COLOSSEUM 1969 LP VALENTYNE SUITE ORIG VERTIGO SWIRL VO1 847 900 UK VG/VG+

	C$		40
	$		29

COLOSSEUM - 1969 LP VALENTYNE SUITE - ORIGINAL 1ST PRESSING MADE IN GT. BRITAIN ON VERTIGO SWIRL VO1 847 900 VTY - THE VERY FIRST RELEASE IN THE LEGENDARY VERTIGO SWIRL SERIES OF 1969-1973 - GATEFOLD COVER IS IN VG CONDITION WITH SOME GENERAL WEAR - RECORD GENERALLY NICE AND WELL-PRESERVED HAS SOME SUPERFICIAL SCUFFS NOT AFFECTING LISTENING VG+ CONDITION  ATTENTION all European and other overseas buyers! E-Bay shipping costs calculating system obviously gives you figures way higher than actual ones! If you are interested by some of my listings but are embarrassed by overwhelming shipping costs, don’t hesitate to ask me first, real fees Canada post charges are quite reasonable, even for Europe, Asia and Oceania SOME INFO FROM INTERNET ABOUT THIS RELEASE:  Line-up: Dave Greenslade, voc, keyb/ Dick Heckstall-Smith, sax/ John Hiseman, dr/ James Litherland, voc, gtr/ Tony Reeves, bsgtr. Production: Gerry Bron & Tony Reeves for Hit Record Productions Ltd. (what's in a name...). String quartet arrangement on Elegy by Neil Ardley, who also directs a background on Betty's Blues by ''some of the finest musicians at present working in London''. Cover-design by Marcus Keef (fold-out cover outside) and Linda Glover (fold-out cover inside). Photography by Marcus Keef and Peter Smith. Liner notes by Jon Hiseman, written in July 1969. Track listing A-side: The Kettle (Dick Heckstal-Smith + Jon Hiseman)/ Elegy (James Litherland)/ Butty's Blues (James Litherland)/ The Machine Demands A Sacrifice (Colosseum + Pete Brown). Track listing B-side: The Valentyne Suite (Dave Clempson +  + Dick Heckstal-Smith + Jon Hiseman): Theme One - January's Search/ Theme Two - February's Valentyne/ Theme Three - The Grass Is Always Greener... The label carries no composer credits. The inside of the fold-out does: all music by Colosseum and all words by Pete Brown. Running time is not mentioned. The Vertigo logo on front is bright pink. Matrix number A-side:  886 775 1Y*1 420 1 1 1 1 Matrix number B-side:  886 775 2*Y*1 420 1 1 1 1 Launching the label with the second album by Colosseum seems a logical choice. The band recorded a quite succesful LP for Phonogram already, Those Who Are About To Die Salute You, on Fontana (STL 5510). Their brand of mixing jazz and rock in a rather original way is custom made for the concept of the label. There can be little doubt about the musical competence of these gentlemen. Almost 40 years later, the music still sounds more or less fresh. Technically this is top-notch. Blues, jazz and rock are blended into a heady mixture and the playing sounds extremely confident. The ever present danger of too elaborate soloing is wisely restricted, especially on side A, which features strong compositions and fine singing. This A side is better than the long suite on side B: more compact and emotional. This is ever so important, where this kind of venture is always threatened to be marred by too much intellectual exercise. The sidelong suite of side B certainly has its moments, but its weak points show clearly through: not all parts are bridged adequately and some of the ensemble playing sounds cerebral. Still a fine LP by any standard. The striking image on the cover does not reflect anything I can discern in the music, but that may not be a real disadvantage. Estranging light effects (sun and candles) and unreal sizes (the candles are enormous) create a surrealistic atmosphere. A desolate landscape of low brush with a very highly placed horizon does the rest. Is the lady waitng for you to marry her? Her virginal white clothing and her uncertain attitude seem to suggest so. Especially when opened the cover is impressive. The lettering has a slight ''american'' touch and does look out of place on the overall design. The inside of the gatefold has the liner notes superimposed on the foto of the ad below. Hiseman is portrayed once again beside this, heroically swinging the drumsticks. The liner notes are efficient and belie the egocentrical pose of this shot.