RARE Brian Eno BEFORE & AFTER SCIENCE, 1977 LP w/PETER SCHMIDT Prints NM UK 1st

$

289

Here we have the most musically attractive of all the 70's Eno albums, in a wonderful mastering, and including the EXTREMELY rare portfolio of color offset watercolor prints that were included in just a small number of this very first UK pressing on Polydor Deluxe.

This is so much fun, and a real classic from beginning to end. 

The songs, especially Side One, are some of the most beautiful (and catchy!) Eno ever created--in a sane world this album would have been a legitimate hit, spawning at least three hit singles. As it was, and Eno being Eno, and coming after his first dive into ambient and gebrauchmusik, it was typecast as experimental, and as far as I know only got airplay in the UK, and only then for "King's Lead Hat." 

The songs are astonishing, and really more of a culmination of all his ability to make great pop music by experimental means. At the time we thought he would just carry on in this vein, not knowing he'd never quite recapture the ease and sense of rightness here.

The mastering on this particular pressing (I can't speak for later reissues) is stunning, beautiful, detailed, layered, and very impressive.

The lyrics contain sly references to Eno's work as a producer, and not only is "King's Lead Hat" an anagram for "Talking Heads," but there's also passing praise for the Modern Lovers, and likely other small clues I've missed.

As I said, a small number of this first UK pressing included a portfolio of 4 color offset watercolor prints by Peter Schmidt, which are part of the concept of the album, as diagramed on the back of the sleeve. 

The prints are in mint condition, and the portfolio sleeve holding them is near-mint condition (a bit of darkening at the inner hinge).

The vinyl is NM, the sleeve VG+...the vinyl is pristine, with next-to-no surface sounds, even during silent or near-silent grooves. These are not audible on my speakers, but can be picked up faintly on electrostatic headphones (Stax) if you're listening carefully. 

The cover shows a bit of wear, a bit of grime and a crease in one corner. Again, the Peter Schmidt prints are mint.

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