BLUE BELL KNOLL - Cocteau Twins - 1988 LP Capitol C1-90892 1st US Pressing VG+

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Blue Bell Knoll is the fifth studio album by Scottish dream pop band Cocteau Twins, released on 19 September 1988 by 4AD. This was the band's first album to receive major-label distribution in the United States, as it was originally licensed by Capitol Records from 4AD for North American release. Upon the release of the album, Ivo Watts-Russell, co–founder of the band's record label 4AD, commented on lead singer Elizabeth Fraser's vocals on Blue Bell Knoll saying "It's got her best singing since she discovered her higher range. 'Carolyn's Fingers' is absolutely beautiful, and still gives me the shivers". Elizabeth named the album after a peak in Southern Utah called Bluebell Knoll.

FUN FACT: The lyrics of the songs are entirely in Elizabeth Fraser's self-constructed language: "I gained so much from [inventing language]", Fraser said in a 2017 interview, “Writing Blue Bell Knoll I had a wonderful freedom to put lyrics aside and not to worry [about people's opinions]."

The album peaked at number fifteen on the UK Albums Chart, and number one hundred and nine in the United States on the Billboard 200 albums chart. "Carolyn's Fingers" from the album reached number two on the US Alternative Airplay chart. In a contemporary review of Blue Bell Knoll, Victoria Thieberger of The Age appraised it as "everything that atmospheric music should be and usually isn't".  AllMusic critic Ned Raggett retrospectively wrote that "Blue Bell Knoll has some striking moments that are pure Cocteaus at their best", citing the opening track "Blue Bell Knoll", "For Phoebe Still a Baby" and "Carolyn's Fingers" as highlights.

THIS COPY is a 1st US Pressing from 1988 on Capitol Records, licensed from 4AD (see Notes, below).

The vinyl has some marks, but per a test listen, none that affect playback. The vinyl is in Very Good Plus [VG+] or better condition.

The original gatefold (+) cover is a gatefold with an extra flap over the front cover. It shows only light signs of handling/aging. It remains in Very Good Plus [VG+] or better condition.

The original inner sleeve is plain black with square corners and no center label hole. With no splits or other flaws, it is in Excellent [EX] condition.

Notes

Limited Edition triple-style inner-pocket gatefold sleeve.

Allied Record Company pressing.

℗ 1988 4.A.D. under exclusive licence to Capitol Records, Inc. © 1988 4.A.D.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Barcode (Text): 0 7777-90892-1 5

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, this copy): B-32424-G1 SRC[logo] △21975 0- D1-1-90892 G-1 1-2 SPAR MASTERED BY CAPITOL

Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, this copy): 0- △21975-X B-32425 G1 SRC[logo] D1-2-90892 G-1 1-2 SP-AR MASTERED BY CAPITOL

ENJOY!