BUCYRUS ERIE Ballad of Lady James/Tiger DAN FOGELBERG LabSound 1971 VERY RARE 45
$
80
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
Ultra Rare 1971 7" release from BUCYRUS ERIE Ballad of Lady James/Tiger
One of Dan Fogelberg's early recordings and features him on vocals. On LabSound Records Champaign Illinois
Label wear/There are scuff marks and noise but fairly good player. Tiger has a bit more noise at the beginning but clears up a bit. Both sides play with no heavy popping or skipping. If you can ultrasonically clean the record, it should sound even better. There is a bit of a hairline mark (last photo) in the dead wax but it does not affect play.
What makes this 45 interesting (other than only about 200 or so were produced) is that 'Tiger' is listed at 4:36 and is a full minute+ longer than the version David Luck released on his Burnin Stove compilation back in 2016. Also most refer to the A side as 'Sweet Lady James' but the label lists it as 'Ballad of Lady James'
I have never seen this 45 and availability over the last 50+ years has been scare to say the least. I can find no record of one being offered
Will be packed well and fully insured.
I try to under-grade to avoid unexpected surprises but sometimes with vintage vinyl, some imperfections can be missed so please reach out if you have any issues that need addressed and I will work to make sure they are resolved.
David Luck provided this information on the sessions, from the website Downstate Sounds in Feb. 2022....
"We began on the morning of February 2, 1971, in the middle of a blizzard. The weather created delay as players trickled in from Springfield, Peoria, and Champaign. The band completed most of the basic tracks by early evening.
When Danny arrived, it was our first meeting. He straightaway said, "I love the lyrics." I thought we were off to a good start. He proceeded to lay down the lead vocal to “”Tiger.” His performance on “Tiger” may have been one of his most exuberant ever.
Before the end of the day, Danny completed his vocal overdub on “Sweet Lady James.” We listened to playback. Everyone in the studio was stunned by how good it sounded. Tom and Jerry were beaming from the control room above.
A month or so after the Golden Voice sessions, Tom decided to launch a record label called LabSound.
His first release was a stereo 45 of “Sweet Lady James” backed by “Tiger.” Producing a stereo 45 was innovative. Releasing a record tackling homophobia on Side A and xenophobia on Side B was something else.
We decided that an umbrella name for the 'band' would be a good idea. Cinematographer John Weir suggested a name he saw on the side of a truck: Bucyrus Erie.
The name was designed to be not only a kumbaya moment for the musicians (all credited on the record sleeve), but also to create an easier 'handle' to promote a different kind of project.
Holman was first aware there was growing interest from Columbia in building a studio in Champaign-Urbana. Civic leaders were consulting with Tom about how to best respond to the feelers from CBS. Soon RCA was also scouting C-U as a potential studio site. Holman was consulted on that project as well.
The number and quality of bands (many represented by Blytham Ltd), plus the vibrant downstate music scene, were making Champaign-Urbana attractive to the major recording companies. A successful release attracting attention from a local label could elevate the chances of being selected by one or both.
Meanwhile, Irving Azoff was pounding the pavement in LA to find a recording contract for Danny. Through Tom, he asked my permission to use the recording as a demo to showcase Danny's talents. I was happy to oblige. 'Superjock' Larry Lujack was also a big fan of Fogelberg and “Sweet Lady James.” Lujak put the song in rotation on WLS. “Sweet Lady James'' was on the air!
Unfortunately, no one could buy the record. Because LabSound hit a brick wall. Distribution was tied up by a company based in Indiana. It was basically an extortion racket, demanding thousands of free copies and thousands of free dollars. We could not afford nor were we inclined to comply with their demands. LabSound ended up producing about 200 copies of the 45."
price rating
