ALBATROSS "A Breath of Fresh Air" LP RARE Aussie surf prog

	A$		89
	$		59

ALBATROSS “A Breath of Fresh Air” LP RARE Aussie surf prog

Albatross – A Breath of Fresh Air LP (orig. Australia Reprise STEREO RS-4002, gatefold cover)

Release date: November 1973.

On offer here is an EXTREMELY RARE original issue of the only album by Sydney-based band, ALBATROSS.  LINDSAY BJERRE formed the band with Peter Barron and Kim Bryant (ex-COUNTRY RADIO) after the dissolution of TAMAM SHUD.  Other guest musicians include Richard Lockwood (ex-TULLY / TAMAM SHUD), Chris Blanchflower & Russell Hinton (both ex-COUNTRY RADIO), GLENN CARDIER and Keith Greig (ex-PIRANA).

weblinks:

(1) MILESAGO - www.milesago.com/artists/albatross.htm

(2) Sound clip “Full Moon” - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf5yrhqMy4E

SIDE 1

1.          Full Moon (6:06)                           Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

2.         The Drowning Song (3:57)            Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

3.         Escher’s Door (4:47)                    Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

4.         Drop Me a Line (3:20)                  Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

5.         Bouzouki Boogie (4:09)                 Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

6.         A Breath of Fresh Air (4:19)        Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

SIDE 2

1.          The Games Cards Play (3:05)        Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

2.         Nimbin Stopover (3:33)                Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

3.         Mermaid (4:42)                            Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

4.         A Message to You (3:00)              Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

5.         Seashell Secrets (3:08)               Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

6.         Wings of the Albatross (2:27)     Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

7.         The Angel and the Boy (3:00)       Writ: Lindsay Bjerre

PERSONNEL

     Lindsay Bjerre           lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar (S1/T1&5), bouzouki (S1/T5&6), additional backing vocals

     Peter Barron              Fender bass

     Kim Bryant                 drums, percussion, backing vocals (S1/T4&6, S2/T2&3,6), glockenspiel (S2/T5)

     Gary Fredericks         slide guitar (tracks S1/T1-4, S2/T1), lead guitar (tracks S1/T6), electric guitar (S2/T6)

     Russell Hinton            electric guitar (S2/T1)

     Glenn Cardier            classical guitar (S2/T7)

     Richard Lockwood      saxophone (S1/T1), clarinet (S1/T3), flute (S2/T2-5), backing vocals (S2/T2)

     George Almanza         piano (S1/T3, S2/T6)

     Keith Greig                organ (S2/T1)

     Chris Blanchflower    harmonica (S2/T2&3)

     Russell Dunlop            drums (S2/T1)        

Recorded at ATA Studios in Sydney—Australia.

Produced by Gus McNeil.  Engineered by Bruce Brown & Gerry Stevens.

GRADING to follow . . .

GRADING (also refer photos)

Cover: (matt finish):

EX impressive appearance overall: front - insignificant blemishes, spot stain & spot peeling (bottom-right); spine - insignificant scuffing; back - light ring-wear, name printed in pen ‘J. HOOPER’ (top-left), pen mark near spine (90mm from top) (VG++); inside gatefold - insignificant diagonal crease (right-hand side - from top towards opening edge).

Record:

VG++ visual: clean overall, some light surface scuffs only (side 1 – EX, side 2 – VG++); audible: vibrant sound; Aussie 1970’s WEA vinyl product was manufactured with recycled material, therefore underlying surface noise/occasional pops are evident (VG to VG++); labels: HARDLY ANY SPINDLE WEAR (side 1) & moderate spindle wear (side 2), name on label (side 1) – ‘J. HOOPER’ (also see label image).

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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