Gong - Camembert Electrique - Rare Immaculate MINT 1974 UK First Pressing LP

	£		26
	$		34

Artist & Title: Gong – Camembert Electrique

Rare IMMACULATE MINT 1974 UK FIRST PRESSING 11-track vinyl LP on the black & white 'Two Virgins and Dragon' Virgin label. A highly memorable early effort from the planet Gong, recorded in 1971 with the voice of 'radio gnome'. The record is in ‘as new’ Mint condition and sounds as wonderful as ever. The matt picture sleeve, which reveals minimal shelfwear, is in Excellent condition. See pics. A very nice collector’s copy of this Prog classic.
Highly desirable for its A-1U/B-1U first pressing matrices and Mint condition vinyl, and increasingly difficult to find in good condition, this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to add this rarity to your collection at an extremely advantageous price.

Catalogue Number: Virgin ?– VC 502

Release date: 1974

Overall Grade: Mint/EX (LP/Cover)

Matrix (Runout): Side 1: VC 502 A-1U PIERRE    Side 2: VC 502 B-1U NORMALE

Notes:
Originally released in France in 1971 on BYG Actuel.
?&© Virgin Records Ltd., 2-4 Vernon Yard, 119 Portobello Road, London, W11
A Byg Virgin Production English Pressing
Labels on vinyl:
VC 502
? 1971 Virgin Records Ltd

This early LP from the Planet Gong is hardly ever offered for sale in this condition – if ever.

“As a jazz devotee I realise why I enjoyed (and am enjoying again) it so much; this is free jazz-rock ... and really good too!”

This is the extremely rare real thing: a genuine flawless MINT 1974 UK first pressing. The record is in mint condition and the cover and inner sleeve are in excellent condition with very little shelfwear. All items are free from any major defects. See pics. All items are the genuine originals bought together by me in 1974, not reprints or replacements. The LP is the original 1974 UK stereo LP, which was only played once or twice on top-end audiophile equipment and lovingly cared for.

‘“A surreal adventure into the world of the early seventies peace and love scene. A real mix of philosophy and fun.’

Camembert Electrique is an album by Gong, recorded and originally released in France in 1971. The album was recorded at Château d'Hérouville near Paris, France, produced by Pierre Lattes and engineered by Gilles Salle. Jean Karakos (credited in Daevid Allen's liner notes as "Byg Jean Kastro Kornflakes") was executive producer.
Track 1 is titled "Radio Gnome Prediction" on Virgin editions and "Radio Gnome" on later CD editions to avoid confusion with the later song titled "Radio Gnome Invisible", released in 1973 on the Flying Teapot album. Similarly, Gong recorded a completely different song titled "Selene" on the Angel's Egg album. Also, "Wet Cheese Delirium" is misspelled "Delirum", and "And You Tried So Hard" is shortened to "Tried So Hard" on some recent editions.
The first and last tracks on each side are short collages of sound effects which begin or end each side of the original LP. On both sides of the LP the audio begins in the widely spaced lead groove (on the original edition, but appearing as a banded track on most later editions), and at the end of the side, the audio continues into the locked groove.

This may be your only ONCE IN A LIFETIME chance to own this rare piece of music history in this condition.

 “The musicians are outstanding on this album. I´m especially impressed with drummer Pip Pyle and I love the stoned vocals from Daevid Allen.”

Camembert Electrique is the one of the three quintessential Canterbury albums (the others being Third by the Soft Machine and In the Land of Grey and Pink by Caravan); it is, indeed, Gong's greatest achievement under the artistic direction of Daevid Allen. The thing that separates this album, and really all of those from Gong, from the likes of Yes and Hawkwind, is that, instead of constantly re-inventing the same tunes with the same format over and over again, all of their songs are genuinely distinct. Although the 'pothead pixie' style is apparent throughout most of their recordings, they could each have been from separate bands, if you really dissect them. The interesting thing about this record is that each individual track follows the same sort of basic idea; psychedelic-sounding, accessible, but still grim and intense.
This album is a planet all of its own; when you drop the needle on Camembert Electrique, you're immediately swept off of Earth and into space. It's almost somewhat reminiscent of King Crimson; the guitar-laden, jazzy structure of the music is similar in structure to their early work.
Although all the songs are good individually, the standout track is "Tropical Fish: Selene", which is, in my humble opinion, one of the all-time classics of progressive rock, and the magnum opus of the Canterbury scene music.
This album is an all-time classic, something that just about anyone could enjoy thoroughly. I highly recommend it.

A fantastic time warp example of this rarity in amazing condition, a true investment grade item - get it while you can!

AND IT MUST SELL IN THIS ONCE ONLY AUCTION

You can read more about this album and Gong all over the web.

I pack my records professionally in stiff corrugated cruciform record boxes leaving the Vinyl (housed in anti-static bags) outside the Sleeve.

Postage discounts for multiple orders are available: £1 per additional LP, up to a maximum of 4, in the UK.
£4 per additional LP, up to a maximum of 4, in the Rest of the World.

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“Superb piece of vinyl - wonderfully packaged”

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