SAGITTARIUS w/CURT BOETTCHER+GARY USHER PRESENT TENSE ULTRA-RARE ORIG'68 LP MINT

$

103

WE CURRENTLY HAVE   MORE THAN 500  LISTED ITEMS

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·       SAGITTARIUS featuring GARY USHER AND CURT BOETTCHER  - PRESENT TENSE - ORIGINAL 1968 COLUMBIA LP CS-9644

·       ORIGINAL U.S. PRESSING

·       ORIGINAL RED AND WHITE '360 SOUND STEREO' COLUMBIA LABEL

·       THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, FIRST U.S. PRESSING; THIS IS NOT A REISSUE, AN IMPORT, OR A COUNTERFEIT PRESSING.

·       ORIGINAL, THICK CARDBOARD COVER (AMERICAN STYLE)

·       CLEAN, WEAR-FREE LABELS

·       THICK, HEAVY VINYL PRESSING

·       MATRIX NUMBER IN TRAIL-OFF VINYL (DEAD WAX) ENDS WITH '-1C/-1C'.  ON SOME LABELS,  SUFFIX '–1' DENOTES THE VERY FIRST, ORIGINAL PRESSING)

(►PLEASE SEE THE IMAGE OF THE COVER, LABEL OR BOTH, SHOWN BELOW)

(Note: this is a REAL image of the ACTUAL item you are bidding on. This is NOT a "recycled" image from our previous auction. What you see is what you’ll get.  GUARANTEED!)

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Though really a studio project instead of a real group, Sagittarius' Present Tense has been whispered about constantly since its release in 1968. It began as a solo outlet for producer Gary Usher when he wasn't making stunning LPs by the Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, ex-Byrds leader Gene Clark, and the Beach Boys. In fact, its totally enthralling song, the initial 1967 single, "My World Fell Down" -- which went to number 70 in the charts -- is largely sought after by the most fanatical of Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys followers, since it not only replicates that unique and incomparable production value, but benefits greatly from a lead vocal by Glen Campbell. Not his "Rhinestone Cowboy" voice, it's the more angelic, boyish Mike Love tones he employed when then touring and recording with the Beach Boys. As well, real Beach Boy Bruce Johnston sings a key part, as does fellow producer Terry Melcher (and vaunted session man Hal Blaine sits in). Mixing "Good Vibrations" with "God Only Knows," "My World Fell Down" is a missing link to pre-breakdown Brian Wilson's obsessions, particularly the bonus-track single version, which blends in pre-psychedelia sounds of a bullfight, an alarm clock, and a crying infant. Subsequent recordings found Usher teaming with singer/writer/producer Curt Boettcher, whom Usher met while working with Wilson, and some use songs from the latter's singing group Ballroom and players from Boettcher's new, real band Millennium. None of this now-deceased pair's work can match "My World Fell Down," but Present Tense serves up a gentle brew of folkish-rock, Baroque pop (lots of woodwinds, strings, etc.), and Summer of Love atmosphere. Perhaps the star is the production itself... this is a lovely memory.

 (EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE REVIEW BY JACK RABID, ALL MUSIC GUIDE  /ALLMUSIC.COM/)

In her liner notes to a 1994 CD reissue of this legendary, long-lost psych masterpiece from 1968, Dawn Eden wrote:…"The reputation (of this album) is largely based on the meaning it retains for those who bought it when it came out. Original copies are surprisingly difficult to find. It seems that this is an album whose owners simply refuse to part with it" --- Well, lo and behold --- here , finally, is one owner who IS willing to part with it . But don’t wait too long, for he may change his mind.

Released in early 1968 to the world completely oblivious of who Sagittarius were, this soft-psych masterpiece, and a true monument to harmonies and intricate, ornate arrangements, languished in cut-out bins before quietly fading into the oblivion; alas, over the years its reputation grew to the point where it became a venerable cult classic. If you are familiar with "Nuggets", Lenny Kaye’s legendary Elektra psych/garage compilation from 1972, then you are certainly familiar with "My World Fell Down", the song which is a Sagittarius’ entry in this great compilation (by the way, I never quite understood why Lenny opted to put it there; it is a gorgeous ballad, which has more in common with the Beatles or late-period Everly Brothers than with the likes of Shadows of the Knight and Amboy Dukes, with which it shares the album; on "Nuggets" it simply sticks out like a sore thumb among other, testosterone-drenched entries; The only true ‘natural habitat’ of this song is this album; an environment of psych ballads and ragas of indescribable beauty). A brief history of this gorgeous song: Gary Usher, the legendary producer of many early 60’s Surf bands (not to mention the best two Byrds’ albums they ever recorded: ‘Younger than Yesterday’, and ‘Notorious Byrd Brothers’) first offered this song to Chad & Jeremy who were then in their Psych phase (circa "The Ark") and who immediately and in no unclear terms rejected any suggestion that they record the song (which turned out to be a mistake of galactic proportions). Disappointed, Gary Usher teamed with the young guy named Curt Boettcher, then a Columbia engineer, to create "Sagittarius", a 2-men band which became their pet project and a true labor of love. This album, which they carefully crafted over many, many days and hours spent in the studio, represents the proverbial masterpiece of gentle harmonies, intelligent arrangements and catchy musical and lyrical phrases. It is truly a psychedelic experience of the highest order. Words fall well short in describing this album. It just begs to be heard.

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·       CONDITION:

·       RECORD

(IMPORTANT NOTE: unless otherwise noted, ALL records are graded visually, and NOT play-graded!; we  grade records under the strong, diffuse room light or discrete sunlight)

(a)          WE GRADE THE VINYL AS STRONG NEAR MINT. The original luster is very much intact, and the vinyl shines and sparkles almost like new.

(b)          The record is pressed on a beautiful, thick, inflexible vinyl, which was usually used for the first or very early pressings. Usually, the sound on such thick vinyl pressings is full-bodied, vivid, and even dramatic. Do not expect to obtain such a majestic analog sound from a digital recording!

(c)           Mono copies of this album are NOT known to exist.

(d)          Of course, this is a full-bodied ANALOG recording, and not an inferior, digital recording!!!

·       COVER

COVER IS NEAR MINT

The following flaws or imperfections are noted on the cover:

-        Cover has JUST A HINT of ring wear (nothing significant); On the scale from 1 to 10 (1 being the least, and  10 being the most severe), we assess the severity of ring wear as 1 (front side) and 2 (back side)   (VISIBLE ON BACK SIDE ONLY) .

-        Cover shows JUST A HINT of yellowing on back side, apparently from aging.

-        Cover has one corner slightly worn / dinged (nothing significant)

-        Minor shelf wear noted on the seams (nothing significant)

NO OTHER IMPERFECTIONS ON THE COVER:

-        No split seams

-        No cut-out (drill) holes.

-        No cut-out corners

-        No saw-marks or indents

-        No dirt/dust rubbing stains (friction marks caused by rubbing against other covers)

-        No wrinkles or creases

-        No writing

-        No stamps

-        No peel-off marks

-        No stains

-        No mold or mildew spots

-        No stickers or labels

-        No water damage

-        No razor marks, scratches, pressure marks, lines, streaks, or  cuts.

-        No warping

-        No wax, glue, paint or liquid drops on the cover

-        No glue traces or wax residue.

-        No bar codes

-        No RIAA stamps or stickers. 

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POSTAGE & SHIPPING:

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