MAGNA CARTA SEASONS UK PRESS STONE MiNt ArChIvE VERTIGO SWIRL PSYCH FOLK PROG

	£		128
	$		170

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Magna Carta Seasons 1st UK Pressing Cat No 6360 003
Vertigo Swirl Labels 1970 Prog psych Folk Monster!
Near Mint Audio Near Mint Vinyl!
Near Mint 1st Issue Gate fold Cover!

Stone Mint Archive Copy Final Upgrade!





Another from my personal collection. Original early UK Pressing on the Vertigo labels! The vinyl and audio is like new in my opinion. I find it hard to even see any signs that it even has been played. Even the cover is Near Mint! Just try to find another copy in this outstanding condition after 44 years! This is complete with the original Vertigo Swirl record sleeve. The most important thing for me is that the audio quality. I played this vinyl through two times only prior to this listing at very loud volume on a top system. There was none of the normal background surface static even in between track as I heard it. No clicks or pops just abolutely cristal clear and very vibrant. Audio graded Near as Mint on my systems!

Don't take my word for it , listen to the actual recording from the vinyl in the player below.

 
Magna Carta is a progressive rock group originally formed in London in April 1969; their first concert was on 10 May 1969, by Chris Simpson (guitar, vocals), Lyell Tranter (guitar, vocals), and Glen Stuart (vocals).





The trio released albums for Fontana Records and Vertigo Records, enjoying particular success with 1970's Seasons before Tranter returned to Australia. Davey Johnstone joined the line-up as his replacement, recording Songs From Wasties Orchard and In Concert with the band before leaving to work with Elton John, with whom he is still playing.






Simpson and Stuart were then joined by Stan Gordon, recording and releasing the much-lauded Lord Of The Ages (parts from this album and Seasons were used as part of the English syllabus in several European countries[citation needed]). Graham Smith who had played on the sessions for Lord Of The Ages, was also added to the line-up but shortly afterwards both he and Gordon left.






There followed a period of much change and upheaval as Simpson and Stuart added a new rhythm section, but Glen Stuart did not feel comfortable with the new direction. This short-lived set-up soon gave way to Simpson and Stuart being joined by Tommy Hoy (ex-Natural Acoustic Band), before Stuart left to run a pet shop in Richmond, Surrey.






Nigel Smith joined in time to help record 1976’s Putting It Back Together. In 1977 Hoy’s former bandmate in the Natural Acoustic Band, Robin Thyne joined the band, along with Lee Abbott. Soon afterwards, Pick Withers was added. Withers stayed only briefly, leaving to join Dire Straits. Amid much acrimony Thyne and Hoy left in 1979 to form NovaKarta. Tom McConville appeared on the Live In Bergen release, before the line-up changed again to include Al Fenn and George Norris.






Between 1980 and 1982, Doug Morter was added to the line-up, together with a variety of drummers, including Paul Burgess. The 1981 release, Midnight Blue, contained “Highway To Spain”, a popular track on radio station playlists around the world[citation needed]. Norris, Burgess, and Morter all left, the latter moving on to the Albion Band.






Chris Simpson’s solo release, Listen To The Man, came out during this period and featured backing from Abbott, Linda Taylor, and Will Jackson. Between 1984 and 1986, Simpson and Taylor went to the Middle East to run a music club, before returning home to re-form Magna Carta. By 1986 the extremely fluid line-up now included, in addition to Simpson, Taylor, and Abbott, Gwyn Jones, John Carey, Paul Burgess, and Simon Carlton. In 1988, One To One was released on the Tembo label, Jones left the band the same year.






In 1990, Simpson and Taylor married, and, with the semi-retirement of Lee Abbott, they continued to play as Magna Carta as a duo, as well as with a larger line-up for extensive touring.





The 1992 Dutch release, Heartlands, was followed by a sell-out tour of the Netherlands. The duo continued to maintain a busy live schedule, and over the years toured over 60 different countries. Several live albums appeared over the course of the decade, in addition to the reissue of the band’s '70s albums on CD.






In Autumn 2001 Chris and Linda supported Fairport Convention on their Dutch theatre tour. At De Hanzehof theatre in Zutphen they saw a young violin player from the Netherlands who played some songs with Fairport. Afterwards they met the young man, Matt(hijs) Barnhoorn, who was born in Alphen aan den Rijn and lives in Borculo. They asked him to join them on one of their concerts. In 2002 Matt became a permanent member of Magna Carta. As well as violin he plays mandolin and guitar. Together they performed two tours of the Netherlands each year since, one spring tour (usually in music cafés, folk clubs, and small venues) and one autumn tour, mainly in theatres throughout the country. They also went on tour in South Africa and played in Canada, Switzerland, Spain, and Belgium.






In 2007 Chris celebrated his 65th birthday. On August 17 he was asked to travel to Liverpool, ostensibly to take part in a radio interview with BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Spencer Leigh. However, it transpired that his wife had secretly arranged for Magna Carta to perform at the famous Cavern Club on Mathew Street. When Chris arrived in Liverpool he was greeted by a busload of friends, musicians, and people from the Yorkshire Dales. After an emotional Beatles bustour (Chris is a huge Beatles fan) the concert at The Cavern was a celebration.




The band was joined by Lee Abbott on bass and Iain 'Stewy' Stewart on harmonica. At the end of the concert, Simpson was presented with one of the now famous Cavern bricks with the band's name on it, which has since been mounted on the Wall of Fame, along with the names of all the acts ever to have played the venue, opposite The Cavern Club itself.








In 2007 Magna Carta had already decided that they would disband in 2009. On May 11, 2009, Chris and Linda Simpson, along with Matt Barnhoorn, played their last concert at Koninklijk Theater Carré in Amsterdam. The concert lasted approximately two and a half hours. Chris, Linda, and Matt were joined by some ex-members of Magna Carta: Lee Abbott, Doug Morter, George Norris and Tom Hoy. Two Dutch musicians were also present: Mike Roelofs (keyboards) and Eddie C (percussion). Matt's father Henny Barnhoorn played the bagpipes at the start of the second half of the concert. Dr. Andrew Jackson, doctor and part-time actor, was the narrator (as he was on the recording of Fields of Eden on the Backroads album).





But this farewell concert was not really the end.




Track Listing

Seasons Chris Simpson
- Prologue Chris Simpson
- Winter Song Chris Simpson
- Spring Poem Chris Simpson
- Spring Song Chris Simpson
- Summer Poem Chris Simpson
- Summer Song Chris Simpson
- Autumn Song Chris Simpson
- Epilogue Chris Simpson
- Winter Song (reprise) Chris Simpson





Seasons
This was Magna Carta's second album, which includes the exquisite Seasons concept piece, which, to use the words of Chris Simpson, was "based on the life journey of the soul, and the rounds of the Seasons in my beloved Nidderdale".
It has an impressive lineup. In addition to the London Symphony Orchestra, it has Tony Carr on Drums; Derek Grossmith on Flute; Spike Heatley on Bass and Acoustic Base; Davey Johnstone on Vocals, Guitar and Sitar (credited as 'Shaggis'); Barry Morgan on Drums; Tim Renwick on Recorder; Chris Simpson on Guitar and Vocals; Glenn Stuart on Vocals; Lyell Tranter on Guitar; Tony Visconti on Base, Percussion, and Recorder; Rick Wakeman on Organ, Piano and Keyboards; and Peter Willison on Cello.
Seasons is one of the six Magna Carta albums that was certified Gold.





The Matrix

Side 1. "6360009 1#1"
Side 2. 6360009 2#2"

The labels.

The original 2nd issue Vertigo Swirl labels are in awesome Near Mint condition. (You will not find better in my opinion)!   Amaizingly I can not see any spider trails at all, even when angled to the light and of coarse, certainly (no) spindle ware   So rare  for an album that is 44 years old! Impossible to find like this! very very collectable!

The vinyl.

The vinyl is absolutely superb! On initial visual inspection this looks like new Near As Mint in my opinion! and still retains its sheen from new! There are no warps and it lays perfectly flat on the turntable.  In the last 40 years this looks and sounds like it has been stored in a case with the vinyl seperated from the sleeve and cover to prevent ringware and damage.  Of course I played this, to play grade at very loud volume on a top system!  In fact even when I look at the playing surface angled to a strong light I find it hard to even see a blemish at all. Any marks that could possible be seen when angled in strong light would be sleeve removal type only but no audio sounding marks or scratches at all.  There are no audio sounding marks or blemishes that I can see at all! This looks almost as unplayed! 

The Audio Quality

 I have played this through track for track prior to listing at very very loud volume on a top system! The moment the needle hits the playing surface it is obvious this vinyl has barely ever been played at all!  The audio quality is as you would expect, superbe, TOP, TOP, TOP! cristal clear and extreemely vibrant through out in fact this plays as a new vinyl would sound in my opinion!    This played through as perfect as it gets unbelievable audio separation, that I haven't heard like this before and stunning bassey feel throughout almost cd. quality on my systems! One of the best sounding audio copies that I have heard! This vinyl has obviously been stored separately from the cover in a poly sleeve for all of its storage life, in my opinion, the audio on this pressing is almost as good as it gets for a very early and an early issue variation! Even in between tracks this is almost as quiet as you could get!  This is the best audio that I have heard of this pressing!  I would class myself as highly critical and this is a truly exceptional sounding vinyl.  Please check my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right! I would grade the audio at least excellent plus to near as mint through out!

Please note! That i always make this disclaimer! That although I never heard any clicks or pops during the play of this record please allow for the odd isolated static/ tick , certainly not consistent throughout the audio, but this is a genuine 44 year old vinyl that would have been played on a 44 year old system!

Points to note! This has been stored in a case laying dormant for at least 40 years! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves from laying dormant causes static crackle\ticks! A constant clean before each play is recomended ! This would reduce any static and enhance the audio quality!

The Record Sleeve

This is the original 1st issue Vertigo swirl  poly lined sleeve with (no) splits or tares.  Light creasing  staining/fading with age only in general nice and clean!

The Cover

This is the original and earliest 1st UK issue Vertigo un laminated cover! This is absolutely superbe looks as new in my opinion! Rare to find in this awesome condition super straight in  appearance (see photos) No creases or indents at all (See Photos). Truly astounding example for 44 years old!  JUST TRY TO FIND A BETTER ORIGINAL!  I would grade the cover at Near Mint! No splits or tears or wear. Unbelievable!

Final upgrade copy!

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

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 BUBBLE WRAP 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. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 800 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!

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Please note! All items are now despatched by signed for 1st class delivery! I normally despatch within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds (not on Weekends)

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 contact me first! 

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

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