THIRD EAR BAND - ALCHEMY PSYCH/PROG HARVEST SHVL 756 1st UK PRESS EX+ NO EMI

	£		59
	$		78

THIRD EAR BAND - ALCHEMY

HARVEST - SHVL 756

UK 1969

 FIRST PRESS

Condition:  EX+

Machined first press matrices: A-1  B-1

THIRD EAR BAND - ALCHEMY

1ST - HARVEST UK 1969 !
****VERY SCARCE *****NO EMI ON THE LABEL***
 A REALLY HARD ONE TO FIND,ESPECIALLY IN THIS STUNNING  CONDITION**PLEASE ALSO HAVE A LOOK AT MY OTHER THIRD EAR ALBUM FROM THE SAME STUNNING COLLECTION RECENTLY BOUGHT IN***

THE LP IS PRESSED ON QUALITY HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL WHICH DELIVERS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING AUDIO WITH A BEAUTIFUL LOUD CUT
THE HARVEST LABELS CARRY "THE GRAMOPHONE CO..." RIM TEXT AND NO EMI BOXED LOGO AND SIDE TWO ALSO CARRIES THE "SOLD IN THE UK...." TEXT WHICH WAS ONLY PRESENT ON THE EARLIEST ISSUED LABELS
MATRIX: SHVL 756 A-1 / SHVL 756 B-1

******ELUSIVE PROGMONSTER!!!*****PERPLEXING EXPERIMENTAL OUT OF THE BOX SONGCRAFT!!!*********

!!!!A VERY HARD FIND INDEED!!! Totally uncommercial, this album hardly sold when first issued. The Third Ear Band is an acquired taste and needs a few listens to be fully appreciated. This is a real grower!

In all my years this is only the third time I have come across this PROGMONSTER in 30 years. Only 1000 or so are rumoured to be about. Rare ... anyone??  Only a few retraction paper scuffs/hairlines on side 2 not affecting the audio whatsoever. TOP QUALITY VINYL!!! Sensational sound quality, I have played this through in its entirety and it was a great joy!!! NO skips or jumps. NO clicks , only the lightest of static on the beginning of each side. This is really a stunning heavy glossy jet black vinyl as if just bought yesterday, this has been magnificently preserved and is the ultimate ugrade!!! Inspected under an intense lightsource and angled.

       Background Info:

One of the scarcest albums on Harvest, and certainly one of the lowest selling bands on this famous progressive label - this music is uncommercial and obscure. 

 The Third Ear Band were a four piece unit: Percussion, Glen Sweeney; Oboe, recorder Paul Minns; Violin, viola, Richard Coff and Cello, Mel Davis. John Peel also features on one track on the Jaws Harp!!! (credited on the inner sleeve).

Minimalist sometimes eerie music, boarding on progressive chamber music, probably not quite avant garde, compelling and at times challenging, this band were very original and quite possibly unique but had little commercial potential. This album is their debut.

This copy is gorgeous and it is the only copy I have ever heard that plays through entirely perfect and devoid of distortion or unwanted sounds. It’s an original pre-EMI copy pressed on heavy vinyl. This is truly one for the serious Harvest collector and audiophile listener, it shows up rarely these days, this really would have sold in small amounts - pop music this isn’t. This is very much mood music with bags of atmosphere and great sound, quite eerie and intense, but reasonably melodic. Go on be brave and adventurous, The Third Ear Band deserve to be heard, they dared to be different and were never going to be superstars with obscure albums like this, and for that alone I admire them, in fact I love this album which I personally regard as their best. Also have a look at my other THIRD EAR BAND album up for auction today. 

HERE WE HAVE A SUPERB, UK HARVEST RECORDS (SHVL 756) VERY FIRST PRESSING OF THIRD EAR BAND'S ASTONISHING, INNOVATIVE, BEAUTIFUL & HAUNTING 1969 DEBUT, "ALCHEMY"

DETERMINEDLY AVANT-GARDE AND SERIOUS IN ITS UNDERTAKING WITH MUSICAL SOURCES RANGING FROM INDIAN RAGA, JEWISH LITANIES, CELTIC LEGENDS, IMPROVISATIONAL JAZZ AND MEDIEVAL ENGLISH FOLK, IT WAS UNSURPRISINGLY GREETED WITH CONFUSION BY ITS INTENDED AUDIENCE UPON RELEASE.

THE ALBUM SOLD IN VERY LIMITED NUMBERS, DID NOT CHART IN THE UK AND WAS SOON DELETED "ALCHEMY" HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME A REAL COLLECTORS ITEM

AND IT STILL SOUNDS AS INVENTIVE TODAY, AS IT DID 42 YEARS AGO - AN ASTONISHING PIECE OF WORK AND A MUST FOR ANY SERIOUS COLLECTOR - VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Vinyl: EX+.  I have played this in FULL twice over> The replay is ASTOUNDING!!! Great powerful audio!! Prog albums in this stunning condition do just not turn up anymore as they have all been absorbed into major collections. I first played for a general listen and a second time for a more detailed observation. I am very glad to be able to report that this is a fine slab of exemplary vinyl without any problems at all and as such worthy of inclusion of any great prog/experimental collection.

Gatefold Sleeve:  EX++.  Two mini underlaminate creases to the front. The pictures tell all. This is a beautiful sleeve that has been carefully handled with razorsharp edges and NO edgewear. Beautiful lamination. The inside gatefold is pristine as are the edges. The spine is 100%. Fully legible and as first issued. The inside gatefold is unmarked. NO writing, NO smudges or marks. Finding the sleeve in this supreme condition is nearly impossible!!!

This is a unique investment opportunity!!! 

Labels: EX. Light spindle traces only!!!

Important : International Postage. This will be sent via Signed For service or Airsure service depending on the destination country. This will be sent fully insured!! Packaging will be thorough with two stiffeners and the disc separated from the sleeve to prevent scything.

In my opinion a very worthy copy which is hard to better especially for the beautiful gatefold sleeve! As always I have a no quibble money refund option in place in case you are not 100% satisfied!!!

This is a unique investment opportunity!!! Finding this album in any condition at all is nearly impossible so late in the day. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price. Only around 1000  were ever pressed. How many would be left??? VERY SCARCE!!

Important : International postage will be registered and insured if over GBP 41.00.  To Italy I must insist on registered postage at any final price. Sorry to all genuine collectors but I have been bitten too often. Please wait for my invoice before paying. Postage will be according to Royal Mail rates. Postage is NOT a money spinning exercise for me.

Though there are rarely ever any problems with my items, I always try my very best to describe everything exactly!  PLEASE REMEMBER to contact me FIRST,  if you have any problems at all, before you leave feedback and star ratings, so I get a chance to turn any negative experience into a positive one!  I can always happily sort anything out for you, if you let me know you have a problem!  This way no one has to leave Negative/Neutral feedback - and we both walk away happy! Similarly with the amount of stars, anything less than a full 5 * rating is effectively detrimental to a seller's rating as lower ratings will incur higher Final Value Fees  and lower priority in the bidlists eventually making it unattractive to list items on Ebay at all. I know of at least one major previous Ebay seller who has decided not to list via Ebay again. Please do NOT bid if you cannot give me at least 1 chance to sort everything out to your FULL satisfaction in the unlikely event of a problem.  Thanks again!!

This an excellent investment opportunity!!! Any questions please ask me and I will try to answer soon.