CAPTAIN BEEFHEART TROUT MASK REPLICA UK 1st MiNt PsYcH

	£		248
	$		329

CAPTAIN BEEFHHEART AND HIS MAGIC BAND

 ''TROUT MASK REPLICA''

1st UK PRESSING CAT No. STS 1053 DOUBLE LP SET ((1969)) ON THE ORIGINAL STRAIGHT RECORD LABELS! COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL 1ST ISSUE E.J.DAY GATEFOLD COVER!

VERY RARE IN THIS CONDITION! EARLIEST A1,B1,C1,D1 MATRIX ENDINGS! NEAR MINT VINYLS! NEAR MINT AUDIO!

prog psychadelic,jazz blues avant-garde

ONLY EVER PLAYED TWO OR THREE TIMES EVER! UNBELEIVABLY RARE  42 YEARS OLD!

Another from my personal collection! Purchased from new in 1969! Initially only ever played to record to tape and then stored in a case with the vinyls seperated from the cover for protection this is how I have always stored my records!!

This is the Earliest original 1st uk pressing features the original 'Straight' labels with the earliest matrix endings possible for this pressing A1,B1,C1,D1 Barely played vinyls incredibly rare like this! 

Trout Mask Replica is the third album by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, released in June 1969! Produced by Beefheart's friend and former schoolmate Frank Zappa, it was originally released as a double album on Zappa's Straight Records label. Combining elements of blues, avant-garde, free jazz and other genres of American music, the album is regarded as an important work of experimental music and a major influence on genres such as alternative rock and post-punk. Most of Trout Mask Replica was recorded in March 1969 at Whitney Studios in Los Angeles, California!

 The lineup of The Magic Band at this time consisted of Bill Harkleroad and Jeff Cotton on guitar, Mark Boston on bass guitar, Victor Hayden on bass clarinet, and John French on drums and percussion. Beefheart played several brass and woodwind instruments (including saxophone, musette, and hunting horn) and contributed most of the vocal parts, with Zappa and various members of the band providing occasional vocals and narration. The well-rehearsed Magic Band recorded all instrumental tracks for Trout Mask Replica in a single six-hour recording session; Van Vliet's vocal and horn tracks were laid down over the next few days. Upon release in the US, Trout Mask Replica sold poorly and failed to chart. It was more successful in the UK, where it spent a week on the charts, at #21!

The compositions on Trout Mask Replica draw their inspiration primarily from blues and free jazz but also include elements of genres ranging from folk music to the current avant-garde of classical music to sea shanties and beyond!

 Van Vliet's vocals range from growling blues singing to frenzied falsetto to laconic, casual ramblings. His lyrics contained all manner of references: music history, American and international politics, the Holocaust, love and sexuality, Steve Reich, gospel music, conformity, and man's impact on his surroundings. According to Van Vliet all of the songs on the album were written in a single eight-hour session.

Band members have stated that two of the songs ("Moonlight on Vermont" and "Sugar 'n Spikes") were written around December 1967, while "Veteran's Day Poppy" was written around late May or early June 1968. Most of the rest were composed over a period of several months in the summer and fall of 1968 in an unprecedented process of experimentation!

 One influence on the compositional process was a tape that Van Vliet's friend Gary Marker had played for him. Marker, an aspiring recording engineer, was learning how to splice audio tape. He practiced by combining sections of various recordings so that they would join smoothly and maintain a consistent beat despite being from different sources. When Van Vliet heard the tape he said excitedly, "That's what I want!" Van Vliet used a piano—an instrument he had never played before—as his main compositional tool. Since he had no experience with the piano and no conventional musical knowledge at all, he was able to experiment with no preconceived ideas of musical form or structure. Beefheart sat at the piano until he found a rhythmic or melodic pattern that he liked. Mike Barnes compared this approach to John Cage's "maverick irreverence toward classical tradition." John French then transcribed this pattern, typically only a measure or two long, into musical notation.

 After Beefheart was finished French would then piece these fragments together into compositions, reminiscent of the splicing together of disparate source material on Marker's tape. French decided which part would be played on which instrument and taught each player their part, although Van Vliet had final say over the ultimate shape of the product. Band member Bill Harkleroad has remarked on "how haphazardly the individual parts were done, worked on very surgically, stuck together, and then sculpted afterwards." Once completed each song was played in exactly the same way every time, eschewing the improvisation that typifies most popular music in favor of an approach more like a formal, classical composition. Guitarist Fred Frith noted that during this process "forces that usually emerge in improvisation are harnessed and made constant, repeatable." French has stated that about three-quarters of the songs were composed at the piano. The rest mostly consisted of parts that were whistled by Van Vliet. In a few cases part of the song was composed at the piano while others were whistled!

Side one

 1. "Frownland" 1:41

2. "The Dust Blows Forward 'n the Dust Blows Back" 1:53

3. "Dachau Blues" 2:21

4. "Ella Guru" 2:26

5. "Hair Pie: Bake 1" 4:58

6. "Moonlight on Vermont" 3:59

Side two 

7. "Pachuco Cadaver" 4:40

8. "Bills Corpse" 1:48

9. "Sweet Sweet Bulbs" 2:21

10. "Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish" 2:25

11. "China Pig" 4:02

12. "My Human Gets Me Blues" 2:46

13. "Dali's Car" 1:26

Side three

14. "Hair Pie: Bake 2" 2:23

15. "Pena" 2:33

16. "Well" 2:07

17. "When Big Joan Sets Up" 5:18

18. "Fallin' Ditch" 2:08

19. "Sugar 'n Spikes" 2:30

20. "Ant Man Bee" 3:57

Side four 

21. "Orange Claw Hammer" 3:34

22. "Wild Life" 3:09

23. "She's Too Much for My Mirror" 1:40

24. "Hobo Chang Ba" 2:02

25. "The Blimp (mousetrapreplica)" 2:04

26. "Steal Softly thru Snow" 2:18

27. "Old Fart at Play" 1:51

28. "Veteran's Day Poppy" 4:31

The Matrix

Side 1. ''STS1053 A1''

Side 2. ''STS1053 B1''

Side 3. ''STS1053 C1''

Side 4. ''STS1053 D1''

The Vinyls

These vinyls are the original thick ,heavy and chunky slabs of vinyl ,,only found like this on the earliest pressings! Both vinyls have only ever been played two or three times ever since purchased from new! On inspection I can see no scratches or marks that would cause any loud clicks or pops! These lay prefectly flat on the turntable! These are awesome!

The Audio Quality

I have played both vinyls track for track at very loud volume on a top system prior to this listing! The audio is cristal clear and very vibrant through out, and plays through without distortion! Importantly there is no clicks or pops at all on all four sides! This plays through as good as the day that I purchased this over 42 years ago! Unbeleivably rare to find like this! Audio graded at least excellent plus to near mint on all four sides!

Please note! That I always make this disclaimer! That although I never heard any clicks or pops during the play of this record please allow for the odd isolated static/tickj  certainly (not consistant throughout the audio), but this is a genuine 37 year old vinyl that would have been played on a 37 year old system!

Points to note! This has been stored in a case laying dormant for at least 35 years! A build up of dirt and dust in the grooves from laying dormant causes static crackle\ticks! A constant clean before each play is recomended ! This would reduce any static and enhance the audio quality!

The Gatefold Cover

This is the original 1st issue E.Day & co printed  unlaminated gatefold cover in superbe condition! There is no splits or tares! Any creases are very minor in my opinion, thumb creases, only noticable if looked for! There is just light general storageware in the form of light rubbing ware at the edges and spine if looked for, very light ringware rubbing seen at the front top only, again noticed if looked for! There is a  couple of light very small, minute scuff type spots only at the front! Overall this is strong and very straight! I would grade this cover at least excellent in my opinion! Very rare to find like this

 HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £42.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

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