Grateful Dead - ANTHEM OF THE SUN - Rare Warner Brothers 7arts US WS 1149

	£		18
	$		23

Title ANTHEM OF THE SUN

Rare to find this title on the original Green 7 arts label with original period inner sleeve.

A Major classic Psych album here, This is the original mix of the album.  The Dead caved in to record company demands that they produce a more major label sounding record rather than the indie psych sound of this San Francisco masterpiece.  So there is the later mix that is far more common on LP and all CDs.  This is that early mix.  Look around at the others being offered on ebay and see the split jackets, covers with bad ring wear.  And the LPs seem to be either worn out, or on the much later WB Palm Tree label, and not the vintage green Original 7 Arts label like this one. 

As the second long-player by the Grateful Dead, Anthem of the Sun (1968) pushed the limits of both the music as well as the medium. General dissatisfaction with their self-titled debut necessitated the search for a methodology to seamlessly juxtapose the more inspired segments of their live performances with the necessary conventions of a single LP. Since issuing their first album, the Dead welcomed lyricist Robert Hunter into the fold freeing the performing members to focus on the execution and taking the music to the next level. Another addition was second percussionist Mickey Hart, whose methodical timekeeping would become a staple in the Dead's ability to stop on the proverbial rhythmic dime. Likewise, Tom Constanten (keyboards) added an avant-garde twist to the proceedings with various sonic enhancements that were more akin to John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen than anything else coming from the burgeoning Bay Area music scene. Their extended family also began to incorporate folks like Dan Healy whose non-musical contributions and innovations ranged from concert PA amplification to meeting the technical challenges that the band presented off the road as well. On this record Healy's involvement cannot be overstated, as the band were essentially given carte blanche and simultaneous on-the-job training with regards to the ins and outs of the still unfamiliar recording process. The idea to create an aural pastiche from numerous sources often running simultaneously was a radical concept that allowed consumers worldwide to experience a simulated Dead performance firsthand. One significant pattern which began developing saw the band continuing to refine the same material that they were concurrently playing live night after night prior to entering the studio. The extended "That's It for the Other One" suite is nothing short of a psychedelic roller coaster. The wild ride weaves what begins as a typical song into several divergent performances taken from tapes of live shows ultimately returning to the home base upon occasion, presumably as a built-in reality check. Lyrically, Bob Weir (guitar/vocals) includes references to their 1967 pot bust ("...the heat came 'round and busted me for smiling on a cloudy day") as well as the band's spiritual figurehead Neal Cassidy ("...there was Cowboy Neal at the wheel on a bus to never ever land"). Although this version smokes from tip to smouldering tail, the piece truly developed a persona all its own and became a rip-roaring monster in concert. The tracks "New Potato Caboose" and Weir's admittedly autobiographically titled "Born Cross-Eyed" are fascinatingly intricate side trips that had developed organically during the extended work's on-stage performance life. "Alligator" is a no-nonsense Ron "Pigpen" McKernan workout that motors the second extended sonic collage on Anthem of the Sun. His straight-ahead driving blues ethos careens headlong into the Dead's innate improvisational psychedelia. The results are uniformly brilliant as the band thrash and churn behind his rock-solid lead vocals. Musically, the Dead's instrumental excursions wind in and out of the primary theme, ultimately ending up in the equally frenetic "Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks).

 Artist Grateful Dead

label WB 7Arts WS1749

Matrix -1C on some american labels -1 denotes very first pressing

record VG the record does have surface marks, but I cannot see any deep scratches. Labels are a little grubby looking and I do not want to try and clean them incase I damage them. The label is so rare this often the condition of the album. it does play, Be under no illusion it is not in mint condition. I am probably under stating its condition to try not to disappoint anyone.

covers G it has seen better days. look around ebay and try to find these american original thick cardboard covers that are not worn with ring wear scuffs, the bottom edge has a 3cm tear in the middle from the record edge pushing through. Most of the first issues only sold to hippy communes. The remixed re-issues and UK versions were better cared for.

Original Inner 7Arts sleeve is in excellent condition and I do not see many of them around

Please contact me if you want more photo's or have any questions

I am a lover of vinyl records and enjoy correspondence with fellow collectors on any questions and answers you may have about the record, artist label etc.

Guarantee

If on receipt you find that the record is not as described and you are not entirely satisfied, I offer a full refund less postage if item is return in the condition it was sent.

 Items are graded visually under strong light

Record

Cover

Mint

Un-played or in Perfect condition

Sealed or Perfect condition

Near Mint

No scratches, surface marks or signs of wear

No damages and crisp clean condition, very mild usage

Excellent

May have minor scuff or surface marks but no scratches

Creases and discolouration, but no tears

Very Good

Surface marks and faint scratches

Minor damage, increased creases and signs of wear

Good

Scratches that affect sound quality

Tears, splits or heavy staining

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