OLA & JANGLERS Pictures & Sounds 1967 SITAR PSYCH HEAR

$

72

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

OLA & THE JANGLERS "Pictures and Sounds"

Original 1967 LP on the Canadian STONE label, STEREO SXS-3732

Cover:  EXCELLENT, very clean, one corner slightly crimped

Vinyl:  SUPER CLEAN, few fingerprints, plays VG+ with a few scattered clicks

Highly underrated Swedish mod beat pop album from Ola and the Janglers, Pictures and Sounds from 1967.  Led by Ola Hakansson, which I guess makes Johannes Olsson, Claes Af Geijerstam, Ake Eldsater and Leif Johansson (a Swedish name if there ever WAS one) the “Janglers” in question.  It’s a misleading name, though, because the Janglers don’t often jangle per se.  They’re much bigger fans of the harpsichord and electric piano actually, which they put to good use on the Beatlish “Call Me Tomorrow” and the very Zombie-ish “Today’s the Day,” which really would’ve fit nicely on Odessey and Oracle.  Like Saab and Abba, Ola & the Janglers are built for success, so highlights here are plenty, and the plethora of killer pop hooks is dizzying.  So much so that you wonder why an album like Pictures and Sounds isn’t a big a part of everyone’s record collection as Rubber Soul and Voulez-Vous.  The breakneck “Your Melody” rushes forward on a mad Russian Cossack dance rhythm, while the shimmering upbeat happy pop concoction “Story of Glory” has vintage Hollies written all over it. 

With pop nuggets practically springing from Ola’s fingertips at will, it’s a big surprise to find out that these Swedes had a desire to actually trip out on occasion.  And it’s an even bigger surprise to hear that they were just as good when they did fire up the hookah and ventured out on their own little magic carpet ride.  Which they do admirably on the snaky, mystical sitar trip “Mystic Man,” as good and as mind-melting as anything their British popsike counterparts were putting out (with the possible exception of George Harrison, of course).  “What strange fruits grow in Mystic Man’s garden?” read the liner notes, but then the acid kicks in (coupled with the language barrier) and they follow it up with “What kind of smoke-veals is heeling wounds?  He exists alright.”  Now I don’t know about you, but I like my “smoke-veals” with a little marsala wine and mushrooms, but one listen to “Mystic Man” and I’m sure you’ll agree there was a little something in the veal that day when Ola and his Janglers sat down to record this fantastic little aberration from their usual schedule. 

One final note:  Despite being listed on the back cover, single “Strolling Along” is NOT on the album.  But with twelve other brilliant pop tunes, and one mind-altering dish of mushroom smoked veal with a dash of curry, there’s more than enough to keep you busy elsewhere on Pictures and Sounds.  I haven’t seen the picture yet, but the sounds are out of this world.

 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.