Yama and the Karma Dusters Up from the Sewers LP (1970) Rare 1st Pressing/Cover

$

125

The Original Pressing and Cover of "Up from the Sewers" by Yama and the Karma Dusters (1971). Extremely clean.   Played it once to find out what it was.  If you're looking for one of those rare moments in music history, this one is it. 
I think my correspondence with the band members a few years back tells the story: 
Ian, 
Congratulations on discovering your copy of the Yama and the Karma Dusters album. Here is some history. Euphoria Blimpworks was one of the first sound equipment companies to specialize in sound reinforcement for rock and roll. It was a hippie organization operating on a shoestring, inhabiting the basement of a loft building on lower wacker drive and later Tooker Place near Rush Street. They provided sound for places like Alices Revisited, Quiet Knight, Wise fools, the Colloseum, The Aragon among other places. We partnered with the Chicago Seed newspaper to provide free Sunday concerts on Hippie Hill in Lincoln Park. Yama and the Karma Dusters was the band affiliated with the sound company, by virtual that I was the drummer in the band and also a partner in the sound company. We recorded the album in the fall and winter of 1970 abd independently released the album in spring of 1971.   
We initially pressed 500 copies. The first 50 -100 or so had customized magic marker covers. Howard made the linoleum block stamp and we made the remainder the "fist rising out of a sewer" cover. Maybe 50 - 100 or so went to stores. The remainder were sold off the stage or given away. We did a second pressing of 500 with a "rose coming out of a sewer" cover. About 200 or more went to a distributor who did who knows what with them. I don't remember which cover we gave to the distributor. If you have a fist cover, it probably has some collector value. A rose cover sold on ebay for $400, I am told. The fist is indeed rare.   
If your mother in law obtained the record in 1971, she probably knew the band, and if not, she probably has some real good stories about the 1970-71 counterculture, music, political scene. If you want to hear some real history and have some fun, the next time you see your mother-in-law, open a bottle of good wine and ask her about how she got a copy of the record and what she was doing during this exciting period of time.  ~s~  Alan J. Goldberg  Hallmark & Johnson Properties, LTD 
The engineer who recorded the album was a guy named Barry Mraz, who worked at Paragon after he left Plynth Studio where this was recorded. Maybe your father knew him. Howard is in colorado as is Karen the organist and neal the bassist. Jerry field the violinist has a shop in Highland park. Dick Larsen is in SF. I am in chi town. Maybe we'll get some of us together for a re-release party. 
al 
On 12/17/08 8:22 PM, _______________ wrote: > 
Alan,   That's a great story. My dad is currently a Local 2 Stagehand specializing in sound.  He worked at Paragon Studios for quite a bit in the 70s. Before his membership in the union he worked the places you mention.  I am going to forward your narrative to him. I love the history. I have the perfect bottle of red for my mother-in-law. Thanks so much. Does the band get together and play any more? I think the music to be timeless. A couple of my students thought it was great too. 
Ian 
-----Original Message----- From: ______________ [mail:_____________] Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 7:00 PM To: agoldberg__________com Cc: how_howard____________ Subject: Yama and the Karma Dusters 
Al, 
I have one of the original Yama and the Karma Duster albums: Fist coming out of the sewer, wood block print, red cover. Awesome music. The vinyl is perfect. The cover art is very cool. I may frame it and put along some of my other records. (I am the family member that still has a turn table...everyone gives me their records when they clean house...this one from my wife's mother.) I asked Howard about the back. It seems the liner notes are gone. Interestingly, the glue used is the formation of an X. I don't know much about the band other than what I have read over the last two days on the internet. I am from Chicago, love the struggle against the powers that be and would love to hear more about the band. Also, Howard says I have something that is extremely rare. I would love to know the history of the record other than the two line blurbs on the internet. 
Thank you,  Ian 
Salut Ian, 
Sounds like you might have the real thing. They're extremely rare. The original liner notes were Elmer's glued to the back. Most have come loose and if they're with the album they're inside. Don't know about the X. It would be best to get with my erstwhile drummer Al, who takes care of the business side of things. He might have more info. He's at: agoldberg_hallmark____________.  Thanks for the post, Howard--   Howard Berkman Music  Post Office Box 877  Paonia, CO 81428