EXTINCT '72 DANDELION ORIG THE WAY WE LIVE GRAIL ACID FOLK HEAVY PROG PSYCH
$
425
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MEGA RARE ~ ORIGINAL 1972 FIRST PRESS
The WAY WE LIVE
A Candle For Judith
\ AUSTRALIA ~ DANDELION RECORDS - DAN 8004
MACHINE STAMPED A1 \/ B2 MATRIX
TOP COPY!
MEGA RARE Original 1972 first pressing lightly laminated single-fold cover of a holy-grail rated underground acid/folk/heavy psych winning combination
This is the rarer first "TRACTOR" LP when the British unit were known as "The Way We Live"...
It’s probably splitting hairs to refer to this as either the sole album from the group "The Way We Live", or the first "Tractor" album. The album is really both, and neither. In any case this original pressing is all but impossible to find today and very expensive if you do find it, starting at $700+ upward, for the UK issue.
The Way We Live ~ "A Candle For Judith"
Steve Clayton and Jim Milne, the long-standing collaboration that also spawned Tractor, got their start with these mostly simple but very engaging three-track recordings commissioned by John Peel way back in 1971. The ‘band’ was really just the duo of school-friends Clayton and Milne, backed at various times by various acquaintances in order to fill the occasional gig between school work and other activities. One-time band manager John Brierley had built a studio in his home where Clayton and Milne spent several months recording what would become this album. Among those who received a demo copy was the late DJ John Peel, who was at the time working to develop his Dandelion Records label. Peel liked what he heard and convinced the duo to travel to Birmingham in the spring of 1972 to re-record the demo at Spot Studios and on to then-Marquee Studios, which at the time was outfitted for eight-track recordings. The album was mixed there and released in 1972. By the time the album released the band was already working with Peel to develop their sound and had settled on the new name: "Tractor."
So here we have The Way We Live’s only release "Candle For Judith" which received critical acclaim but little commercial success, and an original pressing is one of those almost mythical-elusive rarities that most of us mere mortals will never get our hands on.
As for the music, there is an interesting mix of sounds here, ranging from rather straightforward hard rock to folk to psych, but all amazing considering the richness of sounds that came out of just two guys. The opening “King Dick II” sounds a bit like an early Black Sabbath bluesy recording, but with more like a Paul Rodgers sounding vocal. This is probably the heaviest song on the record, and the instrumentation is very well done centered on very lively sharp electric guitar, and what sounds like dueling basses, coupled with dirge inspired drumming.
The band shifts almost 180 degrees for “Squares”, a staid, mellow and acoustic acid-folk gem with an inspired electric bass line. A classic "grower" with repeat plays, it's infectious melody is really grabbing: “Life is a circle of emptiness; each day is a circle of emptiness. It’s not knowing the road, it’s also knowing the load.” The more one listens to it, the more it latches on with sensitive interplay of quiet guitar and persistent bass, and considering the relative seclusion in which these two developed their sound and the fact that this was 1971, the "hippie" vibes are excusable.
“Siderial” is a great acoustic guitar instrumental with a bit of an Indian flair to it and some very precise percussion that combine to make this an engaging if somewhat surprisingly out-of-place tune. This one fits well with the more Latin-flavored instrumental “Madrigal” which comes toward the end of the album.
Besides “Squares” the other tune that really cements this LP also (besides hard rock) is a prime acid-folk album titled “Angle”, another acoustic work with somewhat nonsensical lyrics : “you can’t know now but I see the way ahead - you’ll die no doubt, but your words will not be dead. Your curse will live on those who come here after” ...a well-done folk based number with nice acoustic guitar and comfortable vocals.
The band heads into HEAVY-ROCK territory with “Storm”, with Jim Milne laying down some very tight blistering electric guitar work. For anyone who grew up during the early seventies this track should make an instant connection, and will undoubtedly remind you of any number of bands or old favorites from that era.
And speaking of reminding you of something, “Willow” kicks off with a guitar riff that will be instantly recognizable from the opening chords of Zeppelin II’s “Whole Lotta’ Love”. For some reason though you shouldn't get annoyed about the apparent copping of Jimmy Page. Clayton seems to be trying to effect a Robert Plant vocal as well, but both of them ending up sounding just different enough that this doesn’t come off sounding like a rip-off.
The longest and most original track is saved for last. “The Way Ahead” has a little bit of a sixties "beat-rock" feel to it at times, but the driving beat and spacey, harmonized vocals combine with a pretty unusual loudly-chugging guitar riff to make something that is as close to a signature sound as anything else the band did here. A first-rate effort!
All told this is a very nice LP rarity that serves not only to provide a glimpse into what would have otherwise remained a legendary and mysterious prog folk cult recording; but also manages to provide a well-documented and comprehensive retrospective for the brief-lived ‘The Way We Live’ version of Tractor. Highly recommended to all serious and purist progressive music fans, as well as anyone who digs prog acid/folk & heavy (psych) or just wants to own a special & obscure holy grail rated item from the early '70s UK underground scene...
King Dick II ...(3:19)
Squares ...(4:44)
Siderial ...(3:50)
Angle ...(1:25)
Storm ...(5:25)
Willow ...(6:30)
Madrigal ...(1:59)
The Way Ahead ...(8:45)
CONDITION: The cover: Delicate & fragile, been in careful hands the past 43 years, rated: "EX" (excellent) to M- which makes this copy all the more special as there is no way you can normally expect a cover of this fagility in this sort of beautiful condition....still has fresh original colors, no delete marks, no split seams, no bends, and no writing ... High end collection worthy rarity ...
The vinyl: Clean and glossy over both sides, rated: M- TOP COPY expect play grade to reflect very clean enjoyable audio...NO distracting surface problems ... both DANDELION labels are clean
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
NOTE: All Items backed by money back guarantee! IF you have a problem PLEASE let us solve for you BEFORE leaving ANY negative feedback. Thanks! GRADING SCALE: M, M-, EX, VG++,VG+, VG, VG- M Completely clean, no marks M- Carefully used, looks clean, plays clean, shiny gloss, no marks EX Faint scuff or superficial mark, near M-, high gloss, plays clean VG++ Glossy with minimal scuffing or light mark playing very nice, clean VG+ a bit more scuff or markls still plays well with very minimal surface at worse VG more marks/scratches only minor, nothing deep, no loud clicks or pops this grade is abused by many, VG here does not mean "trashed" VG- surface noise present, will not have skips or jumps ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 5 DAYS Of AUCTIONS END BIDDERS PLEASE = Do Not Bid If You Are Not Serious About Following Through The Transaction! ALL ITEMS GUARANTEED FOR WINNING BID - LESS SHIPPING!
