FLAMES Burning Soul 1967 SOUTH AFRICAN FREAKBEAT MOD FUZZ SOUL LP Hendrix HEAR

$

33

THE FLAMES "BURNING SOUL!" LP

ORIGINAL 1967 LP on the South African RAVE label, STEREO RMG 1232

COVER in VG to VG+ shape, some discoloration, creasing on corners, small sticker on back cover

VINYL looks clean and shiny, plays GOOD/VG with a fair amount of crackle

Every Flames album has a big surprise.  Mostly, you’re gonna get top-shelf soul.  That’s no surprise.  Especially because their albums are called Burning Soul and Soulfire and other titles with the word “soul” in them.  I’m actually kinda surprised they didn’t do a David Soul tribute album.  But every album, the Flames throw in something completely unexpected.  Something decidedly non-soul, and usually very psychedelic.  Soulfire had their smokey sinewy sitar mindbender “Solitude” on it.  Burning Soul, which came out a year earlier, has what is probably their best and certainly their most freakiest track – a completely wasted, drugged-out, slowed-down fuzz-soaked take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.”  Now, when I say they made “Purple Haze” sound druggier and freakier, well, that’s saying something.  But that’s exactly what they do.  The Flames’ “Purple Haze” sounds like it was recorded in knee-deep syrup, thick with the sounds of distorted fuzz guitar, hotwired electric sounds and knife-scraping pyrotechnics.  There’s some weird ice cube clinking sound effects in the mix, and occasional coughing.  Did they record this while in the midst of an acid trip?  It wouldn’t surprise me.  And then, if that weren’t enough, the extended coda really seals the deal.  By this point, the band members are laughing maniacally, and someone is smashing up the studio furniture in the background.  And all the while the guitarist is unleashing some of the most furious fuzz guitar feedback solos ever – big swaths of ripping electric fuzz – and somewhere Jimi himself is muttering “Wow, man, that’s too much!”  It’s a mod pop art freakbeat masterpiece – Jimi Hendrix reimagined via the Koobas’ “Barricades” in a drug-fueled haze.  And you’re gonna tell me two of these guys went on to be Beach Boys???

Nothing else on Burning Soul matches up for sheer freak points, but the swamp rock of “Blue Colour” is a nice departure, a chooglin’ slice of CCR with unexpected femme vocals, somewhere between the Mamas and the Papas and the Ultimate Spinach.  The rest of the record is top-shelf soul, as you’d expect, the best of which will get people moving in no time.  Just make sure everyone gets off before that Hendrix cover starts.  Otherwise you’ll be cleaning brain cells off the dancefloor.

SOUND CLIP COMING SOON, PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER!

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.  Overseas shipping has, unfortunately, gone way up in the fast few months, which translates to $15 for the first LP to Canada ($3 each one thereafter) and $24 for the first LP everywhere else in the world, with each add'l LP an extra $5 (so it pays to buy more, nudge nudge wink wink).   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. 

HEAR IT!