A GIFT FROM A FLOWER TO A GARDEN Donovan - 1967 2LP Box Set Epic B2N 171 Inserts

$

25

A Gift From a Flower to a Garden is the fifth studio album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, released in December 1967 through Pye Records in the UK and Epic Records in the US. It marks the first double-disc album of Donovan's career and one of the first box sets in popular music. A Gift From a Flower to a Garden appeared in an elaborate box set package which included both discs, along with a series of 12 A4 sheets of special coloured paper with drawings by friends Mick Taylor and Sheena McCall illustrating the lyrics to the songs on the children's record. 

FUN FACT: When Donovan presented the package to Clive Davis, he was told it was far too expensive, usually reserved only for classical records, and would only allow it if Donovan paid for the extra costs of the package himself.

Clive Davis would not allow the full double album package to be released unless it was also split into two separate records, Wear Your Love Like Heaven and For Little Ones, for simultaneous release by Epic Records in the United States. While Wear Your Love Like Heaven could only chart at number 60 on the Billboard 200 and For Little Ones struggled to reach number 185, A Gift From a Flower to a Garden spent 22 weeks on the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 19, while peaking at number 13 during a 14-week stay on the UK charts.

THIS COPY is a Terre Haute 1st pressing from 1967 on the Epic label (see Notes, below).

The vinyl: Record 1 has a couple of marks, but per a test listen, played with no problems. Record 2, also per a test listen, has static noticeable in quiet sections, but it does not detract from the music. Overall The vinyl is in Very Good [VG] or better condition. (Record 1 is Very Good Plus [VG+].)

The original box has a taped upper left corner (viewed from the front - see photos).  Some ring wear may also be seen on the front.  Overall, it is still sturdy. The original box is in Very Good [VG] condition. 

NOTE:  Oddly, although I did not find it mentioned anywhere, the sticker on the back cover of the box mistakenly identifies Record 1 as being the one with the songs for little ones and Record 2 as being the one for adults including the song "Wear Your Love Like Heaven".  The record labels, however, clearly shows that Record 1 begins with "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" and Record 2 is the one with songs for kids. (I did see that other pressings has this sticker corrected with the Record 1 and Record 2 listings matching the labels.)

The original inner sleeves, I notice, are not the same. The "little ones" inner sleeve is gray and the other one is white. Don't know - and wasn't able to find out - if only one is original. Both appear to be of the same heavy paper and both are in Very Good Plus [VG+] condition, with no splits or other flaws.

The original folder with 12 colored sheets is in Excellent [EX] or better condition.

Notes

Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute pressing variant as indicated by a "T" etching in the run-outs

Includes folder with 12 individual sheets (each on a different color of textured paper) of the lyrics for the songs on record 2.

Engineered at CBS Studios, London, England.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Matrix / Runout (Record 1, Labels both sides left side): B2N 171 BN 26348

Matrix / Runout (Record 2, Labels both sides left side): B2N 171 BN 26347

Matrix / Runout (Record 1 Side 1 Label (right)): XSB 135146

Matrix / Runout (Record 1 Side 2 Label (right)): XSB 135147

Matrix / Runout (Record 2 Side 1 Label (right)): XSB 135145

Matrix / Runout (Record 2 Side 2 Label (right)): XSB 135148

Matrix / Runout (Record 1 Side 1 runout, this copy): o XSB135146-1E I T c2

Matrix / Runout (Record 1 Side 2 runout, this copy): o XSB135147-1D I T D2

Matrix / Runout (Record 2 Side 1 runout, this copy): XSB135145-1B o T D2

Matrix / Runout (Record 2 Side 2 runout, this copy): XSB135148-1B I T o AIA

ENJOY!