Incredible String Band 'Wee Tam & The Big Huge' MONO

	£		25
	$		33

Originally issued as a double LP set in 1968 in the U.K, Wee Tam & the Big Huge was split into two LPs for the U.S. market in 1969 to no avail; they still didn't sell. Eventually they became highly sought after especially if it came with the poem sheet by Robin. The music on these two albums is ultimately kinder than the Incredible String Band's earlier albums, their self-titled debut, and The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion and The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. 
This is the rarer MONO  double LP version from 1968 pressed on nice glossy thick vinyl in the UK with rare insert.
While the band members didn't give up their use of many Eastern string and reed instruments, they did employ more conventional Western folk song structures (somewhat), making the ease-of-listening factor much higher. Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, with Rose Simpson and Licorice McKechie, began to move toward the forefront of the collective here, asserting their often complementary but sometimes clashing styles over the gorgeous voices of the two women.
 The songs on the Wee Tam half are somewhat stronger, but those on the latter one possess a certain spaciness and childishness that is charmingly anarchic in spirit. What sets these records apart from the previous albums is that here the Incredible String Band accepted their mantle as a band, letting the excess fall by the wayside and actually writing "conventional" songs without giving up either their love for arcane music and quirky humour or the influence of LSD culture that informed their artistic venture from the jump.  Wee Tam & the Big Huge is not the innocent journey of a host of lost hippies in love with making weird, wonderful music from the wreckage of the distant past. Instead, the mysticism of the then-present era of the 1960s is fused together with progressive and ancient British Isles folk styles to produce a startlingly focused work. Ultimately, Wee Tam & the Big Huge is the sound of a band coming into its own. 
According to legend, the title for this album was suggested by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly.

Tracklisting and full treble headphones cruel play test in mono!!
Visually these two rare Mono pressings from 1968 look pretty clean with some surface marks but do look really nice unless held in light you'll spot  a mark here and some scuffing there but the surface is still shiny and overall quite nice....but you'll really want to know what it SOUNDS like!

This is the lovely monophonic cut from the UK and the original orange labelled edition that no one bought on release.Comes with that elusive poem insert.

A1. Job's Tears -
A2. Puppies -
A3. Beyond The See -
A4. The Yellow Snake - 
A5. My Log Cabin Home In The Sky
Well side A  has  varying surface noise/clicks/pops/ various scratches but as with all the playgrading below it will benefit from not putting the treble full up like I am here while wearing headphones! Grooves/music still holds up but a strict 5/10 in my opinion. Though all discs look really glossy but on inspection you will see various surface scratches or scuffs. No skips or sticking. An overall OK listening experience that's fine when music is louder etc. No groove wear just hippies handling this since 42 years ago.  Last track is best for this scrutiny. Generally nothing really horrible that'd make you stop listening to it but clearly not EX - - (though it does grade that occasionally BUT only occasionally)
B1. You Get Brighter
B2. The Half-Remarkable Question
B3. Air
B4. Ducks On A Pond
Side Two is slightly cleaner sounding - has crackle/surface/scratches but appear to be less so. Still I'm going to give it a 5/10 all the same! Generally this side again sounds best when the music rises in volume but seeing as ISB were keen acoustic players you do hear the surface/clicks come through especially when treble is pushed up on headphones. Again listening experience is OK with this taken on board. VG again sometimes reaching beyond that grade.

C1. Maya
C2. Greatest Friend
C3. The Son Of Noah's Brother
C4. Lordly Nightshade
C5. The Mountain Of God
Again the same as above just more surface on the quiet Maya  (VG-) opening track which get less audible on louder passages. Grooves and pressing still cut through the condition of this side. Once again there is no skips or sticking on my  Audio Technica Shibata Stylus. The beginning of track two Iron Stone is surfacey and a G ,I reckon.

D1. Cousin Caterpillar
D2. The Iron Stone
D3. Douglas Traherne Harding
D4. The Circle Is Unbroken
Slightly  less  surface opening on this side especially since track one is again an acoustic one. Weird album. Quieter play back here and there. Grooves/music have sung through again - must have  been a good pressing plant.  Still a  G/VG- to some EX- - - occasionally though if listened to on headphones treble up etc.

Recorded April, June & July 1968
at Sound Techniques, London.
Produced by Joe Boyd, Witchseason Productions Ltd.


This still appears to have 'The Head' poem by Robin intact and EX with minimal marring - the illustration and inks are still strong. This is one of the elements of this rare double LP that seem to go missing or get torn over the years.  This one has escaped the usual defects.
The paper inner sleeves are odd matching and scruffy. Record labels are tidy with general stoned spindle marks on and off but a good strong set of four labels all the same. Gatefold sleeve is pretty good shape. Overall VG+ maybe better.  On opening has small tear /scuff but generally has survived due to the laminated finish. 
All matrixes end with A1 for sides one and three and B1 for sides two and four. 
Visually deep glossy LPs with various marks depending on what side (second disc is the cleaner of the two) you are looking at. Overall play grading : G/VG- to occassional EX---- depending on quieter passages and side/track. Inspite of this description I didn't find any evil deep scratches that would make you want to move it on or not want to listen to the songs.
If these details are taken on board it will still be a listenable experience where the songs will win out.


Getting almost impossible to find one in any shape up for auction these days especailly starting at this low price.

We'll send this rarity worldwide via recorded delivery which will be determined by where you live so IGNORE the set £12 cost as it maybe more or less. Recorded Delivery in UK will be £4.