FLAMES Soulfire 1968 ORIGINAL SOUTH AFRICA SITAR PSYCH Northern Soul LP LISTEN

$

52

THE FLAMES "SOULFIRE!" LP

ORIGINAL 1968 LP ON THE South African RAVE LABEL, STEREO RMG 1234

COVER IN VG+ shape, nice, some lamination crinkling, bubbling

Vinyl has light scuffs, plays VG+ to VG++ (soundclips below)

The Flames were probably South Africa’s most popular band in the late 60’s, which I know is kinda like saying “most famous actor working in Namibia”.  Still, these guys were top-notch musicians and songwriters, so much that they somehow got noticed by the Beach Boys in 1970, recorded an album on their Brother label, and gave the Beach Boys two musicians, Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin.  SOULFIRE finds them two years before, in 1968, when they were mixing competent soul, R&B and pop covers with excellent original compositions like the super catchy “If You Think You’re Groovy,” which woulda been a big hit in America if, say, Paul Revere and the Raiders had released it.  And, since this was 1968, they mix a little sitar into it.  For real psych heads, the full-blown Eastern magic carpet ride on SOULFIRE was undoubtedly “Solitude,” a groovy, lo-o-o-ng Indian sitar excursion with suitably distorted, stoned vocals.  It’s as good as any similar Eastern excursion from the British big boys – file alongside the Yardbirds’ “Still I’m Sad” or “Turn To Earth,” or the Elmer Gantry’s “Air,” or even “Within You Without You”.  It’s that good.  Of course, it helps when you’ve got Stig O’Hara in your band.   

HEAR IT!

PLEASE NOTE I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).  BUYERS FROM ITALY AGREE TO PAY FOR GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL INSURED ONLY!

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  Overseas shipping has, unfortunately, gone way up in the fast few months, which translates to $15 for the first LP to Canada ($3 each one thereafter) and $24 for the first LP everywhere else in the world, with each add'l LP an extra $5 (so it pays to buy more, nudge nudge wink wink).   I accept payments through Paypal. 

I try to grade as best as I can, and I list as many blemishes/imperfections I can find (writing, ringwear, scuff marks, etc.) – Also, please note that I DO listen to these albums – I may not listen to every track, but my grades are based on LISTENING, not just looking at it, since chances are you’ll be listening to the record you buy, not just looking at it.  Most of the albums I sell are the ones I’ve enjoyed for years – and I treat my records with kid gloves.  But sounds speak louder than words, so check out the sound clips below – they’re from the actual record you’re bidding on. 

SHIPPING AND PACKAGING

Listen, I buy a bunch of records too (when I’m not getting outbid at the last second, which is more often than not) – and I know what it’s like to get a rare, one-of-a-kind album packaged dangerously in a flimsy bubblewrap package.  I hate that too.  So rest assured, I ALWAYS package albums with stiff cardboard reinforcements, same for 45s.  And yes, the records are removed from the sleeves (for albums).  I ship out once a week, every Friday, because I have a regular day job.  But I’d be willing to give that up if you’d all be so kind as to bid my items up to stupidly high amounts. 

 For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a cost-effective way of tracking parcels to foreign countries yet, and shipping times vary depending on your country’s postal system.   Italy in particular seems to be really bad at delivering packages quickly, or delivering packages at all, now that you mention it.  I will always email you when your package ships, but once it’s on its way, please don’t ask me when it will arrive because I don’t know.  If the world’s postal systems can ever agree on a universal tracking system that’s affordable, I’ll be the first to use it.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN…

I will always leave positive feedback for successful transactions, and would appreciate the same in return.  All I ask of you is the following – please pay for your items within 14 days of the close of auction.  Compared to other sellers, that’s a generous amount of time, so if you don’t pay within 2 weeks, then I have to assume something’s wrong.  You’ll get an Ebay payment reminder at that point, and possibly a decapitated horse head in your bed.  If, after 30 days, you still haven’t forked up the cash, I’ll relist the item and yell at you if I ever see you in town.