GOSPEL OAK 1970 RARE VINYL LP - UNI UNLS113 KINGFISH GRATEFUL DEAD NRPS VG/EX

	£		30
	$		40

THIS IS THE RARE ORIGINAL U.K. LP BY GOSPEL OAK (EPONYMOUS); UNI UNLS 113 (STEREO), ISSUED IN 1970; MATRIX NUMBERS: 7-204-1W / 7-205-1W. VINYL IS GRADED EX, SLEEVE IS VG.

THE VINYL IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITHOUT VISIBLE SCRATCHES OR MARKS AND WITH A DEEP LUSTRE. THE “UNI SWIRL” LABELS ARE CLEAN AND UNMARKED, WITH MINIMAL SPINDLE MARKS. THE ALBUM PLAYS VERY WELL, WITHOUT ANY CLICKS AND MINIMAL CRACKLE ON LEAD-INS AND QUIET PASSAGES – IT HAS A REALLY NICE “PERIOD” SOUND. 

THE GATEFOLD SLEEVE IS CLEAN, RATED AS VG, WITH GOOD COLOURS ON THE PHOTOS AND REAR “OAK” ILLUSTRATION; ALL ITS WHITE TEXT IS CLEAN. THERE IS SOME FEATHERING OF ITS RIGHT-FRONT EDGE AND THE CORNERS, AND A COUPLE OF CREASES, BUT HAS A WELL-DEFINED STRAIGHT SPINE WITH ALL TITLE AND CATALOGUE DETAILS LEGIBLE (SEE PHOTOS).    

COLLECTOR’S HISTORICAL NOTES:

THE SOLE ALBUM BY GOSPEL OAK IS NOW VERY HARD TO FIND – THIS IS AN ORIGINAL UK PRESSING OF THIS OBSCURE CLASSIC. THE BAND WAS SHORT-LIVED, RATHER OVERSHADOWED BY ALL MANNER OF BANDS THAT APPEARED ON THE UK GIG CIRCUIT IN THOSE HEADY DAYS WHEN ROCK MUSIC SOAKED UP SO MANY INFLUENCES (AS IT CONTINUES TO DO). GOSPEL OAK’S MUSIC IS A FINE, GENRE-CROSSING MIX OF BLUES-ROCK WITH HIPPIE-COUNTRY LEANINGS (THAT’S MY OWN ATTEMPTED DESCRIPTION OF ITS DELIGHTS).   

THE BAND’S NAME could be attributed either to their base within the camden district of london bearing the name, or to the ancient rural (dendrocentric) tradition of parishioners gathering under a prominent oak tree for religious readings. I PRESUME THAT THE BAND’S COVER PHOTO SHOWS THEM AT THE VERY FOOT OF THIS MIGHTY OAK TREE – a lovely woody shot.   

They don’t really look like bible-bashers in that picture though, and dead-heads will know that Matthew kelly, who played guitar, harmonica & percussion on this rare album, was also a boyhood friend of the GRATEFUL Dead’s bob weir. PRIOR TO HIS UK ADVENTURE WITH GOSPEL OAK, KELLY HAD ACCOMPANIED SEVERAL BLUES LEGENDS, INCLUDING JOHN LEE HOOKER & T-BONE WALKER. 

after Kelly’s brief uk sojourn, he formed kingfish and was later joined by BOB weir; THEY also played together in ratdog. kelly guested on albums by the dead and new riders of the purple sage, and can be heard augmenting the dead’s FABULOUS stage sound on their 1978 live album “THE closing of winterland”.

I add all this related info for any deadhead completist vinyl-junkies out there – all part of the service!   

BAND PERSONNEL:

JOHN RAPP - vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar

BOB LE GATE - lead guitar, vocals

MATTHEW KELLY - guitar, harmonica, percussion

KERRY GAINES - drums, percussion

TRACK LIST:

Side 1

1. Brown Haired Girl

2. Common Expression

3. Recollections of Jessica

4. South Bleach

5. Big Fat White Man

Side 2

01. Why We Came

02. Go Talk To Rachel

03. O.K. Sam

04. St. Anne's Pretension

PLEASE NOTE:

THIS AND OTHER SELECTED ALBUMS I’M NOW SELLING ARE SOME RARE & CHERISHED ARTEFACTS FROM MY PERSONAL VINYL COLLECTION. MY MANY ALBUMS ARE KEPT UPRIGHT IN DEDICATED CABINETS, AWAY FROM SUNLIGHT, EXCESSIVE HEAT, FROST, DAMP, PETS, INFANTS, vagrants OR ANY OTHER STRANGE AND HITHERTO UNDISCOVERED LIFEFORMS THAT MAY READILY CONSUME PLASTIC, CARDBOARD OR PAPER. COLLECTORS CAN THEREFORE BROWSE MY OFFERS AND BID WITH CONFIDENCE!

ADMIN. INFO:

PAYMENT VIA PAYPAL IS PREFERRED; OTHERWISE THE WINNING BIDDER CAN PAY CASH ON COLLECTION, CHEQUE (CLEARED BEFORE DESPATCH OR COLLECTION) OR BANKER’S DRAFT.

PLEASE PAY WITHIN 3 DAYS – OTHERWISE THE RECORD MAY BE RE-LISTED AND OFFERED TO GENUINE BIDDERS.

THE FULL INVOICE VALUE (WINNING BID PLUS ALL POST & PACKING CHARGES) MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE RECORD IS DESPATCHED. IF paying upon collection in personal, full address and contact info should be submitted.

I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PASS ON ANY EXTRA PACKING AND DELIVERY CHARGES, ESPECIALLY IF THE WINNING BIDDER REQUESTS ANY SPECIAL DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS.

THE RECORD WILL BE SECURELY PACKED FOR POSTING IN A RIGID CARDBOARD OUTER CASING WITH THE RECORD AND INNER SLEEVE SEPARATED TO PREVENT ANY “KNIFING”, WITH STIFFENER CARDS TO PROTECT THE RECORD AND SLEEVES AND A NEW CLEAR PROTECTIVE OUTER SLEEVE.

THERE IS NO “BUY IT NOW” OPTION ON THIS RECORD – ALL COLLECTORS HAVE AN EQUAL CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR WINNING BID FOR THIS VERY RARE LP.

NON-UK BUYERS - PLEASE NOTE:

MY STANDARD POLICY FOR SHIPPING RECORDS TO MOST COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE UK IS to DESPATCH VIA THE ROYAL MAIL AIRMAIL “SIGNED FOR” SERVICE. THIS COST WILL BE ADDED TO THE FINAL INVOICE FOR NON-UK BUYERS UNLESS THE BUYER SPECIFIES AND AGREES TO PAY FOR ANY OTHER SPECIAL DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS.

I WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT HIGH-VALUE ITEMS ARE ADEQUATELY INSURED (I.E. TO THE PURCHASE VALUE), and reserve the right to pass on any such extra charge to the customer.

ANY POTENTIAL BIDDERS ARE INVITED TO CONTACT ME BEFORE BIDDING TO OBTAIN A QUOTE FOR ANY CHARGES FOR CARRIAGE& NSURANCE, OR ADVISE ME OF ANY SUCH SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS.

P & P CHARGES ARE ONLY AN “On COST” to me, COVERED by the buyer – i still buy records for my own collection, and avoid dealing with sellers that USE HIGH postal charges as a pRofit opportunity.

THANKS FOR LOOKING - HAPPY BIDDING AND GOOD LUCK!