SCARCE '69 UK POPSIKE = THE WORLD OF OZ + Fripp = SWEEPING SUNNYSIDE POP GROOVES
$
87
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING: Please read the entire auction listing, including shipping costs, before writing to ask a question. OUR GOAL IS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. In order to meet that goal, we will ALWAYS work with our customers on any concerns that may arise. In the unlikely instance that you feel the need to open a resolution dispute before working with us, you will immediately be blocked from any further chance to acquire the rare music we present each and every week. Payment is required within seven days. We mail all paid items ONE WEEK after auctions end. Please keep in mind our listings are time consuming in detail and we are often traveling to find these gems, which at times delays the delivery schedule by a day or two. We ALWAYS process and ship every paid order. We have no control over parcels once they are mailed from our local Post Office.Overseas mail to some countries (Italy, Russia, France, in particular) has become very slow. Opening a dispute for slow mail is unacceptable and will result in blocking the bidder. We work hard to provide excellent service as is represented by our 8000 plus positive feedback. We use a VPI machine and thoroughly clean all records. Each order is carefully packaged by removing the LP from the jacket to avoid seam splits, use of 3 ml plastic cover sleeves over each LP and jacket, cardboard pad inserts, and placed in sturdy record mailers for safe delivery. We take Customer Service seriously, and want you to be satisfied. Please give us 5 stars in each category through the feedback system, and we will be able to effectively continue to fulfill your passion for rare and collectible music! We have served thousands of satisfied customers - far more than our feedback records indicate - and our aim is to continue to do so. Thank you for your interest and support. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIPPING: USA ~ 1 LP = $4.00 Media Priority rates vary by area; please inquire. All Canadian and Overseas shipping ~ Please inquire about rates. Priority shipping rates required on any order $200+ ~ Also, in the best interest of all of us, safe Express shipping rates on any order totaling $400+ Discount shipping on multiple LPs in same order. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRIGHTLY SHINING '69 BRITISH POPSIKE GROOVES!
THE WORLD OF OZ
UK - Fan Club Records
AGES OLD...minty clean ... a very limited exact reissue that went in & out of print seemingly overnight...not many pressed with the limited underground nature of the band ... a truly charming popsike British outfit who sadly released but only this one Lp in 1969...
Surprising guest is guitarist Robert Fripp of pre-King Crimson....
This is well crafted British pysch pop influenced by the Hollies and Bee Gees. Tight vocal driven songs with lush orchestration and a touch of playful British whimsy. Definitely on par with Rainbow Ffollies, Beatles, Hollies, and Bee Gees late 60's efforts... Yes, this is British psychedelic rock from the late 60's. Fans of the genre's most famous (in the mainstream) albums like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the Zombies' Odessey and Oracle and less-famous but equally worthwhile albums like Tomorrow, The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow, and Kaleidoscope's Tangerine Dream know that British psychedelia more often than not includes gloriously lush production (orchestras, and yes, even slide whistles), very British vocals, songs full of stories that are often whimsical, a sense of melody that sometimes borders on the sing-song and, maybe most importantly, an effort to make the music and recording recreate or enhance drug experiences. When taken in this context, The World of Oz's only album not only makes a lot more sense, it's also pretty good and easy to appreciate as a well-crafted collection of popsike songs.Really, the album's cover gives a bit of the wrong impression--aside from the artwork (which delightfully reproduces a plethora of characters from the Wizard of Oz books), the band and the songs have absolutely nothing to do with the Wizard of Oz. In fact, in comparison with many other British psych bands, these guys aren't quite as psychedelic as they are marketed. Their primary connections to psych lies in the subject matter of the songs (delightfully playful hooks and song premises) and the presence of a full backing arrangements on most of the tracks. Other than that and the odd guitar effect on "Humgum Tree" and "Like a Tear," the album is less of a psychedelic trip and more of a sly and light-hearted pop record, which makes a lot of sense--the World of Oz put out a clutch of moderately-successful to totally unsuccessful singles, which were eventually collected with a few other tracks to make up this album. In this sense, it's not really as much of a proper studio album as a compilation of pre-recorded singles with other songs (really not uncommon in all areas of pop music at the time, since most labels required bands to release successful singles before allowing them to make a whole album).
As for the music and songs themselves, they tend more toward the '60s UK brand of sunny (if occasionally melancholy) psych pop than something with a tougher edge like the Move or the Pretty Things. "The Muffin Man" is a slice of popsike heaven, with some great backing spice and soaring harmonies. "Bring the Ring" is one of the fan favorites; a gentle-to-rocking ballad. Despite the lush production, you can clearly hear in the left channel a pretty tough, rocking rhythm section with driving bass and pounding drums. The lack of a strong, forward guitar presence on many of the songs account for the slight misinterpretation that it doesn't "rock."
The intro to "Jackie" always makes one think the band is going to launch into the Bee Gees' "I Started a Joke." A couple of my other favorites include the great verses of "We've All Seen the Queen," the lamenting ballad "King Croesus," and the rollicking "Mandy-Ann." From a poprock standpoint, there's not really a weak song in the bunch, as they're all laden with hooks and slick production. The only song that really may get on the nerves is "Jack," ostensibly about a child playing in a park with his grandparents, which takes whimsy in the least interesting direction it could go.
If you're a fan of British psychedelic music and know what to expect, you'll probably get plenty of enjoyment out of this album--it's pretty obscure, and if you've exhausted the genre, it'll be an enjoyable addition to your collection. If you're a fan of harder rock, you'd probably do best elsewhere.
1. Muffin Man
2. Bring The Ring
3. Jackie Beside The Fire
4. Hum-Gun Tree
5. With A Little Help
6. We've All Seen The Queen
7. King Croesus
8. Mandy-Ann
9. Jack
10. Like A Tear Willow's Harp
CONDITION: The cover: Very thin, colorful UK sleeve is in near M- condition, well preserved and hasn't a problem ... no bends, no splits, no writing
The vinyl: very clean and smooth throughout both sides, TOP rated M- looks & plays beautiful
A GREAT ADDITION TO ANYONE'S COLLECTION !
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 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 MULTIPLE LP SETS COUNT EACH DISC FOR SHIPPING COST (double Lp count as 2-Lp, etc.) The Records In All Parcels Are Well Protected = The disc of an LP will always be separated from its cover (avoiding seam splits,etc) ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 7 DAYS Of AUCTIONS END Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About Following Through The Transaction! ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID - LESS SHIPPING!
price rating
