GRAHAME BOND Love Is The Law 1969 PROG PSYCH LP LISTEN

$

32

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

GRAHAME BOND "Love Is The Law"

Original 1969 pr0m0 LP on the PULSAR label, STEREO AR 10604

Cover:  VG+, light ringwear, small sticker on front, some small glue residue on back, edgewear but seams intact

Vinyl:  Plays VG++ with occasional pops 

It's hard to be too tough on Grahame Bond.  I mean, the man essentially jumpstarted the careers of Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, was voted Britain's New Jazz Star in 1961, then sat back and watched Jack and Ginger achieve worldwide fame while he found mysticism before eventually jumping in front of a moving train at the age of 36.  He also don't look none too happy on the cover of this 1969 album, not having washed his hair in approximately 8 months.  I don't know why - those two gorgeous Swinging London babes look ready for the taking, and, after all, he's basically saying that making out with him is a state mandate when he says "love is the law," right?  So do those two birds really wanna break the law or what?  Musically, Grahame is leaning heavily towards early progressive rock on this outing, while still hanging on to his award-winning jazz tendencies.  The title track, with its floaty mellotron and rambling Keith Emerson organ, reminds me of what you might get if you spun Genesis' Trespass and the end of Emerson Lake and Palmer's "Tarkus" at the same time while under the influence of some strong peyote.  And don't think I haven't tried.  Some finger cymbals give it a nice added Eastern oomph, and Grahame's gruff vocals provide some soul.  The dark jazzy "Our Love Will Come Shining Through" is a menacing psych headtrip thing, with some absolutely snarling deep fuzzy bass keys providing the sinuous dark underbelly.  "Strange Times, Sad Times" goes full-on heavy soul (man), brewing up a heady steam of psychedelic funk with some genuine soul sistah backing vocals.  And then there's the mind-blowing snakey Indian cobra dance groover of "The Naz" - one "z" to avoid a lawsuit from the litigious Todd Rundgren - a hip-shakin' Salome's dance of Eastern mystics and hookah pipes with groovy saxophone and some excellent deep funk organ work.  Hard to believe such life-affirming rump-friendly sounds like these were masking something truly deep and disturbing under the surface of this talented musician.  Then again, listening to all 20 minutes of "Toad" could make me jump in front of a speeding train too.

 HEAR IT! 

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.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  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. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  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.