CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN 1968 1st Press TRACK Shrink NM Prog/Psych LP w/FIRE

$

24

One of many PSYCH and Classic 1960's Rock LPs from a fanatically well-kept collection of a long-time former DJ
Mostly 1st PRESSINGS, including a large amount of PROMO LPs.
Many others still in SHRINK WRAP. Several STILL SEALED
Quite a few WLP, Sterling, RL and Masterdisk pressings in the mix!
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USA Shipping: FREE
International Shipping Worldwide at EXACT POSTAGE Only cost

This auction is for:
ARTHUR BROWN
THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN
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.TRACK Records SD 8198
Original 1968 issue • Stereo LP
includes original black inner sleeve

VINYL is NM
Vinyl is in virtually unplayed, Like New condition, ultra-glossy, no marks. Labels are super-clean.
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COVER is NM
Still in complete, clean shrink-wrap. No creases, dings or other marks. Straight edges and sharp corners all around.

STRICT CONSERVATIVE GOLDMINE GRADING
NM / EX(VG++) / VG+ / VG

TOP condition - LIKE NEW. A REAL BEAUTY
Velvety smooth flat black TRACK labels with pristine bright silver print
Mirror-like full gloss vinyl (my camera can't show vinyl correctly - photo doesn't do justice)
VIBRANT Near-perfect cover with no bumped corners, creases or issues of any kind.

1st ?US issue (before the more well-known ATLANTIC labelled issue)

Featuring: "FIRE"
Amazing and legendary UK Prog/Psychedelic masterpiece

Classic 1968 British psychedelia...features pre-Atomic Rooster organist Vincent Crane and pre-Emerson Lake & Palmer drummer Carl Palmer.

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown issued just one album in 1968 (a follow-up LP was recorded but remained unreleased until 1988). But this one album holds up as one of rock’s great one shot wonders. Prior to releasing this LP Brown had been singing in a number of semi-pro bands throughout the early 60’s while studying in France. It was during this period that Brown developed his strange stage persona and eccentric nature.

In 1967 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown released a Track single: Devil’s Grip backed by Give Him A Flower. In 1968 this full LP was unleashed on the world. This album is a strong slice of soul drenched psychedelia that was notable for Brown’s often over-the-top vocals and heavy organ interplay. In 1968 Brown and the group released Fire, a huge top ten hit over in England and here in the US. When Fire hit the airwaves nothing sounded quite like it. Brown’s vocals were demonic, the song’s lyrics were threatening and like the album overall, it had an R'n'B feel in it's soul, beneath the psychedelia.

The group’s only album to be released in its lifetime is one of the masterpieces of late 60’s British rock, a confident, flamboyant debut that has few equals. Side one is itself consumed by the flames, the so-called "Fire Suite" (actually entitled "Tales from the Neurotic Nights of Hieronymous Anonymous"), a five-part smorgasbord that is part Biblical horror, part bad trip. Themes recur, nightmares return, and Brown himself remains the most dementedly devilish ringmaster ever to lure the kiddies into his circus. You cannot even begin to imagine the fuss that would erupt today, were someone to try the same stunts...imagine switching on MTV to be greeted by a blazing, painted monster insisting "I am the God of Hell Fire." (And you thought Prodigy's "Firestarter" was inflammatory!)

 The album opens with Prelude - Nightmare, a powerful piece of early progressive rock with crazed vocals, thundering drums and soulful organ via Vincent Crane - a true classic. Fire itself follow shortly along with 3 other strong pieces filling out the dark  psychedelic dreamscape. On the second side, The two covers, I Put A Spell On You (Screaming Jay Hawkins) and I’ve Got Money (James Brown) are surprisingly fine examples of British R&B and perfectly suited to Arthur Brown's huge presence, full-throated, wickedly beguiling voice and mad charisma. Spontaneous Apple Creation is possibly the album’s most psychedelic cut with lots of sound effects and delirious, cryptic lyrics - and a good piece of music all around. The band flirts with basic late-1960's UK pop on the catchy Rest Cure - but for many, Child of My Kingdom was the group’s finest moment on LP. This track is a superb piece of British R&B with hints of psychedelia and just plain lostness. The albums atmosphere is dark, wry, mysterious - and seemingly from beyond.
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Even before "FIRE" presented the Crazy World of Arthur Brown with the most unpredictable chart-topper in rock history, the band itself stood out from the psychedelic underground like an antelope in a sea of salami. Brown himself was blessed with one of the fullest voices in rock, capable of shifting in seconds from satanic whisper to blood-chilling scream, while his live repertoire included jazz, lengthy improvisations, and even four- or five-minute comedy skits, all set to a thunderous soundtrack of organ and drums and the mental imagery of a night in Hades.

Two late 1960's reviews of the Crazy World:
"...there is a sinister element...one which recalls the smell of seaweed and the rattle of spades and pails. For somehow Arthur Brown contrives to be both the malevolent Punch and -- in drag, with grotesque wig and flowered gown -- a psychedelic Judy"
and from author Nik Cohn: "...he was one long gangling skinny streak, complete with haystack black hair and great staring eyes and an elephant's nose. And when he came on, he was wearing Sun God robes, a science fiction mask, and his head was on fire." Got that? "His head was on fire." Not his hat, not even his hair. His head.
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Original plain Black inner sleeve, rarely found today, is included?.?

You won't find a cleaner original issue anywhere

Disc kept in separate ANTI-STATIC inner sleeve to protect both the original inner and the vinyl.

Even though still in the original shrink-wrap
Album kept in a protective, poly outer-sleeve
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Please see my other listings for more
Vintage Collectible PSYCH and rare 60's ROCK LPs
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All records packed with vinyl (inside inner sleeve) behind cover - with bubble-wrap around all sides - sandwiched between stiff corrugated flats and shipped in strong LP mailer boxes for best protection in the mail.
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My LP packing is considered to be among the very best on eBay. I would have it no other way.

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 -the standard LOWEST rate that the US Postal system allows,
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