BREW A Very Strange Brew 1969 ORIGINAL ABC ACID PSYCH LP Impala Syndrome LISTEN

$

75

THE BREW "A VERY STRANGE BREW" LP

ORIGINAL 1969 PRESSING ON THE US ABC LABEL, STEREO ABCS-672

COVER IN VG++ shape, some gummy residue on front (probably could be easily removed)

VINYL has some visible marks/scuffs, nothing deep, plays respectable VG+ to VG++

SELLING FOR $180 ELSEWHERE IN LESSER CONDITION

RARE original 1969 LP by the Brew, “A Very Strange Brew” on the ABC label. Only recentlyreissued, and said to be related to the Impala Syndrome (one website says it’s pre-Impala Syndrome, another post-Impala Syndrome). What’s REALLY strange about this obscure album is that it takes its name from a song by Cream, since over the course of its 30-odd minutes, they manage to sound like everyone BUT Cream. Side 1 opens with some bubbling cauldron sound effects, as a barely audible voice welcomes you in with “Listen to the VERY…strange…brew…”, sorta like the Tea Company’s brand of self-advertising on their Smash album. Shortly after, the Brew burst in with an explosive in-your-face opening guitar chord just like the one that kicks off Badfinger’s “No Matter What” – and like that song, this is a fine, very catchy loud guitar rocker. The verses on “Three’s a Crowd” sound almost identical to the ones on the Leaves’ version of “Hey Joe”, even if the chorus switches abruptly to the catchy AM soul pop sounds of a band like the Vogues. The laid-back loungey jazz pop froth of “If I Were Someone” brings back fond memories of the Strawberry Alarm Clock, while“Union Man”’s bouncy pop, rolling organ and skip-a-long tune sounds pretty similar in style and melody to the Kinks “Sunny Afternoon”. And twice the Brew summon up the heavy acid rock spirit of the mighty Steppenwolf – once on “I Can Hardly” and again on“What Do You See”, which resembles “Magic Carpet Ride” with similar swaths of psychedelic guitar feedback, at least until the very strange jazz piano solo cuts in midway through. Okay, so I don’t want to accuse the band of being completely derivative – perhaps just acutely aware of the success of their competitors – but the fact that that they sound like some of the best at least makes this one of the more consistently enjoyable and solid psychedelic albums of its kind. Like a K-Tel “Sounds of Acid Rock”compilation with all original songs. But no Cream. Wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Ron Popeil himself wasn’t somehow behind THIS Brew. 

HEAR THE RECORD YOU'RE BIDDING ON!

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

The less exciting stuff

Media mail shipping with delivery confirmation starts at $4.00 in the US, with each additional record only $1 additional shipping.  ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS REQUIRE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, WHICH IS AN EXTRA 75 CENTS.  Air mail shipping to Canada starts at $10 US, each additional record $2 shipping.  Air mail shipping everywhere else in the world starts at $16 US, with each additional record only $3 shipping.  ALL FOREIGN ORDERS REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF SHIPMENT, WHICH IS AN EXTRA $1.10.  I accept payments through Paypal. 

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.   I DO NOW REQUIRE THAT ALL FOREIGN BUYERS PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1.10 FOR PROOF OF SHIPMENT.  IT'S A NOMINAL FEE AND THE CHEAPEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT I ACTUALLY SHIPPED YOUR PACKAGE AND DIDN'T JUST POCKET YOUR MONEY AND SKIP TOWN.  For more security and international tracking, you may request GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL - but bear in mind the cost of this service is upwards of $30.  For expensive items, however, it may be well worth it.  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.