FRANK & TOP TEN RARE fuzz Hammond library psych LP HEAR

$

76

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

Frank and the Top Ten "Meet the Gang"

Original late 60's/early 70's pressing on the  German Golden Ring label, RM 30 006 STEREO

Cover:  EXCELLENT, small name written on back

Vinyl:  Looks real clean, plays VG++ to EXCELLENT

Rip roaring fuzz-distorto Hammond-blaring library instro INSANITY here from the cryptically named Frank & the Top Ten, and the album’s called Meet the Gang.  This one stands out from the rest of the German Golden Ring series of library albums, since the concentration here is on big bottom-heavy funk grooves, dirty ripping fuzz guitar and plenty of wild Hammond.  Seems to be an odd pairing of studio forces that helped hatch these sounds too, with regular Golden Ring contributors like Bert Petri, Horst Bredow and Klaus Koester rubbing shoulders with some dude named Ken Aldin and two of the most AMAZING (probably fake) names in music history – Frank Mantis, and Juan Demonio!  Seriously, if you’re in a local band right now, and you don’t immediately change your name to Juan Demonio, then there’s something wrong with you.

Highlights on Meet the Gang include the ripping fuzz drenched hornfest “Double Face” and the crunchy, dirty, sweaty workout called “Way Down There.”  Which may describe the deep bottom-heavy bass groove, the mammoth ultra-wah-wah guitar overload that comes in at the 1-minute mark, or perhaps it just describes the birthplace of Mr. Juan Demonio!  (Insert Satanic laughter and thunderclap sfx here)  Hey, they even nick a couple sections from Blood Sweat and Tears “Spinning Wheel,” and if that’s not black-hearted evil, then I don’t know what is.

It’s also evil that the track “Tuning Up” sounds like the theme music to a game show that I can’t quite place, and if it weren’t for this deep-seeded Alzheimers thing, I could probably wrench it out of my gray matter with a few electric shocks.  I made a sound byte of it below, so if anyone out there knows, drop me a comment.  And if you happen to also know whatever became of Frank “Praying” Mantis or Juan “Horny” Demonio, please – share that with the rest of the Ebay world too.

 CLICK ON THE ICONS BELOW TO HEAR SOUND CLIPS FROM THE ACTUAL RECORD YOU'RE BIDDING ON.  PLEASE BE PATIENT - LOADING TIMES VARY.

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $5.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  I accept payments through Paypal, or you can send checks and money orders made out in US dollars.  Items paid by check are held 14 days for the check to clear.

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. 

And finally, I include delivery confirmation on all shipments inside the US.  This is my proof of shipment, and also helps us to track your package if it doesn’t arrive when it should.  I will email you within 2 days of shipment and give you the confirmation number at that time.  Insurance is always optional, but for larger orders, it’s highly recommended.  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.