ALTERNATE LEARNING: ALRN punk powerpop KBD Game Theory 7" 1979 *sealed*

$

89

Artist: ALTERNATE LEARNING

Title: ALRN

Label: RATIONAL (RAT 001)

Released: 1979

Cover: VG+ (bc/creases)

Record: SS

Description: Debut recording by Alternate Learning; guitarist Scott Miller would later form Game Theory & the Loud Family. This copy is still sealed with a white sticker; it looks like someone tried to peel it off and gave up. There's apparently an insert and a bunch of postcards inside the elaborate die-cut cover.

"The Scott Miller story begins with his first recorded band Alternate Learning (aka ALRN). Scott formed the band in high school with drummer Jozef Becker and guitarist Scott Gallawa. Some other band names they considered, according to Becker, were "Thin White Rope" and "Death Cab for Cutie" (!). Alternate Learning's debut record was a 7" EP called ALRN released in 1979. It had four songs, three by Scott Miller and one by Scott Gallawa, and a series of colorful inserts. 

The less said about Gallawa's song "Gumby's In A Coma" the better (although in this age of Google Alerts, I'll state for the record that it's "okay"), but Scott M's three contributions showed him to be the talent in the group. The second song on side one ("What's The Matter?") was a slice of angry adolescent punk rebellion he wrote a couple of years before ALRN, but the other two ("Green Card" and "When She's Alone") show a pop songcraft beyond his years. "When She's Alone" sounds quite a bit like Big Star, which is interesting because Scott Miller had evidently never heard any Big Star when he wrote it." - link

Listing a bunch of NDW & minimal synth items this week, including 7"s by Holger Hiller, Grauzone, ZK & more, most in like new condition...check out my other auctions!

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ALL ALBUMS ARE ORIGINAL PRESSINGS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

GRADING:

All records are play graded conservatively - I have never had a record returned due to bad grading (and I'd like to keep it that way). If you are unhappy with the condition of a record I've sold you, please get in touch before leaving negative feedback!

NEAR MINT (NM): Like new.

EXCELLENT (EX): Otherwise near mint but has slight cosmetic flaws that don't affect play. Close to perfect, with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident. The cover might have light ring-wear or minor denting to a corner, but should look close to new.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+): The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve, a slight scratch that does not affect play, or some of the original luster may be lost.

VERY GOOD (VG): Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise. Cover has heavy ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains.

VERY GOOD MINUS (VG-): Vinyl may have numerous scratches including heavy scratches that will tick, heavy surface noise. The cover might have large seam splits, tears, or writing on the cover that obscures the artwork. I usually don't list records in this condition unless it is an extremely rare title.

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GRADING ABBREVIATIONS:

auto: autographed / bc: bent corner / cc: cut corner / coh: cut out hole / cw: cover wear / H20: water damage / nap: not affecting play / obc: on back cover / ofc: on front cover / ol: on label / re: reissue / rw: ring wear / saw: sawmark / soc: sticker on cover / sol: sticker on label / sps: split seam / ss: still sealed / sw: seam wear (not split) / toc: tear on cover / tol: tear on label / ts: taped seam / wlp: white label promo / woc: writing on cover / wobc: writing on back cover / wol: writing on label

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SHIPPING:

* PLEASE WAIT FOR AN INVOICE BEFORE SENDING PAYMENT! *

All records are removed from the outer sleeve before shipping, and packed in a corrugated record mailer with cardboard spacers on either side to prevent damage. I don't use flattened Priority Mail boxes, padded envelopes, pizza boxes, etc. I collect records & know how I would want them shipped to me. For ALL locations double LPs & multi record sets count as 2 or more LPs.

I combine shipping for multiple items, see below for prices.

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~ UNITED STATES ~

First Class Mail (w/ delivery confirmation): $3.50 + .25 for each additional 45.

Priority Mail: $7.00 + .25 for each additional 45.

Priority Mail is insured for up to $100.00 & will get to you in 2-4 days. It will also provide a tracking number when the lp is shipped. REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

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~ CANADA ~

First Class International: $5.00 + .50 for each additional 45.

Priority Mail International: $16.00 + .50 for each additional 45.

REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

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~ MEXICO ~

First Class International: $7.00 + .50 for each additional 45.

Priority Mail International: $14.00 + .50 for each additional 45.

REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

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~ THE REST OF THE WORLD ~

First Class International: $8.00 + $1.00 for each additional 45.

First Class mail can be slow, expect to wait anywhere from 2-5 weeks. If you want to be able to track your package, you'll have to upgrade to Express Mail (see below).

Express Mail International: $35.00 

Much faster, provides a tracking number & insurance up to $100. REQUIRED for albums over $100.00 in value.

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