RARE BIRD AS YOUR MIND FLIES BY UK 1970 SCROLL CHARISMA

	£		58
	$		77

RARE BIRD

AS YOUR MIND FLIES BY

CHARISMA CAS 1011 (UK) 1970

manufactured and distributed by B&C Records Ltd,

37 Soho Square, London W1

ONE OF THE GREAT PROGRESSIVE ALBUMS OF THE ERA AND AMONG THE VERY BEST CHARISMA HAD TO OFFER

THE UNIQUE SOUND OF RARE BIRD - SO MELODIC, YET ALSO EXTREMELY POWERFUL, TAKES A STEP FURTHER BEYOND THEIR BEAUTIFUL 1969 DEBUT ALBUM AND MOVES INTO EPIC TERRITORY, WHILE RETAINING THE FUNDAMENTAL MELODIC VERSUS AGGRESSIVE TEXTURE OF THAT FIRST INCREDIBLE RECORD. . . THE MELODY IS CREATED PRIMARILY BY GRAHAM FIELD'S SOARING, SOMETIMES BLAZING HAMMOND ORGAN WORK WITH DAVID KAFFINETTI'S PUNISHING ELECTRIC PIANO SUPPLYING THE ATTACK - BOTH GUYS ALSO UTILISE ASSORTED ADDITIONAL KEYBOARDS AND BOTH ARE INCREDIBLY TALENTED PLAYERS - THE SOLO INTERPLAY BETWEEN GRAHAM'S SPIRALLING HAMMOND ORGAN WORK AND DAVE'S SAVAGE ELECTRIC PIANO IN THE IMPROVISATIONAL PASSAGES REALLY BLOWS UP A STORM - MASSIVE POWER IS ALSO GENERATED BY STEVE GOULD'S TRULY EXTRAORDINARY VOICE - MAN, THIS GUY HAD ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING, IF NOT THE MOST AMAZING VOICE IN ROCK - STEVE ALSO PLAYED REALLY NICE, VERY CLEAN AND DIRECT BASS GUITAR - ROCK SOLID DRUMMING BY MARK ASHTON BACKS UP THE MOODY, MAJESTIC GROUP SOUND WHICH, WHILE VERGING ON THE CLASSICAL, NEVER BECOMES POMPOUS OR PRETENTIOUS - THE PRODUCTION AND ENGINEERING (BRIAN STOTT - GREAT!) ON THIS RECORD IS UNBELIEVABLE AND  ENABLES THE BAND TO BLOW ALL THE NEW BREED OF RETRO IMITATORS CLEAN AWAY - AND CONSIDERING THE TECHNOLOGY AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE CURRENT CROWD, THIS IS NO MEAN FEAT - JUST IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED IF RARE BIRD HAD BEEN ABLE TO ADD ALL THAT RAMPING-UP TO THEIR FIREPOWER! TAKE ANOTHER LISTEN TO I'M THINKING, THE CLOSING CUT ON SIDE ONE - CAN YOU IMAGINE TODAY'S WEEDY, FACELESS AND TALENT-CHALLENGED POSERS COMING UP WITH A HUGE SOUND LIKE THAT. . .? I DON'T THINK SO! - A GREAT, GREAT LP - GENUINELY SUPERB - FOR WAY TOO LONG IT HAS BEEN UNDERRATED, ALTHOUGH CERTAINLY NOT BY ME. . . AND, AT LONG LAST, NOT ANY MORE BY ALMOST ALL OTHER SERIOUS COLLECTORS - RARE BIRD ARE NOW RIGHTLY PERCEIVED AS MASTERS OF THE GENRE - TRUE PROGRESSIVE STALWARTS WITH A KEEN EAR FOR A SIMPLE AND TIMELESS MELODY, A NEAT LYRIC SUNG BRILLIANTLY AND A SUPREMELY MEMORABLE PIECE OF MUSIC - IN FACT, CLEARLY THIS AMAZING BAND WERE WAY UP THERE WITH THE UNTOUCHABLE CRESSIDA

THE TWO CHARISMA RARE BIRD ALBUMS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN MY UK PROG TOP 20

ORIGINAL PINK 'SCROLL' 1970 UK 1st PRESSING

(this LP is considerably rarer than the first LP, although the pair were never reissued as 'mad hatter' 2nd pressings)

the thick, heavy record is close to near mint

hardly even much in the way of light surface traces from the original plain white paper inner sleeve

lovely bright gloss to the surfaces with no scratches or handling wear

plays beautifully clear and loud (wow, this production was HUGE) pretty well throughout

there is merely a hint of background in the quieter parts and a few clicks towards the end of the closing passages of As Your Mind Flies By (Part 1 of Flight on Side 2)

the bright pink with white 'scroll' labels are near mint

only the faintest evidence of spindle wear

otherwise bright, sharp and clean

the fully textured (inside & out) gatefold cover - printed and made by E. J. Day Group, London and Bedford - is near excellent

some shelf wear and scuffing along the seams and rear spine edge - a hint of circular wear to the back

there is a tiny (and I mean tiny) tear to the top right front

the corners have light bumps and scuffs

interior layout perfect

GRAHAM FIELD

DAVID KAFFINETTI

STEVE GOULD

MARK ASHTON

with

THE EMERGENCY CHOIR

led by

HARRY BARNES

recorded at IBC Studios

side one

WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW

DOWN ON THE FLOOR

HAMMERHEAD

I'M THINKING

side two

FLIGHT

As Your Mind Flies By

Vacuum

New Yorker

Central Park

currently selling from Australia

stock held at both my UK and Australian offices

all items graded with extreme care and 35 years experience

I offer a 100% reliable, fast, friendly, safe and trustworthy service

buyers will always be informed when payments are received and records sent

additional photos available by email

see my eBay shop for more prog & psych LPs / 45s

records AND covers ALWAYS packed with extreme care

there is NO need to ask me to separate record and cover!

QUESTIONS ABOUT PAYMENT / PACKING / DISCOUNTS

PLEASE ALWAYS CONTACT ME BEFORE BIDDING!

PAYPAL FROM ANYWHERE

FROM EUROPE I ALSO ACCEPT SWIFTBIC / IBAN TO MY UK BANK (IN EUROS OR GBP)

UK BUYERS CAN ALSO PAY WITH ONLINE (BACS) TRANSFER OR IN PERSON (GBP STERLING OR CHEQUE) AT ANY UK BARCLAYS BRANCH

Australian buyers direct deposit (online or at your bank) or money order preferred - also PayPal by prior arrangement ONLY

all other countries / regions - payment method by prior arrangement - contact me before bidding

postage

airmail from Australia

this is a heavy double set - fast and reliable worldwide air is a flat rate of £16 (includes superior quality packing) - for registered post add £3 - for basic insurance add £5

shipping costs discounted for multiple purchases

packing

time and care taken to make your purchase safe and secure

superior quality packing (£16 worldwide) is of the highest standard with strong mailing box, thick and heavy oversized inner boards and additional internal wrapping so that record and cover cannot be damaged

record and cover always housed separately in quality plastic sleeves

new users

are welcome

however, members with high / recent negatives, numerous bid retractions, (private) feedback or feedback lower than (20)

MUST contact me BEFORE bidding

payment

PayPal

UK / European buyers, I also accept

BACS ~ BIC ~ IBAN

in GB£ or EUR to my UK bank by online BACS transfer, SWIFTBIC / IBAN

also cheque or sterling over the counter at any Barclays UK branch

other payment methods by negotiation

PayPal, wire transfer or alternative from the USA

photos & description ©2008

©1969!

MY APOLOGIES - INCORRECT (HIGHER) POSTAGE RATES ARE QUOTED IN THE ORIGINAL LISTING ABOVE

THOSE OF COURSE APPLY ONLY TO DOUBLE ALBUMS AND UNUSUALLY HEAVY ITEMS

CORRECT RATES FOR AIRMAIL P&P WORLDWIDE ARE £9 (NORMAL PACKING) OR £12 (EXTRA HEAVY COMPREHENSIVE PACKING)

THE LOWER RATE IS STILL ADEQUATE - THE HIGHER RATE ALLOWS ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO PREFER IT

FOR REGISTERED POST ADD £3 - FOR BASIC INSURANCE ADD £5

POSTAGE COSTS ARE ALWAYS DISCOUNTED FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES