FEAR ITSELF 1969 KILLER FUZZ BLUES PSYCH LP ORIG HEAR

$

33

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

FEAR ITSELF "Fear Itself"

Original 1969 LP on the DOT label, STEREO DLP 25942

Cover:  VG++, some scuffing on front, pr0m0 stamp on back

Vinyl:  SUPER CLEAN, plays solid VG++

I bet Ellen McIlwane could kick my a**.  Not that she looks tough, although on the cover of what's essentially her first album with band Fear Itself, she is kinda being standoffish. But rather, it's the way she shrieks and wails and growls throughout these fuzzed-up heavy blues rockers as if she's saying "See, Robert Plant, unlike you, I don't have to squeeze my testicles.  These sounds come naturally."  Misogynists be warned - Ellen'll put the fear of God in ya.  She's reclaiming the blues for the fairer sex here, like Janis, and throwing down the gauntlet for Page/Plant, and that Morrison guy with the Doors.  Just compare Ellen's rendition of "Crawling King Snake" - it's faster, fuzzier and far more dangerous.  Leave it to a woman to put the FEAR in a song about...well, about what she ain't got.  And yet you believe Ellen - Jim's just goin' through the motions.  During the course of Fear Itself, she also reclaims "Born Under a Bad Sign" from Cream and "In My Time of Dying" from Plant/Page again, even though it'd be six more years before they tried it.  But as tough as she is, it's a mystery why she sings "I can cook and sew and keep my mouth shut too" on "Bow'd Up," unless of course she's just f**ing around.  My money says she is.  And when she branches out BEYOND the blues, things get even better.  "Billy Gene" gets into Latin rock with a sprinkling of New Orleans gris-gris, sort of like "Walk on Gilded Splinters" if Santana covered it.  And "Underground River" is a GREAT psych rocker with some fluid Eric Clapton leads.  That's a goddess emulating God, by the way.  If I had to find one fault with Ellen (as a singer, that is - as a guitarist, she's impeccable), it would be that she ad libs more "alright, alright"s than overnight QVC host Gabrielle Kerr.   But that's nitpicking for a woman who's reclaimed the blues from the men without ever having to wear a codpiece in the process.  Not that I wouldn't like to see her try.

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.