QUILL 1969 RARE COTILLION TRIPPY FUZZ PSYCH LP LISTEN

$

51

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

QUILL "Quill"

Original 1969 white label pr0m0 LP on the COTILLION label, STEREO SD 9017

Cover:  VG++, slightly crimped edges, light ringwear, big pr0m0 sticker on front

Vinyl:  CLEAN, plays VG++ with scattered pops

Despite their very limited legacy – one self-titled album with a groovy cover and a second one as yet unreleased – Quill were considered one of the Northeast’s finest psychedelic rock bands in the late 60’s.  You can certainly hear their mad songwriting skills and musical chops all over this 1969 record, especially on the fuzzy, menacing leadoff track “Thumbnail Screwdriver,” a perfect slice of acid rock that benefits from a sinewy mysterious guitar riff that’s a simple lawyers office phone call away from Jimi Hendrix’s “1984 (A Merman I Should Never Be).”  Vocals are pure heavy blooz Fillmore West bliss, although I’m not sure how Top 40 radio would react to a fade-out that goes “screw…screw…screw!”  But hey, they put “My Ding A Ling” on the radio, so who knows?

Also of note, the discordant and intricate start/stop rhythm of “BBY,” with creeping cat melody, herky/jerky jazz-influenced tempos, horns and harmonies, which amazingly predates the entire sound and career of Gentle Giant quite well.  Or the floaty late night dreamlike psych head rush of “Yellow Butterfly,” whose ghostly distorted double-tracked lead vocals sound exactly like Ummagumma-era Roger Waters and “My Clown”-era July.  Seriously, you could’ve put this track on a British psychedelia compilation and no one would’ve blinked.  Except for the guy who always blinks because his brain’s been fried for twenty years. 

So if Quill’s lone album is so great, why hasn’t anyone heard of them?  Promotion, my boy, promotion.  As it turns out, Quill actually played at Woodstock, but due to a technical glitch (something to do with the syncing of picture and audio), their footage was deemed unusable for the movie.  Turns out the camera crew got things straightened out in time for the next band’s performance, though, a little band called Santana.  Whose performance in Woodstock: The Movie made them internationally famous.  Not that I’m saying Quill was a better band than Santana – although I am saying their music was far more varied and intricate – but if that glitch occurred just a few hours later, we’d all be singing “Thumbnail Screwdriver” today instead of “Oye Como Va.”  And maybe, just maybe, the career of one Robb Thomas from Matchbox Twenty would’ve already been over.  What I wouldn’t give for a time machine right about now. 

 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.