TREES - ON THE SHORE -  ORIGINAL VINYL RECORD - CBS 64168 - THEIR 2nd LP  - 1970

	£		200
	$		265

TREES - ON THE SHORE - ORIGINAL VINYL RECORD - CBS 64168 - THEIR 2nd LP - 1970. Condition is "Used". Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd Class "Signed For " Service
"ON THE SHORE"  CBS  Records. Released January 1971 The second album by the legendary TREES. 
Availalble from the sellers private collection.  Owned from new. an album for Folk-Rock connasseurs & vinyl collectors.
This record, my second copy, was purchased from the amazing Colletts Folk & Jazz Record Shop  70, New Oxford St, W1 In early 1971. This is a genuine original release, CBS 64168. Identification is as follows :-- Matrix/Runout (Stamped) Side A :- S-64168 - A1  Side B ; S-64168 - B1
Valued by RCM at £320 (EX) & £200 (VG) I have seen it available at over £400 for an  equivalent copy.    
The Record is graded between Very Good (VG) to Excellent (EX) which is remarkable considering its age of 50 years. There are some hairline surface scuffs that do not manifest upon playing, but there is the rare odd click.There is no hole distortion.
The cover is graded Good (G) minus condition.  The faces are clean with some hairline creasing but no major bends as shown. The spine has some ageing along its length. The bottom edge has some aging and wear. The top edge has been trimmed very slightly to facilitate the cover being place within a picture frame. (Hence-  Good minus )  This does not detract the visual images & can enable the album to be inserted into the cover vertically as well as horizontally.    The Paper Sleeve is the original, depicting a selection of CBS 70s vintage releases. It has some long splits along the sides & is kept with the album for authenticity only. The record is housed in an additional paper sleeve. 
The producer was Tony Cox (Later of Sawmills Studios, Cornwall) & the Engineer was the ubiquitous Victor Gamm.  
The amazing cover artwork was designed by the multi talented Sorm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis Studios.  Captured at The Hill Garden, Hampsted Heath. The hand tinted images depict a (then) young Katie Meehan (daughter of Tony Meehan of Shadows fame), dressed in a victorian childs costume, hurling a container of liquid, that  forms an irregular ark of fluid pattern surrounding her body. The intense colour of Katies curls & the pale abstract colours of her dress, together with the trees & background, create an immense synergy, between the cover and the music on the record. 
Trees at the time of this recording were:-   Celia Humphris (Vocals), Bias Boshell (Bass & Keyboards), Barry Clarke (Lead Guitar), David Costa (Electric & Accoustic Guitar), Unwin Brown (Drums & Percussion). Additional musicians utalised for "On the Shore" were :- Tony Cox (Bass) & Michael Jeffries (Harp). 
Formed in early spring of 1969  Trees started gigging & producing early demo recordings throughout June & July.    Signing  with CBS in August of that same year. They produced two albums in quick succession "The Garden of Jane Delawney" (Released April 1970) and this masterpiece, "On the Shore" (Recorded October 1970 & released January 1971)  Both albums were recorded at Sound Techniques Studios Chelsea, London. 
The songs within,the album comprised of an amazing amalgam of  folk, rock and west coast phychedelic influences, that highlighted both traditional & original songs (especially Bias Boshalls songwriting abilities) played by the musicians, that were crowned by Celias haunting vocals.  When the band took off, with their instrumentals, they went flying.  In addition to their musical prowess, Trees had an ability to create musical tensions within songs, building them slowly to a hightened crescendo, then releasing back down to land.
    ComparIsons were made with Fairport Convention, (whom the group admired), but Trees music was more radial and west coast influenced. It flowed slow & fast around the virtuosity of guitarists David Costa &  Barry Clark, who if required, could run rings round other contemporary players. 
 "On the Shore" has been called  "The Holy Grail"  of Folk  Rock?  Possibly!  I would certanly place it in the top three. 
I had the privilage of seeing them play live only once.  That was Trees Mk2, comprising of Celia, Barry & former Mr Fox members Allen Eden (Drums), Barry Lyons (Bass), & former JSD Band member Chuck Flemming (Fiddle). Their performance was more intense & exciting, moving into heaver forms of folk rock.  The recordings on the bootleg album "Trees Live" reflect this, as well as further personal changes, including  the amazing electric violin playing of Joe O'Donnell. 
It is a reflection of the stature & musical content of "On the Shore" that has continued to grow & be reveared. That it has never been out of print or unavailable throughout its 50 years existance. Like a good book, it is always special to have the First Edition.  
Some observations on Grading :- MINT (M) The Record is in brand new condition, no surface marks, no sound quality deteration. Records designated sealed or un-played qualify as mint.  EXCELLENT (EX) The RECORD shows some signs of being played, but with minimal lessening of sound quality. The COVER &/or packaging may show slight wear &/or creasing.  VERY GOOD (VG) The RECORD has obviously been played many times, but manifests no sound quality deterioraton. Despite noticeable surface marks &/or light scratching.  Visible wear & tear on the COVER or additional items, without major defects, is acceptable.  GOOD (G) The RECORD has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, pehaps with some distortion and mild scratches. The COVER and contents may suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discolouration, etc.  FAIR (F) The RECORD is still just playable, but has not been cared for propery and displays considerable  surface noise; it may even jump. The COVER and contents will be torn, stained and/or defaced.