? RAIL BAND Tiramakan HOLY GRAIL AFRO FUNK PSYCH MANDING = UNEXPECTED EXISTENCE

THE RAREST AFRICAN RECORD ? HOW MANY COPIES ON EARTH ?

? Let's have a great trip together around the African continent. 

So gald to share all these tasty and spicy sounds. Enjoy ! ?

ARTIST = RAIL BAND

Title = Tiramakan (Série Folk Rail N° 1)

Country = Mali

Year = 1974

Label / Ref / Pressing =  Rail Culture Authentique Mali / RCAM 013374 / Original from France - Cover made in Mali

Tracks = Side A : Tiramakan / Marietou / Noumounan  Side B : Yakarepare / Baichabata / Battou

AFRO ULO *

*Unexpected Legendary Object

HOLY GRAIL ???

Yes, I know. You think the word "Holy Grail" is very often used to present rarities. As if, after all, there were one thousand grails...

I must admit that I used that sacred word in the past. 

This time, the story is different. A few years ago, I found a few copies of the cover ... all empty !!! I never found the record, not a copy, even in awful condition. Unexpected existence. Until a collector shows me one copy (without cover !), white label, just "Tiramakan" handwritten on it...He tells me that a member of the Rail Band gave it to him. With vague explanations...it was never marketed for obscure reasons...well, so I probably will never find this record. 

And indeed, I never found it myself. But last year, an unexpected phone call. A friend of mine. What ??? Can't believe what I hear. To his only question, he received a tremulous positive answer. And later, in a precious box, I received a precious diamond, I received the Sacred Cup. Unexpected Legendary Object. 

And you know that I sold it. Convinced that he'd find another copy, my friend went back to Mali. From North to South, from East to West, he traveled everywhere across the country. He stirred heaven and earth, asked to the gods and to the hell. Finally he dug up another copy, unfortunately in poor condition. And nine months later, as a new birth, a new miracle happened (something divine...a christmas gift ?) : a third star came down in our world. It's a find of paramount importance. Thereby proving that there are at least 3 copies in the world !

Honestly, I think this is one of the rarest African records. That I know, of course. And I know now that this record exists. In any case, there is at least three copies...So, how long will it take before someone finds a fourth copy ? And thus deny that this record is (almost) the Holy Grail ?

Well, today, what can I add ? Yes, the music is indescribable, as the beauty of the siren's song. Let's say that with words that we can understand, us, poor earthlings : it's between Manding black magic and Ethiopian music enchantment. 

In too much discourse, truth is lost. Speech is silver, but music is gold !

? Soundfiles are recorded from the vinyl auctioned ?

A3 : http://www.mediafire.com/listen/yd4b20pk5ll9nph/Tira_A3.mp3

B3 : http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ljefqlj290ir0xk/Tira_B3.mp3

A2 : http://www.mediafire.com/listen/1jaj1b69vgmt70m/Tira_A2.mp3

B2 : http://www.mediafire.com/listen/6ccgbk93k9cfvu6/Tira_B2.mp3

B1 : http://www.mediafire.com/listen/l5jm8rnlag1p0a9/Tira_B1.mp3

A1 : http://www.mediafire.com/listen/9dh1r1ysaa311ca/Tira_A1.mp3

Record = Side A : VG- to G (a lot of surface scuffs, marks and traces, plays with constant crackles, mostly light on A3 (plays near VG ! Absolutely enjoyable but a tiny deep scuff with a big click at 1'06 = listen to the soundfile), crackles mostly serious on A1 (a bit lighter during the last part) with some clicks, mostly lighter on A2 (more serious at the middle), nothing too heavy, still quite enjoyable...) Side B : VG- to G (a lot of surface scuffs, marks and traces, plays with constant crackles never too heavy, lighter on B2/B3 (really enjoyable !), more serious on B1 with some clicks)

Cover = VG++/VG+ (Wow ! In a wonderful condition = dead stock ! Slightly "warped" and cornea, some yellow traces, some imperfections of color printing)

Label = clean

++++++++++++++++++++ Postage + Handling cost +++++++++++++++++++

WARNING FOR USA BUYERS :

Item is located in Europe. You will find the real shipping cost below (No way to list with the right shipping costs. I was forced to indicate 4 US$. Thanks for your understanding).

Sending from Belgium (2 business days after payment / Registered shipping - Priority Airl Mail) 

ENGLAND / FRANCE / GERMANY / NETHERLAND :  1-18 LP's = 20$   

REST OF EUROPE + USA : 1-3 LP's = 25$ / 4-18 LP's = 40$  

WORLDWIDE : 1-3 LP's = 35$ / 4-7 LP's = 60$

I am really sorry for the high postal fees. Belgian postal service is probably the most expensive in the world ! And no economic shipping...

This is why I also propose to ship records from France (cheaper but sending later = 10 days after payment).

Sending from France (10 business days after payment / Registered shipping - Priority Airl Mail)  

FRANCE : 1 LP = 10$ / 2 LP's = 11$ / 3 LP's = 12$   

EUROPE : 1 LP = 15 $ / 2-3 LP's = 19$ / 4-7 LP's = 23$   

WORLDWIDE : 1 LP = 16$ / 2-3 LP's = 22$ / 4-7 LP's = 30$

FOR EVERY BUYER : 

Once the sale is completed, please be kind enough to wait for the invoice that I will send with the total amount for each transaction. Do not pay before. Thanks in advance. 

POUR TOUS LES ACHETEURS

Ne payez pas avant de recevoir la facture avec le montant total pour chaque transaction, que j'envoie après la fin des ventes. Merci d'avance.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Notes +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Communication : ok in English (but I am not fluent !), de préférence en Français, mogelijk in Neederlands (maar ik heb hulp nodig !).

Payement/Paiement/Betaling : Paypal (prefer), Bank transfer/Virement bancaire. No check.

+++++++++++++++++++++++ Grading policy ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NM (NEAR MINT) : Near perfect copy, played only a few times. At worst it may have one or two insignificant flaws.The highest grade I give for a non-sealed record / Disque et pochette impéccables, a joué seulement quelques fos. Au pire, une ou deux traces insignifiantes. C'est le grade le plus haut que je donne pour un disque non scellé.

EX (EXCELLENT) : Clean copy, there may be a few very light  surface traces/hairlines, it may plays with a few tiny crackles, cover has minor defaults. / Disque en excellent état, possibilité de très lègères traces ou lignes en surface, événtuellement quelques grésillement/craquements insignifiants, pochette avec défauts mineurs....

VG++ (VERY GOOD++) : A few light surface traces/scuffs, plays with very light crackles. There may be a few traces or marks on the cover, corners or slices slightly worn...Nothing serious but is not graded EX because of few minor defaults / Très bon état dans l'ensemble, avec de légères traces et rayures en surface, très légers craquements audibles. Quelques traces ou marques possibles sur la pochette, coins ou tranches légèrement usées. Rien de sérieux mais assez de petits défauts pour ne pas être classé EX.

VG+ (VERY GOOD +) : Played a lot, will show signs of handling, has surface marks and scuffs, plays with light crackles or light surface noise background, no serious scuffs, no serious crackles. Cover slighty worn (traces, light ring wear, dog eared, corner and slices slightly worn...) / Disque qui a tourné, visiblement utilisé, avec des marques et rayures en surface, des craquements légers ou un bruit de surface en fond, mais pas de griffes sérieuses, ni de craquements sérieux. Pochette un peu usée (avec quelques traces, cornée, coins et tranches légèrement abimés, saleté, ect...)

VG (VERY GOOD) : Used record, played a lot, has a lot of surface traces, marks and scuffs, crackles and a few clicks while playing, sometimes constants but not too serious,  no serious clicks, no jumps. Still enjoyable. Cover worn, may have corner and slices worn or damaged, ring wear, serious traces or little splits, slightly ripped / Disque qui a été souvent joué avec beaucoup de traces, marques et rayures diverses, quelques griffes et des craquements audibles, parfois constants mais pas trop sérieux. Ne saute pas. Toujours agréable à écouter... Pochette usée et défraichie, un peu déchirée, coins et tranches cornés ou abimés, traces sérieuses ou petits coups...

VG- (VERY GOOD MINUS) : Played a lot and more (but still playable), a lot of scuffs, marks, and traces, a lot of crackles while playing, sometimes serious, may have a few serious scuffs with serious clicks (no jumps). The cover is in a bad state, damaged... / Disque très utilisé (mais peut l'être encore...), beaucoup de griffes, de traces et de marques, peut avoir de sérieuses rayures , avec de sérieux craquements, ne saute pas. La pochette est en mauvais état, endommagée...

G (GOOD) : Indeed, not so good...but still alive ! Played while his entire life (and once again today !), or really ill-traited...A lot of serious traces, marks and scuffs, serious crackles and surface noise, serious clicks, may have jumps...The cover is really in a very bad state too, even no entire...Must be very rare to be proposed in this state... / En effet, pas si bon...mais encore vivant ! Utilisé durant sa vie entière (et aujourd'hui encore !), ou vraiment maltraité...Beaucoup de sérieuses traces, marques et rayures, sérieux craquements et bruits de surface, rayé et peut même sauter quelques fois...La pochette est aussi en très mauvais état, peut même ne pas être entière...Vraiment une rareté pour être présenté dans cet état...

POOR : ? = dead ? hard or impossible to listen to it...should be listed only in a batch. Cover ? better to say no more cover ! / ? mort ? difficile ou impossible à écouter...devrait être listé uniquement en lot. Pochette ? autant dire qu'il n'y en a plus !