CROSSFIELD TAKE IT / COULD IT BE LOVE NY/PA PRIVATE PRESS PSYCH GARAGE TOY LABEL

$

36

     This auction is for the rare single by the band CROSSFIELD -- "TAKE IT!" b/w "COULD IT BE LOVE?".    The '45 was released circa 1969 on the Toy Toy Toy Record label...maybe out of Waverly, New York.  Catalogue number is SESAC Daisy Town 4041-20A/B. 

     First, some information...probably WAY more than you'll realize was out there...or want to know!  The song "Take It!" has appeared on two compilations.  One is the  Riding Easy Records vinyl/CD comp from April 2016 entitled "Brown Acid: The Second Trip".  Check out their website.  Some of the comps come on limited edition colored vinyl, black vinyl and compact disc.

    The second place is an unofficial CDR downloadable comp entitled "U Spaces Psychedelic Archaeology Series".  This was a ten-CD set of rare psychedelic songs, and "Take It!" appeared on the Volume 9 disc.  This compilation may have come out around 1999...

     Finally, if you want to hear "Take It!", you can find it on youtube.  There are three downloads of the song on their website.  Among the comments on one of the downloads, I came across this gem!  To quote; "Crossfield was a third rate band from Wilkes-Barre, PA. I wrote "Take It", music and lyrics, sang it, played B-3 and clav.  Never dreamed I'd find it on the web.  Thanks for the positive comments."

      That comment was listed about a year ago...written by the writer/co-writer of both sides of this record...Allen Selner!  This quote also clues me in to another piece of the puzzle.  I've noticed that a couple of other ebay sellers from around where I live have sold this same record over the years.  Mr. Selner's comment that the band was from Wilkes-Barre, PA explains why a few of these slabs have turned up around town...which is exactly where this copy hails from.  Case closed.... (By the way, one of the youtube listings Selner also lists his contact info if you feel like writing him yourself.)

     About the vinyl itself...I honestly think this single is unplayed and leftover store stock (EX condition looking anyway).  Bright and shiny...   After listening to both sides though, I will have to grade the SOUND as VG++, and this is probably going to be as near-perfect as you're going to find.   There is some moderate background noise on the opening riff of "Take It", which becomes less noticeable as the song unwinds (same thing with the B-side).  There is a VERY VERY slight warp on on one edge that does not affect play at all.  My thought is that it's just another lesser quality private pressing, and that's how ALL the pressings are (plus general storage conditions over the past 47 years...).

     I'll send the '45 in its original white sleeve, but I'll send along a new replacement for you too.

     I have seen "Take It" described at being Blue Cheer-like, with the fuzz guitar sound and all, plus ample amounts of clavinet and B-3 organ.  I can go with that...but the thing that struck me right off the bat was that the lead singer on this side sounded just like Steppenwolf's John Kay to me!  The B-side is a minor key ballad, but it moves along at a quick pace, with lots of organ (Deep Purple-ish) and guitar solo breaks.

     If you have any questions about this item, please feel free to email me.  Also, check out my other auctions going on NOW of various other items of interest.  Thanks again for looking...during these most troubled times...

   SHIPPING RATES (all rates include cost of shipping materials):

Shipping rates for 7" records

U.S. First Class to Media Mail ***

$ 4.00 1st record. 50 cents per additional.

*** Single 7" packages ship as First Class which only qualify to a light weight. Adding items take the package to Media Mail - a little slower - but economical. If you are adding items and want a shipping upgrade - perhaps to Priority - let me know.

US Priority Mail

$ 8.00 up to 6 singles, $ 1.00 each additional.

Canada

$ 9.95 1st single, $ 1.00 each additional

Worldwide (First Class International)

$ 14.95 1st single ***, $ 2.00 each additional (up to six total).

NOTE: ***SHIPPING UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES OVER $ 100 US. (Such as Priority with Tracking, Registered, etc. Rates and services vary by country). Please contact me in advance if you want more specifics.

Record Grading:

MINT (10) Perfect! Still sealed albums are presumed MINT, but covers may not be. I will not grade any opened album as "mint", since there's obviously been some handling.

NEAR MINT (9.5) ---- Close, but one or two tiny flaws that do not impact play. Vinyl may have a barely visible scuff mark, but no scratches. Label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers close to perfect with very minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident.

EXCELLENT (9) ----Disc plays near-perfect. There could be scuffs or a hairline scratch or two that does not impact play. Vinyl is bright and shiny. Label is clean and unmarked. Cover may have some slight corner creases or minor ringwear.

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (8) ---- Record handled and played occasionally, but very carefully. Very minor scratches and/or scuffs that should have little impact on the sound quality, or minor label imperfection---noted, but otherwise clean. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS records may have some light surface noise during quiet passages or between tracks. Covers: one or two minor wear issues such as writing on cover, corner creases, some ringwear, minor staining, etc. (All noted).

VERY GOOD PLUS (7) ----The record has been cared for, but has some minor flaws. Light scratches and/or marks/scuffs that won't make a big impact. Light surface noise here and there, but nothing to overwhelm the listening experience. Covers may have a few minor defects (duly noted). Those who are looking for pristine-only might not be pleased, but most music fans would be happy to have a collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD (6)---- The record has been played often with some care, but also a little neglect. Record displays visible surface wear---scratches or scuffs that will cause some minor to perhaps occasionally moderate surface noise. Vinyl could be "dull" at this point and not "shiny', or still perhaps shiny, but then a little more scratched-up. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. Most music fans would be happy to have a highly collectible album in this condition.

VERY GOOD MINUS (5) ---- Well-played with little luster and moderate surface noise, but skip-free. Lots of scratches/scuffs or fewer but more deeper marks. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork---seam splits, significant ring wear, tears, cuts, taping (all noted). I will only sell RARE "VERY GOOD MINUS" records.

GOOD (4) --- Pretty beat-up with lots of scratches, but not dead yet. Record should still appear not to skip, though it's possible it can. Surface noise is moderate to occasionally heavy. Seam splits are usually a bigger issue around this level with the records better off in a plastic sleeve. I only sell VERY RARE "GOOD" records. They are certainly "good enough" until another copy comes along.

GOOD MINUS (3) --- Even more beat with tons of scratches and LOTS of surface noise. Skips are possible, though I wouldn't intentionally sell a record that does. Given the right moment, fans could probably enjoy a GOOD MINUS record, but might also be irritated by it at times. I will only sell VERY VERY RARE "GOOD MINUS" records. Covers are hanging together by a thread (seams shot) but not intentionally defaced.

FAIR (2) ----FAIR records appear and sound lousy (significant surface noise, horrific scratches). I won't sell these, unless I find something that is SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Expect skipping or a very unpleasant listen. Covers may be defaced, seamless, stained beyond belief.

POOR (1) ---- Unlistenable and undisplayable.

9-25-161