"CHILLUM" ("SECOND HAND") U.K. 1971 Mushroom ORIG MAJOR CHAOS ACID PROG PSYCH og

$

188

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• SELDOM SEEN!
• 1971 ORIGINAL MUSHROOM LABEL FIRST PRESS

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• "Made In England" ~ MUSHROOM ~ MR 100 11
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1. 
   
2. KEEPER COPY! 
3. RECOMMENDED UK 1971 PSYCHEDELIC PROGRESSIVE
   
4. One might correctly say a continuation of SECOND HANDS "DEATH MAY BE YOUR SANTA CLAUS"  LP
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6. Reflections Of ARZACHEL ?!
   
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8. Chillum were born from the ashes of the progressive-psychedelic band Second Hand the British early 70's psych-progressive underground scene dominated by  swirling keyboards of Ken Elliott, and generously mixed with guitarist Troy McGill ,with backing by bassist George Hart along with drummer O'Connor forming a solid highly rated group they called what? ~ CHILLUM...Chillum??? Why isn't that a hashish smoking device !?  ((yes,it is))
   
9. Seems no-one can now remember why the mighty SECOND HAND elected to change their groups name. It's possible the obvious drug connotations were a deliberate attempt to piss someone off (record company? Society? Each other?), but now can only be a matter for conjecture 53+ years ongoing.
   
10. (aka "Second Hand" )...might easily appeal to adventurous prog heads and krautrock fans, and highly recommended at that!!
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    *****LISTEN TO FULL ALBUM- CLICK IMAGE BELOW
    CHILLUM [isdntekvideo] 'Adventurous' rock fans will find a lot to like here as well, yet be aware this IS every bit as druggy and spaced out as the band's name implies (again, a chillum being a device for smoking hashish). 
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13. Any rate, this original British 1971 MUSHROOM label original is extremely difficult to locate 53+ years forward. 
14. 
    Chillum = one of storied bands once featured on the now famous UK 1971 Mushroom label, becoming one of the most collectable independent labels from the turn of the U.K. seventies.
    
15. The MUSHROOM label's small release schedule in originality of its artists and diversity of their music, about guarantees original vinyl releases 53+years later maintain as a collectors prize in Mushroom label ownership, not only for rarity but musical content alike.
    
    The MUSHROOM label was founded by Vic Keary, who recorded most of its releases at London's Chalk Farm studios, where he worked as an engineer. It was Vic's vitality and enthusiasm that ensured bands like Chillum were released. 
16. The Chillum album (was supposed to be the 3rd Secondhand album) has a tale or two behind its release. 
17. Secondhand had parted company with their guitarist and were involved in a seemingly fruitless search for a replacement.
    
    One prospective axe-man was Tony McGill; his audition, held at the Chalk Farm studios, was fortunately recorded and it was during this session that he and the band formed such an instant rapport that Vic, taping everything as usual, just allowed the tape to run. Now upon the world was released in 1971 the raw, unedited result of this first meeting with Tony ...beginning with the side-long "Brain Strain" A-side.
    Side 2 opens with the formidable jam session taking place - "Yes We Have No Pajamas " following the laughter that can be heard at the beginning of Chillum's "Land Of A Thousand Dreams " attributable to a couple of young doctors from the nearby 'Royal Free Hospital,' who wandered into the studios because they could hear the band from the 'Belmont Pub' next door (now called 'The Engine Room'.) where they often went for a drink.
    
    The Chillum LP's epic session extended into early morning hours, when drummer Kieran fell asleep after recording his mighty drumming injection. Mushroom label owner Vic Keary recalls with obvious recall of the drummers breathing or snoring mightily, headphones still clamped to his ears, Kieran's somnolent efforts were recorded and then played back to him, and remarkably found he was able to double track for about three minutes in perfect sync while asleep, thus providing the ending "percussion" track for "Land Of A Thousand Dreams " !
    The grunt at the very end represents engineer Vic Keary's none too delicate wake up boot -absolutely raw, as it actually happened reflects the unrehearsed craziness shining through the playing. 
18. Chillum's music has much of the originality and inventiveness these musicians brought to their prior releases, (i.e. "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" & "Reality" with unfamiliar time sequences and rhythm patterns featured on some of the tracks.
    
    The lengthy workouts and unrestrained format allowed CHILLUM free reign to experiment with unusual informal atmospherics in which these sessions generated.
    
    Taking the Beatles White Album COVER as their influence, the band hand printed, painted and stickered each of the plain sleeves - coffee cup stain included,and then using car aerosol spray and flap-back seams from an old printing set complete with rubber stamps. 
19. By mid 1972, the Mushroom label ceased to record and release albums. A tough time for Vic Keary and his circle of close musician friends. It was with great sadness when they admitted defeat and forced to stop releasing a series of highly original albums = so closely reflected his love of psych-prog underground music. However, the musical force Ken Elliot drove Secondhand & Chillum onward
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21. Side A:
    
22. Introduction by Brain Surgeons from R.F. Hospitial - 0:16
    Brain Strain - 21:42
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24. Side B:
    Land Of A Thousand Dreams (Ken Elliott) - 1:19
    Too Many Bananas (Kieran O'Connor) - 4:11
    Yes! We Have No Pajamas - 10:33
    Promenade Des Anglais (Ken Elliott) - 2:04
    
25.   CONDITION:
26. The cover: rated: near EX (excellent) Consider this original as about the best one can hope to find. Firstly, the cover being WHITE and as thin-delicate as ever manufactured in Great Britain, is hugely prone to cover wear, dirt and far worse. YET, well preserved,the 1971 pressing shows only light previous use. By far a final collection keeper/arifact ... also featuring "back-flap" seams ala mid-60's. The MUSHROOM custom sticker as noted above was applied by band members,perfectly in-tact! Hard to tell, yet may be extremely light wear started/contained at top left though realistically shouldn't be of issue, as all things considered.
27. Btw, coffee cup stain is part of 'artwork" meant to be :))
    
28. There are no delete marks, no split seams, and no writing
    

1. The vinyl: Rated: near M- ...beginning to end plays delightful having no audio issues (tested!) ...the '71 first British MUSHROOM is a heavy-weight THICK pressing ... this artifact has very presentable MUSHROOM custom designed labels having no distractions and exactly as issued in England 1971