Mint THE MANDRAKE MEMORIAL • PUZZLE 1970 POPPY PYS 40.006 Psych W INNER AND MAT

$

280

Original 1970 first pressing of the famous 3rd and final MANDRAKE MEMORIAL album, highly regarded as their best work

Along with the Nazz, this was one of Philadelphia's top bands throughout the late 60's. Prior to Puzzle, they released two good rock albums that had a vague Doors influence, mixing keyboards with guitar oriented psychedelia. Puzzle, released in 1969, is an extremely challenging album that is not recommended to those who are into song oriented pop. It's also a very progressive album that mixes classical/avant garde elements into a dreamy soundscape.

The album is really a mood piece, with plenty of strange moments including one track devoted to a choir of children praying while Whisper Play has, you guessed it, whispers amongst a classical backdrop. Randy Monaco croons throughout the album and there is the occasional guitar freakout, one heard at the end of the 9 minute instrumental Bucket of Air. The reoccuring theme, Just a Blur is a nice, short trippy piece of acoustic music that hints at a concept.

For the era, the Puzzle album is somewhat long, clocking in at around 50 minutes. The real meat of the album lies within the songs. Earthfriend and Hiding are so ambient and so full of great sound effects that they predate a style of psychedelia that Spacemen 3 pioneered throughout the late 80's. Ocean's Daughter is another great, menacing song, being a trippy psychedelic ballad with studio trickery and light arrangements. The song characterizes the album itself: confused, dark and unsettling on one hand but alluring and full of beauty on the other. Even the album cover art is really weird and demented, featuring a well known painting with chrome plated maggots inching their way up an endless flight of stairs.

very nice...

I have been collecting records for 55 years.  All records I sell are out of my own extensive collection and have been upgraded consistently over the years.  Any record I sell is the best I could find in all this time.  I had a store for a while and would try to keep one copy of albums I liked.  Most are unplayed.  I try to keep my descriptions short to save you time.  I assume, if you are here, you know the album, titles, etc.  If not, Allmusic is a great site to get the scoop. Bid with confidence!

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Records are visually graded unless stated...have been doing this for a long time.

All grades are cover first then record. 

MINT is unplayed, sealed, or play-graded mint.

MINT MINUS is like new but probably played once or twice...most would grade this mint

NEAR MINT is near new with some slight signs of play...an extremely clean record

VERY GOOD PLUS is collectible but might have some light sleeve marks and some light noise...still plays very well with no major issues.

I WILL USE  (+) AND (-) FOR EMPHASIS ON THE BASIC GRADES...I DO NOT LIST ITEMS LESS THAN VERY GOOD PLUS UNLESS THEY ARE EXTREMELY RARE AND THEN A FULL DISCLOSURE WILL BE PROVIDED.   BID WITH CONFIDENCE.

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