Patrick Moraz - The Story of i - IMMACULATE MINT 1976 UK First Pressing Vinyl LP

	£		15
	$		20

Artist & Title: Patrick Moraz ?– The Story of i

IMMACULATE MINT 1976 UK FIRST PRESSING 14-track vinyl LP with picture labels, housed in the original gatefold picture sleeve complete with card inner sleeve/insert plus paper inner. This was the debut solo album by the inventive keyboardist and one-time 'Yes' man. The record is in as-new immaculate Mint condition and sounds as wonderful as ever and the clean and sharp cover is in Excellent Plus condition. See pics.
Highly desirable for its CDS 4002 A//5 – CDS 4002 B//4 first pressing matrices and immaculate Mint condition vinyl, and increasingly difficult to find in this condition. This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to add this prog-rock classic to your collection at an extremely advantageous price.

Catalogue Number: Charisma – CDS 4002

Release date: 1976

Overall Grade: Mint/Mint/EX+ (LP/Insert/Cover)

Matrix (Runout): Side 1: CDS 4002 A//5 C 1 2 4 Side 2: CDS 4002 B//4 C 10 12

Notes:
The "i" in the album title is not the letter, it's the symbol seen on the album cover. All tracks on the labels starting with the letter "I" have the letter replaced by the "i" symbol.
Gatefold sleeve with lyrics and an inner sleeve with handwriting explaining the musical layout/arrangements of the tracks. "Although this concept album is one piece of music and plays continuously throughout, each side has been divided into 7 tracks in order to help the listener, interested by this guide, to find his way into the world of i".
The full title of album only appears displayed on the inside of the gatefold sleeve.
Recorded Autumn '75 in 'Aquarius' Studio, Geneva. (Sessions in Brazil, 16th and 17th August '75).
Side 1 total time: 22:35
Side 2 total time: 23:47
? 1976.
Marketed by Charisma Records Ltd., 70 Old Compton St., London W1.
Manufactured and Distributed by Phonogram Ltd.
Printed in England by Robor Limited.

This classic prog-rock LP is hardly ever offered for sale in this condition – if ever.

"For many "The Story of i" was Moraz at his peak. It is regarded as one of the best keyboard dominated prog albums from the 70s."

This is the extremely rare real thing: a genuine IMMACULATE MINT CONDITION 1976 UK first pressing. The record is in as-new condition and the cover and inner sleeve are in excellent to near mint and mint condition respectively. All items are free from any major defects such as writing, dog ears, tears or scratches. See pics. All items are the genuine originals bought together by me in 1976 (one careful owner!), not reprints or replacements. The LP is the original 1976 UK stereo LP, which was only played occasionally on top-end audiophile equipment and lovingly cared for.

"What an album this is! Moraz was a little known artist when he brought out this masterpiece debut album. The timing was perfect, it being when electronic music was coming of age - progressive rock was in its pomp, and the great bands like Yes and ELP were the kings of the age."

After the success of Relayer, the band Yes made a decision that next, each member would make a solo album. The Story of i is the first solo album by Patrick Moraz. By the time the album was released, Moraz was still touring with Yes but he was let go by the band in late 1976 after Rick Wakeman was booked on a session musician basis during the Going for the One recording sessions in Switzerland.
The title The Story of i did not appear on the cover or labels of the original release. The "i" is really Moraz's personal logo, a triangle-like shape standing on its tip and a sphere resting above it; this sign, interpreted by Moraz as "Star Peace", is how the album was identified both on the spine of the LP cover and in magazines and release material at the time. For reasons of convenience it has come to be referred to as The Story of i although the explanatory story that serves as a unifying link of the pieces on the album is not reprinted on most modern CD releases (on the original LP it is printed on the left side of the inner gatefold cover). Many people at the time assumed the title to be "I" or self-titled ("Patrick Moraz").
The album is based around a romantic story of a massive tower in the middle of a jungle. The tower lures people from all over the world to go inside it. Inside the tower, people are able to experience their wildest desires and fantasies. The only rule is that the people inside the tower may not fall in love with each other. However, two people inside do so and decide to escape since the tower acts also as a prison which inhabitants are slaves of their own desires.
The album consists of fourteen tracks related to the story. The album, particularly the percussion section, is strongly influenced by Brazilian music. Much of the Latin percussion was recorded in Rio de Janeiro over two days in August 1975 and dubbed on to the tracks. The album uses pitch-bend controls on the synth/organ notes. The Story of i was chosen as the album of the year by Keyboard Magazine

Mike DeGagne said on AllMusic:
Former Yes and Moody Blues keyboardist Patrick Moraz mixes numerous Latin and rock rhythms together via his lively synth work, resulting in a full-flavored, energetic album. Not typical sounding to say the least, there are hints of funk and marimba, Caribbean and South American styles, and even flamenco, all guided by Moraz's whirlwind keyboard playing. Inspired by the Brazilian ballet, each song dances with piquancy and flow, never repeating the same rhythms or sounds while at the same time introducing a wide variety of percussion instruments. Andy Newmark's drums add dimension to the fiery patterns conjured up on "Dancing Now" and "Incantations," raising the musical temperature of both tracks. Delightful additions of marimbaphone, cello, gongs, tam-tams, and even castagnets jump in and out of all the songs, fusing both a modern and a primitive sound together. Images of the south seas hover atop Moraz's wandering rhythms, as he sounds unconfined behind the synthesizer. The French vocals sung by Veronique Mueller in a few of the album's songs only add to the illustriousness, as does Moraz's vibrant singing. The Story of I is a refreshing twist from this progressive craftsman and can sincerely be appreciated by all audiences.

This may be your only ONCE IN A LIFETIME chance to own this rare piece of music history in this condition.

"This is surely one of the most under-rated albums in the era of progressive rock/fusion. The main innovation is the seamless blend of the two genres with electronic wizardry."

A fantastic time warp example of this rarity in amazing condition, a true investment grade item - get it while you can!

AND IT MUST SELL IN THIS ONCE ONLY AUCTION

You can read more about this album, Patrick Moraz and Yes all over the web.

I pack my records professionally in stiff corrugated cruciform record boxes leaving the Vinyl (housed in anti-static bags) outside the Sleeve.

Postage discounts for multiple orders are available: £1 per additional LP, up to a maximum of 4, in the UK.
£4 per additional LP, up to a maximum of 4, in the Rest of the World.

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"Superb piece of vinyl - wonderfully packaged"