PROGRESS ORGANIZATION Barnodaj '71 CZECH PSYCH LP HEAR

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WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS…

THE PROGRESS ORGANIZATION "Barnodaj"

Original 1971 LP on the Czechoslovakian SUPRAPHON label, STEREO 1130985

Cover:  VG++, lamination in great shape, slight edge crimping

Vinyl:  Superficial marks on Side 1, visible mark on Side 2 but not feelable, plays VG+

The Progress Organization were a Czechoslovakian prog rock band but, as most first albums do, 1971’s Barnodaj finds them in a more psychedelic bag, which is good for me.  Actually, they sound a lot like an Eastern European Procol Harum, especially on organ-heavy epic ballads like “Icarus.”  You might also think Vanilla Fudge too, since they do a big organ-soaked heavy pomp cover of the Beatles “We Can Work It Out” which is nearly unrecognizable (but a heck of a lot of fun if you’re in the right mood), and a beefed-up cover of Cream’s “I Feel Free” that sounds like Jon Lord and Roger Glover got hold of it along the way.  Their best original would have to be the supremely warped and epic mind-melter “The Tree,” which features a stabbing harpsichord erupting into a swinging beer hall melody with belching horns, which suddenly veers off around the 2-minute mark into a break of random Keith Emerson & the Nice keyboards, spiraling random-note strings and freakish moaning female vocals, ushered back into the meat of the song by a farting Ron Geesin horn.  It’s literally like some modern-day DJ doing a mash-up of parts of the Koobas “Barricades,” Pink Floyd’s “Atom Heart Mother,” the Nice’s “Flower King of Flies”, King Crimson’s “Formentera Lady,” the Beatles’ “A Day In The Life” and Tom Jones, if you can even possibly imagine that.  You can’t, to be honest, so just click on the sound byte and see if you can pick out each part.  And if anyone knows of anything weirder that ever came out of Czechoslovakia (besides Franz Kafka), lemme know.

Points are also awarded for the fantastic swinging demented flamenco jazz funk of “Time,” an only-in-Czechoslovakia mix of Canterbury jazz rock signatures, rump-shaking Latino rhythms, and strange Godley/Crème vocals that breaks into a sinister swinging jazz funk groove midway.  Progressive rock forums claim Barnodaj isn’t nearly as “prog as their later works,” and for that I say thank the Baby Jesus.  But if you wanna sprinkle a little potent Eastern European acid in your topographic oceans, this twisted little album will get you there in no time.  Czech, please!

 HEAR IT!

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.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  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.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  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. 

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.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  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.