MICK SOFTLEY Sunrise 1970 UK SITAR FOLK PSYCH LP LISTEN

$

61

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

MICK SOFTLEY "Sunrise Star-Rise"

Original 1970 LP on the UK CBS label, STEREO 64098

Cover:  VG++, some writing on front cover, name written on inside of gatefold (small)

Vinyl:  Some light handling scuffs, few prints, plays VG+ to VG++

He might look like a slouch on the cover of this 1970 LP Sunrise Star-Rise, waking up sometime around noon in the back of his tour van, but Mick Softley was a classic folk troubadour in his day, hanging out with similar beatniks in the early 60’s like Wizz Jones, Clive Palmer and Maddy Prior.  He started his own folk club in Hemel Hempstead when the protest movement was at its hippest, and it was around this time he met a young folkie named Donovan Leitch, who went on to record Mick’s “The War Drags On” for his “Universal Soldier” EP.  After a five year recording hiatus, it was Donovan who convinced Mick Softley to record again, the result being Sunrise Star-Rise, a progressive folk rock album with one of the most amazing casts you’ll find on an album that nobody’s ever heard.

Producer Terry Cox had already worked with Sandy Denny, Fairport Convention and Yes, and he assembled a backing band for Mick consisting of Trees’ guitarist Barry Clark, three guys from Fotheringay, Lyn Dobson, Doris Troy (of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon fame) and Richard Thompson from the Fairports.  Because straight-up folk music was no longer fashionable at this time, it took an all-star backing band like this one to bring hipper instruments to Mick’s music, like Lyn Dobson’s mystical sitar on the epic “Love Colours,” a long-lost Electric Headswirler if there ever was one.  There’s more sitar on the floaty, ethereal, meditative mind-blower “Eagle,” but for a taste of what the full band could bring, check out “Time Machine.”  It’s one of Mick’s most famous songs, thanks to its inclusion on one of those ubiquitous CBS loss leader double albums, and it’s Grade A progressive pop, all strummin’ guitars and space-age synths.  And someone even gets off a few slashing power chords at the end, straight off the Who’s “Overture.” 

Mick went on to record three more solo albums, none as good as this one, and still plays at the Belfast Folk Festival in Ireland today.  Whether or not he’s still sleeping till noon in the back of his van is a mystery best left to the mystics.

 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.