GREEN BULLFROG: GREEN BULLFROG (DEEP PURPLE), 1ST UK PRESS MCA VINYL

	£		123
	$		163

HERE is a rare find - a lovely first UK pressing of Green Bullfrog by Green Bullfrog on the original blue and black MCA label. From the very first (possibly only) batch of 300 to leave the factory in 1971!

The lovely thick disc is in strong EX condition with hardly a mark to be seen; the labels are both pristine with only one or perhaps two spindle marks, showing the lightest and most careful use.

The single sleeve is probably as good as you are likely to get - that is if you were ever to come across another copy. This type of unlaminated sleeve is clearly going to be vulnerable to all sorts of usage and storage wear but this is a very presentable VG keeper copy. There is evidence of edge and spine wear plus the lightest of ringwear and miniscule creasing here and there, plus the inevitable impression of the disc within together with a few indentations, including a squiggle on the rear over the last two letters of the title at the top of the panel, although this is only noticeable when angled to the light.

Undoubtedly this album is one of the most elusive of all the most sought after '60s and '70s UK vinyl. I have only ever seen two copies of the original first UK press (including this copy), both bearing 1/1 matrices and 1 - B mother stampers, showing they were truly from the very first batch of 300 to leave the factory; I would not be surprised to learn that this was the only batch produced, bearing in mind that the record company knew it was never going to be properly promoted. 

Good luck if you are bidding. Be reassured that you will receive your record carefully packed in MUSICMAX card protectors with at least two stiffeners and the disc removed from the outer sleeve to avoid knifing.

IF you are here you will surely know the following (from Wikipedia) but just in case:

Green Bullfrog is a rock album recorded by an ad-hoc band of musicians under the guidance of producer Derek Lawrence. The bulk of the album was recorded over two sessions at De Lane Lea Studios, London in 1970, with later string and brass overdubs. It was originally released in 1971, with reissues in 1980 and 1991.

For contractual reasons, the original album listed pseudonyms in the credits, which led to speculation as to who actually performed on the record. The musicians were eventually confirmed as including Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Paice, Procol Harum's Matthew Fisher, and session guitarists Albert Lee and Big Jim Sullivan.

The album was recorded in two overnight sessions on 20 April and 23 May 1970 at Kingsway Studios (later De Lane Lea Studios), London, starting at 11pm. Deep Purple and former Lord Sutch guitarist Ritchie Blackmore had previously worked with Lawrence, and bought along Purple's drummer Ian Paice. Blackmore and Paice arrived at the studio directly from Deep Purple gigs on both occasions. Session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan was invited as he had originally taught Blackmore how to play guitar and was greatly admired by him. Guitarist Rod Alexander was friends with Blackmore and worked in a music shop nearby. He arrived at the session to deliver some guitar strings, and was persuaded to stay. All the musicians had wanted to play together for some time, but were too busy with touring or session work to do so. Singer Earl Jordan had been doing sessions with the Les Humphries Singers. He put down guide vocals during the main session, then re-recorded all his parts after everyone else had left.

The first release of the session was on 19 March 1971 in the US by Decca Records, as well as a single coupling the tracks "My Baby Left Me" and "Lovin' You Is Good For Me, Baby" (Decca 32831.) It was issued in the UK by MCA Records in March 1972 after Lawrence played some tracks to company president Mike Maitland. However, Maitland had left the company by the time the LP was released, so it was not promoted and was not commercially successful.