THOR'S HAMMER - IF YOU KNEW: ICELANDIC PUNK & BEAT 65-67 RAW WILD GARAGE SLD LP

$

26

THORS HAMMER – If You Knew:  Icelandic Punk & Beat ’65-’67. Ugly Pop Records UP 046. Canadian release. FACTORY SEALED VINYL RECORD ALBUM. This edition issued in 2013. 14-track collection of their EP and singles releases. TRACKS:  I Don’t Care, Big Beat Country Dance, If You Knew, Love Enough, Ef Hun Er Nalaegt Mer, A Memory, Once, My Life, Better Days, Fyrsti Kossinn, Minningin Um Thig, Ertu Med, Kvold Vid Keflavik, and Heyrdu Mig Goda. DESCRIPTION:  Best known to garage enthusiasts for their single My Life, Thor's Hammer was also responsible for an incredibly scarce 1966 EP. This album compiles 14 mid '60s nuggets from these Icelandic garage legends, showcasing some of the rawest, wildest fuzzpunk heard anywhere!

For your further reading enjoyment and enlightenment I offer the following edited description that I put together for Big Beat’s 2001 CD release by the band, From Keflavik…With Love:

Thor’s Hammer (there was also a later band from Denmark by the same name) were the Icelandic Beatles; that's what they were called in their native country and by the handful of people outside of Iceland who were lucky enough to have seen them perform. It has only been in the last 20 years or so that this band has gained a reputation outside of their homeland. One major reason would probably be the fact that the entire population of Iceland is only 300,000 people. Another reason could be that there was no television yet in Iceland in the mid-sixties when this band was around. In those days television was a crucial tool in exposure of rock n' roll bands (which played a big part here in the US and in England). Icelandic teenagers perception of rock n' roll was based entirely on radio airplay (Iceland had only one radio station at the time!) and the occasional newspaper photo; foreign artists, of course, just did not tour Iceland back then, which was another way many local artists got known outside of their homeland. Back in 1965, when they first began recording, they were known as Hljomar, which translates to the "Sounds" or the "Chords". Thor’s Hammer was a name they chose as an alternate persona, as the "export" version of Hljomar. Although they had wanted to sing in English from the very start, the owner of the first record label that they were on refused to release any of their songs unless they were sung in Icelandic. Upon signing to a bigger label in early 1966, they immediately began recording songs in English; this, then, is where the name Thor’s Hammer comes in. They felt that if they were going to attempt to have any overseas success, they needed an English name. Though deserved, this success unfortunately never materialized. Even though it has been over forty-five years since their peak, the world now has this album to listen to and discover what they missed the first time around. So, what you get here is a great compilation of Thor's Hammer/Hljomar material from 1965-67. These guys were crazy good, inventive, interesting, with a wild big beat 60s sound and some dynamic fuzz guitar work. The songs on this album range from wild Kinks style hard rockers to Beatles-esque melodic songs and nice ballads. There is also some linernotes with a history of the band that really captures the mood of what was going on. I got into these guys working backwards from their next incarnation, the progressive band Trubrot, which made a masterpiece (Lifun) a few years later (I usually stock the Trubrot CD in my store stock). The songs should have a familiar feel to anyone who was into music in the late 60s in the USA, except that they always manage to surprise with slight twists on the standard rock moves. And the hard driving songs, like Big Beat Country Dance and My Life are just irresistible; guitarist Gunnar Thordarson was obviously very enamored of his newly purchased fuzzbox at the time. I Don't Care is a high-voltage pounder featuring punk vocals and an overload of fuzz guitar. Check out the music on Better Days __ it's hard to believe that it was written in 1966. These four songs alone equal just about anything coming out of the U.K. or the U.S. in the mid-sixties. Let's hope this album will find a few receptive ears and remedy the undeserved obscurity of this talented bunch.      

If you have any questions or if you have additional information, especially corrections, to the description, please e-mail me.   

All LPs are removed from their jackets and placed outside of the jacket for shipping. If an album comes sealed (and will be noted as such in the above description), it will be shipped whole unless you request that I open it up to place the disc outside of the jacket for shipping. Both jacket and disc are placed inside of an outer plastic sleeve before packing for shipping. I use professional corrugated record mailers.

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER CURRENTLY LISTED ITEMS AND EBAY STORE. There is also a section of additional LP titles in my eBay Store 

TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS:

SS or SLD:  Still Sealed or Sealed (or some variation of sealed depending on how many characters I have left in the title line). This item is new and unplayed. Also appears in the listing description as Sealed LP or Factory Sealed LP.

NEW LP:  This item is new and unplayed, but was received from a supplier without being shrink wrapped or cellophane wrapped; more common on imports but also many of the smaller independent US labels do not seal their LPs.

GFC:  Gate fold cover.

LTD EDT:  Limited, as in limited edition. If I know the press run number it will be included in the above description.

#'D:  Numbered edition. I will include the number of this item if it is visible to me.

CV:  Colored vinyl.

S/T:  Self-titled.

RE:  Reissue

OOP:  Out Of Print.

TERMS OF AUCTION/SALE: 

Buyer pays for POSTAGE & HANDLING:

Shipping rates are as of January 31, 2014; any subsequent rate increase will take precedence over the listed rates.

U.S. Shipping: 

$4.00 via USPS media mail for the first single LP or double disc LP set (excluding box sets). All US packages are shipped via eBay's USPS processing and include tracking.

Shipping of additional items of a multi-item purchase will be determined by weight. Please wait for my eBay invoice before making payment.

See U.S. Customers below for additional shipping services and payment method.

INTERNATIONAL Shipping (I ship worldwide; all packages shipped via first-class package international service and do not include tracking):

Prices will vary slightly due to the weight of the disc(s) and jacket. The amount listed in the shipping details is for this item only. Multiple item purchasers will need to wait for my invoice before making payment. On multiple item purchases the base rate for shipping will be the price of the highest/heaviest item to ship. Additional items will ship by weight.

I ship world wide. If your country is not covered with the listed rates please e-mail me before your purchase for the cost of shipping to your country. 

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U.S. CUSTOMERS:

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INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: 

I have been shipping records and CDs around the world for over 25 years, so purchase with confidence. Items are shipped in professional corrugated mailers. Payment using credit cards can be made via Paypal or pay direct from your Paypal account to mine. If this is a problem please e-mail me for acceptable alternatives before you bid or purchase. All international payments are due in US $ only. Payment must be received within 7 days after close of bidding or date of purchase. If you can not meet my payment schedule please e-mail me with your needs. I only ask that you keep me informed. All packages are shipped via first class mail international (air); this is the least expensive method of shipping internationally, but does not necessarily meet all the conditions of Paypal’s buyer/seller protection plan. First Class Mail International does not offer tracking. If security is a major concern then please request Registered Mail, available upon request and at your expense, this is the least expensive method of meeting the conditions of Paypal’s buyer/seller protection plan; actual postal charge for registration is $13.65 in addition to the shipping total (required on all bids/purchases totaling $100 or more; this will be included with the invoiced shipping total). Priority Mail International and Express Mail International are available upon your request and at your expense. If you have any special needs of your purchase or you have any questions please e-mail me. 

*ALL CUSTOMERS*  

HANDLING TIME:  

Packages are usually shipped in less than 72 hours. NOTE:  This is not the same thing as delivery time, which begins once a package is turned over to the post office; averaging 3-7 business days for US delivery and 5 days to 3 weeks for international delivery (Italian customers it is not unusual for your package to take 4 weeks for delivery). International delivery is largely determined on how long it takes your local customs to process its mail. I will confirm receipt of payment and shipping date via my personal e-mail, adjust your filters accordingly. If you do not hear from me within the first three days after your payment, most likely my attempts to e-mail you have failed. Please keep me posted on your payment plans or any special requirements/needs of your purchase. 

RETURN POLICY:

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NON-ARRIVAL OF PACKAGES: 

US Customers:  Please wait at least two weeks from my confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. Packages are not shipped with confirmation; this service is optional and available upon request at your expense, e-mail me before making payment so I can invoice you accordingly. It has been several years since I’ve had a package not make its US destination, so risk is minimal.

INTERNATIONAL Customers:  Please wait at least 3 weeks from my confirmed shipping date before contacting me about the non-arrival of your package. If security is your concern please have your package registered (see above for fee). I do my best to quickly post packages, but once the package is in the hands of the world’s postal systems it is beyond my control. With first class mail international my only option for investigating the loss of your package is to verify that it left this country to its destination country. Most all delayed/lost packages have disappeared/been delayed after they have reached their destination country. NOTE:  Based on recent buyer feedback, International packages have been moving much slower these days; it is not unusual for a package to take over three weeks for delivery (especially to Italy), though normally packages should arrive in 7 to 15 business days.  

MULTI-ITEM PURCHASERS:

Multi-bid winners/purchasers:  If you combine various formats such as LPs, 7" singles, and CDs, please wait for my eBay invoice for the shipping total before making payment. For example, US customers purchasing an LP with a 7” single and/or CD, as LPs ship via media mail, your package will ship as media mail. All international purchases are shipped via first-class package international service so discounting will be determined by weight. Shipping discounts apply only to multi-item purchases that are paid for in one single payment and shipped in a single package.