RARE 1973 PROMO CAPTAIN BEYOND BREATHLESS Hard Prog

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53

RARE 1973 WHITE LABEL PROMOTIONAL             

   ~ CLASSIC HARD/PROG COLLECTIBLE                  

               CAPTAIN BEYOND

   SUFFICENTLY BREATHLESS

\                                         USA - Caricorn - CP 0115 - WHITE LABEL PROMOTIONAL

RARE as an original 1973 WHITE LABEL PROMOTIONAL first pressing... the second album by the mighty Captain Beyond contains a slew of tracks that grow with each play, lots of flavorful percussions spice the skilled melodies...

Formed in 1971 by Iron Butterfly escapees Lee Dorman and Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt, fronted by Mk 1 Deep Purps vocalist Rod Evans and hot-wired by the titanic efforts of drum demon Bobby Caldwell, Captain Beyond should by rights have hit the ground running, had it not been for the usual litany of record company and management numptitude.

Although it's not hard to see where this album was less successful than it's predecessor. The first time listening to this album you may notice it sounds quite different from the first LP, the opening title track, that is, Sufficiently Breathless requires room to grow before anyone can appreciate it correctly. This song is mid paced and mellow - again, very unlike anything the band has done to this point. All the characteristics of the band are still around: A well constructed riff that supports the song, well placed vocals and skilled soloing - but the fact that it's a soft and mellow ''Heavy'' prog song is cause for concern when it's the opening of the album and the longest single track that the band ever did. That said, it's a very good song when you don't know what to expect, or you don't approach the album expecting to have your head blown off by a killer riff right off the bat. And for all you first Lp fans -- the album picks up right afterwards. Though the rest of the album still won't be as heavy or raw as the debut album, it's more skillfully played and very technical. The songs are wonderfully melodic and have some killer hooks. The riffs are still a main focus of the music along with excellent solos and that driving voice, songs like Bright, Blue Tango and Drifting In Space press just as hard as you'd expect from the band.

This album really is not as chaotic as the debut. The boys are no longer Dancing Madly Backwards -- they're stepping forwards and carefully placing each foot as they do. Signs of maturity are throughout the album in melody and structure, although the chaos of the first album really did work for the band. Really, this is just a very different album as proven by excellent songs like Starglow Energy and the catchy Everything is a Circle.

1. Sufficiently Breathless (5:15)
2. Bright Blue Tango (4:11)
3. Drifting in Space (3:12)
4. Evil Men (4:51)
5. Starglow Energy (5:04)
6. Distant Sun (4:42)
7. Voyages of Past Travellers (1:46)
8. Everything's a circle (4:14)

CONDITION: The thick hgatefold cover is solid, round promotional sticker on front cover only enhances the value ...no seam splits, no bends, has two black magic marker two inch lines on back cover at top right and bottom left (what reason? happy radio disc jockey?)

The vinyl with white promotional labels = super clean, "EX" (excellent) to M- and playing TOP!

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record