BLONDE ON BLONDE “Contrasts” – Rare 1969 UK Prog Psych - Fuzz Sitar lp M-

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BLONDE ON BLONDE “Contrasts” – Rare 1969 UK Prog Psych Sitar lp M-

1969/USA/Janus Records JLS-3003….. here’s a clean original pressing of their Rare first lp. The uni-pack gatefold cover is in VG++ condition with light corner wear, very light shelf wear, small delete hole near the center of the cover, otherwise the cover is solid and clean with no splits. The vinyl is in glossy M- condition with a minor light inaudible whispy sleeve scuff on one side. The record looks and plays clean with clean smooth fidelity. A very nice copy here! Please check my listings for other rock and psych lp’s. Good luck and thanks for looking!

Blonde on Blonde, taking their name from the then-new Bob Dylan album of that title, were spawned in 1967 out of a Welsh blues-rock band called the Cellar Set. Gareth Johnson played the guitar, sitar, and lute, while Richard Hopkins handled the bass, piano, harpsichord, cornet, celeste, and whistle, and Les Hicks played the drums. The addition of Ralph Denyer made them into a quartet with vocals; and Simon Lawrence, an alumnus of Roy Harper's and Al Stewart's early recordings, was with them briefly, as well, on 12-string guitar. The group took part in the Middle Earth Club's Magical Mystery Tour, which brought them an initial splash of press exposure. They were also fortunate enough to open for the Jefferson Airplane on the latter group's British tour. All of this activity led to an approach by Pye Records producer Barry Murray, who got them signed to the label, and through whom they released their debut single "All Day, All Night" b/w "Country Life." Though decidedly guitar-based in their sound, the band's music also used psychedelic pop arrangements that gave it an almost orchestral majesty which, when coupled with Johnson's sitar and lute embellishments and Hopkins' harpsichord and other unusual keyboards -- with Hicks getting into the act on the tabla -- gave them an appealingly exotic sound. Their live performances were frequently divided, à la Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, into acoustic and electric sets, in order to show off their full range.

The group issued their first album, Contrasts, in 1969, on the Janus label -- that record showed more of the early but burgeoning influence of progressive rock, while retaining their early psychedelic coloration. That same year, the band played to the largest single audience of its entire history when they appeared at the first Isle of Wight Festival. They also issued their second single "Castles in the Sky" b/w "Circles'" and the LP Rebirth, both on the Ember label, which featured a new lineup -- Denyer had exited the band to form Aquila, ceding his spot in Blonde on Blonde to  singer-guitarist David Thomas. Richard Hopkins was replaced in mid-1971 by bassist-guitarist-banjo player Graham Davis, and it was this lineup that recorded their third LP, Reflections on a Life, at Rockfield Studios. It failed to sell any better than their prior releases, however, and the group broke up in 1972, shortly after that album's release. The group's albums are recognized as collector's items on vinyl, and their first album, in particular, is a beguiling mix of psychedelia and progressive rock. But their debut single, "All Day, All Night," is regarded in many quarters as their most significant release, a classic of late-'60s psychedelic pop/rock.

POSTAGE FOR THIS RECORD

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I REMOVE RECORDS FROM THE COVERS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS, IF IT'S SEALED I WILL LEAVE IT SEALED UNLESS YOU LET ME KNOW OTHERWISE. ALL USED RECORDS CLEANED ON A VPI RECORD CLEANING MACHINE.

PLEASE PAY WITHIN 7 DAYS UNLESS DISCUSSED BEFORE AUCTIONS END. IF NO CONTACT OR PAYMENT IS MADE THE ITEM WILL BE RE-LISTED AND I WILL FILE A NON PAYMENT CLAIM TO RECOVER MY COSTS. PLEASE DO NOT USE E-BAY CHECK OUT, I WILL SEND YOU THE CORRECT INVOICE. I WILL CONTACT YOU AFTER THE SALE. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO THE SAME! THANKS AND GOOD LUCK!!

GRADING

MINT: I consider only New Unplayed or Sealed items.

NM or M- or Mint Minus is the same to me, very clean with clean visual appearance and sound, there may be a couple of light inaudible hairline scuffs or such and will be mentioned in the listing, a Mint- record looks and plays clean. Same for the cover. Very clean with no delete or other issues.

EXCELLENT: still very collectable for most, visually and sonicly clean. A handful of light inaudible scuffs, or hairlines. Cover will be clean with little wear, or delete. No splits.

VG++ still a very nice copy with minimal wear, the vinyl will retain it's original gloss and can have a few minor scuffs/scratches that don't affect play very much. Cover will have slight shelf wear, and or delete, minor split.

VG+ the vinyl will still retain much original gloss with a bit more scuffs and/or scratches. If I list a rare or desirable item with a lower grade, I will try to list all defects.