RARE 1971 PROMO = THEM IN REALITY = WILD HARD HEAVY FUZZ ROCK JAMS no VAN M
$
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RARE - IN DEMAND - 1971 ORIGINAL
KILLER RATED = HARD FUZZROCK ARTIFACT !!
THEM
In Reality
\ USA - HAPPY TIGER - HT 1012 (PROMO)
KILLER RATED HARD FUZZ~ROCK WITH INTENSE JAMS...
ADVANCED RELEASE PROMOTIONAL
Sought after ...Original (((PROMOTIONAL))) 1971 first pressing by THEM delivering IN REALITY ...a cool garagey hardrock cooker....By 1971 Them had been reduced to a trio consisting of bassist Alan Henderson (the only original Them member), lead guitarist Jim Parker and drummer John Stark (all three had previously played in The Y'Alls, while Parker and Stark had been in The Kitchen Cinq and Armageddon).
Following the departure of his bandmate Jerry Cole, bassist Alan Henderson joined forces with U.S. guitarist Jim Parker and drummer John Stark to make this lost power trio classic -- the last to be issued under the legendary Them moniker. It opens with a searing medley of the Them classics "Gloria" and "Baby Please Don't Go," boasting superb interplay and savage psychedelic guitar throughout. Elsewhere, Stark and Parker flex their songwriting muscles on a series of powerful compositions, and even an acid folk number. Like its equally overlooked predecessor, this lost classic is guaranteed to find favor with fans of top-end garage rock.
Recorded in Los Angeles, 1971's "Them In Reality" found the group continuing their collaboration with producer Ray Ruff. Anyone expecting a continuation of the psychedelic moves that marked the band's previous releases for Happy Tiger was in for a major shock. Musically the set started out with a blast; in this case an extended, fuzz guitar powered cover of Them's own 'Gloria'. While the remake may not have threatened Van Morrison's original, it boasted some killer lead guitar courtesy of Parker. While some folks will certainly disagree, to these ears the band actually benefited from their new found direction. With Parker and Stark writing most of the material, stripped of the elaborate production that characterized their last couple of releases, tracks such as 'Laugh' and 'Lessons of the Sea' found the trio turning in some roaring hard-rock sides. This wasn't fancy, high-production material, rather had more in common with Them's original low-tech blues-rock moves. Kudos to all three players. Henderson wasn't the most subtle bassist you've ever heard, but he managed to hold his own on the collection. Parker's growling vocals and sizzling lead guitar playing was simply amazing on material such as 'Baby Please Don't Go' and 'California Man'. Finally, Stark's frenetic drumming recalled something out of the Keith Moon school of aural annihilation. (Not to be snarky, but judging by the back panel photos these guys sure looked the part of a down-on-their-luck rock trio ...)
- As mentioned above, the album led off with a 'grudged-up' remake of 'Gloria'. From a marketing standpoint remaking the band's biggest hit was an odd choice and while their cover wasn't about to make you forget the hyper-speed Them original, kicked along by Parker's snarling fuzz lead guitar and leering vocals this version wasn't half bad. Morrison himself would have approved of their stripped down, driving cover. In fact, after the original and perhaps The Boots version, this was the version colllectors should reach for.
Also previously done by the Van Morrison-era band, their cover of Big Joe Williams 'Baby Please Don't Go' featured a loose and equally garage-ish sounding effort. The track actually sounded like it was recorded during a studio session jam and once again Parker's slashing fuzz leads and Stark's wild drumming deserved special notice.
With a surprisingly catchy melody and some decent group harmonies, 'Laugh' was one of the album's more commercial offerings. That wasn't to imply this was a slice of mindless top-40 pap. Like the earlier tracks, this one was built on the combination of Henderson's pounding bass, Parker's wild guitar, and Starks' frenetic drum. Hard to believe three guys could generate so much noise !!! Great song.
Penned by Parker and Stark, 'Let My Song Through' found the band adding a distinctive rural-rock flavor to their attack. While you wouldn't have thought rural/garage-rock would fit their sound very well, when packaged with some great wah-wah guitar and a catchy melody the results were quite impressive and while it may just be my damaged ears, every time we hear the song's opening chords it makes us think of Lynyrd Skynyrds' classic 'Sweet Home Alabama'.
Powered by Henderson's rumbling bass, 'California Man' was easily the album's standout performance. This one had everything needed for commercial success - great melody, fantastic vocals, and an enthusiastic performance. In fact the only complaint was that the song was simply too short. Shame nobody paid any attention to it.
Another stab at a rural-rock number, the mid tempo 'Lessons of the Sea' always reminds us of something The James Gang might have recorded. Nice blend of melody and pounding rock with Henderson's fuzz bass again featured front and center.
Our choice for second best performance, 'Rayn' really didn't sound all that different from other side two Parker and Stark compositions, but the mix of slashing guitar, rumbling bass, and wild drumming (Stark even got to turn in a brief solo), seldom sounded as good as on this tight little rocker.
'Back In the Country' was another commercial rocker with a slight country-rock tinge. Yeah, the anti-establishment, back-to-the-country lyrics sound a little dated, but so what ... Always liked the stripped down harmony vocals.
An atypical acoustic ballad with a spiritual lyric, 'Can You Believe' originally didn't do a great deal for us. That said, Parker turned in a great acoustic guitar performance and the group lead vocals were simply dazzling. Have to admit the lyrics are quite thought provoking (even if you're not a believer).
Yeah, this wasn't Van Morrison's Them which means it wasn't a true Them album in lots of peoples' minds, but overlooking that debatable issue, this remains a great Them release. Simply one of our favorites, if least known early-1970s rock albums. Unfortunately the set did little in terms of sales and didn't even see a release outside of the US. That effectively ended Them until the late 70's when Henderson reunited most of the original Them members (sans Van Morrison) for an instantly obscure, one shot reunion album.
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(side 1)
1.) Gloria (Van Morrison) - (6:00)
2.) Baby Please Don't Go
3.) Laugh
4.) Let My Song Through
(side 2)
1.) California Man
2.) Lessons of the Sea - 3.) Rayn
- 3.) Back In the Country
4.) Can You Believe
CONDITION: The Cover: Still solid after some 43 years rated VG+ with shelf wear as photo shows ... the group photos back cover is clean...otherwise has a promo sticker on front cove and light visible handling from the original owner... no writing, no split seams and fresh colors ...highly collectible
The Vinyl: glossy surface vastly clean with some short scuffs/marks, so while visual is VG(+), the deep groove pressing plays VG++ to excellent with only some minor surface in a few spots... both HAPPY TIGER labels are clean, having text that reads "Promotional copy"
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
NOTE: All Items backed by money back guarantee! IF you have a problem PLEASE let us solve for you BEFORE leaving ANY negative feedback. Thanks! GRADING SCALE: M, M-, EX, VG++,VG+, VG, VG- M Completely clean, no marks M- Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, no marks EX Faint scuff or superficial mark, near M-, high gloss, plays clean VG++ Glossy with minimal scuffing or light mark playing very nice, clean VG+ a bit more scuff or markls still plays well with very minimal surface at worse VG more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep, no loud clicks or pops this grade is abused by many, VG here does not mean "trashed" VG- surface noise present, will not have skips or jumps ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 5 DAYS Of AUCTIONS END BIDDERS PLEASE = Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About Following Through The Transaction! ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID - LESS SHIPPING!
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