BAD HABIT Stormchild RARE BRISBANE PUNK ROCK LP NM

	A$		848
	$		562

BAD HABIT Stormchild RARE BRISBANE PUNK ROCK LP NM

EMI Custom YPRX-1424, recorded in 1977 (300 copies ONLY)

Bad Habit – Stormchild LP (orig. Australia STEREO EMI Custom YPRX-1424—1977, 300 copies ONLY)

Recorded between June and September 1977.

On offer here is an ULTRA RARE original issue of the “Stormchild” LP by QUEENSLAND PUNK ROCK group BAD HABIT.  This album along with THE SAINTS debut “I’m Stranded” were the ONLY QUEENSLAND-recorded PUNK 12” LP’s released in the 1970s.  All other output appeared on either 7” (single/EP) or cassette format.  It is remarkable that “Stormchild” appeared on vinyl at all, considering the difficulties that the group experienced during the recording and mixing of the album, and all on a budget of $600!  The BAD HABIT story continues below…

NEIL COOMBE (lead guitarist and backing vocalist) formed BAD HABIT in 1975 at age 15, along with fellow members PAUL WILTON (bass guitarist and lead vocalist) and NEAL WARD (drummer).  The group first started playing in IPSWICH (40km south-west of BRISBANE) where they were based, and then started gigging in BRISBANE and elsewhere throughout south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.  BAD HABIT recorded some demos in early 1976 and supported AC/DC at Festival Hall later in the year (18 December).  Early in 1977, PAUL WILTON left the group and was replaced by STEVE ARTHURSON (lead vocalist and second guitarist) and JOHN PANKOFF (bass guitarist and backing vocalist).  It was this line-up that recorded the album.  The ALL ORIGINAL SONG-WRITING CREDITS were shared between NEIL COOMBE and STEVE ARTHURSON.

The “Stormchild” recording sessions took place between June and September 1977 in a chicken barn in the rural town of LOWOOD (I’m not joking!).  The group travelled out west from their home base at IPSWICH every weekend to get there.  Engineer RICHARD FAINT would set up two AKAI 4-track reel to reels in the back of a big old truck, and run all the leads into an old barn where the group had hay bales cordoning off the drums and amps facing into walls of pumpkins!  Sometimes nuts and seeds would fall from an overhanging tree and roll down a corrugated roof ruining a vocal take, and the group would be forced to perform again—really difficult circumstances.  In addition, some overdubbing did occur in a group member’s IPSWICH residence.  RICHARD FAINT’s American girlfriend JENNY STOOPS was a graveyard shift announcer on Brisbane Alternative Radio Station 4ZZZ at the time.  So for a few weekends the group would sneak in with her and use the console at the St Lucia (Qld Uni) campus to mix the recordings!

BAD HABIT disbanded shortly after the LP was issued.  There were ONLY 300 COPIES of the album pressed through EMI Custom, with group members being responsible for sale and distribution.  NEIL COOMBE later appeared as a member of 42nd STREET, MR MEANER, FEAR OF FALLING and THE WISHING CHAIR, and remains active in the recording industry today.

Musically the album ranges from OUT-AND-OUT PUNK SNARLERS “Burning Yearning”, “Don’t Touch”, “Leave It Up To Rock & Roll” through to more introspective moments “Shine On”, “Skies”, “I Know Who I Am Now”.  But just when you are about to relax, along comes a HEAVY ROCK passage that threatens to blow guitar shards out of your speakers.  The title track “Stormchild” is an angst-ridden tune that begins with quietly spoken vocals about a child in distress.  Then the punk music kicks in and takes us to a completely different place.  The ETHEREAL PSYCH AND DUAL LEAD GUITAR SOUND on “Lonely Song” would not sound out of place on an early 1970s progressive rock private pressing.  In my opinion, the low fidelity production actually enhances the listening experience!

Apart from the few copies that surfaced and were sold to some European collectors back in the 1990s, this LP is practically impossible to find.  NO COPIES HAVE EVER BEEN OFFERED FOR SALE ON THE INTERNET (UNTIL NOW) AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ENTRY ON POPSIKE!  THIS ALBUM HAS APPEARED ON NUMEROUS WANTS LISTS SENT TO ME OVER THE YEARS, AND I AM NOW PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS COPY FOR AUCTION.  So, do not miss the opportunity to purchase one of the RAREST BRISBANE PUNK-related VINYL ARTEFACTS ever issued.

weblink: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/bad_habit__aus_/stormchild/

QUEENSLAND-recorded PUNK/ALTERNATIVE record releases (1976-78):

7” (I’m) Stranded          Fatal Records    Sep. 1976

LP (I’m) Stranded          EMI                 Feb. 1977

7” Erotic Neurotic        EMI                 May 1977

LP STORMCHILD    EMI Custom  late 1977

7” Baby Come Back         Real                 Dec. 1977

7” Lee Remick                Able Label        Sep. 1978

7” Task Force                Able Label        Sep. 1978

7” Sunset Strip             Able Label        Sep. 1978

SIDE 1

1.               Burning Yearning                   Writ: Steve Arthurson

2.              Shine On                               Writ: Steve Arthurson/Neil Coombe

3.              Skies                                     Writ: Neil Coombe

4.              Need Your Loving                   Writ: Steve Arthurson

5.              Don’t Touch                            Writ: Steve Arthurson/Neil Coombe

SIDE 2

6.              Stormchild                             Writ: Neil Coombe/Steve Arthurson

7.              Lonely Song                           Writ: Steve Arthurson/Neil Coombe

8.              Leave It Up To Rock & Roll    Writ: Neil Coombe/Steve Arthurson

9.              I Know Who I Am Now           Writ: Neil Coombe/Steve Arthurson

10.           Lonely Song [reprise]             Writ: Steve Arthurson/Neil Coombe

PERSONNEL

Neil Coombe           lead guitar, backing vocals

Steve Arthurson     lead vocals, acoustic guitar; second lead guitar (tracks 7&10)

John Pankoff         bass, backing vocals

Neal Ward             drums, percussion

   Richard Faint         flute (track 4)

Recorded in a chicken barn in the rural town of Lowood, Queensland.

Some overdubbing occurred in a group member’s residence in Ipswich, Queensland.

Mixed at 4ZZZ (Queensland University Campus, St Lucia), Brisbane—Australia.

Produced by Bad Habit.  Engineered by Gary Johns, Richard Faint and Jenny Stoops.

MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS MONSTROSITY.

GRADING

Cover:

M- front: beautiful laminated appearance—some insignificant bubbling from manufacturing process; back: matt finish—looks superb overall, light crease near lower part of spine; both sides: first signs of ring-wear which are very hard to detect (top & bottom).  I scanned each side of the cover in four separate parts and then combined the images into one.  This resulted in some shade variations in the pics!

Record:

M- visual: outstanding—hard to fault, most insignificant blemishes only; audible: sounds superb overall, one pop on track 2; labels: HARDLY ANY SPINDLE WEAR.

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A BETTER COPY OF THIS ALBUM!

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+(+).

Shipping, payment details and returns policy

INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE RATES:

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After close of Auction: (1) the total amount owing including postage and handling will be provided to the winning bidder; and (2) payment will be expected within a fortnight (14 days).

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PayPal is the preferred method of payment.  This ensures that you receive your item sooner.

For successful Australian bidders, I also accept: (1) direct deposit, (2) postal money order, or (3) personal/bank cheque—item/s will be sent after payment has cleared.

For successful overseas bidders, I also accept: (1) International Bank Draft drawn on an Australian bank, in Aussie dollars—ask your bank.

I offer a 100% money-back guarantee (excluding postage costs), if you are genuinely unhappy with the grading of an item.  The SAME item must be returned in the SAME condition, within one week of receipt.  Returns will not be accepted without prior consultation and approval.

Thanks for looking!  I am happy to answer any questions related to this item.

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