RARE & OBSCURE prog CHIRCO "Visitation" '72 WLP ORIGINAL with insert THE REMAINS

$

35

DESCRIPTION:
Very scarce '72 prog-rock LP by Chirco--one of only two releases on the ill-fated Crested Butte label. White label promo copy with original lyrics insert. Barry Tashian of The Remains fame contributed one song and assisted with the recording duties. This item is an original '72 pressing, not the later reissue.

COVER:
VG+ with only light wear, mostly at corners. No bends, warps, stains, marks, writing or tears. A 3" split at top center has been expertly reglued--otherwise, all seams are complete and intact (see photos).

DISC:
Mint with no visible defects of any kind--a more stunning example is hard to imagine! Plays perfectly flat and centered, with mirror-like original gloss. Sound is excellent and like new with almost NO surface noise.

LABELS:
Near Mint with only the faintest hint of a spindle trail or two--otherwise perfect and free of any defects whatsoever--gorgeous!

INSERT:
Mint and perfect with no defects of any kind. The printed lyrics reveal a subtle spiritualism in the songs--the more overt Christian messages (that are not sung) are literally written between the lines!

INNER SLEEVE:
A newer poly-lined protective sleeve is provided in addition to the original plain white inner sleeve.

REVIEWS:
While 1972's "The Visitation" was recorded in New York and Connecticut, the Colorado based Crested Butte Records somehow obtained distribution rights. Produced by Mike Cuscuna and John Forster, given it was released by a small independent label, sonically the album's surprisingly impressive and sounds particularly good with a quality set of headphones. As mentioned earlier, the set wasn't really psychedelic, but rather offered up a nice mix of 1970s hard rock and Styx-styled progressive moods. Thematically and musically the set was divided into two suites - 'Older Than Ancient' and 'Younger Than New'. In spite of the fact many of the eight selections present a vague, new age-styled spiritualistic message, most of the songs sported interesting arrangements and a couple actually rocked out...highlights include '33 Years', 'Golden Image' (the one song with a slight psych tinge), and 'Dear Friends'.  The songs were also interesting for their unexpected twists and turns (see the song-by-song descriptions below).  The album was also interesting for it's link to The Remains' Barry Tashian.  Tashian apparently helped record at least one track and the album included a cover of his 'Mister Sunshine'.
- 'Sound of the Cross' opened the album with what sounded like an incidental film soundtrack.  Crickets, distant percussion, martial drums, thunder and lightning, and spoken word background noises unexpectedly shifted to include some Black Sabbath-styled heavy metal guitar in what was best described as a bizarre sound collage...
- Announcing itself with some martial trumpets...and jangle guitar, '33 Years' was a nifty mid-tempo rocker.  Sporting one of the album's prettiest and most commercial melodies, the track also boasted some nice lead vocal harmonies from Anvil Roth and John Naylor.  Naylor also turned in a great fuzz guitar solo...
- With Roth and Naylor again sharing lead vocals, ''Cause I Love You' started out as a pretty acoustic ballad, before switching to a pleasant, if inconsequential pop song...
- Opening with more bellowing trumpets and a pounding Bruce Taylor bass line 'Golden Image' sported an atypical acid tinged flavor.  A nice change of pace, naturally, the song then bounced in an entirely different direction - in this case a tasty fuzz guitar-propelled rocker, before ending with some church-styled keyboards...
- 'Dear Friends' opened side two with a modest jazz-rock feel before abruptly shifting gears into a harmony rich, swing section.  Sounds kind of strange and it was (I don't think I've ever heard such a rockin' vibe solo), though Naylor turned in one of his best solos on the track.  The song went on to end with a pretty, but dark and slightly ominous segment that was powered by a great bass pattern...
- 'Mr. Sunshine' found the band working in a surprisingly mainstream, pop genre.  The song started out as a drowsy ballad, but generated some energy as it went along.  Quite commercial (complete with another vibe solo)...
- 'Parable' was a seven minute, two section suite.  Opening up with a pretty keyboard section, 'Minutes' started out sounding like a Styx-styled ballad - seriously, Roth recalled Dennis DeYoung on this one...
- 'Child of Peace' switched gears into a funkier mode, but complete with some modest new-age lyrics (and of course another xylophone solo), remained true to the Styx influences....
For what its worth, I'll readily admit this is one of those albums that I've grown to appreciate more each time I play it.  
Needless to say, Crested Butte's marketing capabilities were dismal and the album quickly vanishing without a trace.
The album's been reissued twice; once by the Italian Akarma label (catalog number AK 071) and in CD format by Gear Fab (catalog GF-130). Interestingly, both reissues are defective in that they contain a skip at the start of 'Dear Friends'.
-RateYourMusic.com

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