COVEN - Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls - VERY RARE 1969 ORIG TRI ALBUM

	£		165
	$		219

COVEN - Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls - VERY RARE 1969 ORIGINAL.

Artist or Band: COVEN

Album Title: Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls.

Producer(s): Bill Traut.

TRACK LIST: 

Side 1: 

 Black Sabbath

 White Witch of Rose Hall

 Coven in Charing Cross

 For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

 Pact with Lucifer

 Choke, Thirst, Die. 

Side 2: 

 Wicked Woman

 Dignitaries of Hell

 Portrait

 Satanic Mass.

Label/Format: Mercury – matt, smooth surfaces with deep ring ridge.

Label Conditions: Both immaculate, as new and unmarked. Ultra clean, fresh and attractive, on this evidence this record appears barely even played.

Cat Number: SR-61239.

Mode / Speed: Stereo / 33.3 rpm.

Warps: Assume all records I offer have no warping of any significance and all tracking is easy and effortless and should play on all turntables and even ‘budget’ decks.

Weight of this Record: 123 grams. An average weight.

Country of Manufacture: United States, this was issued on the UK.

Rarity & Overview: Very Rare: this album was so ahead of its time, it almost invented the dark side of rock music – and so-much-so, it was almost immediately withdrawn. The cover was a very unusual double gatefold for the time – maybe even a first? But when opened on the first spread, it must have caused a few raised eyebrows – I had to apply a small cover-up of course – but the controversy did not end there. This is reputed to be the first black occult album that inspired a whole new genre in rock music. The opening track is called ‘Black Sabbath’ – and this album was issued prior to the more famous acts debut album – with subject matter that was very much similar that that more famous 1969 album. They are recognized as being the band that first introduced the ‘Sign of the Horns’ to rock and metal music before it was seen here. The band members – fronted by the stunning blonde Jinx Dawson on vocals – were all into the occult, this was no publicity stunt as such for sales – it was purely natural to them. But this infamous album was too much too soon for the US market, hence it was almost immediately withdrawn from sale. It is rarely seen or offered, especially outside the United States. The album even concludes with a real santanic mass ritual that has distinctly eerie overtones. With a very arty cover that pull not punches, it will rarely be seen, especially in such fine condition – as most will know, American covers are more fragile and wear prone. This has withstood the test-of-time well and looks magnificent with very little wear. The record appears hardly played, a little gentle surface sound briefly near the start of each side, but overall, a very fine pressing that would have only been made in tiny numbers. You want something rare and different, this Coven debut album is simply that. Musically a very fine album with Dawson’s vocals powerful and very full-on. But it’s the fact it practically invented and paved the way for a new genre of dark metal rock, this only briefly available album has it’s place in music history – even if few would have even heard of it.

Original Year of Release: 1969

Matrix Nos: SR 61239-A-M1 / SR 61239-B-M1

Musicians: Jinx Dawson – lead vocals; Jim Donlinger – guitar, vocals; Jim Nyeholt, John Hobbs, Rick Durrett – organ, piano, keyboards; Alan Estes, Oz Osborne – bass guitar; Steve Ross: drums, percussion.

Brief Info: This has to be one of my rarest albums to date: a classic, groundbreaking and pioneering album within the occult, gothic or dark metal genre – this album practically invented a new form of music. In 1967 to 1968 they toured The Yardbirds, Alice Cooper and Vanilla Fudge and others. Fronted by the unmissable face of Jinx Dawson, a long-haired blonde who has a full-on vocal. Controversial subject matter was the order-of-the-day – ‘The White Witch of Rose Hall’ is based on the story of Annie Palmer. It attracted a lot of unwanted publicity and attention, so Mercury almost immediately withdrew it from sale, hence very limited sales and rarely seen. The band are reputed to have signed the Mercury contract with their own blood. The sign of the horns and the inverted cross were first seen here, as well as the infamous ritual artwork. This is a top copy as well, a piece for collectors who take underground music and albums seriously. A lesser-known gem as such, but pushed new frontiers – they even had a band member called Oz Osborne.

Cover Front: Cover has a couple of line indentations on the left upper corner PLEASE SEE PHOTOS This is the very first example of this album I have ever seen, and I doubt if will ever see a much better example in the UK. The deeply coloured and fresh front looks superb. Yes, a little fine rim rubbing near the top edge, but I doubt few will have less knowing US covers well enough. Tiny tip rubs apart and this, it has little else to fault – a cover as groundbreaking as the content of the record.

Cover Back: Tip rubs only, little else to fault, this is truly exceptional.

Cover Inner Gatefold (1): Within specialist collector’s circles, this artwork is famous – it apparently was available for the few who bought this as a poster via mail-order – well this spread is big enough and in superb condition. As stated, a small censorship cover-up was made only for visual purposes of course.

Cover Inner Gatefold (2): The second spread shows the song, and even the full mass lyrics, again this is practically as-made.

Top Edges: All edges are straight with barely any hint of wear and NO splits or repairs.

Bottom Edges: As above.

Right Edge(s), and Type: The front has a real edge (no cut) and is barely worn. The other two single thickness card edges are very clean, sharp with barely any wear either. The lack of thickening or burring has to be considered unusual. The record enters this cover inside the second inside spread, thus finding this area so unworn is a huge plus.

Spine and Text: Solid, straight with minimal compression and folded square, so the edges meet up very closely together and parallel – this a crucial factor for a double gatefold for maximum neatness and good looks. A little light rubbing to the fold hinges, but far less than can almost realistically be expected from a cover this great age. Most rubbing on the top corner, but the main surface itself has little. All text near perfect with just the odd tiny letter clip, small split down side please see photo.

Corners: Light to moderate tip rubbing to the more exposed outer corners, but the inside ones have hardly anything. Very fine to excellent shape retained, even better inside.

Cover Summary: A controversial and daring cover for the time, but now regarded as a pioneering classic, and of course, rare and elusive. A very strong all-round example and one that will prove very difficult to find much better. This rare original item should please many, if not most collectors.

Vinyl Condition A superb looking US Merucry record. Very clean with equally fine shine and solidly pressed. A copy hardly run-in in vinyl terms with any surface blemishes minuscule, even under bright angled light. This even avoiding the usual surface scuffs that most US imported records seem to acquire. Visually a super record that should please most-all collectors.

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kind regards