THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA- Self-Titled - 1968 LP Columbia CS 9614 - VG+/F/VG

$

40

The United States of America is the only studio album by American psychedelic rock band the United States of America. Produced by David Rubinson, it was released in 1968 by Columbia Records. The album combined rock and psychedelia with then-uncommon electronic instrumentation and experimental composition, along with an approach reflecting an anti-establishment, leftist political stance. Joseph Byrd, the band's leader, stated that his aesthetic aim for the band and album was to create avant-garde, political rock music; he envisioned that their music would combine electronic sounds (not electronic music), musical and political radicalism, and performance art.

The album spent nine weeks on the Billboard albums chart in the United States, peaking at number 181 in May 1968. It failed to chart in the United Kingdom. Arguments between Byrd and the rest of his bandmates about the band's direction led the band to split up within months of the album's release. Moskowitz further noted conflict between the band's unwilling to compromise and the demands of Columbia Records.

Retrospective reception of the album has been very positive. Richie Unterberger of AllMusic deemed it "one of the most exciting and experimental psychedelic albums of the late 1960s" and compared some of the band's more hard-edged material to early Pink Floyd and the Velvet Underground. It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Spin included it in a list of the "Top 100 Alternative Albums of the 1960s", labelling it as "a concept album in the most accurate sense of the term: a radical psychedelic critique of American society that builds to a finale which synthesizes everything that came before". Classic Rock Magazine cited it as one of the "16 Best Psychedelic Rock Albums" in 2018. 

THIS COPY is a Terre Haute 1st pressing from 1968 on the Columbia label (see Noes, below).

The vinyl, per a test listen, played well, with some background static here and there, but no skips. It is in Very Good Plus [VG+] condition.

The original cover has, sadly, not fared as well. The top seam is entirely split, along with the top of the title seam and the right hand side of the bottom seam. There is some ring wear and a couple of wrinkles. Overall, I am grading this as only Fair [F] - it's still two pieces of cardboard with the artwork and lyrics :-)

The original inner sleeve, which advertises other Columbia artists/albums, has middle splits on the bottom and one side seam. Overall, it is in Very Good [VG] or better condition.

Notes
Printer's code (number/letter in bottom-right corner of rear) is "4".

This version has "The selections are Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)" printed in lower right corner of back cover.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Rights Society: BMI

Other (Printed lower right back cover): 4

Pressing Plant ID (Etched both sides runout): T

Matrix / Runout (Side A label): XSM 135627

Matrix / Runout (Side B label): XSM 135628

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout ): \ o XSM135627-1C T1 D5

Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): | o XSM135628-1C T1 D1

ENJOY!