Roots Of Madness- Girl In The Chair LP avant psych rock

$

24

The Roots of Madness were formed in San Jose CA in 1969 by Geoff Alexander and Don Campau, and included Joe Morrow, Jim Kulczynski, and David “Dave Dolphin” Leskovsky. This core group was joined frequently by Gary and Chris Campau, Patrick Evans, and Vickie Leskovsky. Geoff, who was influenced by the likes of John Coltrane, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Japanese ichi-genkin music, was unaware of the rock musical revolution taking place 60 miles to the north in San Francisco. Don, influenced by British blues and San Francisco psychedelic rock, was unaware of the avant-garde. The melding of these influences became the framework for the group’s eclectic compositions and arrangements.

The Roots existed from 1969 to 1973, and performed unannounced in laundromats and on freeway overpasses. Their only scheduled gig was at Forbes Mill in the town of Los Gatos, where they were joined by pianist Russ Ferrante, who later would form the Yellowjackets. Yikes!

Their sole rec, The Girl in the Chair, was pressed in 1971, in a run of 500 copies, 100 of which were distributed by the legendary Norm Pierce of San Francisco’s Jack’s Record Cellar. Norm also distributed ESP-Disk recordings, and felt that The Roots would appeal to the same listener (Norm later jokingly said it was one of the few times he was wrong). The record was funded by KTAO radio owner Lorenzo Milam, on whose station The Roots had performed on many live occasions (Lorenzo later jokingly said the recording wasn’t avant-garde enough for his taste).

By the time the group recorded its last session in 1973, a total of 10 records had been sold.

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1971 heavy private press free blues/psych from the left coast cortical geo zone of the US underground chain spearheaded by Don Campau and essentially the Californian amalgam of the Gate 5 as ESP disk punk/jazz 3rd eye. A higher key farrago of hypercosmic extended runs that oscillate between the tubular philosophy of the Sun City Girls sound/art and the aloneness of stoned blues concréte. A refreshing lost artifact of pure American fizz resurrected from the iconoclasm void and perfectly reissued in a joint effort from De Stijl and Child Of Microtones. An essential LP for anyone concerned with the paramount energy fields of all the above ground sound subterrains.
~ Matthew Valentine


Not much more that I can say about this, outside of the fact that this is one pretty strange album.  I came across another album review describing this as the West Coast answer to The Fugs, which is pretty spot on, too.

I've had a couple of people ask questions over the authenticity of this LP.  I can assure you that this album has been in my possession since the late 80s, well earlier than the 2005 De Stijl reissue.  If there is an identifier on the vinyl or jacket you would like for me to post or mail to you- just ask, and I'll be glad to send you extra pictures.  If you win this LP and are not 100% satisfied...for any reason, I will be more than happy to refund your money.

Original LP release on Dogmouth Records
Label edge reads: DOGMOUTH  BALH - 1760  THE ROOTS OF MADNESS:  THE GIRL IN THE CHAIR  AAARRRFFFF1760Fffff


Dogmouth Records (USA/1971) BALH 1760

A1. Realization II (11:35)
A2. Nihility In Being (1:07)
A3. Mass At Time Of Circumcision Of King Leopold XVII Of Belgium For Massed Choros, Bull Horns, Glass Harmonica, Tympani, And Fret-Work Drums (1:72)
A4. Cat's Tail (1:35)
A5. We Had A Love (But It Died) (5:08)

B1. The Yell (1:47)
B2. The Big House (6:50)
B3. The Old Man's Ass (2:36)
B4. Flight Of The Oka Bird (5:21)
B5. You Are My Sunshine (1:30)


Line up:
Don- shortwave, walkie-talkie, trumpet, guitar, slide guitar, cymbals, percussion, vocal
Joe- shortwave, recorder, trombone, percussion, clarinet, vocal, recitation
Gare- drums, percussion
Jim- guitar
Dave Dolfin- mouth harp, yell
Geoff- piano, trumpet, hummato, recitation


LP in VG+ (small amount of background noise)
Jacket in VG+ (small amount of glue residue left from sticker on front, small amount of mildew spotting)

Will ship worldwide via USPS.  Postage determined by destination.



Welcome to my auction of rare (and not so rare) items.  Over the coming years, you'll find lots of LPs, CDs, magazines, and other items that I've been lugging around for the past 30+ years posted here for an appreciative future owner.  I'm getting too old these days to move this stuff around any longer, and to be quite honest about it, I can better utilize the space left with their vacancy.

Please include my seller ID in your favorites because if you dig the out-of-the-ordinary, chances are good that I'm selling something you may covet.

I've kept my items in the best shape possible over the years, with plastic sleeves over the jacket, and in many cases, I've replaced paper LP sleeves with high-quality rice sleeves.  If an LP included any sticker on the shrink-wrap, I usually cut it out and stuck it in with the LP sleeve.  I rarely took any inserts out of the jackets if they were included, so any additional item you may get with an LP won't have thumbtack holes or taped corners.

I've loved my music collection as if they were a part of me, and I think you'll see this should you win any item I sell.

I'm brutally honest in my grading.  I don't believe in "Mint" quality, however I will say that many of my LPs designated VG+ would likely be another seller's "Near Mint".  Over my years of ownership, I used a Keith Monks LP cleaner, cleaned albums with a 10% vodka/90% purified water solvent, and used an anti-static gun and mat, along with near-audiophile cartridges and tonearms.

Why are my LPs priced so low when another seller is charging a three-figure price for the same items?  Simple.  I believe in the spirit of the auction.  I may not make the money some have on the same item, but then I usually don't have to post an item 20 times before someone finally buys it at a collector's price.

My grading system:

EX: Vinyl is (nearly) perfect.  Only noise during play is from dust or dirt specks you didn't clean before playing.  Jacket is (nearly) perfect- almost like you took it out of the wrapper a few minutes ago.

VG+: Obviously played, but vinyl still has almost-new luster.  Some small scuffs or light scratches, not affecting or barely affecting play are evident.  Jacket has some small scuffs or light ringwear.  No seam splits, but edge/corner wear is evident.  Possible small sticker or man-made mark visible.

VG: These and below are almost always LPs I've bought from a used bin at some time during my collecting days.  Vinyl is well played, and background noise is becoming evident.  Occasional scratches may affect play, but no groove skipping.  Jacket may have a small notch/corner cut. Ring wear is evident, but does not affect cover notes.  Light corner bend or wrinkle in jacket surface.

VG-: This is usually the lowest grade I will sell without going into great descriptions.  A bit noisier than above.  Still no groove skip.  More scratches affecting play.  Jacket is definitely showing signs of wear.  Some seam splitting is evident.  Large sticker or factory imprint mars jacket cover or notes on back cover.  Bends or creases are more evident.  Man-made spotting/writing.  Overly-ambitious notch/corner cut or outright damage to cover.

G: I have maybe a handful of albums that fit this category.  You'll see detailed descriptions on any album like this.

Last thoughts:  Return bidders get postage discounts, based on a percentage of total postage.  I will combine orders, but please don't expect me to hold items or delay total payment longer than 2 weeks past the time of first winning bid.  A note to me over plans to bid on later listed items is always a good thing!  I usually mail out the weekend following the sale of an item due to my work schedule, but occasionally, I can mail out during the week.

Good luck and good bidding!