CENTURY EXPANDED Concerto For Wah Wah 1970 UNKNOWN FLOYD PSYCH MONSTER LP LISTEN

$

228

CENTURY EXPANDED "CONCERTO FOR WAH WAH" LP

ORIGINAL 1970 LP ON THE PERCEPTION LABEL, STEREO

COVER IN VG shape, top seam split, bottom seam half split

VINYL plays VG+

MONSTER rarity here, kids - I've been searching YEARS for one of these and started to even doubt its existence.  But here it is - (almost) completely unknown, definitely un-reissued and it shows up about as often as Halley's Comet.  From 1970, on Jimmy Curtiss' Perception label, a group of individuals known as Century Expanded devoted to the sounds produced by the wah wah pedal produced this extremely specific and ultra-mind-expanding cosmic trip-out that sounds like a lost Pink Floyd album somewhere between SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS and UMMAGUMMA.  No one knows WHO is behind Century Expanded (other than Jimmy Curtiss, who wrote the songs), only a mysterious "J.M.P." who wrote the liner notes.  There are only three songs on here, two over 10 minutes each, given "serious" titles like "Melodic Variations In D Minor," "Rhythmic Variations in E Major" and "Prelude," which, ironically, is the LAST song on the record, ha ha.  Or should I say "wah wah."  "Melodic Variations" kicks off with a heavy, doomy monster riff very similar to the Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" drenched in wah wah guitar.  Then, after about 7 minutes, we launch into a trippy dreamlike bridge sequence, all backwards tapes and "Rain"-like lysergia.  Then, the heavy riff returns again, this time given an acid-coated liquidy effect, somewhat like David Gilmour's treated guitar from the intro to "The Narrow Way" off UMMAGUMMA.  Side 2, otherwise known as "Rhythmic Variations in E Major" to you classical wah wah buffs, starts out with some discordant violin (probably run through a wah wah pedal no doubt), until a Jimi Hendrix inflluenced acid guitar kicks in.  Therein follows tons of wild, flying cosmic guitar licks, outer space keyboard effects a la Rick Wright and galloping tribal drums.  It's clearly an attempt to create their own "Interstellar Overdrive," and it's a darn good one.  I can't imagine how many record shops back then filed this one away in the "classical" section, based on the stodgy cover and the even stodgier song titles.  Only if you spun this would you realize just what an acid-drenched psych-o-delic monster it really is.  I've seen this selling for $750 online, no kidding, and that same website now lists it as "SOLD."  For the right acid head, this is clearly gold.

HEAR IT!

PLEASE NOTE I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).  BUYERS FROM ITALY AGREE TO PAY FOR GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL INSURED ONLY!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

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. 

 For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

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.