1970 Shrink Wrap PEARLS BEFORE SWINE ASHES Folk Psych

$

33

*** ATTENTION!

 1970 Original FOLK-PSYCH GEM still in original shrink wrapper!                                                          

       "The Use Of Ashes"

        Pearls Before Swine

                                         USA - Reprise 6405

Rare 1970 Original vinyl pressing ***STILL IN ORIGINAL SHRINK WRAPPER*** and Mint!

The Use Of Ashes was the fourth album made by psychedelic folk group Pearls Before Swine, and the second on Reprise Records after their move from ESP-Disk.

Many of Rapp's admirers regard this album, and particularly the first side of the original LP (tracks 1 through 5), as the finest and most consistent of all his albums.

The opening track, "The Jeweler", with its refrain of "He knows the use of ashes / He worships God with ashes", came to him when he saw his wife cleaning a piece of jewelry with a paste made from ashes, and is generally regarded as one of his finest and most poetic songs.

According to Tom Rapp's comments, the songs were written while he and his wife were living in the Netherlands, which Rapp said contributed significantly to the air of romanticism throughout. "Jeweller" opens the album with an exquisite tale that exemplifies Rapp's remarkable abilities to draw upon disparate metaphors such as shining coins and worshiping God, both involving the Use of Ashes -- hence the title. The rural mood effortlessly fuses with David Briggs' baroque-flavored harpsichord on the delicate "From the Movie of the Same Name," featuring Rapp and spouse Elisabeth on non-verbal vocalizations as they "da-da-da" the melody. Although "Rocket Man" predates the Elton John cut by a couple of years, Bernie Taupin cites it as his inspiration for the lyrics behind John's 1972 Top Ten hit. The words are credited as having been influenced by a Ray Bradbury novella that dealt with the universal emotion of loss. Again, Briggs' keyboard runs relate the story with subdued refinement. By contrast, "God Save the Child" is one of the more amplified inclusions, making good use of heavies Kenneth A. Buttrey (drums) and Charlie McCoy (guitar), especially when placed against the restrained string section. Another sonic texture in the tapestry is the complex "Tell Me Why," shimmering with an uncredited vibraphone lead gliding beneath Rapp's whimsical lines. These tracks are offset by the noir "When the War Began," the ethereal love song "Margery," and the mid-tempo retelling of the "Riegal," a ship whose 4,000 inhabitants perished during World War II. Rapp's juxtaposition of stark imagery reveals that while Pearls Before Swine might not have continued the bombastic direction set about on their earlier protest works "Uncle John" or "Drop Out," they maintained social and political relevance.                                             

                                            .The Jeweler (2:48)

• From the Movie of the Same Name (2:21)
• Rocket Man (3:06)
• God Save The Child (3:08) ("Elisabeth helped")
• Song About A Rose (2:21)
• Tell Me Why (3:43)
• Margery (3:03)
• The Old Man (3:16)
• Riegal (3:13)
• When the War Began (5:07)

CONDITION: The cover is very clean and strong everywhere, in original factory shrink wrapper, M-

The vinyl is all glossy having a couple light marks here or there, VG+ visible, playing well enjoyable, heard a bit of low end surface but nothing to exciteable.

           A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record