NATIONAL HEALTH: 1978 UK AFFINITY 1st PRESS CANTURBURY PROG - GREAT SOUND - EX+
£
24
$
32
£ 24
Sold For
Nov 9, 2015
Sold Date
Oct 30, 2015
Start Date
1
Number Of Bids
Great Britain
Country Of Seller
eBay
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Description
NATIONAL HEALTH: 1978 UK AFFINITY 1st PRESS CANTURBURY PROG - GREAT SOUND - EX+
NATIONAL HEALTHNational Health
UK AFFINITY (AFF 6) FIRST PRESSING (February 1978) OF NATIONAL HEALTH'S EPONYMOUS DEBUT
THE LAST GREAT FLOURISH OF THE CANTERBURY SCENE
PRESSED WITH THE FIRST ISSUE GREY AFFINITY LABELS
MATRIX: AFF 6 A1 / AFF 6 B1
HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL SINGLE SLEEVE "Printed and made in England by Gothic Print Finishers Ltd., London SE9 2EQ"
National Health might look like Hatfield and the North with a new bassist on this their debut LP, but the back-story was more complicated. The band was originally conceived by keyboardists Dave Stewart of Hatfield and Alan Gowen of Gilgamesh as a merger of the two groups, which never really happened and a pared down quartet formed consisting of Hatfield members Stewart, guitarist Phil Miller, and drummer Pip Pyle, plus bassist Neil Murray - with Gowen relegated to guest status along with former Northette vocalist Amanda Parsons, Canterbury mainstay reedman Jimmy Hastings, and percussionist John Mitchell.
At times, National Health's four lengthy multifaceted suites present the Hatfield-esque instrumental Canterbury sound at its most accomplished. Gowen, with writing credits for "Brujo" and "Elephants," came to be known for a jazzy, improvisational sensibility in contrast to the more thoroughly scored compositional approach of Stewart, who penned "Tenemos Roads" and "Borogoves," but National Health presents a perfect meld of their styles, utterly without tension between them. There are vamps over which Stewart, Gowen, or Miller solo (great fuzz organ from Stewart; fluid Moog from Gowen; inimitable phrasing and tone from Miller), but most notable is the music's organic flow through its twists and turns of melody, harmonics, rhythm (Pyle again proving both his dynamism and sensitivity), texture, and timbre.
Music this complex and densely varied, particularly in the rock realm, seldom feels as light and breezy. Parsons' high-flying soprano vocals, whether she is singing wordless "la-la-las" in the Hatfield style on "Borogoves" or doubling Stewart's memorable "Tenemos Road" theme, add considerably to the ethereal mood.
Side 1:
Tenemos Roads (14:43)
Brujo (10:19)
Side 2:
Borogroves (Excerpt From Part Two) (4:16)
Borogroves (Part One) (6:37)
Elephants (14:37)
LABELS: NEAR MINT
Clean, bright, unmarked labels with just a few light spindle traces
VINYL Visual: EXCELLENT+
Both surfaces shine like-new - some fine marks visible under bright light - nothing of any major audible significance
VINYL Audio: EXCELLENT+ / EXCELLENT
My play-check at volume found little to fault - an occasional light touch of low-level surface on the quietest moments - nothing unexpected and nothing I found intrusive - plays extremely well throughout and sounds great - very highly recommended indeed
SLEEVE: EXCELLENT
The single sleeve is crisp, clean and sharp with just some marking to the back top edge
POST & PACKING:
A PROTECTIVE POLY SLEEVE, NEW ANTI-STATIC INNER, QUALITY BOX (NOT ENVELOPE) MAILER AND AMPLE STIFFENERS ARE ALWAYS USED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR RECORD ARRIVES SAFELY
UK: FREE (2nd class standard)
UK: £9.00 (Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day by 1pm)
EUROPE: Airmail: £14.00 (International Signed For delivery)
INTERNATIONAL: Airmail: £17.00 (International Signed For delivery)
I will combine postage for items purchased within any 10 day period (@£2 for each additional LP).
However, at the end of each 10 day period, all outstanding items will need to be paid for.
Any items purchased after payment will be included in the next 10 period.
I am continually adding new items which may be of interest to you and it is impractical for me to allow payment to be postponed indefinitely in the expectation that you might wish to bid on future items. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation
Guarantee: All records are unconditionally guaranteed (including sealed and/or unplayed) and I will offer a complete, no quibble refund upon return of the item should you not be pleased with it in any way I will email you when payment has been received to let you know when the item will be posted. Please leave feedback upon receipt of the item so that I know you have received it safely. Thanks 625 (GS 6.9.7 (625))
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