BLAIR SMITH Echoes 1968 TRIPPY ACID PSYCH 45 LISTEN

$

34

BLAIR SMITH "Visions of Molly" b/w "Echoes"

Original 1968 pr0m0 45 on the POMPEII label

Vinyl: Plays VG+ to VG++

Dunno who Blair Smith was – and that’s a pretty generic name if you’re planning on making it big – but judging by the sound of this single, the dude was probably a bit blunted.  If ever a song encompasses the definition of “stoned,” “Visions of Molly” might just be that song.  Bathed in a never-ending miasma of constantly swirling and hovering strings, fluttering woodwinds (or is that a squeezebox?) and disconcerting flashes of phasing – not to mention Blair’s disinterested monotone vocals – “Visions” is a shimmering jewel of pop psych, hovering in its own time and space, truly a vision that can’t be captured.  And in two minutes, just as suddenly as the song appeared to have been turned on at the start, it’s gone.  And with it went Blair Smith too.  And Molly.  She only comes out when the conditions – and the chemicals – are right. 

And don’t sleep on the flip either – “Echoes” is an amazing Koobas-like mad carnival ride through creepy children’s voices and a barrage of trippy sound effects.  I’m not sure where Blair Smith hails from, but here on “Echoes” he’s tapped into the whole mad London acid psych sound of Tomorrow, the Pretty Things and, most appropriately, the Koobas, as this could very well be the pocket-sized version of “Barricades” for time-pressed radio programmers.  Justafixation has already picked up on “Molly” – oddly enough, not one compilation’s jumped on “Echoes” yet, which is mind-boggling.  But that’s why we still keep our turntables, isn’t it?

 HEAR IT!

UPDATE: SORRY, I NO LONGER SHIP TO ITALY DUE TO A CORRUPT POSTAL SYSTEM (THERE, NOT HERE).

(THE LESS EXCITING STUFF...)

First class shipping is $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  Delivery confirmation included in the shipping costs.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $6 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $8 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  

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.  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.