THE SEEDS - RAW & ALIVE IN CONCERT - MERLINS MUSIC BOX - GNP CRESCENDO GNPS2043

	£		24
	$		32

THE SEEDS - RAW & ALIVE IN CONCERT - MERLINS MUSIC BOX - GNP CRESCENDO GNPS2043. Condition is "Used". Dispatched with Royal Mail  "SIGNED FOR" 2nd Class.
RAW & ALIVE- MERLINS MUSIC BOX  - The LIVE Album that was so RAW & ALIVE, but NOT LIVE by the legendary SEEDS.

From the sellers private collection.    Owned from new, this was the 2nd copy of Raw & Alive I purchased, to replace my 1968 version (purchased from Musicland in Berwick Street, London).  
The Record is graded Mint (M) to Excellent (EX) condition with no surface marks or scuffs & plays perfectly. the label has some minor markings as shown that were there from purchase. There is no hole distortion. In fact the record has been played less than 5/6 times since purchased. The Cover is graded as Excellent (EX) & still has the original shrink wrap surrounding it giving excellent protection. The inner Paper Sleeve is perfect. Original GNP Cresendo versions are now quite rare. This variant has GNP CRESCENDO in black lettering with red label. Hand Etched GNPS 2043-A  B-14040/GNPS 2043-B  B-14041
This was the 5th Album by the SEEDS & was recorded in Western Recorders Studios,  6000 West Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA Holywood. It was released on the GNP (Gene Norman Presents) Crescendo Label in May 1968 in the USA. This album was never given an official release by GNP Crescendo in the UK. 
The Producers were Sky Saxon (alias Marcus Tybalt) & Neil Norman & the Engineers were Chuck Britz & Joe Sidore.
The SEEDS were:- Sky Saxon (Vocals) Daryl Hooper (Keyboards, Keyboard Bass)  Jan Savage (Guitars) & Rick Aldridge (Drums)  Although credited as Bass Player, Sky Saxon did not play Bass on any of the Seeds recordings. This was augmented by Session Musicians usually Harvey Sharpe. 
With Raw & Alive, the bands plan was to replicate the intensity of thier live performances, with relatively basic recording methods & overdub a live audience sound, thereby producing a "Recorded Live Album " The actual screaming concert audience sounds were I believe, taken from a Beach Boys Concert!  An introduction from  Merlin's Music Box Disc Jockey, Harvey Miller, authenticated the "Live" format. 
Whatever the factors of this "Live Equation", the band deliver a collection of Garage Rockers with the speed of an express train at full tilt with no quarter.  Five of the Eleven tracks on this record are re-recorded versions of previously released SEEDS songs. The remaining Six were new numbers, with the aptly titled track "900 Million People Daily All Making Love" being the highlight of the newcomers, with a lengthly instrumental explority jam. 
Unfortunatly the record, allbeit, a frenzied amalgam of garage rock, psychedelia, screaming vocals & guitars, howling organ riffs & shrieking audiences, failed to be the success it so richly deserved.
Consequently, in the same year, the band suffered member & name changes with Jan Savage & Rick Aldridge departing, to be replaced by new members & the bands name becoming "Sky Saxon & the Seeds." Various musicians joined & departed untill the final dissolvement in 1972.  There was a brief ressurection of the band with Saxon in 2003, again with various personal changes. Saxon passed away in 2009, Rick Andridge in 2011 & Jan Savage in 2020.
Amazingly so, the band still survives today, with founding member Daryl Hooper (Keyboards) Jeff Prentice (Guitars) Alex Palao (Bass), Don Boomer (Drums) & Paul Kopf (Lead Vocals)
53 YEARS on from its initial release, the contents of this record, still have the power to kick some of the latest selection of Garage Rockers into the shade.
Some observations on Grading :- Mint (M) The Record is in brand new condition, no surface marks, no sound quality deteration. Records designated sealed or un-played qualify as mint.  Excellent (EX) The Record shows some signs of being played, but with minimal lessening of sound quality. The Cover &/or packaging may show slight wear &/or creasing.  Very Good (VG) The Record has obviously been played many times, but manifests no sound quality deterioraton. Despite noticeable surface marks &/or light scratching.  Visible wear & tear on the Cover or additional items, without major defects, is acceptable.  Good (G) The Record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, pehaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The Cover and contents may suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.  Fair (F) The Record is still just playable, but has not been cared for propery and displays considerable  surface noise; it may even jump. The Cover and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.