JEAN-CLAUDE OLIVER L'Invite KILLER sitar psych headtrip

$

79

First off, let me just say I was the LAST person to expect a transcendent sitar psychedelic mind blower from FRANCE of all places, especially by some guy named Jean-Claude. I dug the picture sleeve on this one, though, so I had some hope, at least when I bought it, even though no one seemed to know anything about this guy or his single. That's still the same today - I don't know anyone else selling this, or ANYTHING by this mysterious artist, and no one can tell me anything else this guy did. There IS a "Jean-Claude Oliver" who's produced hits for Jay-Z, Nas, 50 Cent and Destiny's Child, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that's probably not our guy. No matter really, because if this one single is the only thing our Jean-Claude Oliver ever laid down, it's still an incredible slab of vinyl and one heck of a musical legacy. "L'Invite" is the KILLER track here, and let's also mention that even in France the geniuses who choose the songs for singles STILL put the weaker song on the A-side, so "L'Invite" is naturally the flip. This INCREDIBLE cosmic head trip starts with a racing heartbeat bassline and some trippy cymbal washes, so you think you're in for some early Pink Floyd feast, like "One of These Days" or "Saucerful of Secrets." But from there it heads east - far east - and settles into an AMAZING stoned Bombay head zone with some spacey sitar, tinkling windchimes and tablas. The lead vocals are run through an echo chamber as large as some European nations, while, way off in the distance, a chorus of howling disembodies ghosts provide eerie and unsettling background vocals for what seems like the soundtrack to a Vincent Price horror flick about cannabis and water pipes. And it goes on for FOUR and a HALF MINUTES too! Simply put, this is a total and complete headphone mind-melter, and if THIS one doesn't get you there, I suggest you start listening to polka. Jimmy Sturr is great, from what I hear. Now the A-side aint bad either, just obviously not up to the synapse-damaging level of the flip. "Dans Quel Pays" is a nice, floaty slice of French lounge pop, with very stoned vocals, ethereal female backing vocals and a swirly Richard Wright Pink Floyd organ. It's really the perfect thing to bring you back down to earth after 4 minutes of "L'Invite". Truly an unknown, unavailable and unhinged slab of vinyl madness that's unlike anything you've ever heard before. If a single could "ooze", this one would. Original late 60's (?) pressing on the French Philips label. Picture sleeve in VG++ shape with some light ringwear on back, two small filing stickers on front which could probably be peeled off with care. Vinyl plays VG+ to VG++. Winning bidder pays $4.00 first class mail in the US, $5 air mail to Canada, $6 air mail everywhere else. Paypal, Bidpay, cash, checks and money orders accepted. Please check out my other auctions for more obscure vinyl goodies, and I will combine shipping costs on multiple wins!