Helen Merrill Sings Beatles RARE 1970 Japan Only G/F LP

$

50

Helen Merrill Sings Beatles LP - Victor World Group SMJX-10092 Stereo - Japan-only Gatefold album.  Includes Japanese/English g/f lyric insert.  - Helen Merrill's dark, smoky voice and rangy interpretive powers gave her the opportunity to shine with many types of material; for this 1970 date she leads a small Japanese group celebrating the Lennon/McCartney canon, in an experiment that's not merely successful but immensely pleasurable. The material focuses on two distinct Beatles periods (1965-1966 and 1968-1969), and Merrill studiously avoids many of the standards that older artists were then latching onto. ("Something," the consummate Beatles standard for non-rock vocalists, is conspicuously absent.) Instead, Merrill dwells on McCartney and Lennon as masters of lyrical, introspective songcraft, choosing for her tribute the drowsy, contemplative songs "Here, There and Everywhere," "And I Love Him," "Let It Be," "Golden Slumbers," "In My Life," and so forth. Most of the versions are stretched out by her small band, nearly always for good; only "The Word" sounds downright embarrassing in a brassy, jazz-funk arrangement. It's always Merrill's performances, though, that make this record a success. One of vocal music's finest free-form interpreters, she records versions neither rote nor experimental, ones that remember the originals but add much to their feel and harmonics (always an important quality when you face the prospect of covering 12 of the most memorized performances in recording history). Really, no other jazz vocalist could survive — and thrive — like this: recording abstract arrangements of a rock songbook in Tokyo in 1970 with a band whose easily dateable arrangements occasionally threaten their talent. She even finds subtle ways to succeed with the straight-ahead rocker "Lady Madonna." ~ AMG

Personnel: Helen Merrill (vo), Masahiko Sato (p), Yasuo Arakawa (b), Takeshi Inomata (d)

Tracks: Let It Be, Lady Madonna, Because, The Word, Norwegian Wood, Here There and Everywhere, Golden Slumbers, And I Love Him, In My Life, Mother Nature's Son, If I Fell, I Want You.

Cover: VG+ (shelf & edge wear, 5" top seam split)

Vinyl: VG++ (Victor green with black print, white logo labels)

Should you have any questions regarding the condition of this record or if you would like additional details, please contact us before bidding. Thank you for looking and please visit our Ebay store and check back often for new titles!

• SS (Still Sealed)
• NM (Near Mint) No obvious signs of wear. Vinyl & labels unblemished, nice vinyl gloss.
• NM- (Near Mint Minus) May have very light wear but not significant defects. Well cared for.
• VG++ (Very Good Plus Plus) Less than NM- but still beautiful condition. Slightly more wear. May have a saw mark, cut-out hole or cut corner. Vinyl may have light surface or spindle marks.
• VG+ (Very Good Plus) Visibly less than perfect but still very clean. Sleeves may have light wear or slight open-edge seam splits. Vinyl may have surface or spindle marks, no deep scratches. An above average used record.
• VG (Very Good) Still passable but worn. May have some bumps, creases or seam and spine splits, sticker on cover or writing. Vinyl may have surface scratches and spindle marks or writing.
• VG- (Very Good Minus) Heavy wear. Sleeve and vinyl will have more wear, including ring & age wear, split seams or spine, creases, bumps or discoloration. Vinyl may have audible noise.
• G (Good) May include moderate cover warp, discoloration, yellowing, seam or spine splits, discoloration, staining or tape. Vinyl has audible scratches.
• F (Fair) Considerable wear and or damage.
• P (Poor) Wrecked, but if the sleeve or vinyl is in better condition for a match of something that you already own it may be worthwhile.

SHIPPING INFO: We will combine wins to save on shipping costs, when you win more than one item, please wait for our invoice with the new combined reduced shipping charge. Albums will be sent (In the USA) USPS Priority Mail or Media Mail with Delivery Confirmation. Worldwide shipments are sent USPS First Class International. This LP will be shipped securely, seperated from the cover in a cardboard LP mailer. Shipping costs are listed below.   

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• USA: $8.00 USPS Priority Mail (2-3 Days) or $4.00 Media Mail (3-10 Days)
• Canada: $7.00 (USPS First Class International) 
• Europe: $13.00 (USPS First Class International) 
• Asia & Oceania: $14.00 (USPS First Class International)