CONTINUUM Autumn Grass 1971 UK RCA EX++
£
45
$
59
£ 45
Sold For
Aug 27, 2012
Sold Date
Aug 17, 2012
Start Date
£ 24
Start price
3
Number Of Bids
Great Britain
Country Of Seller
eBay
Auctioned at
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Description
CONTINUUM Autumn Grass 1971 UK RCA EX++
+ QEH CONCERT PROGRAMME 14th NOV 1970
CONTINUUMAutumn Grass
UK RCA (SF 8196) FIRST (and only) PRESS (July 1971) OF CONTINUUM'S SECOND AND FINAL LP "Autumn Grass"
A RARE RECORD IN ITS OWN RIGHT BUT WHAT MAKES THIS COPY EVEN MORE SPECIAL IS IT CONTAINS A CONCERT PROGRAMME FROM NOVEMBER 1970 WHEN "AUTUMN GRASS" WAS FIRST PERFORMED AT LONDON'S QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL (how many of these do you think may have survived from that performance - probably just this one!)
LOVELY COPY - PLAYS BEAUTIFULLY THROUGHOUT
PRESSED WITH RCA GLOSSY ORANGE LABELS
MATRIX: AGBS 0563 - 1E (AIF) / AGBS 0564 - 5 (AIF)
THE RECORD IS HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL GATEFOLD COVER WITH FACTORY SEALED AND FOLDED-UNDER LEFT SIDE EDGE “Sleeve printed and made by Howards Printers (Slough) Ltd”
COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL RCA DIE-CUT INNER SLEEVE
PLUS THE AFOREMENTIONED QEH CONCERT PROGRAMME PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES OF DELICATE YELLOW PAPER
"Autumn grass" is a criminally underrated album from the early 1970's, featuring classical/jazz influenced prog played by four highly proficient musicians. The feature (title) track was at the time of the album's release one of the longest single tracks to appear on one side of an LP running to some 26 minutes.
The band was the brain-child of Yoel Schwarcz. Despite the fact that they only ever made two albums, he is the only person to be a band member for both (although the others who played on the first album appear as guests here) . The line up for "Autumn Grass" includes the highly proficient keyboard player Tim Rice (no relation to Andrew Lloyd-Webber's partner).
Side one consists of three tracks, all developed through live performances before being committed to vinyl. The opening "Byrd Pavan" is an improvisation on Byrd's "Earl of Salisbury pavan" combined with Purcell's "Air on a ground bass". The band add a jazz dimension to the Elizabethan flavoured "pavan", with the organ work of Rice being particularly dominant. "Vivaldi synthesis 2" is an adaptation of Vivaldi's "Guitar concerto", with synthesised strings backing. This pleasantly relaxing piece was later revived by Steve Howe on his "Steve Howe album". The final track on side one is "Overdraft", the only band composition on the album. This piece is the most jazz based of the four tracks, and also the weakest.
As mentioned previously, the long title track occupies Side Two. Composed by Patric Standford specifically for the band, the sleeve described the track as "a ritualistic invocation". Various guest musicians contribute to the suite, notably the Olympus Strings cello section. The highlight though is the wonderful flute of Yoel Schwarcz. About midway through the track, he picks out a baroque melody with sparse accompaniment. This theme is used as the basis for a developing improvisation with ever increasing backing driving the flute to a frantic crescendo, before the main theme restores order.
"Autumn grass" stands as a truly remarkable work, largely overlooked both at the time of its release, and indeed now. Recommended.
Side 1:
Byrd Pavan (9:17)
Vivaldi Synthesis Two (2:20)
Overdraft (11:10)
Side 2:
Autumn Grass (26:15)
LABELS: NEAR MINT
Clean, unmarked labels - but as they are smooth and glossy they do no show spindle traces readily so it's difficult to ascertain how well played the record has been - I'd guess not that much
VINYL Visual: EXCELLENT
But the marks which are present are purely superficial pressing blemishes which appear to be present on most copies otherwise, clean and shiny
VINYL Audio: EXCELLENT++
Beautiful sound throughout and my play-check at loud volume detected little to fault - just a touch of surface on some of the quieter moments but this really is extremely minor otherwise, plays pretty much flawlessly throughout and sounds absolutely gorgeous
SLEEVE: EXCELLENT(+)
The matt gatefold is clean and sharp with very little wear or rubbing - just a 'bump' to the bottom spine corner
PROGRAMME: VERY GOOD+++
As I mentioned earlier this may well be the only one in existence - the Queen Elizabeth Hall is not large, the concert was 40 years ago and the piece of paper is thin and flimsy.
It has some creases to the edges (hardly surprising) otherwise, it's clean and unmarked with no rips or tears - remarkable condition
POST & PACKING:
A PROTECTIVE POLY SLEEVE, NEW INNER SLEEVE WITH ANTI-STATIC LINER, QUALITY BOX (NOT ENVELOPE) MAILER AND AMPLE STIFFENERS ARE ALWAYS USED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RECORD ARRIVES SAFELY
UK: 1st Class: £4.50 (recorded delivery)
EUROPE: Airmail: £12.00 (International Signed For delivery)
INTERNATIONAL: Airmail: £17.00 (International Signed For delivery)
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I will combine postage (normally £1 or £2 per extra record) for items purchased within any 10 day period.
However, at the end of each 10 day period, all outstanding items will need to be paid for in full and will be posted to you.
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Thank you for your understanding and cooperation
Guarantee: The record is unconditionally guaranteed and I will offer a complete, no quibble refund (through Paypal) upon return of the item should you not be pleased with it in any way I will email you when payment has been received to let you know when the item will be posted. Please leave feedback upon receipt of the item so that I know you have received it safely. Any problems please email me. Thanks 476 (GS 6.4.4 (476))
