MICHIGAN BRAND NUGGETS VARIOUS ARITISTS 2 LP ORIGINAL PRESS #209/1000 SEGER MC5

$

50

     This auction is for the compilation MICHIGAN BRAND NUGGETS.   This double-vinyl powerhouse was released on the Belvedere Records label with the catalogue number of TY8-7100. Number on each side of the runout grooves are A/B/C/D - L- 4383.


     I believe this was originally released in the early 1980's (the site 45worlds had a date of 1982) in a limited edition pressing.  The original price sticker from when I purchased this is still attached to the inside back of the plastic bag/sleeve (the record store was Venus Records in NYC...and this would jive with the 1982 date).  All the pictures I've seen of this release always listed "2nd Edition" on the back of the cover.  I have never seen one that said "1st Edition" (though some sellers claim it's first edition, their pictures clearly say "2nd Edition").  This copy has a very low number of 209 out of 1000 (pic #7).  A Record Store Day re-release occurred this or last year, but this is THE ORIGINAL.


     For vinyl collectors of Michigan '60s artifacts, the holy grail was Michigan Nuggets back in its day, an impressive double-LP set. The 31 cuts include many of the biggest Detroit-area garage band local hits of the '60s, including those by the Woolies, The Rationals, The Unrelated Segments, The Shy Guys, The Human Beings, Tim Tam & The Turn-Ons, The Wanted, The Underdogs, and The Tidal Waves. It also has six rare Bob Seger recordings from the Hideout label. Apart from all these treasures, the double album features four early MC5 titles and the hard-to-find Amboy Dukes single You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire. For laughs, you even get an audio curio called An Important Message featuring Dr. Jack Van Impe railing against the evils of rock and roll!  A great comp of Michigan area garage bands, mostly from the 1965-1967 period, but with a few from the later 1960s/early 1970s.

     I originally bought this for only one reason, and that was for the cut by Bob Seger & The Last Herd -- "Sock It To Me, Santa".  Back in the good ol' 1980s, I did a college radio show for over ten years (I lived locally, and the higher-ups let me stay on).  The week before Christmas, I would do a 4-6-8 hour show of Christmas music, most of which was obscure.  This tune was one of the highlights!  It kicks ass, as does pretty much every song on this collection.  I would say this particular cut was played maybe about eight times, whereas the entire collection I played three times (which includes one time recently to grade this set).  Here's the tracks;

TRACKS:

SIDE 1:

01)    Woolies – Who Do You Love (1:59)

02)    Bob Seger & The Last Heard – East Side Story (2:24)

03)    Rationals – Respect (2:39)

04)    MC5 – Looking At You (2:45)

05)    Unrelated Segments – Where You Gonna Go?

06)    Shy Guys – We Gotta Go (2:45)

07)    Underdogs – Love’s Gone Bad (2L25)

08)    Terry Knight & The Pack – What’s On Your Mind? (1:45)

SIDE 2:

09)    Human Beings – Because I Love Her (2:50)

10)    MC5 - Borderline (3:13)

11)    Tidal Waves – Farmer John (2:13)

12)    Bob Seger & The Last Heard – Persecution Smith (3:02)

13)    Question Mark & The Mysterians – Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby (2:00)

14)    Southbound Freeway – Psychedelic Used Car Lot Blues (2:32)

15)    Rationals – Sing! (2:05)

16)    Wanted – In The Midnight Hour (1:52)

SIDE 3:

17)    Rationals – Leavin’ Here (3:09)

18)    Bob Seger System – Lookin’ Back (2:41)

19)    MC5 - I Can Only Give You Everything (2:57)

20)    Amboy Dukes – You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire (2:45)

21)    Underdogs – The Man In The Glass (2:11)

22)    MC5 – One Of The Guys (2:16)

23)    Bob Seger & The Last Heard (2:45)

SIDE 4:

24)    Dr. Jack Van Impe – An Important Message (0:54)

25)    Bob Seger & The Last Heard – Heavy Music, Part 2 (2:49)

26)    MC5 - I Just Don’t Know

27)    Rationals – I Need You (3:41)

28)    Tim Tam & The Turn-Ons – Wait A Minute

29)    Ormandy – Good Day (2:54)

30)    Beach Bums (Bob Seger) – Ballad Of The Yellow Beret (2:26)

31)    Bob Seger & The Last Heard – Sock It To Me, Santa (2:12)

          The gatefold COVER is in VERY GOOD condition (maybe slightly better).  There are a couple of seam splits on the top right (looking at the front cover) edge along both parts of the gatefold.  The front edge has a paper separation of about 3 1/4" (the bottom section of pic #4).  There is currently a quarter inch of paper close to the opening that is holding this entire length of separation together.  The back cover separates 1 1/2" (the top section of pic #4).  There are the beginnings of some ring wear that can be seen on the front cover (the bottom of pic #2, and pic #3).  Some light foxing appears along the right, opened edge (pic #5).

          The double ALBUM set is in EXCELLENT condition.  I play-tested the entire set.  Those MC5 cuts definitely jump right out at you!  There really aren't any scratches to be seen.  There are some light paper surface scuffs on the label and vinyl on side two.

          Side four has a a small white piece embedded in the vinyl (on the Dr. Van Impe opening cut...if you look closely at pic #12, you may be able to see the small white dot around the 5o'clock position, near the bottom of the vinyl), and you will hear about eight medium tics when the needle crosses the grooves at this point. 

          Finally, there is some static that can be heard at the fade of "Sock It To Me, Santa", as well as the runoff groove.  (I wouldn't say "wear", as you can also hear it on the runoff groove).  Remember, this comp was a labor of love, and not a legitimate release.  I'm sure most of the songs were dubbed from '45s and not the original masters.

SHIPPING RATES (all rates include cost of shipping materials):

United States (Domestic)

Media Mail (affordable, but can be slow - especially to the West Coast):

$ 4.50 1st LP, $ 1.00 each additional LP.

INTERNATIONAL RATES

Canada (First Class International) ***

$ 20.00 1st LP, $ 3.00 each additional

Worldwide (First Class International) ***

$ 26.00 1st LP, $ 4.00 each additional (up to 4 total).

For more than four albums, Priority Mail International (roughly double the 1st Class Costs) or insurance, contact me for specifics.

*** NOTE: SHIPPING UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES OVER $ 100 (Such as Priority with Tracking, Registered, etc. Rates and services vary by country).

  I separate the vinyl from the cover when shipping all opened LP's.

Record Grading:

MINT (10) Perfect! Still sealed albums are presumed MINT, but covers may not be. I will not grade any opened album as "mint", since there's obviously been some handling.

NEAR MINT (9.5) ---- Close, but one or two tiny flaws that do not impact play. Vinyl may have a barely visible scuff mark, but no scratches. Label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers close to perfect with very minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident.

EXCELLENT (9) ----Disc plays near-perfect. There could be scuffs or a hairline scratch or two that does not impact play. Vinyl is bright and shiny. Label is clean and unmarked. Cover may have some slight corner creases or minor ringwear.

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (8) ---- Record handled and played occasionally, but very carefully. Very minor scratches and/or scuffs that should have little impact on the sound quality, or minor label imperfection---noted, but otherwise clean. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS records may have some light surface noise during quiet passages or between tracks. Covers: one or two minor wear issues such as writing on cover, corner creases, some ringwear, minor staining, etc. (All noted).

VERY GOOD PLUS (7) ----The record has been cared for, but has some minor flaws. Light scratches and/or marks/scuffs that won't make a big impact. Light surface noise here and there, but nothing to overwhelm the listening experience. Covers may have a few minor defects (duly noted). Those who are looking for pristine-only might not be pleased, but most music fans would be happy to have a collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD (6)---- The record has been played often with some care, but also a little neglect. Record displays visible surface wear---scratches or scuffs that will cause some minor to perhaps occasionally moderate surface noise. Vinyl could be "dull" at this point and not "shiny', or still perhaps shiny, but then a little more scratched-up. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. Most music fans would be happy to have a highly collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD MINUS (5) ---- Well-played with little luster and moderate surface noise, but skip-free. Lots of scratches/scuffs or fewer but more deeper marks. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork---seam splits, significant ring wear, tears, cuts, taping (all noted). I will only sell RARE "VERY GOOD MINUS" records.

GOOD (4) --- Pretty beat-up with lots of scratches, but not dead yet. Record should still appear not to skip, though it's possible it can. Surface noise is moderate to occasionally heavy. Seam splits are usually a bigger issue around this level with the records better off in a plastic sleeve. I only sell VERY RARE "GOOD" records. They are certainly "good enough" until another copy comes along.

GOOD MINUS (3) --- Even more beat with tons of scratches and LOTS of surface noise. Skips are possible, though I wouldn't intentionally sell a record that does. Given the right moment, fans could probably enjoy a GOOD MINUS record, but might also be irritated by it at times. I will only sell VERY VERY RARE "GOOD MINUS" records. Covers are hanging together by a thread (seams shot) but not intentionally defaced.

FAIR (2) ----FAIR records appear and sound lousy (significant surface noise, horrific scratches). I won't sell these, unless I find something that is SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Expect skipping or a very unpleasant listen. Covers may be defaced, seamless, stained beyond belief.

POOR (1) ---- Unlistenable and undisplayable.

Please note that sealed albums can only be returned unopened.