CALLIOPE Kaleidoscope 1960s OBSCURE DEMENTED TRIPPY ACID GARAGE PSYCH 45 LISTEN

$

70

THE CALLIOPE "Kaleidoscope" b/w "Everybody's High"

Original late 60s 45 on the US AUDIO SEVEN label

Vinyl plays VG+ to VG++

From the bowels of Short Hills, New Jersey – famous for a gigantic mall where no one can afford anything inside – comes this ultra-crude, lo-fi slab of primal teen garage psychedelia by the Calliope – “Kaleidoscope” b/w “Everybody’s High” on the Audio Seven label.  Yes, this is the same band who brought you “Streets of Boston” as featured on the Attack of the Jersey Teens comp – this appears to be a later single that, as of yet, is STILL uncomped.  And that’s a shame, because this one finds the Joisey boys tackling psychedelia on a non-existant recording budget, which is kinda like your high school talent show band re-recording Pet Sounds.  

But you can’t fault the kids for ambition – “Kaleidoscope” has a rather intricate, tricky start/stop rhythm, and some great but crude twangy guitar.  The drums very well might be Tupperware containers for all I can tell in the final mix, the cymbals could be trashcan lids.  Sure, they could’ve taken the easy way out and ripped off another cover of “Hey Joe” or something easy, but the Calliope tried to take people higher even when their Short Hills studio had a very concrete altitude limit.  Imagine the Shaggs’ tackling “Their Satanic Majesties Request” and you’ve got some idea what this one’s like.  

If the A-side was geared toward the Garden State Parkway hippies, then the Calliope were clearly trying to woo some Jersey girls with the flipside, “Everybody’s High”, their soft pop stoned ballad.  This is their “Pretty Song From Psych-Out”, a groovy, subdued slice of sunshine pop, but again without the budget given to someone like the Strawberry Alarm Clock.  There’s some nice distant echoed-out guitar work here, and the frequently off-key lead vocals actually help add to the subtle trippiness of the song – I mean, if you’re gonna sing “Everybody’s hi-i-i-igh” it very well might PAY to be a little off-key, right?  

Again, they have some unresolved issues with the drummer, who seems to be playing a totally different song this time, breaking into a military march at one point when there’s really no REASON to.  But kids will be kids, and if you happened to be one growing up in the overpriced Short Hills, NJ area back in 1966, you made good with what you could afford.  This is truly the sound of teen America.  

HEAR IT!

UPDATE: SORRY, I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).

(THE LESS EXCITING STUFF...)

First class shipping is $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  Delivery confirmation included in the shipping costs.  US International postal rates just shot up nearly double this past week, so please take note of the new rates.  I don't make a profit on shipping costs - these are what the post office charges me.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $3 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $13 US, with each additional record only $4 shipping.  

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.