aficionados of British progressive rock wondered how Family could avoid repeating themselves and still sound fresh. Family, however, were hardly a static psychedelic band, as Music In a Doll's House might have suggested: their sound was largely influenced by folk, country, and pop, all solidly rooted in the blues. The group, under the production of Glyn Johns and Family manager John Gilbert, would create a worthy second album that drew on all of their musical influences and abilities!!.

The album opened with "The Weaver's Answer", a haunting, stately song about a dying old man about to see his life in the form of tapestry. Lead singer Roger Chapman sings the lyric of remembrance with a great deal of grit and a heavy blues undercurrent throughout; the final violin passage from Ric Grech perfectly symbolizes the old man's moment of death. On much of the rest of the album, Family blends seemingly contrasting styles within single songs; the anti-war rant "Hung Up Down" blends a madrigal melody with a guttural blues-rock bass line, while "From Past Archives" cuts suddenly from a lilting ballad melody to a hip jazz arrangement!!.

Charlie Whitney was enjoying the thrill of discovering new worlds on Family Entertainment with his dreamlike song "Processions," about a little boy fantasising about his life ahead while enjoying a day at the seashore, while "Observations From a Hill" - sung by Jim King - finds magic and beauty in the most mundane scenery of Family's hometown, Leicester!!.

Ric Grech stood out especially on Family Entertainment, his fast rocker "Second Generation Woman" being the exciting opener of side two. His other two songs grabbed attention as well. "How-Hi-The-Li" acerbically thumbed a nose at authority figures, while "Face In the Cloud" conjured up beautiful dreams of an ideal world. (Tellingly, all of Grech's songs contained explicit drug references, and drug abuse would eventually lead to his premature death at 43 in 1990). The album closed with "Emotions," an immaculately produced choral number in the manner of the Rolling Stones's "Salt Of the Earth."

Family's momentum was almost derailed by the departure of Grech for Blind Faith two months after Family Entertainment's UK release, which caused their first U.S. tour to founder, and Jim King only worsened the situation with his departure later in 1969. But the album gave their music a new direction, and remains an indisputable classic. "The Weaver's Answer" would go on to become their signature song!!.

The Matrix

Side 1 ''RSLP 6340  A-2''

Side 2 ''RSLP 6340 B-2''

The Mother Stampers

Side 1 ''J'' ''1'' (Mega early Stampers)

Side 2 ''M'' ''1'' (Hand Etched Mega early Stampers)

The Vinyl

On visual inspection this vinyl looks absolutely superbe! The vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable! This is the original heavier thicker type of vinyl with deeper grooves only found on these original earliest pressings!!! They are also more robust than later pressings which were more flimsier!!!Initial inspection I can barely see a blemish at all on the playing surface!! In strong light only could possibly any very few light whispy surface marks\scuffs\scratches  be seen  at least no major audio sounding marks or scratches that I heard!

The Audio Quality

 I CAN'T SEE ANY DEEP NEEDLE OR AUDIO SOUNDING MARKS OR SCRATCHES, PERHAPES THE ODD SMALL LIGHT SCUFF MARK THAT'S ALL!.   I have played this through track for track as usual on a top system at very loud volume!! and the audio is Very clear and vibrant throughout, without distortion!   This plays with (no) signs of any distortion or that this has been overplayed WHAT SO EVER!!(NO) SKIPS OR JUMPS!! In fact this has been stored in a case laying dormant for over 25 years. Please allow for the odd light static tick perhapes heard during the odd quiet place but nothing consistant throughout the audio!  I would class myself as highly critacle! Please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!!!! Audio is graded at the top!!! You will find the audio quality on this vinyl hard to surpass!!!Audio graded at least excellent to excellent plus  in my opinion!!!

Please note! I always make this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd static tick\light click\crackle (not) consistant throughout the audio! Please remember that this is a genuine 40 year old vinyl (not a reissue) that would have originally been played on a 40 year old system!!!!

Please note! This has been stored in a case for at least 25 years! Any static crackle that might be heard during some quiet parts could be minimised by constant cleaning before each play in my experiance!, Build up of dust and dirt that has accumilated over the years from the vinyl being stored! laying dormant causes most of this problem so please allow for some light static crackle as  previously mentioned!!!!! I would class myself as highly critical ! Please look at my completed listings of records that I have sold of this calaber and you will see that I normally get it right!!!!

The Labels

These feature the 1st issue Reprise 'Large Steamboat labels (only 1st press) in superbe condition! Spidering can be seen angled to the light, there is little if no spindleware the hole is perfectly round!

The Record Sleeve

This is a plain white poly lined sleeve.

The Cover

This is the original Laminated front , Flipback cover (only 1st press) Being primarily black in color these are so hard to keep in good condition. There are (no) splits or tares at all! There is very minimal creasings in the laminate only! very rare to find like this after 40 years! The rear and flipbacks are in superbe condition. This cover is normaly seen with nasty ringware at the rear butr this is superbe!  This cover must grade at least excellent in my opinion! 

The Original poster

Very rarely seen complete with the poster! This is the original 1st issue super large poster! Very light storageware with age only. This is original and has never been put on the wall! This must grade at least excellent!!!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS 3.90 SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £36.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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