MINT SAGITTARIUS PRESENT TENSE 1967 Garage Psych Gem

$

54

      RARE OLD JAPENESE SUPER-SOUND PRESSING! 

             MINT CONDITION IN SHRINK WRAPPER!

                                                SAGITTARIUS

               PRESENT TENSE

\                                     JAPAN - SONY/CBS - 20AP 2197 

MINT TOP COPY !!!

More rare than you might think...Looks to be NEVER played ...Japanese SUPER-SOUND pressing from around 30 years ago...this is not a current or easy issue to obtain but an older collectible in TOP PRISTINE  = *MINT* = unplayed and in original factory cellophane with the all important obi strip + two large inserts (lyrics +) ... complete just as released !

Japanese vinyl releases are premium quality pressings, much sought after by audiophiles and  collectors alike. When US audiophile label Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab first released their series of high quality pressings the records were manufactured in Japan. The sonic quality of Japanese pressings is considered to be among the best in the world and, in addition, they are beautifully presented, their covers usually printed on better quality heavy stock paper and often including a bonus lyric insert with dual language Japanese & English text. Nearly all Japanese LPs were issued with an ‘obi’ - This delicate paper strip, contains marketing information and album content details. Obi designs can be as varied as the LPs they adorn and the ‘Rock Age’ series of obis are especially rare and valuable...

Sagittarius was the brainchild of Columbia Records producer Gary Usher. Although having worked with legends such as Brian Wilson and the Byrds, Usher felt that he wanted to record under his own steam. Pressures from the record company wouldn't allow him the time or money to persue this on his own, hence Usher created the band Sagittarius.

The project in it's initial form resulted in the classic "My World Fell Down"/"Hotel Indiscreet" single. The A-side is a masterpiece and one of the absolute best psychedelic singles of the 60's. Featuring Glen Campbell and Bruce Johnston on vocals (both of whom had subbed for Brian Wilson in the touring version of the Beach Boys), plus various members of the LA session pros known as the Wrecking Crew, we basically get the best Beach Boys tracks that none of the band members actually had a hand in. It has a very SMILE like cut-and-paste sound, with the added avant-garde bonus of a found sound midsection. The B-side of the single sounds like the theme song for some strange sex trips with a short interlude from a screaming hippie-fascist courtesy of the Firesign Theatre.

After the initial single, the history of Present Tense becomes a bit more convoluted. Faced with the prospect of creating an entire album, Usher brought in Curt Boettcher, who had worked with The Ballroom, Eternity's Children, and later, The Millennium. With Boettcher's presence, the final album has a very different feel from the single.

Present Tense is certaintly a sweet album, perhaps the sunniest of sunshine poprock and it groooves. While "My World Fell Down" has a strong tinge of melancholy, the later tracks don't. Boettcher's voice, prominent on the finished album, is also quite different.

As long as the listener doesn't expect more creations like "My World Fell Down" and can stand a little syrup, Present Tense is a very worthwhile album. "Another Time," "The Keeper Of The Games," "Would You Like To Go," and "The Truth Is Not Real" are all immaculately writted sunshine poprock grooves with spectacular catchy hooks and arrangements. Even questionably titled songs such as "Song To The Magic Frog" make for pleasant listening.

Obviously a respected collectible from many years back that is hard to find and sought in decent condition, and, this copy is ***MINT in factory shrink wrap ((perfect))***

Present Tense is one of the stronger sunshine pop albums, with a production touch somewhere between SMiLe and The Notorious Byrd Brothers. It's a perfect wall to follow up The Millennium's Begin.

1. "Another Time" (Boettcher)
2. "Song to the Magic Frog (Will You Ever Know)" (Boettcher/O'Malley)
3. "You Know I've Found a Way" (Boettcher/Mallory)
4. "The Keeper of the Games" (Boettcher)
5. "Glass" (Marks/Sheldon)
6. "Would You like to Go" (Alexander/Boettcher)
7. "My World Fell Down" (Carter/Stephens)
8. "Hotel Indiscreet" (Gordon/Griffin)
9. "I'm Not Living Here" (Boettcher)
10. "Musty Dusty" (Boettcher)
11. "The Truth Is Not Real" (Usher)

CONDITION: COVER: MINT in factory shrink wrap a perfect flat & square copy with 4 sharp corners ...TOP COPY!

RECORD: looks completely MINT, unplayed ...a perfect copy, as new but 30 years old and *rare* ...makes for a nice investment item price riser...already considerably hard to find and won't get any easier !!!

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record