1966 ORIG Association RENAISSANCE Garage Folk Psych

$

78

1966 ORIGINAL FIRST PRESSING                

 VALIANT RECORDS IN SHRINK WRAP                 

                                 The Association

                     Renaissance

\                                                  USA - VALIANT RECORDS - vls 25004

Original FIRST PRESSING 1966 vinyl ...hard to find clean, like this,

***STILL IN ORIGINAL FACTORY SHRINK WRAPPER***

Here, the Los Angeles 1966 sunny sounds of the Association, before they were widely known, though they had a minor hit with their first album, but before Warner Brothers picked them up and they delivered the string of timeless hits ...On the tiny VALIANT label, the Association were a very talented jangle guitar structured band with outstanding group harmonies within self penned tunes. They were a popular Sunset Strip club band when this, their second album was released that included a varied mix of jangle grooves including their breakout hit "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies" a catchy psychedelic word play that still stands up quite well and is all but forgotten and glossed over, as is the rest of the album.

There is a cosmic romanticism we all know and aspire to. A rebirth of this "cosmic romanticism" occurred in popular music between 1965 and 1968. One of the best examples of the cosmo-Romantic view is the album "Renaissance," by the Association. Best known up to that point for "Along Comes Mary," and the gushingly beautiful "Cherish," the Association followed up their top ten successes with this commercially less appreciated masterpiece. The album has echoes of the Beatles '65, "Rubber Soul," the Gregorian chants of the Yardbirds, harmonies of the Beach Boys, the folk rock elegance of the first two Byrd albums, the socially conscious here-and-now stance of the Buffalo Springfield, with a touch of the explosive creative fire of another L.A. based group, Love.
The record begins with "I'm the One," a song that sets the stage for ensuing meditations on love and romance. The second track, "Memories of You," is a moody reflection on the problem of separation from the beloved. Next is an upbeat paean to the romantic quest, sung in three/four time, "All is Mine." "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies" serves up a kind of unsettling depiction of ego loss and purification on the cosmic romantic cycle. This is grounded next by the track, "Angeline," a ballad that verges on the bombastic, whose lyrics convey a redeeming sense of transcendence in the face of lost love. Next in suit comes the puckish "Songs in the Wind". Then, try to imagine an intermission to reflect upon the first half of what you've heard. "pretty good," you could say before listening to the second half.

The group now seems to pull out all the stops with "You May Think," "Looking Glass," "Come to Me," "No Fair at All," "You Hear Me Call Your Name," and the snappy close, "Another Time, Another Place." There is a foreshadowing, in this sequence, of the rock and roll opera soon to become de rigueur. Like Percival entering the Grail Castle, the song "Looking Glass" asks the crucial questions..."Who's that standing there? Who's that standing there? What's Her Name? Does she still wear morning in Her hair? Does She smile the same?" (caps. added) And whom does She serve, one could further add?

If you already appreciate the music of the era, including the groups mentioned above, or listen to retrospective collections such as the Nuggets Box Sets I and II, you will more than likely dig "Renaissance." Besides the fantastic singing and impressive harmonies,the Association is a group of outstanding musicians. If in doubt, check out their outstanding performance at the Monterey Pop Festival.

Side 1

1. "I'm The One"  – 2:30
2. "Memories Of You"  – 2:20
3. "All Is Mine"  – 3:16
4. "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies"  – 2:51
5. "Angeline"  – 3:10
6. "Songs In The Wind"  – 2:41

Side 2

1. "You May Think"  – 1:55
2. "Looking Glass"  – 2:13
3. "Come To Me"  – 2:17
4. "No Fair At All"  – 2:37 (As the single featured overdubbed vocals by Jim Yester, this early pressings of the LP featured the same track with re-recorded vocals and no overdubs -- and was replaced on later copies with the single version.)
5. "You Hear Me Call Your Name"  – 2:24
6. "Another Time, Another Place"  – 1:51

CONDITION: The cover is M-  still in the original factory shrink wrapper, the outer cellophane wrappper has a circle tear at the top center, otherwise the cover underneath is strong, solid, crisp with no split seams, no bends and no writing. 

The vinyl is all glossy clean and sharp, "EX" (excellent) something to be said for the 44 year old item being in safe hands...a name is on one side of the label. The record plays clean.

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record