'72 Orig ORANGE WEDGE 1st HARD PSYCH + 2nd LP

$

907

 SUPER RARE  ~500 MADE original~  Signed by the band

      1972  HARD PSYCH -- PRIVATE PRESS -- WINNER!                                 

             ORANGE WEDGE

                       WEDGE

\                                                        USA - PRIVATE PRESS - R1 3597

***AUTHENTIC SIGNATURES ON ORIGINAL INNER SLEEVE BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORANGE WEDGE

SUPER RARE 1972 PRIVATE PRESS ORIGINAL...the legendary first of two ORANGE WEDGE albums ...this listing entry ALSO offers the ORIGINAL 1974 2nd album "No One Left But Me" as well as a bonus...but, before the info on that(below), the main entry, "WEDGE" 1st...

       <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>><><><><><><>

As legend goes, this copy was originally one of the girlfriends of a WEDGE band member and the inner sleeve is autographed/signed with little notes by all 4 band members...

The cover is grainy black material with a woodblock white WEDGE stamp on front and loose album information insert to possibly serve as the back cover, though never was applied/adhered as such...hand written group contact address and phone number on the insert...

And the album? The first WEDGE is pretty righteous obscure heavy psych & electric melodic mixes from Baltimore. MD. Lotsa fuzz, cardboard drums, loud/soft dynamics... everything about it is good, including the recording, the playing, the song writing...

Upon first listen to psych-rock obscurity ORANGE WEDGE, one would think they came from the darkest depths of Germany's early 70's. In actuality, they do come from the early 70's (formed in 1968), ORANGE WEDGE are from the woods in Baltimore, MD. Information on the band is scarce at best, but here’s the skinny: they released two albums, this being the first. It was limited to only 500 pressings; so yes, “obscure classic” would be the appropriate term here. They’ve since gained a little exposure from the track “From the Womb to the Tomb” which can be found on a few psyche-rock rarity collections. Now while this is all well and good, the important thing is obviously the music itself. Thankfully, we’re talking high quality, well crafted stuff that still sounds great nearly 40 years after the fact.

Album opener “Love Me” is a catchy little electrified folk rock number, with a crisp, clean blend of electric and acoustic strumming. The band’s singer has a powerful voice that’s versatile enough to work with the musical changes that occur throughout the album. Good thing, too, because the next track, “Death Comes Slowly”, is where these guys really get adventurous. It’s an 11+ minute jam with totally unexpected complex rhythms breakdown in 11/8 time. Song three, “The Comfort of You”, is a tender semi-ballad that would have probably been better served with a higher key (the singer sounds like he’s struggling with the low register), but the acoustic to electric build-up is done quite nicely. Following that, we have a straight-forward, upbeat rocker anthem in “Keep on Livin’”, and then a bit of a darker, minor-keyed rocker in “One Night Lover”. Still not satisfied with the musical exploration they’ve done so far, these guys completely switch gears on the classic hard rock & roll boogie of “Meat House Shuffle” before shoving the listener head-first into a sea of psychedelic with album closer “Revenge”, a 6 ½ minute jam full of thrilling fuzzed-out solos and flanger drum effects that also proves to be the album’s darkest and heaviest moments.

“Wedge” is a solid album that has stood the test of time rather well. Finding an original is a hard thing to do, no matter how long or how hard one searches...

Love Me
 Death Comes Slowly
Comfort of You
Keep on Livin'
One Night Lover
Meathouse Shuffle
Revenge

CONDITION: THE COVER: grainy black cover is solid. "EX" (excellent) ...in terrific shape, no split seams, no bends, no writing...the inner sleeve with authentic signatures of all 4 band members...

THE VINYL: all glossy clean and smooth "EX" (excellent) to M- and the black labels are clean...all in all, a really special copy, ultra rare hard garage psych winner....

  <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

***as a bonus (see photo below) of sorts we are adding to this listing (see photo) their 1974 2nd Lp "No One Left But Me" (as rare as this first)...the thing is, while the cover is QUITE nice...the vinyl needs a de-warper...but its free and only adds to the value of THIS listing with the CLEAN 1972 first WEDGE Lp

  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