SPRING 1971 UK MONSTER PROG Mellotron PSYCH New Zealand RCA gatefold LP

	A$		249
	$		165

SPRING 1971 UK MONSTER PROG Mellotron PSYCH New Zealand RCA gatefold LP

MORE to follow . . .

Spring – Self-titled LP (orig. New Zealand RCA Victor STEREO NE 6)

Release date: June 1971.

On offer here is an EXTREMELY RARE original New Zealand issue of the only album by Leicester-based progressive rock band SPRING.  Unlike the UK pressing which was released on the NEON label, this kiwi issue came out on RCA Victor but still retains the same catalogue number.  The NZ issue also came with a single gatefold unlike the double gatefold of its UK counterpart.

The music contained within these grooves is top shelf mellotron prog rock from a band that was clearly on top of their game.  This LP is considered by many collectors as one of the finest progressive rock albums ever to come out of Britain.  It is interesting to note that PIQUE WITHERS went on to become a founding member of DIRE STRAITS.

Be sure to check out the YouTube links below!

weblinks:

(1) The Hip Forums: Spring - www.hippy.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=374

(2) Sound clip “Golden Fleece” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPrZk0gvHrk

(3) Sound clip “Gazing” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tnBa506ZKA

SIDE 1

1.          The Prisoner (Eight by Ten) (5:35)     Writ: Spring

2.         Grail (6:45)                                         Writ: Spring

3.         Boats (2:00)                                        Writ: Spring

4.         Shipwrecked Soldier (5:24)                 Writ: Spring

SIDE 2

5.         Golden Fleece (7:00)                           Writ: Spring

6.         Inside Out (4:49)                                Writ: Spring

7.         Song to Absent Friends (The Island) (2:47)      Writ: Spring

8.         Gazing (5:54)                                      Writ: Spring

PERSONNEL

     Pat Moran                      vocals, mellotron

     Ray Martinez                 lead guitar, mellotron, 12 string guitar

     Adrian ‘Bone’ Maloney    bass guitar

     Kips Brown                     piano, organ, mellotron

     Pique Withers                drums, glockenspiel

Tracks 1 & 3-7 recorded at Trident Studios in London—England (UK).

Tracks 2 & 8 recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth—Wales (UK).

Produced by Gus Dudgeon.  Engineered by Robin Geoffrey Cable (Trident) & Kingsley Ward (Rockfield).

GRADING (also refer photos)

Cover:

VG++ beautiful shiny appearance (outside gatefold)—very minor creasing (top corner), minor ring-wear more noticeable on back (VG+(+)) & surface rubbing, minor scuffing (along bottom seam).  Inside gatefold - looks impressive except for very minor creasing (top centre - corner) (EX+).

Record:

visual: EX beautiful glossy sheen—few insignificant hairlines only.

audible: EX sounds superb despite some insignificant underlying surface noise during the quieter moments.  A HIGHLY ENJOYABLE LISTENING EXPERIENCE!

labels: HARDLY ANY SPINDLE WEAR.

GRADING DESCRIPTION

COVER

M:      Absolutely NEW—perhaps still in shrink-wrap.

M-:    Slightly less than MINT.

EX:     Very light wear and/or creasing—defects will be noted.

VG++: Slightly less than EXCELLENT.

VG+:   Slightly better than VERY GOOD.

VG:     Some ring-wear and other signs of aging are apparent—defects will be noted.

VG-:   Slightly less than VERY GOOD.

G:       More obvious ring-wear, seam-splits, stains etc—defects will be noted.

M=MINT, EX=EXCELLENT, VG=VERY GOOD, G=GOOD

NB: Brackets indicate the cover is between one grade and another—eg. VG+(+).

RECORD

M:      Absolutely NEW—perhaps still in shrink-wrap.

M-:    Slightly less than MINT.

EX:     Very light scuffs.  Record played infrequently, with little or no reduction in sound quality.

VG++: Slightly less than EXCELLENT.

VG+:   Slightly better than VERY GOOD.

VG:     Lightly scuffed/marked record, with acceptable sound quality—defects will be noted.

VG-:   Slightly less than VERY GOOD.

G:       More obvious scratches, with some deterioration in sound quality—defects will be noted.

M=MINT, EX=EXCELLENT, VG=VERY GOOD, G=GOOD

NB: Brackets indicate the record is between one grade and another—eg. VG+(+).

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