Andy Roberts Home Grown RCA 1st Press Mighty Baby RARE

	£		105
	$		139

Andy Roberts - …Home Grown was issued in the UK in 1970 on RCA SF8086. This is the 1st and only pressing of the original version of this album (3 radically different versions of the album exist! To my mind this is THE quintessential prog folk psych album. Accompanied on many tracks by the fabulous contemporary pysch band, Mighty Baby, the breadth of stylings: from prog to folk to country to whimsy to psychedelic to blues / R‘n’B and all the way back makes the whole unique to these ears. That Roberts remains a criminally under-rated (and obscure) musician and songwriter (despite the best attentions of Pink Floyd, Roy Harper and many, many others) is surely only testament to the whims of the publicity machine and his preference to take the stage as an accompanist rather than a band leader. Anyway … his solo career which began here and ended in 1973 after only a handful of albums was short on timespan whilst very high on quality.

There has been much debate about whether this RCA pressing was supplied with a lyric insert. The RCA pressing is very rare in itself and most copies that surface have no insert. The inserts I have seen have all been creased from having been folded. It seems clear from this fact that the LP itself had no insert when sold in the shops but that the purchaser was given instructions by the sales staff to write to RCA for an insert (if they could be bothered) and those that did subsequently received a folded copy in an envelope. This copy does have an original insert which bears the creases of having been folded!

For more information on Andy Roberts and his amazing career in music, check out his excellent website at: http://www.andyrobertsmusic.com/index_two.html

Tracks:

Side 1

1.    Home Grown (Roberts)

2.    Just for the Record (Roberts)

3.    Applecross (Roberts)

4.    The Praties are Dug (Trad Arr-Roberts)

5.    John the Revelator (Trad Arr - Roberts)

6.    Autumn to May (Yarrow, Stookey)

7.    Moths and Lizards in Detroit (Roberts)

Side 2

1.    Creepy John (Koerner)

2.    Jello (Darlington)

3.    Gig Song (Roberts)

4.    Queen of the Moonlight World (Roberts)

5.    Where the Soul of Man Never Dies (Trad Arr - Roberts)

6.    The One-Armed Boatman and the Giant Squid (Roberts)

7.    Boris at the Organ (Roberts)

Musicians:

·       Andy Roberts: Vocals, guitars, percussion, flutes, violin, organ.

·       Ian Whiteman: Vocals, piano, organ, mellotron, electric piano.

·       Mike Evans: Bass and world of his own (sic!).

·       Roger Powell: Vocals, drums, percussion.

·       Gordon Huntley: Steel Guitar

·       Boris: At the organ

Other Credits:

Brass arrangements: David Palmer

Engineers: Vic Gamm, Roger Quested

Photography: John Oldham

Dog: Seithenyn

Produced by Sandy Roberton and Andy Roberts for September Productions.

Single sleeve laminated on the front only is in Excellent (+) condition with just a couple of very light creases in the laminate close to the opening edge and a heavier crease top right of the front. There is a narrow strip of lift in the laminate close to the spine, but this is not puncturedAnd that’s about it! No edge or cornerwear. No ringwear. Spine and opening edge in fine condition. A very fine example indeed!

The original insert, as mentioned above, had previously been folded into quarters. Apart from the resulting creases and light creasing, it is in fine condition.

The vinyl is in Excellent +(+) condition. Most copies of this pressing are a bit crackly in the quietest sections (the meandering play out of “Apple Cross” for instance), but this is one of the quietest copies I have ever heard. Plays beautifully with barely any trace of surface noise anywhere. I have auctioned three previous copies of this LP and this fourth copy is by far the best in terms of the quality of vinyl. Hard to find better!

I am not a dealer but a serious collector. All my records come from my private collection. Please read my ME page for details of my philosophy on descriptions and gradings. I absolutely guarantee my gradings as played through my system. All my records are cleaned on a Moth Mk II RCM and play-graded on a Rega Planar 3 turntable (MC cartridge) through an azur 840a amp into Matrix MX-1200 Reference speakers. Inferior component-type turntables without proper tracking are more prone to sticking and jumping than high-grade turntables. If you love vinyl, do yourself a favour and invest in a decent system if you don't already own one. You don't have to pay thousands. Excellent quality 2nd hand turntables are available on eBay for under £100 (about the price of 1 rare LP). Your investment will be more than rewarded by the additional listening pleasure you derive. BUT if, unexpectedly, you are unhappy for any reason, please get in touch.

Please see my other similar LPs for sale. Over the coming weeks and months I will be listing hundreds of classic prog, psych, folk and jazz LPs, including numerous Swirls and many other collectors' holy grails. Don't miss out - keep watching and bookmark me in your favourite sellers. Once they are gone, they are gone!!

Grading :

M = Mint - as new

NM = Near Mint - very few, light signs of usage that don’t affect play - the cover has only minor signs of wear.

EX = Excellent - some signs of usage, but very little lessening in sound quality – the cover might have slight wear and/or creasing.

VG = Very Good - no major deterioration in sound quality, despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch - normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items.

G = Good - the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches - the cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.

+ and - are used as appropriate.

Payment

Payment is expected within 5 days of auction end. PAYPAL is welcomed and there are no charges for anyone. In the UK cheques or direct credit into my bank account (please ask for the account details) are also fine. For buyers in Euroland I am happy to accept transfers into my bank account in Austria (please ask for the account details).

Non-paying bidders will be reported to eBay.

Shipping Policy :

The records are taken out of the sleeve to avoid splitting - if not still sealed. They are sent in professional mailers with proper stiffeners for extra protection. A polythene sleeve is included in every case. 

Postage / Shipping Charges

UK

SECOND CLASS (My standard service for items below £36.00 in value)

1 LP                                £1.90

2 LPs                              £2.40

3 LPs                              £2.90

4 and more LPs will be sent as a STANDARD PARCEL. Please enquire before bidding and await invoice prior to payment.

BUT PLEASE NOTE: Automatic compensation cover is limited to a value of £36.00.

All packages with a value exceeding £36.00 will be sent SPECIAL DELIVERY NEXT DAY (unless the buyer expressly declines the service), the rates of which depend upon the value and weight of the goods, as follows:

Value not exceeding £500

1 LP                      =  £5.60

2 to 3 LPs             =  £7.60

4 to 6 LPs             =  £9.60

7 to 30 LPs           = £23.00

Value £501 to £1000

1 LP                      =  £6.50

2 to 3 LPs             =  £8.50

4 to 6 LPs             = £10.75

7 to 30 LPs           = £23.75

Value £1001 to £2500

1 LP                      =  £7.50

2 to 3 LPs             =  £9.50

4 to 6 LPs             = £11.75

7 to 30 LPs           = £24.75

OVERSEAS

Under no circumstances will I send items via Surface Mail. Standard Airmail to all parts of the world contains no compensation. Compensation up to a value of £36 is available via the AIRSURE or INTERNATIONAL SIGNED-FOR services for an additional fee of £4.50 whilst compensation up to £500 is available for an additional fee of £7.00.

Compensation for packages with a value from £501 to £2500 is also available via PARCELFORCE INTERNATIONAL DATAPOST, but is very expensive (e.g. a 2 kilo package to Japan with a value of £2500 would cost in excess of £110).

I offer you these services. If you decline to pay for compensation, the goods will be shipped Standard Airmail AT YOUR OWN RISK. Standard Airmail charges are as follows:

Europe

1 LP                                =  £4.00

2 LPs                              =  £6.25

3 LPs                              =  £7.75

Add £1.50 per additional LP up to a MAXIMUM of 6.

Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.

USA / Asia / Rest of the World

1 LP                                =  £6.25

2 LPs                              =  £9.25

3 LPs                              = £12.00

Add £3.00 per additional LP up to a MAXIMUM of 6.

Quantities above 6, please enquire BEFORE purchase and I will let you know.