FAMILY A SONG FOR ME 1st UK REPRISE PROG PSYCH MiNt AuD

	£		89
	$		118

FAMILY ''A SONG FOR ME'' 1970 1st UK PRESSING CAT NO.RSLP 9001 REPRISE 1ST ISSUE LABELS WITH 'LARGE STEAMBOAT LOGO' VERY NEAR MINT AUDIO!!ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! TRULY SPECTACULAR 1ST ISSUE MACNEIL PRESS GATEFOLD!! '1' TO '1' MOTHER STAMPERS!

 COMPLETE WITH LYRIC INSERT AS NEW!!!

Another from my personal collection! This album has been stored in a case with the vinyl and sleeve seperated from the cover for protection! This is how i have alwaysd stored my records! This 39 year old, 1st issue Prog psych album is in truly superbe condition rarely seen like this. The audio is truly stunning throughout, without the usual clicks or pops that are so often heard on 39 year old vinyls! The audio was very near perfect on my systems! Played and tested track for track prior to listing at loud volume on a top system! The original gatefold has also been preserved in superbe condition and complete with the original lyric insert! Very sought after and collectable like this!!! 

A Song for Me is the third album from the British progressive rock band Family, released in January 1970!!

When Family went into Olympic Studios in London to record this, their third album in late 1969, a great deal was riding on the outcome. It was to be their first album with new members John Weider on bass and Poli Palmer on keyboards, flute and vibraphone, and their sound was expected to be different from the one the band had achieved with Ric Grech on bass and Jim King on saxophone. The previous year had been a year of disastrous setbacks for Family, with Grech having left for Blind Faith and King forced to leave for getting too deep into drug addiction. In addition, their first U.S. tour had been a disaster. The band recovered, though, and released A Song for Me at the beginning of 1970!!

Much of A Song for Me shows Family exploring various popular forms, from jazz and blues to folk and country. "Some Poor Soul" was a richly detailed song about a nocturnal scene of wildlife. "Song For Sinking Lovers" adds banjo and violin creating an unusual hybrid of heavy progressive rock with strong country and folk music influences. "The Cat and the Rat" is in an updated 1950's Rock and roll style, which was one of Roger Chapman's favorite genres. The group experimented with strange guitar arrangements in songs like "Stop For the Traffic (Through the Heart of Me)" and added nontraditional instruments, like Palmer's vibraphone, to a steamy blues-rock number like "Love Is a Sleeper."

The biggest achievement on "A Song for Me" was the nine-minute, sixteen-second title track that was among one of the nastiest musical performances ever recorded. As on other tracks, Roger Chapman used his "electric goat" vocal to style to great effect, while other band members tried to get the meanest, scariest sounds out of their respective instruments.

A Song for Me was a major success in Britain, and it established Family as prime innovators in the British rock underground.

!.

Although many of the songs on this record had been written with King's saxophone in mind, Charlie Whitney and Roger Chapman were able to rework them with Palmer's instruments, and Palmer quickly made himself integral the Family's sound. Because some of these songs had been debuted in live performances in the previous year, many Family fans found themselves getting accommodated to arrangements that sounded radically different from what they expected. The opening cut, "Drowned In Wine," presented Family as a newly confident band ready to take chances and push rock into uncharted territory. This song was a sharp, heavy blast of rock and roll that made a clean break with Family's earlier work.

Family were an English rock band that formed in 1967 and disbanded in 1973. Their style has been characterised as progressive rock, although their sound often explores other genres, incorporating elements of such styles as folk, psychedelia, acid, jazz fusion and basic rock 'n' roll. The band was never particularly successful in the United States, although Family did achieve recognition in the United Kingdom, appearing at several festivals!!!.

The band's rotating membership throughout its relatively short existence led to a diversity in sound throughout their different albums. Family are also often seen as an unjustly forgotten act, relative to some other bands in existence during the same era, and have been described as "odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans!!"

Family formed in 1967 in Leicester, England from the remaining members of a group that was previously known as The Farinas and later The Roaring Sixties, whose sound was grounded in R&B.The Farinas originally consisted of John "Charlie" Whitney, Tim Kirchin, Harry Ovenall and Jim King, forming at Leicester Art College in 1962. Ric Grech replaced Kirchin on bass in 1965 and Roger Chapman joined the following year on vocals. The American record producer Kim Fowley suggested they call themselves "The Family", as they regularly wore double-breasted suits in performances, giving themselves a mafia appearance, a look they soon abandoned in favour a more casual dress code. Family's debut single, "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens/Gypsy Woman", produced by Jimmy Miller and released by Liberty Records in October 1967, was not a particular success. Around this time, drummer Harry Ovenall was asked to leave the band and was replaced by Rob Townsend!!.

The band signed with the Reprise Records label (the first UK band signed directly to UK and US Reprise) and their debut album Music in a Doll's House, was recorded during early 1968. Jimmy Miller was originally slated to produce it but he was tied up with production of The Rolling Stones' album Beggar's Banquet and he is credited as co-producer on only two tracks, "The Breeze" and "Peace Of Mind". The bulk of the album was produced by former Traffic member Dave Mason. and recorded at London's Olympic Studios with engineers Eddie Kramer and George Chkiantz. Mason also contributed one composition to the album, "Never Like This", the only song recorded by Family not written by a band member  and the group also backed Mason on his February 1968 single "Just For You/Little Woman"

1. "Drowned in Wine" - 4:08
2. "Some Poor Soul" - 2:44
3. "Love is a Sleeper" - 4:00
4. "Stop for the Traffic (Through the Heart of Me)" - 2:09
5. "Wheels" - 4:38
6. "Song for Sinking Lovers" - 4:04
7. "Hey" - "Let It Rock" - 1:02
8. "The Cat and the Rat" - 2:30
9. "93's O.K. J" (Whitney, Weider) - 3:57
10. "A Song for Me" (Whitney, Chapman, Weider, Townsend) - 9:13

The Vinyl

On visual inspection this vinyl looks absolutely superbe! The vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turntable! This is the original heavier thicker type of vinyl with deeper grooves only found on these original earliest pressings!!! They are also more robust than later pressings which were more flimsier!!!Initial inspection I can barely see a blemish at all on the playing surface!! In strong light only could possibly any very light whispy surface marks  be seen Sleeve removal only in my opinion, at least no audio sounding marks or scratches that I heard! These would have (no) adverse effect on this awesome and absolutely near perfect audio throughout on my systems!!!

The Audio Quality

 I CAN'T SEE ANY NEEDLE OR AUDIO SOUNDING MARKS OR SCRATCHES Please note!  Certainly (no) marks that are audio sounding that I heard that would produce any loud clicks or pops during the audio at all!  I have played this through track for track as usual on a top system at very loud volume using a dedicated mono cartridge!! and the audio is rated at the top graded as good as it gets on any format in my opinion !  This is cristal clear and vibrant through out. This plays with (no) signs of any distortion or that this has been overplayed WHAT SO EVER!!!! In fact this has been stored in a case laying dormant for over 25 years and only initialy ever played a handful of times only! mega mega rare like this in mono! I would class myself as highly critacle! Please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right!!!! Audio is graded at the top!!! You will find the audio quality on this vinyl hard to surpass!!!Audio graded very near mint!!!

Please note! I always make this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd static crackle (not) consistant throughout the audio! Please remember that this is a genuine 39 year old vinyl (not a reissue) that would have originally been played on a 39 year old system!!!!

Please note! This has been stored in a case for at least 25 years! Any static crackle that might be heard during some quiet parts could be minimised by constant cleaning before each play in my experiance!, Build up of dust and dirt that has accumilated over the years from the vinyl being stored! laying dormant causes most of this problem so please allow for some light static crackle as  previously mentioned!!!!! I would class myself as highly critical ! Please look at my completed listings of records that I have sold of this calaber and you will see that I normally get it right!!!!

The Matrix

Side 1 ''RSLP 9001 A-2''

Side 2 ''RSLP 9001 B-2''

The Mother Stampers

Side 1 ''R'' ''1'' (Mega early Stampers)

Side 2 ''H'' ''1'' (Mega early Stampers)

The Labels

These feature the 1st issue Reprise 'Large Steamboat labels (only 1st press) in superbe condition! Spidering can be seen angled to the light, there is little if no spindleware the hole is perfectly round!

The Record Sleeve

This is a plain white poly lined sleeve.

The Cover

This is the 1st issue unlaminated MacNeil Press printed gatefold! This is in truly awesome condition for 39 years old, being primarily black in color these are very difficult to find like this! Just bare minimal storageware in the form of very light rubbing only! Superbe spine without any splits or tares! Unbeleivable! This must grade at least excellent to excellent plus!!! 

The lyric insert

This is in near perfect condition (rarely seen like this!!)

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA\CANADA\JAPAN\AUSTRALIA IS 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS 3.90 SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

(ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED BY AN INSURANCE UP TO A VALUE OF £36.00 FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF GOODS IN TRANSIT. AN ADDITIONAL (OPTIONAL) FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY INSURANCE OF A HIGHER VALUE. PLEASE NOTE, THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT ONLY TO A CERTAIN VALUE THAT CAN BE INSURED! 

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

MY NEW POLICY! Because of the unfortunate recent problems that I have had with non payments, Any new ebayers with low,poor or no real history,  Please do not bid on my records without first contacting me! These bids will be cancelled and the bidder will be blocked from further attempts to bid on my items.   

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

>>>>     <<<<

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

>>>>     <<<<