Rare Orig 1969 AMON DUUL 1 KRAUTROCK PSYCH PROG JAMS

$

78

               ARE 1969 UNDERGROUND PSYCHEDELIC

                             AMON DÜÜL

                                                             USA - Prophesy Records - PRS 100 

=> RARE 1969 original first US pressing of the amazing PSYCHEDELIC UNDERGROUND album as it was known in Germany ... Unbelieveably they got a US contract and released the album with a different (fantastic) cover, as well, the German title "Psychedelic Underground" was dropped.

"Psychedelic Underground" appears to be a collection of music that summarises much of the ideals and ethics of the Progressive/Underground scene that thrived in the mid-late 1960s, but also incorporates ideas popularised by the Beatles and Pink Floyd in terms of experimenting with the more avante-garde styles of music that had long been explored in the realms of art music.

The range of marks awarded to this album really reflects the kind of album it is - there's much to sneer at and cast derisory remarks about, not least the appalling production and rather weak jam sessions, but at the same time, a vital energy is projected such that even when the music descends into near-noise, we can still sense the togetherness of the musicians in spirit, at least... as one psych head put it; 90% attitude and 10% skill.

This might or might not work for you, but patience brings its own rewards with music of this nature, and it's only when listening beyond the production and the notes that the rather wonderful raw and primaeval nature of the music comes alive.

The music tends towards simple jams of one or two chord riffs with minimal changes and much walloping of drums. "Ein Wunderhübsches Mädchen Träumt von Sandosa", which doesn't feel quite as long as you think it might consits of two of these, joined loosely with a tae interjection, and rounded off with another one.

"Kaskados Minnelied" is a lot less predictable, despite being built around a simple 'cello line. There's a better dramatic shape here, despite a desparate need for a 'cello tuner, and an overall dark, earthy sound that seems to approach that of a digeridoo.

"Mama Düül und Ihre Sauerkrautband Spielt Auf" appears to be yet another piece built around the percussion section of "Saucerful of Secrets" - which was an impossibly influential release of the previous year. A little production experimentation fills out the 3 minutes in a way that is not so much interesting as baffling - but curiosity does encourage the listener to stick with it.

"Im Garten Sandosa" has a really peculiar air to it - a "vibe", if you will, and indicates a kind of progression in the album overall that we were not expecting. Yes, it's a single riff, with minimalistic changes - and that's its' strong point. Let yourself be sucked in by this one, and it's a buzzing journey filled with exotic locations and excitement with a climatic ending. Close your mind to it, and it's crazy sitar-driven hippy dirge.

"Der Garten Sandosa im Morgentau" follows on quite naturally, and, dare one say it, logically from the previous track, and blends in elements of the earlier material on the album, becoming the weirdest song on this very weird album, full of ghostly spookiness, surprisingly fragile dark edges, and plenty of space, with hints of the first Hawkwind album.

"Bitterlings Verwandlung" is, if anything, even wierder, exploding, as it does, with taped "Classical" music, and regularly returning to odd snippets here and there in a kind of collage that seems to take inspiration from Stockhausen's work in a far more serious way than anything the Beatles attempted - including (or perhaps, especially) "Revolution #9".

A very unusual album - almost unique for 1969... 

1. Ein Wunderhübsches Mädchen Träumt von Sandosa (17:03)
2. Kaskados Minnelied (2:53)
3. Mama Düül und Ihre Sauerkrautband Spielt Auf (2:50)
4. Im Garten Sandosa (7:48)
5. Der Garten Sandosa im Morgentau (8:06)
6. Bitterlings Verwandlung (2:30)

CONDITION:

The cover: solid with no seam splits, no bends, no writing. front VG+(+) has small shelf wear starting, nothing more. Back cover of weird group photo is minty clean.  Just noticed it has a tiny bb delete at center, if you get kucky you can see it, it's in the label too... One of the great psychedelic artworks that you only get with the American pressing, though the German release artwork is amazing too....

The Vinyl: with clean Phrophesy labels are clean...grooves = "EX" (excellent) has been well cared for the past 41 years...artifact from the 60's psychedelic underground...

      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