GONG "Camembert Electrique" 1971 UK VIRGIN 1st PRESSING

	£		18
	$		24

  GONG "Camembert Electrique" 1971 UK VIRGIN 1st PRESSING A-1U/B-1U, B&W VIRGIN LABELS, LITTLE PLAY, TOP COPY
GONG
Camembert Electrique

ORIGINAL UK VIRGIN (VC 502) FIRST PRESSING (1971) OF GONG'S CLASSIC, "Camembert Electrique" LP - IN BEAUTIFUL, BARELY PLAYED CONDITION (PROBABLY BEEN PLAYED JUST A COUPLE OF TIMES) - THIS IS ONE OF THE CLEANEST SOUNDING COPIES I HAVE HEARD IN A WHILE AND VERY HARD TO FIND IN SUCH WONDERFUL PLAYING CONDITION

PRESSED ON QUALITY MID-WEIGHT VINYL WHICH DELIVERS SENSATIONAL AUDIO this first press has the characteristic continuous play into both the Side One and Side Two run-off grooves
THE RECORD HAS THE FIRST ISSUE BLACK AND WHITE VIRGIN LABELS
FIRST PRESS CORRECTED MATRIX:
SIDE ONE: VC (1505 crossed out) 502 A-1U (etched 'PIERRE')
SIDE TWO: VC (1505 crossed out) 502 B-1U (etched 'NORMALE')
VERY EARLY MOTHERS/STAMPERS: 1/P and 1/H
AND IS HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL BLACK, MATTE SLEEVE

GREAT UK FIRST PRESSING OF A TREMENDOUS PIECE OF WORK WHICH PLAYS BEAUTIFULLY THROUGHOUT (WHICH IS PRETTY RARE FOR THIS ALBUM AS THERE ARE MANY QUIET PASSAGES COMMONLY SPOILT BY EXCESSIVE SURFACE NOISE AND/OR CLICKING) - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is a classic, the epitome of the band's early Daevid Allen phase with Ph.P.'s (pothead pixies) in full, blazing glory.
In its infancy, Gong was a unique prog rock band that branched out in all directions at once while most other prog bands chose simply one path or another. Camembert Electrique is a testament to that.
The band's eclectic "electric cheese" rock is a mixture of psychedelic rock, spacey atmospherics and lyrics, and doses of jazz often presented with a pop sensibility, yet always intense.
From the first cut on Camembert, you are transported to planet Gong via the voice of a "radio gnome" who drops in intermittently to remind you you're not in Kansas anymore.
Daevid Allen leads the band through several compositions with a hard, raw-edged sound propelled by a strong guitar-sax-percussion combo.
Drummer Pip Pyle played on only a few Gong sessions; he is a major figure here, as is saxophonist D+6idier Malherbe. Both are up front on the wailing progressive rocker "You Can't Kill Me," which also features guitarist Allen in top form.
Allen's declarative "I've Bin Stone Before," the first part of an inventive three-song medley, is of particular interest; introductory church organ and avant-garde sax make this another unique Gong experience.
But the real gem on Camembert is "Tropical Fish: Selene." This jazzy composition is the most involving and intricate piece on the recording. The band moves tightly through several progressive movements and Gilli Smyth scores with her trademark "space whispering." Camembert Electrique still remains innovative, exciting and undated after almost 40 years

Daevid Allen ("Bert Camembert") - guitar, vocals, bass guitar on "Tried So Hard"
Gilli Smyth ("Shakti Yoni") - vocals
Didier Malherbe ("Bloomdido Bad De Grass") - saxophones and flute
Christian Tritsch ("Submarine Captain") - bass, lead guitar on "Tried So Hard"
Pip Pyle - drums


Track Listing:
Side 1: Radio Gnome Prediction (0:25) / You Can't Kill Me (6:18) / I've Bin Stone Before (4:55) / Mister Long Shanks: O Mother, I Am Your Fantasy (3:35) / Dynamite: I Am Your Animal (4:30) / Wet Cheese Delirium (0:28)
Side 2: Squeezing Sponges Over Policemens Heads (0:10) / Fohat Digs Holes In Space (6:18) / And You Tried So Hard (4:35) / Tropical Fish: Selene (7:32) / Gnome The Second (0:26)

LABELS: The FIRST ISSUE B&W labels are in CLEAN and BRIGHT with barely any spindle traces. PROBABLY PLAYED JUST A COUPLE OF TIMES
VINYL Visual: The surfaces have their original DEEP, LIKE-NEW, GLOSSY SHEEN with just a tiny mark on the first track but this has NO audio consequence
VINYL Audio: CRYSTAL CLEAR, VERY SHARP, DEEP and RICH AUDIO. There are NO scratches, skips or jumps and barely any surface noise (this is one of the cleanest sounding copies I have heard in a while). The LP plays to a very high standard with SUPERB AUDIO CLARITY, NO groove-wear and NO distortion (its hardly been played) and sounds SUPERB THROUGHOUT - TREMENDOUS LP. Critically graded an EXCELLENT+ for audio - GREAT COPY
SLEEVE: The ORIGINAL sleeve is in VERY GOOD++ condition. Being predominantly black and untreated it is normally very difficult to find in much better condition than this. The edges have a little wear and the corners display some 'bumping' but the surfaces have very little 'rubbing' with only light ring markings

PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT MY PICTURES - I USUALLY TAKE QUITE A FEW SO YOU CAN GET A CLEAR INDICATION OF EVERY DETAIL OF THE ITEM
I HAVE UPLOADED AS MANY PICTURES AS I CAN BUT I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPLY ANY ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ON REQUEST
FANTASTIC LP AND A WONDERFULLY CLEAN UK FIRST PRESSING - VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
AS WITH ALL MY RECORDS THIS HAS A LOW START PRICE AND NO RESERVE
PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS FOR MORE RARE AND COLLECTABLE VINYL
AND PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUERIES YOU MAY HAVE
THANKS FOR LOOKING, CHEERS

PLEASE REFER TO MY 'ABOUT ME' PAGE FOR MORE DETAILED INFO ON MY PLAY-GRADING, EQUIPMENT USED, P&P etc

POST & PACKING
UK: 1st Class: £4.00 (Recorded Delivery)
EUROPE: Airmail: £5.00 or £8.50 (International Signed For delivery with tracking)
INTERNATIONAL: Airmail: £9.00 or £12.50 (International Signed For delivery with tracking)
***Any record (or combination of records) which sells for more than £50 MUST be sent by a trackable method ie INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR

UK bidders: PayPal or Cheque
INTERNATIONAL bidders: PayPal ONLY

REDUCED POSTAGE FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS (UK: £1.00, EU & INTERNATIONAL £2.00)
I will combine postage 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. Any items purchased after payment will be included in the next 10 period. I am continually adding new items which may be of interest to you and it is impractical for me to allow payment to be postponed indefinitely in the expectation that you might wish to bid on future items. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation
Guarantee: I endeavour to be as accurate and honest as possible when describing the condition of any LP but of course if you feel that I am mistaken and the description is inaccurate I will offer a complete, no quibble refund (through Paypal) upon return of the item.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to a recent spate of bidders with no feedback not paying for records I must insist that all bidders with 0 feedback contact me first before bidding to confirm their genuine intention to buy the record otherwise their bid will be cancelled and they will be blocked. Sorry to sound so authoritarian but non payers are a real waste of not only my time but genuine eBayers

ALL RECORDS ARE PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED BEFORE DISPATCH AND PACKAGED WITH THE VINYL OUTSIDE OF THE SLEEVE TO PREVENT ANY 'KNIFING' DURING TRANSIT
A PROTECTIVE POLY SLEEVE, QUALITY CUSTOM WRAPRO MAILER AND STIFFENERS ARE ALWAYS USED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RECORD ARRIVES SAFELY 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  306 (GS 5.3.5 (306))